Oct 16 2009
Shildan, a leading advocate of green sustainable building practices, announced today that several of its most recent projects are making a significant difference in the environmental movement.
According to Shildan President Moshe Steinmetz, "The LaQuinta building in California (developed by Boulder & Associates Architects, L.A.) is a Gold LEED project that benefits from using a terracotta rainscreen system. It is part of a growing trend to place the insulation outside the structural wall and thus up insulation value by up to 40 percent." Steinmetz adds, "The Ft. Belvoir Community Hospital project, however, (a 1,000,000 square foot hospital worth $806.9 million), will not only benefit from enormous energy savings but will also last for up to 100 years--almost 3 times as long as other less sustainable materials."
In addition, the terracotta rainscreen facades installed at Fort Belvoir (the partial replacement for Walter Reed Medical center) will eliminate condensation and mold from the exterior walls. "By removing the breeding ground of hospital borne infections, we can also improve outcomes for patients suffering with immune deficiency issues."
The exclusive North American supplier of Moeding energy efficient and eco-friendly terracotta products, Shildan offers architects and developers a real way to impact the environment and a new a chance to thrive in this new, greener era. Known for their environmentally safe and technologically savvy features, Shildan terracotta rainscreens can add up to 6 points to a LEED development project by:
- Decreasing condensation and, thus, mold and mildew;
- Improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon with a back-ventilated rainscreen system.
- Providing an insulation value up to R-21, (an increase of up to 30-60%).
"Going green is more than just a rallying call for us," observes Shildan president Moshe Steinmetz. "It's about achieving multiple objectives that make solid business sense. By offering a product that reduces costs, enhances productivity, increases shareholder value for businesses, and contributes to a healthier natural environment, we believe we're making a real difference. These new projects are just the first of many in our attempts to supply today's leading architects and builders with the tools they need to shape a greener world."