In today’s environment, building owners and designers must try to meet an ever-expanding range of requirements for new facilities, whether they are hospitals, outpatient centers or educational buildings. Costs are always important and now green or sustainable building is an increasingly important factor in new construction. Additionally, a new facility needs to fit in with its surroundings and meet local building codes. And last but certainly not least, the facility needs to efficiently and effectively provide the services for which it was constructed – serving patients and students.

The building envelope is a significant part of any construction project as it
provides a gateway between the interior and exterior as well as a first impression.

The building envelope is a significant part of any construction project as it provides a gateway between the interior and exterior as well as a first impression. Its appearance allows it to fit in or stand out from its surroundings. It is also vital when incorporating energy efficiency and sustainable concepts. How does a builder or owner provide a building that is cost effective, meets sustainable building requirements, is energy efficient and is good-looking?

Metal building systems are able to meet all of the needs of new medical and educational facilities at reasonable costs. These buildings are some of the most cost-effective structures available, which is vital in tough economic times. Metal buildings also provide sustainable construction techniques and materials. The versatility of a metal building allows an envelope that can be designed to look good, fit in with local codes and provide energy efficient solutions to keep operating costs down.

Metal Building Systems Provide Energy Savings Through Recycled and Recyclable Products
Metal building systems can meet many of the needs for new buildings and for renovations and additions. Metal is not only cost-effective over time, but it incorporates sustainable building practices. Steel is the most recycled building material available, and it is completely recyclable at the end of its lifecycle. Metal buildings can gain LEED points for both recycled content as well as energy efficiency.

The building envelope in a metal building system is very flexible. Metal buildings allow for a variety of exterior surfaces and materials, and they also offer extensive insulation values. Factory insulated wall panels provide one of the most energy efficient wall systems available, and they can be constructed to look however an owner or designer would like. These wall panels come with pre-determined R-values for the insulation, with a standard range that stretches from R-16 to R-32, and some can even go higher.

While the insulation and metal materials in the exterior of a metal building system provide a sustainable design, the building’s flexibility can allow it to help you build brand recognition through a quality building design. A prime example of this is the Grace Clinic in Lubbock, Texas. This all-in-one building provides a complete range of patient services, from lab tests to doctor’s visits to prescriptions. The 110,000 square foot facility even has an outpatient surgery center on site.

The outside of the building was designed to be approachable and attractive as well as fit in with the building’s all-purpose interior. It has a two-story glass entry which is inviting and modern looking. The north corridor, leading to exam rooms, is also glass lined so that the interior is light and inviting for patients, doctors and all who use it.

Lubbock is an area in which extreme weather is common, from summer days in the hundreds to cold and windy winters with snowstorms; as a result, getting the building envelope right was vital. Not only did it have to look good, but it had to perform well by keeping out the extremes of the West Texas weather. Pre- insulated, factory-made wall panels were used. These panels are cost competitive with other types of wall systems and make for a very tight building envelope. The wall panels that were used here have an insulation value of R-24.8.

The Progressive Cancer Care Center in West Lafayette, Indiana is another example of a metal building with a modern and inviting envelope. This facility treats cancer patients with chemotherapy, radiation and other medical procedures, so it has a number of unique aspects to it. The design includes an attractive atrium entrance with a glass wall to let in lots of light. The chemotherapy section has a window wall that faces out onto a landscaped garden. It is a setting designed to aesthetically enhance the atmosphere so patients experience comfort as they deal with difficult circumstances.

Cool Roofs Improve Energy Efficiency
Metal roofs are durable and an efficient and sustainable solution for any building type. Standing seam metal roofs are cost-effective over the lifetime of the building. Like the metal wall panels, they can be constructed to include significant amounts of insulation and keep operating costs down.

Cool metal roofs are an energy efficient solution and help reduce urban heat island effect. These metal roof systems are coated with a highly reflective pigment that keeps the heat off the roof and out of the building. Cool metal roofs are available in a variety of colors and reflective values so that designers can use the roof as an esthetic element that will meet local codes and saves energy.

Two schools constructed recently in Paulding County, Georgia present a case study of just how effective cool metal roofs can be. Bessie L. Baggett Elementary and Lillian C. Poole Elementary are virtually identical schools, with the same size (90,000 SF), the same HVAC units and the same orientation to the sun.

Both schools have the same evergreen roof color, an attractive and popular choice for many buildings, and the thermostats for both schools are controlled at the district office. Poole Elementary was constructed with cool metal roof technology; Baggett Elementary was constructed with a non-cool coating. After one year, the cool roof showed a measurable energy savings over the school with the non-cool roof.

In addition to their effectiveness, cool metal roofs are extremely efficient over their lifespan. Typically, cool metal roofs have warranties for as long as 35 years. Often, metal roofs last from 35 – 50 years, so over time the savings can be enormous. This compares with much shorter life spans for other roofing material. In addition, metal roofs are essentially maintenance-free, so not only are there cost savings in the material, but reduced tasks for maintenance personnel.

Metal roofs are made of high recycled content and are recyclable at the end of their lives. For those interested in LEED points this is important. Standing seam metal roofs are an efficient choice for virtually any size building. The Paulding County schools are large facilities, as is the Grace Clinic which uses a standing seam metal roof. However, small to mid-size offices and facilities often use metal roofs as well. Trident Cardiology in North Charleston, South Carolina is a 10,500 square foot office building that uses an attractive blue standing seam metal roof on top of a metal building.

Money Matters
Metal building systems are, on top of all this, very cost effective. No matter what the end use, metal buildings create an efficient structure that meets the needs of owners and users. The Trident Cardiology building is 10,500 square feet and has a brick exterior on the metal building frame. Another medical facility, the South Mississippi Surgery Center in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, is just a bit smaller at 10,260 square feet. This building uses a metal building system and standing seam roof. It is an example of the flexibility of the metal building, as it incorporates brick and stucco on its exterior.

The Wichita Falls Endoscopy Center in Wichita Falls, Texas is just 8,566 square feet. It is a metal building system with a metal roof and uses a brick exterior to complement existing buildings.

The versatility, cost effectiveness and green attributes of metal building systems make them an ideal choice for both medical and school facilities. These systems provide the ability to have both a great looking building envelope, from walls to roofs, that is also green, sustainable and good looking.

Chuck Praeger is the assistant general manager of the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (www.mbma.com) and past chairman of the Cool Metal Roofing Coalition.