To design a project like the new Sunwapta Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, design teams must balance the desire for good looks with the need for energy efficiency. But that doesn't necessarily mean compromise. Thanks to insulated metal panel systems and components from Kingspan Insulated Panels, the buildings that comprise Sunwapta Centre are both attractive and energy efficient.  

Sunwapta Centre is a versatile commercial property conveniently located in an active industrial and retail sector of Edmonton’s northwest region. The Centre is made up of three buildings on 22 acres, totaling 407,000 square feet. It was designed to accommodate a variety of commercial needs including retail, industrial, and service providers requiring flexible spaces ranging from 5,000 to 200,000 square feet.

The Centre's well-chosen location offers accessibility to arterial transportation routes, and is near a wide range of amenities and other retail centers. It is a busy destination for Edmonton businesses and consumers alike as it has already attracted big-league tenants that include Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, LA Fitness, and McDonald's. As the remaining retail spaces fill, this already bustling commercial district continues to offer Edmonton's growing population more options every month.

Creating An All-Weather Building Envelope: Shadowline

Edmonton's temperate climate dictates that well-designed buildings offer the ability to perform and provide energy efficiency in both the warm summers and cold winters, which is why creating a building envelope that provides continuous insulation for each structure of the Sunwapta Centre was important. Kingspan's insulated metal panels (IMPs) were utilized for the Centre's construction. These high-performance IMPs are ideal for commercial and industrial market sectors, offering ease of use and cost-effectiveness in a single component insulated metal panel product. KS Shadowline panels in 2” thickness with a Driftwood finish were specified for the building envelope. The KS Shadowline panel system gives architects and builders the design flexibility and options to create the looks they want combined with the functionality they require.

Complementing Panels For A Polished Look That Functions:  KarrierFin

KarrierFin, another Kingspan product line, was also utilized in the construction of the Centre. KarrierFin is a hidden fixed architectural accent system used to achieve flat faces, sharp corners, and a variety of other shapes. The KarrierFin system integrates seamlessly with all of Kingspan’s KS Series, MF Series, and Optimo Series panel in both horizontal and vertical applications. The KarrierFin system selected was the ‘Fin,’ a flat accent that provides a linear accent to the building and was used throughout the Sunwapta Centre. Their unique and eye-catching Charcoal finish complements the exteriors by providing contrast in shape and color. They also add to the buildings' functionality, as the KarrierFins are able to sit directly in panel joints, eliminating the need for through screws in the panels.

Built In Benefits That Save, From Start To Finish

Both KS Shadowline and MF panel systems minimize construction delays with faster onsite installation compared to multi-component wall systems, helping keep projects on time and on budget. They also provide thermal performance and airtightness, with high R-value and low thermal bridging, resulting in energy cost savings of as much as 30 percent over traditional multi-part built-up systems. This not only saves on operational costs but also reduces the carbon footprint for the lifespan of the buildings.

Sunwapta: A Commercial Success That Takes "Centre" Stage

Incorporating Kingspan’s KS Shadowline & MF panel systems along with the KarrierFin accents into the design and construction of Edmonton's latest commercial building complex simply made sense. As Conal Hancherow, National Manager of Business Development at Thermo Design Insulation Ltd. puts it; "The change of the energy code in Canada will catapult the use of IMPs into almost every new building constructed. The Kingspan Certified installer program gives contractors and owners a level of confidence that their IMPs will be installed correctly."