Located in the upper Sonoran Desert in northern Scottsdale, Arizona, the Appaloosa Library “celebrates the environment in a protected desert setting.” Panels from MORIN’s Integrity Series, featuring a new coating by PPG Industries, wrap the new building and contribute to achieving the city’s goals of improving the sustainability and aesthetic value of public use facilities.
This is the first building constructed with color-shifting Duranar VARI-Cool coatings by PPG. Due in part to Duranar VARI-Cool coatings, the building is expected to use 32 percent less energy than comparably sized libraries.
City planners and the project’s architects, DWL Architects & Planners and Douglas Snydor Architects, shared a vision to meet top environmental standards for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certification and create a cultural focal point for the community.
“MORIN panels helped us achieve the environmental and design goals of the project,” said Tim Rice of Total Metals, the project installer. “They are efficient and offer a wide range of profiles and finishes to fit any design.”
The 21,500 square-foot library, completed in November 2009, features approximately 13,300 square feet of MORIN XC-12 single element panels, an integrated concealed-fastener metal wall panel. Integrity series panels can be applied vertically or horizontally and are fabricated from Galvalume®/Zincalume®, aluminum, zinc, copper or stainless steel. Extended lengths can be accommodated and heavy gauges are available. MORIN panels are available in a variety of surfaces, widths and coatings, including PPG’s VARI-Cool "Kaleidoscope" color whose appearance is uniquely dependent on building angles and outside lighting.
How The VARI-Cool Coatings Work
PPG's Duranar VARI-Cool coatings contain pearlescent pigments that reflect the sun’s energy using ULTRA-Cool infrared-reflective coatings technology by PPG. In addition to helping buildings to stay cooler, the coatings change color according to viewing angle and how light refracts across their surface. On the Appaloosa Branch Library, the appearance of the coating changes from dark green to silver to mauve. In a static state, the coating projects a light gray-green tint that matches plants, sand and the surrounding desert landscape.
“We took great care in rollforming to produce a virtually flat XC-12 profile. Any other product would have detracted from the appearance of the paint itself. And the building finish really is the focal point of the building,” said Tim Del Monte, regional sales manager for MORIN.
The building features an angled floating roof, a glass-walled atrium with natural lighting and metal siding on the interior of the library’s meeting rooms. On the south side, the rooms are raised a few feet above the arroyo and highlighted with iridescent paint. The west end of the building juts into the ground and the east end opens into a patio that provides a glimpse of the McDowell Mountains.
Besides aesthetics, the iridescent paint helps conserve energy by reflecting infrared light, keeping the building cool and reducing energy use. Both MORIN XC-12 panels and the VARI-Cool coatings meet various requirements for the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED green building program. MORIN panels also arrive on site, ready to install, helping to eliminate construction waste.
“This product is a new finish application in the metal building industry,” said Del Monte. “It’s exciting for MORIN to be a part of one of the first buildings that uses the VARI-Cool on metal panels, and I’m sure we will begin to see more as the industry becomes familiar with its varied uses.”
About PPG
PPG Industries’ vision is to continue to be the world’s leading coatings and specialty products company. Founded in 1883, the company serves customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, PPG operates in more than 60 countries around the globe. Sales in 2009 were $12.2 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.
Duranar VARI-Cool coatings are available in 17 pre-formulated standard tints. To learn more, visit www.ppgideascapes.com or call 1-888-PPG-IDEA (774-4332).
Duranar, ULTRA-Cool and VARI-Cool are trademarks of PPG Industries.
Photo courtesy of Ed Taube, © Taube Photography 2009