RPC Exceed

Rob Pelletier Construction, Inc. Houston Texas

Rob Pelletier Construction, Inc.

contact@rpcinc.com
p (281) 227-3577
Central Texas: (512) 962-9522
10189 FM 1960• Dayton, TX 77535

Bunjil Place: The Multi Award-Winning Building

Bunjil Place is a $125 million multipurpose arts, civic and community facility in the outer Melbourne suburb of Narre Warren, housing a library, 800-seat theatre, gathering and meeting spaces, council offices, an art gallery, a flexible event space and an outdoor plaza. The facility is the first of its kind, bringing together creativity, entertainment and community in a way that is unparalleled in Australia.

The multi award-winning building was designed by FJMT and inspired by Bunjil, a character in Aboriginal mythology who created the land, animals and people. Bunjil placed a huge sense of importance on sustainability, encouraging the preservation of the environment, a point which trickled into the choices that were made in terms of the building’s design and construction.

Sustainability was front of mind in the design of this building which utilises environmentally-friendly building materials and high performance façades to make the building as sustainable and energy efficient as possible. One of the building’s most striking features is its curved roof, a complex and ambitious architectural design. Mythology recounts that Bunjil morphed into an eagle to watch over his people, and two large wooden features, descending from the roof, resemble his wings.

Click here to learn more.

Squibb Building

Following 2015 research data which showed that buildings in New York City were responsible for 67% of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, New York officials updated their energy efficiency standards for both new and existing buildings.

A historic 34-strorey high rise on Manhattan’s 5th Avenue was due for renovation, specifically a roofing remodel on a particular floor to improve the building’s performance. With the new standards in place set by the New York City Energy Conservation Code, a retrofit was needed to achieve these standards.

This project came with significant design challenges for the building owner. The addition of multiple layers of insulation would require significant renovations to the roof, and the additional thickness from the introduction of insulation posed challenges in ensuring railings were at an adequate height.

There was also the major issue of the need to vacate space around the works during periods of heavy activity. This would require moving some tenants out for a period of six to nine months – causing significant disruption for them as well as loss of income for the building’s owner.

In looking for a solution which would cost less, save time and meet the regulations the building owner chose next generation Kingspan OPTIM-R insulation. Designed for projects which require creative solutions, Kingspan OPTIM-R is ultra-thin and perfect for retrofit applications.

The insulation did not affect the railing details or impact on roof pavers and door thresholds. This meant heavy renovation works were not required and therefore no need for tenants to vacate the building. With New York City also facing a labour shortage at the time, the opportunity to cut down on project time meant that contractors had the leeway to ensure the best workers were on the job.

With over 3 months saved in construction time, a higher-performing building and cost-savings of over $1.2 million – the 5th Avenue retrofit represents an excellent example of how a creative, next-generation product can offer the solutions clients need without negatively affecting quality.

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V&A Dundee

Scotland’s first dedicated design museum blends architectural expression with energy conscious design. Home to curiosity, innovation and learning, the £80m building is situated on the edge of the majestic River Tay.

Commissioned by Dundee City Council, the iconic landmark is the first building in the United Kingdom that has been designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and was built by BAM Construction. The visually-striking structure provides a new social and cultural hub, comprising 1,650 m2 of exhibition space connected to the historic riverfront. Inspired by Scottish cliffs, the angular form of V&A Dundee immediately demands attention.

The building also celebrates the best in energy efficient design achieving a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ Rating. Kingspan utilised the air source heat pumps in combination with geothermal energy to improve energy conservation. The V&A features thirty 200-metre deep bore holes to heat and cool the building. To ensure rainwater is effectively channelled off the flat roof, Kingspan’s tapered roofing design team created the detailed layout and specification for the final roof insulation scheme. These solutions address the potential heat loss from the museum’s expansive flat roof and also provide drainage management to prevent long-term maintenance issues. All three Kingspan Insulation products installed at the museum have been assigned the highest possible BRE Green Guide Summary Rating of A+.
 
On the second-floor circulation, foyer and galleries, Kingspan Access Floors supplied an RMG600 medium grade system for the museum. Finished with Attiro magnetic engineered timber flooring, this provides a high specification overlay finish with the benefits of a functional design which allows for easy access to the service void below. With 500,000 visitors expected in the first 12 months, the flooring solution also ensures durability.  

Click the photo to learn more. 

Madison Fire Station #14

 

A fire station is first and foremost a civic structure. It also doubles as a work space, home base, gym, indoor training facility and even a public polling place. When designing Madison, Wisconsin’s largest fire station, local OPN Architects was tasked with addressing each of these program uses in their design – all while meeting the city requirement for low energy use.

OPN Architects designed Station #14 with a geothermal energy system, rooftop photovoltaics and translucent daylighting panels. These features allowed them to exceed local energy code by 30%, earn a LEED Platinum rating and achieve a 70% reduction in energy use over comparable facilities.

Station #14 had to accommodate a specific site orientation for fire trucks leaving the station, which required the main façade to face west. City engineers and OPN Architects wanted to introduce a glass wall for daylighting, but they were concerned about controlling solar heat gain and
glare. Their solution was 2,630 sq. ft. of Kingspan Light + Air | CPI Daylighting UniQuad® translucent wall panel system.

We wanted daylighting, but with a west orientation for the main façade of the building, we knew we’d have to work hard to control solar gain and glare. Instead of all glass, we looked for another material. How could we minimize solar gain and glare? The product really stood out for its qualities of daylighting and energy efficiency. The patterning, and the modularity of the system all worked out with our design. – Mark Kruser, AIA, | Project Manager, OPN Architects

Why UniQuad®?

Station #14 features the UniQuad wall system on three elevations, with translucent panels integrated with clear glass on the east and west facades.

An advantage of the UniQuad system was our ability to integrate it with the glazing/framing system we were using. We have the taller spans and were able to reinforce that from the back. They worked well together. – M.K

The UniQuad system, which helped contribute to Station #14’s LEED Platinum rating, exceeds ASHRAE 90.1/International Energy Conservation Code requirements for commercial building codes. UniQuad panels are certified per NFRC, with a U-factor insulation value of .28. The two-panel design also significantly improves system durability, and offers superior protection against air and water infiltration, boasting the industry’s best ratio of light transmission to thermal insulation.

Raising the Roof on Madison Fire Station #14

The 19,232-square-foot Station features 6,000 square feet of community meeting and firefighter training space. During the day, daylight seeps in from the outside, while soft, ambient light illuminates the station at night, giving it a strong, visible presence in the community.

In every way, Madison Fire Station #14 exceeds expectations. With a significant energy savings, even surpassing code, and with more than 40% of materials purchased locally, Station #14 has the ability to reach Net Zero tomorrow. At a minimum, though, Station #14 will be sustainably lit for years to come

Virtua Health and Wellness Center

 

2009_CPI_UniQuad_Virtua-Health-and-Wellness-Center_US(3)The patients and community members at the Virtua Health and Wellness Center of Washington Township, New Jersey, know first-hand the critical role that the sun and Vitamin D play in healing, thanks in part to Kingspan Light + Air’s UniQuad® system.

Virtua aims to be Washington Township’s one stop shop for health and wellness. Within the 250,000 sq. ft. property, patients are provided with imaging and lab services, doctors’ offices, ambulatory surgery facilities, cardiac rehabilitation services, healthy food options, and an exercise club with a pool.

There was extensive research prior to the construction of the facility’s grand entrance and pool-side façade by Designer Paul Widlarz of HGA Architects, an organization based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Widlarz chose to utilize 6,710 sq. ft. of CPI Daylighting’s UniQuad system in clear and clear matte glazing to achieve the vision Virtua was looking for without glare and visibility from the outside. “The UniQuad lets in a ton of natural light, and didn’t have some of the thermal performance issues we would have had with any other material,” said Widlarz. “It fit the bill from a number of different perspectives, from getting the light in but maintaining the privacy the client wanted and also a high performing glazing system in a harsh, humid environment.”

The cancer patients that come in here for chemo will sometimes just sit in the lobby and bathe in the light that comes through the daylight wall. It makes everyone feel better. The wall light is very conducive to relaxation. It’s both physiologic and psychologic. – Terry Rodgers, a Building Manager at Virtua

 
The UniQuad system is constructed of two independent translucent insulated panels that are joined by a mechanically interlocking structure, which eliminates the need for vulnerable wet seal and adhesives. It is the only daylight system that can span as long as twelve feet between structural supports and can provide indefinite building envelope protection. The system features Removable Skin Technology that allows the exterior panel to be replaced as needed. UniQuad is scalable and can be configured with various features while maintaining its integrity, including: additional insulation, sound reduction, dynamic shading, additional structural performance, and even military forced entry resistance.

Virtua combined daylighting and viewing zones, as can be seen on the twenty-five foot long poolside façade, where Kingspan Light + Air incorporated vision glass in addition to the UniQuad panels. Together, the two zones create a level of transparency that is controlled where desired while satisfying a LEED requirement as well. “Comparing it to curtainwall and other materials, we found that with Kingspan Light + Air we were able to get a much more dynamic material at a smaller cost,” said Widlarz. “It gave us the best of both worlds and was very well received.”

It fit the bill from a number of different perspectives, from getting the light in but maintaining the privacy the client wanted and also a high performing glazing system in a harsh, humid environment. – Paul Wildarz, Designer at HGA Architects

Austin ISD Performing Arts Center

 

Austin_ISD_Performing_Arts_nightThe new Austin Independent School District Performing Arts Center (PAC) achieves optimal performance for the 84,000 students it serves annually and the 23% less overall energy use it expends over baseline facilities* – thanks in part to CPI Daylighting’s UniQuad® translucent wall system.

Designed by Pfluger Architects, the 60,000-sq.-ft., $30 million project features 6,840 sq. ft. of Kingspan Light + Air’s UniQuad translucent wall system. The new state-of-the-art venue, located on the grounds of a former airport, earned certification from both LEED and the local Austin Green Building Program.

Together, the UniQuad daylighting system that runs across the top and the vision glass that spans the bottom, make up PAC’s curtainwall. This unique combination allows diffused light to penetrate deep into the space without any glare. High sun angles and heat gain are eliminated, while unobstructed views are maintained inside and out. This solution created the special effect for evening performances that PAC’s owners were looking for.

The use of a translucent panel system was in response to the owner’s desire to create a visual ‘lantern’ effect for nighttime events. – Sean Conner, Project Manager for Pfluger

 
In addition to the “look” of the facility, keeping the extreme heat and glare of the Texas sun out while still maintaining the desired daylighting views and ambient interior was a priority for designers. “Kingspan Light + Airs’s installation characteristics were very impressive,” said Connor. “During construction, when the panels were installed in the lobby but the AC was not yet running, the room was comfortable even in Texas in August, with 100 degree-plus temperatures and a directly west-facing wall.”

Featuring a 1,200-seat auditorium, a 250-seat black box theatre, a 4,690 sq. ft. dance studio and a 2,600 sq. ft. multipurpose room, the PAC continues to draw rave reviews for its shows and the ability of its UniQuad translucent wall to effectively daylight the facility. “It still looks brand new,” said Connor. “Everyone’s happy and there’s no complaints about glare.”

Compared to a baseline case study, the PAC achieves 23% less overall energy use.

Eagle Academy

Eagle Academy is the first early childhood public charter school in Washington D.C., and is home to more than 900 students. When designing the school, Eagle Academy was hoping for an intellectually stimulating and sustainable environment that resembled their previous building, but its location in the South East side of the city caused a security concern that needed to be addressed in its design.

Kingspan Light + Air provided 13,020 sq. ft. of UniQuad® panels to solve the problems and concerns academy faced at their 27,000 sq. ft. facility. The panels’ advanced Removable Skin Technology (RST) allows the exterior panel to be replaced as needed in the event of vandalism and provides indefinite building envelope protection

The Eagle Academy was designed to feature a seamless glazed look without any exposed aluminum connectors, and included bi-colored panels of blue and white to show the school colors. The outside panels were matte finished for added security and daytime privacy. The UniQuad system is one of the many energy-saving measures taken by Eagle Academy to achieve LEED Silver.

We picked a system that would give them the daylight they wanted without having to use windows. The UniQuad provides an interesting effect inside, durable material, and a great aesthetic. The school is in a zone that would be prone to some kind of vandalism. If they have a problem with it, panels can be removed one at a time. – Carlos Talero, Shinberg Levinas Architectural Design

 
The UniQuad is the only daylight system that can span as long as 12 ft. between structural supports. It is constructed of two independent translucent insulated panels, and is joined by a mechanically interlocking structure that eliminates the need for vulnerable wet seal and adhesives.

“We’ve had some days with heavy winds and I’ve walked into the gym to see if I can feel anything, but the panels are air tight,” said John Johnson, Director of Security/Facilities at Eagle Academy. “We haven’t had any water issues at all – no leaks, nothing.”

The panels are scalable and can be configured with various features while maintaining its integrity, including: additional insulation, sound reduction, dynamic shading, additional structural performance, military forced entry resistance, and more.

SeatGeek Stadium Transit Center

Chicago’s SeatGeek Stadium Transit Center Station is more than just a simple bus stop.  

Owners Pace Bus Company and the City of Bridgeview, IL, wanted the station standing opposite the Chicago Fire Soccer Club’s arena to feature backlit translucent panels in official club colors – red and white.
The challenge for the designers was attaching panels to the canopy while integrating an LED lighting system. Maintenance was another a concern. City personnel needed to be able to service the interior cavity easily. The City also wanted the panels to look like they were floating atop the brick structure. The specified panel manufacturer was unable to meet design requirements, and the project faced potential setbacks ahead of the team’s 2019 season kick-off.
 
Chicago-based Studio ARQ Architects turned to Kingpsan Light +Air | CPI Daylighting for a translucent panel solution that could meet all of their needs.

The Kingspan Light + Air Solution
Kingspan Light + Air designers engineered and built a 3,180-sq.-ft. translucent wall panel system, with a 7-ft.-tall cavity and roof hatch allowing city maintenance personnel easy access inside. The red matte and ice white matte translucent panels are held together by a concealed aluminum support system, without the need for a large structural joint. Apart from the panel perimeter, there is no exposed aluminum. Made up of small internal cells that help improve the quality and balance distrubiton of glare-free light with a special UV inhibitor, the panels feature superior durability and prolonged resistance to impact. Designed with a mechanically interlocking double-tooth connection, the panels are also removable for maintenance and replacement as necessary.

In addition to the panel features, Kingspan Light + Air designers knew that when  red and white panels are joined and backlit without creating separation between the two, light could easily bounce through the red and tint the white panels pink – something the owners didn’t want.

To prevent this, Kingspan Light + Air designers created an angle inside of the cavity, placing the light fixtures and back-end support structure a few feet away from the glazing. This allowed the Chicago Fire Club red and white to remain bold, vibrant and seperate.

“Another concern we had was insects crawling into the panels,” said Jose Espejo, Project Manager, Studio ARQ, Chicago. “When I saw the panels delivered to the site, I saw that Kingspan had put an aluminum screen guard on the edges that allows the panels to breathe, but also prevents unwanted creatures from crawling in there and creating black spots.”

With a clear balance of color throughout the floating structure, the new SeatGeek Stadium Transit Center is a focal point for area visitors and soccer fans alike, providing an additional means of transportation, illuminated with a splash of Chicago Fire pride.

Devon Yard Lifestyle Center

When designing the new Devon Yard in Chester County, Pennsylvania, NewStudio Architecture was faced with a seemingly impossible task. They needed to create a “light and airy greenhouse feel” for occupants, while meeting strict local energy codes. NewStudio was concepting more than just a typical shopping mall — Devon Yard is Anthropologie’s first ever “lifestyle center,” built near its original 1992 retail store.

Incorporating local materials, including Pennsylvania field stone and reclaimed barnwood, was important to the brand known for its homey and rustic, modern farmhouse decor. But, architect Erin Grammas, NewStudio Architecture, St. Paul, knew she couldn’t exclusively use a standing-seam, metal barn roof for the project.

“We originally looked at single-ply corrugated poly, but quickly realized that wasn’t going to meet any energy codes, and traditional, corrugated roofing for a green yard wouldn’t work here either. Occupants would get really uncomfortable, really fast,” said architect Erin Grammas. Luckily, NewStudio had partnered with Kingspan Light + Air on previous projects when they needed to meet energy codes, so Grammas knew who to call.

 

Why the Quadwall® skylight system?

 

NewStudio met the challenge with 2,680 square feet of Quadwall skylight system in the two main indoor/outdoor spaces at the heart of the lifestyle center. The system provides a welcoming and airy atmosphere to offset the areas with a standing seam metal roof, while significantly reducing glare and added heat, and diffusing natural daylight indoors.

Kingspan’s ice-white glazed, two-panel Quadwall translucent skylight system is constructed so that panels are independent of one another, but also mechanically connected to the system’s internal support structure. This removeable skin technology (RST) feature ensures that if there is a future need to update the exterior, those panels can be changed without interrupting ongoing business operations while maintaining the integrity of the system. The flexibility to replace individual panels as needed, rather than the entire system, makes Quadwall extremely versatile and significantly increases its lifespan.

It was an engineering feat that resulted in the destination place it is today. – Erin Grammas, Architect NewStudio Architecture

Creating the Devon Yard experience

 
Devon Yard opened in September 2018 next to the iconic Devon Horse Show grounds, and quickly became a local town center. With detailing that blends into the local landscape, Devon Yard, as one local newspaper said: “seems almost as if it’s always been there.” From exposed beams to the Quadwall and standing seam metal roof combination, this unusual space came to life through extensive coordination between a team of structural engineers, architects and Kingspan Light + Air designers.

“The result looks nice and clean, but we spent a lot of time coordinating the standing seam metal roof, the Quadwall and different wall types to make sure we met the energy standards and aesthetic we wanted. It was an engineering feat that resulted in the destination place it is today,” said Grammas.

Anchored by a flagship Anthropologie retail store, Devon Yards boasts five structures, featuring two fine eateries, a home/garden shop and more. Brought together around a central courtyard, with a style suggestive of both pastoral farmhouses and modern greenhouses, Devon Yard is elegantly simple.

Mexican Radio

Located in Oklahoma City’s Plaza District, Mexican Radio specializes in two things: tacos and cold drinks. The newly opened concept restaurant conceived by A Good Egg Dining Group occupies a lively, fun space.
 
The property’s major restoration includes a covered outdoor dining area. There, a translucent vaulted canopy crowns the space in a swirl of bright colors. Inspired by a colorful fine art glass installation, the owners and architect collaborated to find the right solution.
 
The canopy adds more than just a bright accent for diners: It creates an additional dining space that protects diners from the elements and makes the space useful nearly year ’round.

Kitchen at Commonplace – Gardner Architects by Mel Willis