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ALBION DISTRICT LIBRARY BY PERKINS + WILL IS A 2018 COTE TOP TEN RECIPIENT. IMAGE: DOUBLESPACE PHOTOGRAPHY

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The Committee on the Environment (COTE®) is an AIA Knowledge Community working for architects, allied professionals, and the public to achieve climate action and climate justice through design. We believe that design excellence is the foundation of a healthy, sustainable, and equitable future. Our work promotes design strategies that empower all AIA members to realize the best social and environmental outcomes with the clients and the communities they serve.

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A big thank you to our 2024 sponsors: 
Founding sponsors: Building Green
Premier sponsors: Sherwin-Williams
Sustaining sponsors: GAF Roofing, Milliken, Andersen Windows,
BlueScope Buildings
Green sponsors: EPIC Metals
Allied sponsors: TLC Engineering, Sierra Pacific Windows

Kawneer Partner Content: Performance and aesthetics for healthcare

By Eana Bacchiocchi posted 10-20-2022 12:04 PM

  

Healthcare facilities play an essential role in our lives. As a global leader in architectural aluminum systems, Kawneer offers innovative solutions for the healthcare sector. Kawneer’s façade solutions enhance occupant comfort, health, and well-being, while improving the thermal performance and aesthetics of healthcare facilities. 

 

Window solutions and glazing systems maximize natural daylight and ventilation, positively influencing sleep and the healing process. Sun control products, such as the Versoleil SunShade and InLighten Interior Light Shelf promote comfort for both patients and healthcare professionals by reducing solar heat gain and glare. 

 

Kawneer is committed to providing sustainable products that support healthcare for generations to come. Products are made with a minimum of 40% recycled content. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Material Transparency Summaries (MTS), the Cradle to Cradle Certified Products Program, and Declare labels are available for architects and designers to better understand the environmental impact of each product. For example, Kawneer’s 1620 and 1620UT Curtain Wall Systems now have Declare labels disclosing that they are Red List free. Kawneer will continue to deliver value-engineered solutions for the healthcare sector and empower architects and designers to imagine buildings that reduce energy, cost, and impact on the environment. 

 

Many of Kawneer’s products are hurricane- and blast-resistant to protect patients, caregivers and families, ensuring continued care even in extreme conditions. Entrances are engineered for robustness and security, providing user-controlled access, and quick escape routes in emergencies. 

 

Case Studies in Healthcare 

There are several outstanding projects in the healthcare industry that feature Kawneer’s pioneering products. Methodist University Hospital's Shorb Tower in Memphis, Tennessee, is a modern 450,000-square-foot patient building designed by HKS. A dynamic glass façade featuring Kawneer curtain wall systems on the tower offers occupants enhanced views to the outdoors and access to natural daylight. Utilizing Kawneer’s pre-glazed 2500 UT Unitwall Systems allowed for shop fabrication, fast installation, and minimal disruption to the existing emergency department. 

 

Another example is Highlands Oncology Clinic in Springdale, Arkansas, designed by Crafton Tull. Occupant comfort and well-being was a primary consideration of the project which offers access to the most up-to-date treatment technology. Using Kawneer’s Trifab VersaGlaze 451/451T Framing System and 1600 Wall System®1 Curtain Wall the clinic achieved energy efficiency and exceptional acoustic performance, while Kawneer’s Versoleil SunShades maintain thermal efficiency within the building. 

In Loveland, Colorado, the Medical Center of the Rockies has demonstrated that sustainable design can improve energy efficiency and patient well-being. The facility lowered solar heat gain and reflected indirect light deep into the building to reduce energy costs and maximize daylight in the atrium. This was achieved using a combination of 1600 Wall System1 Curtain Wall, Versoleil SunShade, and InLighten Interior Light Shelf. 

 

More Efficiency, Lower Costs 

Natural light and heat management, along with HVAC and artificial lighting systems, Kawneer products assist with creating highly efficient, sustainable buildings with lower operational costs. 

 

Visit Kawneer-healthcare.com  

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