STRUCTURES UNLIMITED BRINGS DAYLIGHT
INTO A WASTE WATER PLANT
California Water Treatment
Plant
 The building design of a municipal water
and waste treatment facility is challenged by the demands of cost
effectiveness, maintenance and long-term integrity. Not all building materials
can withstand the high concentrations of chemically-laden air present in such
moisture-filled, corrosion-prone areas. Designed for functionality not
aesthetics, many plants resemble a box with little natural light. Yet,
incorporating elements such as skylights designed specifically for wet space
applications can result in significant advantages. Wilson & Associates,
Inc. designed the California Water Treatment Plant in Cincinnati, Ohio to take
advantage of advances that have been made in the technology of building
materials and systems.
Housed in this 150,000-square foot building are
general offices, laboratories, a central control room for the water system, and
a two-story wing for maintenance shops for the entire complex as well as carbon
filtration tanks and gas-fired furnaces used to reactivate spent carbon from
the filtration process. The $40 million, state-of-the-art facility includes
architectural features such as an expansive skylight system from Structures
Unlimited, Inc.
 "At the time of construction, the
Cincinnati Water Works' Treatment Plant Granular Activated Carbon Facility was
the first of its kind; the most advanced, largest water filtration system in
the world," states Project Designer William Taylor of Wilson & Associates.
"The City of Cincinnati wanted a welcoming, warm environment to provide for the
anticipated visiting public. The use of the Structures Unlimited, Inc.
translucent skylight system enhances the quality of the interiors by use of
natural light, allowing industrial space, which is typically dark and
intimidating, to be transformed into a bright and inviting space at an
economical cost."
Structures Unlimited, Inc. skylight systems feature
the most highly insulated, diffuse-light transmitting technology in the world.
The Kalwall® panel system of fiberglass faces bonded to a grid core of
mechanically interlocking I-beams is utilized. The translucent sandwich panels
are laminated under a controlled process of heat and pressure. During the
manufacturing process, the panels can be infilled with various densities of
specialized translucent insulation to minimize heat loss/heat gain greatly
reducing heating, air conditioning and lighting costs. The HVAC problems
inherent with glass skyroofs are eliminated as the system also controls solar
heat transmission. In the standard 2 3/4" (70 mm) panel, "U" factor options
range from 0.53 to 0.18; in its new thermally broken panel, performance can be
as low as 0.10 as tested and computer modeled by NFRC-100 procedures endorsed
by the Department of Energy for maximum energy efficiency and reliability.
Thermally broken technology offers the ultimate condensation control as well as
delivering superior energy performance.
Adds Taylor, "The client's
desire for natural light was satisfied with the Structures Unlimited, Inc.
product because it provides an abundance of natural light with minimum impact
on HVAC systems and minimal glare. Using this system meant reduced heat
loss/heat gain in keeping with our design parameters. The Structures Unlimited,
Inc. diffused light system was ideal." For use in this complex, the Kalwall
panels have a "U" factor of .24.
Made For a Perfect Fit
Each
Structures Unlimited, Inc. system is custom-made from standard components to
meet the specific building code requirements. Prefabricated and modular, these
Skylights are erected faster than other system. Maintenance, leaks and repair
problems are also eliminated because Structures Unlimited Skylights are factory
pre-engineered and preassembled. Factory trained technicians provide
trouble-free installation.
"One of the reasons we chose Structures
Unlimited, Inc. was the support from their technical division in assisting our
efforts to provide the client with exactly the desired product," says
Taylor.
Structures Unlimited, Inc. provides single-source responsibility
from engineering and manufacturing right through delivery and installation by
experienced factory craftsmen. Prefabrication and total factory responsibility
also means no construction delays or errors. Furthermore, Structures Unlimited,
Inc. systems can be erected during any time of the year, regardless of
weather.
Easy to Maintain and Made to Last
Both the inside and
outside surfaces are ultra-smooth; the panels resist dirt, dust and bacteria
build-up. Structures Unlimited, Inc. panels can be steam cleaned if necessary.
All materials used in Structures Unlimited, Inc. systems are impervious to
moisture and chlorine and consequently require virtually no
maintenance.
Structures Unlimited, Inc. systems stand up to even the
harshest environments. Structures Unlimited, Inc. has proven performance in
bitter cold, sweltering heat, under rapid temperature changes, howling wind,
blowing snow, ice and sand and has even withstood hurricanes. The integrity of
their translucent sandwich panel technology has been proven for over 40 years!
Since Structures Unlimited, Inc. panels are shatterproof and vandal-resistant,
the problem of breakage is eliminated. Structures Unlimited, Inc. skylights can
even be walked on as they are structurally self-supporting.
Concludes
Taylor, "We found Structures Unlimited Skylight Systems to be an excellent
product… one we will use again because of its versatility, technical
support, economical product/installation factors, maintenance-free aspects,
spacial benefits and durability qualities."
The California Water
Treatment Plant - Granular Activated Carbon Facility
Cincinnati,
OH
Designer/Architects: Wilson & Associates, Inc.
Contractor:
Kokosing Construction Company, Inc. |
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