Dedmon Athletic Center in VA Selects New Insulated Fabric Roofing System

Tag : Roof Fabric

Cabot Aerogel, a business of Cabot Corporation and Birdair, Inc., aglobal leader in tensile fabric roofing systems, announced thefirst installation of their new energy-efficient fabric tensileroofing product, Tensotherm(TM) with Nanogel(R) aerogel. The newinsulated composite fabric roofing system will replace theair-supported fabric roof constructed in 1980, of the DedmonAthletic Center at Radford University in Radford, VA. The projectwill enclose the sports arena's entire 52,000 square-feet roof areaand will be completed by November 2008, just in time for theschool's NCAA basketball season opener.

Representatives of Cabot Aerogel and Birdair will be available todiscuss the Tensotherm product and this project at the 2008 AIANational Convention and Exhibition, May 15-17, at the BostonConvention Center, Booth #22153.

Birdair's Tensotherm with Nanogel consists of an aerogel fabriclayer sandwiched between two layers of Birdair - structural PTFEfabric, creating an insulated composite that was not possiblebefore the advent of the Nanogel light-transmitting fabricinner-layer. The composite fabric system is less than two inchesthick, yet it has an insulation value of R-12, meeting Virginiaenergy codes. It also delivers 3.5 percent natural lighttransmission, which contributes to its high performingenergy-efficiency by reducing the need for artificial lighting. Theadvanced system also offers maximum moisture control and superiorsound insulation. All of these are permanent performance featuresthat will not change over time to match the long-term efficacy ofthe PTFE membrane.

"Over the last three decades advances in technology have greatlyimproved structural tensile fabrics," said Kevin Mayer, Birdairvice president for business development, marketing and sales."Working with Cabot and Geiger Engineers, we now have anexceptionally long-wearing insulated light transmissive fabricsystem that meets our rigorous performance standards and can exceedmandates for higher energy-efficiency. Cabot's unique Nanogel(R)aerogel is key to creating this next generation roofing fabric."

James Satterwhite, global daylighting business manager for Cabotsaid, "Projects like Radford University's Dedmon Center call forthe beauty and durability of a fabric roof form, but also require ahigher level of energy efficiency. Tensotherm with Nanogel is thedaylighting solution that balances design and energy performance."

Plans also call for upgrading the facility's heating and coolingsystems once the new roof goes up. The performance of the Nanogelinside the Tensotherm will contribute significantly to a higherlevel of efficiency in the first cost of mechanical systems as wellas reduce long-term operational costs for the center. This is a newfrontier for tensile architecture.

"This new material creates opportunities for tensioned membrane inapplications and climates that were traditionally difficult.Tensotherm with Nanogel is truly a building envelope material withuses well beyond roof structures," said David M. Campbell, PE,principal, Geiger Engineers.

What is Nanogel(R) aerogel?

Nanogel(R) is the brand name for the nano-porous feather-lightaerogel material manufactured exclusively by Cabot. The aerogel isan extremely lightweight and versatile material that deliversthermal insulation while allowing transmission of a high-quality,uniform diffused light. Nanogel also insulates sound andpermanently repels moisture and resists mildew. Its highperformance features in these areas make it ideally suited fornumerous applications. Nanogel translucent aerogel material ismanufactured exclusively by Cabot Corporation in Frankfurt, Germanyusing a process based on Cabot's patented surface modification andfine-particle manufacturing technology.
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About Cabot Corporation
Corporation: Cabot is a global specialty chemicals and materialscompany headquartered in Boston, MA. Its major products are carbonblack, fumed silica, inkjet colorants, capacitor materials, andcesium formate drilling fluids.

About Birdair: Birdair, Inc. is a leading builder of architecturalfabric roofing systems throughout the world, providing turn-keysolutions for architects and clients in all aspects of projectdesign, engineering, installation and maintenance. Birdair roofingsystems and cable structures can be attached to any buildingenvelope and offer aesthetic options to complement any exteriordesign. For more information about Birdair, Inc., please call1-800-622-2246 or visit www.birdair.com.

About Geiger

Geiger Engineers was founded in 1988 by a group of professionalswho have now been collaborating on challenging engineeringassignments for more than thirty years. Founder David Geigerinvented the low profile cable-restrained air-supported roof,employing a super-elliptical perimeter compression ring, themembrane structural system used to cover more than half of thedomed stadia in the world. The firm, also known as Geiger Berger,was instrumental in the development of structural membranematerials, such as TEFLON(R) coated fiberglass, and pioneered manyother long-span cable, tensile membrane, tensegrity andair-supported structures.