Energy efficiency and appearance. Those two requirements were front and center in the planning of the Boston Seaport Self Storage facility in Beantown's Seaport District. And it was for those reasons the project's architect specified Optimo Smooth™ insulated metal wall panels by Kingspan Insulated Panels - North America.
Group One Partners, a prominent northeast architectural firm, was commissioned by Conroy Development to design the 100,000-square-foot self-storage facility. The developer, based in Stoughton, Massachusetts, specializes in multi-family, office, industrial, data centers, and self-storage properties. Led by Antonino Donato AIA, LEED AP, the design team developed the plans for a 4-story facility with almost 1,000 units of self-storage space. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology, it offers customers secure access and a climate controlled environment.
Kingspan Optimo was specified to enclose the Boston Seaport Self Storage for two primary reasons: energy efficiency and design flexibility. To withstand the often-frigid Boston weather, the selected cladding had to be thermally efficient. And to help the facility stand out from among the many conventional self-storage structures operating withint the market, the new project had to look a cut-above the rest.
With regard to energy efficiency, Kingspan’s insulated metal panels (IMPs) provided superior air tightness, low thermal bridging, and a very high R-value thermal performance. This high level of thermal protection was required to protect the customer conveniences offered by Boston Seaport Self Storage, which include a self-service kiosk, a retail store, and a business center complete with flat screen television monitors, high-speed wireless Internet controls, and computer workstations.
IMPs are a prime choice to specify for use in a wide array of design styles because they can be used for both vertical and horizontal wall applications. This allows architects real flexibility in design. A popular choice for new and retrofit projects, Optimo Smooth can be value-engineered with thermal and structural properties to make it adaptable for many applications. To give a structure that stand out “Wow” factor, the impressive appearance of Optimo Smooth greatly increases a building's curb appeal. Optimo Smooth insulated metal panels have been extensively tested for compliance with various industry standards and building safety codes.
Kingspan insulated metal panels have a core of continuous, rigid insulation that gives thermal performance Owners are now demanding. With Optimo Smooth, the insulation is exterior of the building structure, and that provides the best thermal envelope by reducing thermal bridging typical of built-up wall systems, which can result in energy savings up to 30%.
The single-component nature of insulated metal panels such as Kingspan's Optimo Smooth, means faster on-site installation compared to multi-part wall assemblies. That translates into fewer construction delays and the involvement of fewer trades, saving design teams and building owners substantial installation costs. In the case of the Boston project, Optimo Smooth provided Boston Seaport Self Storage with a modern look while reducing the building's overall demand for energy. Because these insulated metal panels weigh only 3 pounds per square foot, transport costs and installation energy were also decreased. Insulated metal panels (IMPs) ease the critical path of construction, as they are easier to detail and attach, which tightened the build schedules and lessened installation errors.
Kingspan Optimo Smooth IMPs not only contribute to LEED certification requirements, but also Path to Net-Zero Energy targets. As a contributing factor to a structure’s sustainability rating, the exterior skins contain a substantial amount of recycled content. These panels last as long as the service life expected of a standard commercial building and offer multiple end-of-life reuse options.
Also included on the project were corrugated metal wall panels from Morin Corporation - A Kingspan Group Company. Installed as a rainscreen, the Morin panels are backed by a Kingspan KarrierPanel barrier wall system. KarrierPanel
is suitable for all building types and climates, combining the thermal benefits of lightweight insulated metal panels with the pleasing aesthetics of multiple façade styles.
The KarrierPanel barrier wall system is a much more time efficient alternative to traditional, multi-part façade systems. It allows a structure to be quickly enclosed to ensure air and water tightness. Once installed, this system provides excellent building envelope performance with a high R-value, and airtightness with an air, water and vapor barrier.