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November 19, 2021-Contact the FacilitiesNet editor »
The 205,000-square-foot Vandalia Tower in St. Paul, Minnesota was recently refurbished to meet the modern needs of its commercial, non-profit, and artistic tenants, and was approved by state historic preservation officials and the National Park Service. In order to maintain the architectural heritage of industrial brick buildings in the 1920s, the owner tried to replicate the appearance of the original, large, steel frame, and separated lite appearance with new units that could improve energy efficiency to replace broken and missing windows and comfort. To help meet the aesthetic and performance requirements of the project, Linetec completed and thermally improved 290 replacement windows with aluminum frames made by St. Cloud Window. NewStudio Architecture specifies that these products have a durable 70% PVDF resin-based finish, and the black is similar to the color of old steel windows.
Linetec applied Sherwin-William's Fluropon architectural extrusion coating. These paint coatings comply with the industry's most stringent standard AAMA 2605, with excellent moisture resistance, chalking resistance, tarnish resistance and chemical resistance to ensure that the black paint surface is durable and does not fade. "Magnificent projects like Vandalia Tower logically illustrate the use of the most advanced high-performance aluminum windows, paints and glass for the responsible renovation of landmark buildings," said Casey Mahon, President of St. Cloud Window. The property immediately became efficient and environmentally sustainable, while retaining the custom elegance of traditional architecture; thus meeting the changing needs of its owners, tenants and the community for generations to come. "
Drawing on its SCW3000 series, St. Cloud Window manufactured 214 units as fixed windows, and the other 76 were supplied as awnings. These units were carefully considered by S&J Glass and installed in the wide openings of Vandalia Tower. Throughout the north façade, the window openings are more than 20 feet high and 13 feet 9 inches wide. The combined unit replicates the original columns of three layers and is stacked and fixed on an operable outer rotating window. Like their predecessors, the awning vents are concentrated on the lowest level for easy access. The smaller openings on the three floors of the other façades are similarly configured.
Keeping the usable part of the existing steel frame, the muntin grid of the new window simulates the previous real split lites. For centuries, glass manufacturing was limited to small, free-standing single-pane glass with steel or wooden frames together to form a larger daylight opening. Now, the huge hollow glass unit provides uninterrupted vision and has improved performance in terms of heat, structure and waterproofing. "Aluminum has always been proven to be the material of choice for window frames because it is strong, corrosion-resistant, easy to manufacture, durable, infinitely recyclable, and has almost unlimited color choices," said Tami Schroeder, Marketing Manager of Linetec . "It is also a good conductor of heat, which means that the frame members need to be physically separated to avoid unnecessary heat transfer."
“By increasing the partition width of the insulation cavity and adding a thermal insulation system between aluminum frame members, manufacturers can confidently meet customers’ highest thermal performance requirements and energy-saving goals,” she continued. Today's historic building window renovations benefit from modern glass and framing technology, which can improve energy efficiency and indoor comfort, while retaining its classic style. For the Vandalia Tower, Linetec first completes the aluminum extrusions for the windows, then prepares the thermal chamber, inserts Tylenol’s polyamide insulation strips, and finally crimps the composite components to mechanically lock the strips between the aluminum extrusions. Appropriate location.
The partitions and structural window mullions are also completed by Linetec and fixed by St. Cloud Window under quality control conditions. Custom-made 1-1/4 inch insulating glass units with tempered exterior wall panels are glazed into SCW3000 series windows at the factory. In addition to the window units, Linetec has also completed the aluminum frames and partitions of two SCW5000 series sliding glass doors, which show the same grid pattern and have a continuous historical beauty.
In addition to the anticipated appearance, daylight and views, operable sliding doors and exterior windows also provide seasonal opportunities for natural ventilation. Passive ventilation and high thermal performance products reduce the need for HVAC systems, and natural light reduces the need for electric lighting. Together, these characteristics help building owners and occupants reduce energy use and maintain a comfortable indoor climate, even in Minnesota’s hot and humid summers and cold and cold winters.
The phased transformation of the project also spanned multiple seasons, overcoming unprecedented challenges. The general contractor, Greiner Construction, carried out careful planning during the pre-construction process, so throughout the pandemic, the project has been advancing quickly and within budget. In accordance with the historical requirements of the building and the needs of the owners and tenants, the comprehensive renovation of the Wandalia Building will be completed in 2021.
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