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Building & Architecture News

July 2009

Las Vegas CityCenter a ‘No Sweat’ Building Project

Over the past three years, the mammoth MGM Mirage CityCenter project—a 66-acre, $14 billion new construction gamble in the heart of Las Vegas—has played out like a real-life cliffhanger novel.

Its main characters include a Hollywood movie empire, cash-rich Arab sheiks, high-rolling international financiers and some of the world’s biggest casino operators. The project has teetered on the edge of bankruptcy, but with completion now less than a year away, it’s about to pay off.

A city within a city, the project occupies some of the most valuable real estate on or off the fabled Las Vegas Strip. Nearly 50 buildings, a few up to 70 stories tall, will provide 18 million square feet of space devoted to hotels, casinos, luxury condominiums, restaurants, theaters and retail shops, and even a private fire department and security police force.

Miles of high-quality, high-value copper pipe and fittings have been installed to serve the water and air conditioning needs of this mega-project. But it is almost impossible to find a single soldered copper joint. The CityCenter project easily qualifies as the largest construction effort ever to use solderless, flameless pipe-joining methods—a testament to the trust the developers have placed in press-on fittings.

LV CityCenterTower cranes hover above MGM’s CityCenter mega-project in Las Vegas.
Photo courtesy of Viega LLC.

High-resolution version of this photo.

“You’re probably talking numbers in the hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of copper fittings in this project,” says Ted Atkinson, district manager for Viega North America, which supplied the pipe fittings and components used throughout the project.

Virtually every tube and pipe fitting from one-half to four inches in diameter was installed using the solderless Viega ProPress system. Developed in partnership with U.S. tool manufacturer Ridgid, this system has been used extensively in Europe and elsewhere for several years.

According to a Viega statement, the ProPress system saves up to 75 percent in job time, based on PHCC and MCAA labor calculators. The company also states that, because no solder or flux is required, the fittings are a “green” product that creates a safer work environment with better air quality—benefits that can help projects attain LEED certification. Copper pipe and fittings, which have a long service lifespan and are completely recyclable, are also compatible with LEED goals. For more information, visit www.copper.org.

The use of solderless fittings on this project is notable for its scale, and it points out the fact that solderless fittings have gained increased respect—and acceptance—throughout the plumbing industry. Subcontractors were eager to work with the system when CityCenter went up for bids, according to company officials.

“There may be a couple of HVAC contractors doing some soldering on the project, but very little—you won’t find it,” says Atkinson.

As for the dependability of the solderless joints, “The only issue this job has seen is installer error—not the fittings themselves,” Atkinson adds. “This is a very small issue, guys not inserting the pipe all the way into the fitting, things like that. If the fittings are installed correctly, there’s absolutely no problem at all.” Cu

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HVAC in a Bottle

GeoColumn system promises smaller footprint, bigger energy savings over conventional ground-source heat pumps

Rising energy costs, global warming and rapidly improving technology are opposing forces that are conspiring, one might say, to change the way we will heat and cool our buildings in the near future.

This “warms race” is the impetus behind one innovation—the GeoColumn, a hybrid HVAC system that claims to improve upon two proven, but not always perfect, heating and cooling technologies.

GeoColumnGeoColumn – Graphic representation not to scale. Graphic courtesy of GeoEnergy Enterprises, LLC.

The GeoColumn is a proprietary, “off the shelf” system that offers the benefits of direct exchange (DX) ground source heat exchangers, which produce heat from the surrounding earth, but it eliminates the costly and often difficult excavation or deep-well drilling these systems require.

GeoColumns also promise the efficiency of heat pump systems, which literally create heat from thin air, but which also frequently disappoint owners by failing to produce enough heat when temperatures fall too far.

Invented by GeoEnergy Enterprises. a “start-up” energy technology firm with a decade of ground-source experience in its ranks, the GeoColumn is a self-contained ground source heat pump that does not require ground water, water pumping or anti-freeze agents to function. And unlike other ground source systems, it can be installed in a relatively small space for new home construction and light commercial projects.

“Our goal is to get the benefits of geothermal heat exchange systems to as many consumers as possible,” says company president Tony Penachio.

The GeoColumn comes housed in a sealed vessel just 28 inches in diameter. Inside this container, a gas heat exchange medium circulates through coils of copper tubing submerged in ordinary, unconditioned water. The entire system is buried in a borehole just 23 feet deep, which can be easily dug by light, truck-mounted drilling equipment.

According to Penachio, GeoColumns are also easy to set up—local HVAC crews can do it without special training or equipment—and the system requires little maintenance over its anticipated long service life. Buyers who want to convert existing heating and cooling systems have another incentive, Penachio adds—unlike other ground source systems, GeoColumns are priced to compete with the cost of conventional oil, gas or propane HVAC systems.

In a GeoColumn, the copper tubing used for the heat exchanger has a longer lifespan than systems that use plastic in-ground tubing. In addition to being a highly durable and sustainable or “green” material, copper’s superior conductivity and thermal transfer capability make it ideal for this application.

The Federal Economic Stimulus Bill defines geothermal heat pump systems as “energy property” and provides tax credits plus a 50-percent bonus depreciation for commercial installations. The bill also provides a 30 percent tax credit to homeowners for residential installations.

“This new technology has a tremendous economic upside,” says Andy Kireta, Jr., vice president of building construction for the Copper Development Association. “It can help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere. And the new tax incentives make choosing a geothermal system even more cost effective.” Cu

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No Mystery to Copper-clad Exterior For New GA Nanotechnology Center

Hidden message in “floating panel” design debunked

Maybe it was the building’s exotic title – the new Nanotechnology Research Center on the Georgia Institute of Technology campus – that caused rumors about its unique exterior design to run a bit wild.

A series of individual copper panels, spaced in an organized yet curiously random fashion, seemed to float just off the face of the structure, screening the façade. As construction proceeded, “sidewalk superintendents” offered up any number of theories.

Nanotech CenterPhoto taken during construction by copper panel installer Harmon Inc.

High-resolution version of this photo.

Was there a subliminal message hidden in the pattern, something related to the Center’s purpose? A DNA sequence, perhaps? Or did the rectangular copper shapes imply “test strips,” like those used in metallurgy labs?

Sorry, sci-fi fans. While the pattern may be mesmerizing, and fascinating to speculate on, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

“The screen was created because the building was a blank-walled structure,” according to Joe Bridy of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the Pittsburgh-based architectural firm that designed the structure with international design firm M+W Zander.

The floating screen “helps to unify what are really two buildings separated by a long, linear gallery. Screening off the structure also should help the cooling load,” a significant factor during hot Georgia summers, Bridy explained.

Architect David Murray of BCJ found the theories amusing. The random panel theme “just came out of our design proposal,” he said. “We set up a ‘spacing module’ and placed the panels every eight, sixteen and twenty-four inches. Copper was selected as a beautiful material that would enhance the campus area adjacent to the building. It’s obvious that we like copper—it’s a natural material and it weathers nicely.”

Although the 790 individual copper panels in the screen were as bright as new pennies when installed in 2008, the uncoated metal has already begun to oxidize and blend into its park-like surroundings. And while the building has energy-efficient features, including the panels, which contain 90 percent recycled copper content, Georgia Tech opted not to pursue LEED certification, Murray said.

The panels were fabricated of 48-ounce half-hard-temper solid copper, each measuring 32x101 inches. Perforations in the panel surfaces allow air to circulate through them to decrease their resistance to wind, which could tear them from their mounts during storms.

The panels and the hanger system that supports them were manufactured by LinEl Signature of Indianapolis, IN, a fabricator of architectural exteriors for such notable structures as the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.

Andy Kireta Jr., vice president of building construction for the Copper Development Association, discussed the panel specifications with project officials early in the project.

“They were thinking of using 16-ounce perforated copper sheets,” he recalled, “but that would have been too light for this application even if the sheets weren’t perforated. For panels that size, the minimum you’d want is 32-ounce copper. Thanks to the heavier weight of these panels, you now see an amazing flatness across the face of the entire installation. I think they’ve done a super job.” Cu

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Mankind’s First Metal, Still Our Most Useful

Copper continues to be the element we can’t live without

Few materials, natural or manmade, can match the contribution copper has made across the arc of human civilization.

Copper was the first metal used by mankind at the beginning of recorded history. Its principal alloy, bronze, ushered in the age of metals and machinery, enabling our modern world.

Electricity, electronics and computers—the key components of progress today and for the foreseeable future, all rely on copper circuitry.

Notre-Damne de MontrealLa basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal

High-resolution version of this photo.

Electrical manufacturing turns to copper for its three major properties—ductility, malleability and conductivity. Because copper excels in all three areas, it has become the benchmark for most types of wiring.

Whether in its natural state or alloyed with other elements, copper is also the quality standard when it comes to construction materials from plumbing pipe to architectural roofing.

Millions of miles of dependable, long-lasting copper pipe provide water to people around the globe. Copper plumbing systems require no maintenance and are so reliable that manufacturers offer a 50-year warranty.

Another plumbing application that benefits from copper is fire sprinkler systems. Unlike plastic pipe, copper will not burn or emit toxic fumes when exposed to flame, and it retains its integrity even in extreme temperatures—up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Architecture is an area where copper shines, literally and figuratively. Many of the world’s greatest structures are crowned with copper roofs. Some recent examples include Canada’s largest and oldest cathedral, the Basilica of Notre Dame; the renowned and renovated Plaza Hotel in New York; and the ongoing expansion of Princeton University’s hallowed halls of education.

Architects, builders, and facility owners and managers choose copper for good reasons: Copper typically offers the highest durability among competing materials, which translates into the lowest maintenance cost—along with green-building advantages of maximum sustainability and recyclability—over a lifetime of installed service.

Copper’s superior conductivity and thermal transfer capability are critical in improving the energy efficiency of today’s buildings and homes.  Energy-saving products like high-efficiency motors, direct exchange geothermal heat pumps and solar collectors, depend on advanced copper tubing and wiring to provide higher efficiencies and longer product life. 

As notable as these attributes may be, copper provides us with more important benefits. Copper sustains life itself, as a critical nutritional component in our diet and as an irreplaceable element helping to regulate the functioning of our bodies.

Copper is also a valuable defense against potentially life-threatening disease. Pure copper and uncoated copper alloys are inherently lethal to bacteria and are now recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as antimicrobial materials—the first time EPA has granted antimicrobial registration to a metal.

As a result, architects, interior designers and developers of hospitals and public facilities are being encouraged to specify copper and copper alloys for frequently touched surfaces installed in the buildings they help to create.

One day copper, the metal that has been instrumental throughout our history, may be part of almost everything we see or touch in our everyday lives—protecting us from harm while benefitting us in innumerable other ways. Cu

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2009 North American Copper in Architectural Awards Program Draws Numerous Entries

CDA and CCBDA to honor building projects showcasing innovative use of copper, brass and bronze

Copper—both the material itself and the architectural products made from it—plays an integral role in the design of many commercial and residential buildings throughout North America. In addition to its aesthetic qualities, copper is the metal of choice for architects and builders because of its sustainable benefits, including durability, longevity and recyclability. These attributes are key factors in LEED certification. 

NACIA entry2009 NACIA program entry

High-resolution version of this photo.

To honor the significant contributions copper provides to the industry, the Copper Development Association (CDA), in collaboration with the Canadian Copper & Brass Development Association (CCBDA), is once again recognizing building projects throughout the United States and Canada that have incorporated copper and copper alloys into their design.

Building on the success of last year’s North American Copper in Architecture Awards program, CDA and CCBDA issued a call for entries in 2008 for this year’s competition. In all, the architectural awards program’s sponsors received 34 submissions. Projects being considered for the 2009 program include college and university buildings, healthcare institutions, houses of worship, government buildings, a restored train station, a rehabilitated farmhouse and private residences. The recipients of the 2009 program will be announced in June.

“We are very excited about the public’s interest in our architectural awards program,” said Andy Kireta Jr., CDA’s vice president for building and construction. “This program is designed to honor contemporary architectural work highlighting the use of copper in new building construction and renovation, in both interior and exterior applications. Copper remains a preferred building material, not only because of its superior characteristics, but also for its many ‘green’ attributes.”

Criteria for the awards program includes the use of copper in the overall building design, integration of copper systems, craft of copper installation, and excellence in innovation or historic restoration. The program is intended to increase public awareness and promote excellence in architectural copper design for buildings constructed during the past two years.

A panel of judges made up of architectural and copper industry experts will evaluate this year’s list of nominees to award those projects representing excellence in the use of copper in the built environment.

Among the projects honored last year were the newly renovated Plaza Hotel in New York City, and La basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal and the Library of Parliament, both in Canada.

See more photos and details by visiting 2008 Award Winners. Cu

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