The 46,200 sq. ft. New York State Food, Safety and Metrology Lab is a state-of-the-art research facility that analyzes food and beverages for health hazards, contaminants and accurate nutrition labeling. Prior to the construction of the new facility, researchers were housed in an outdated facility that lacked the latest research equipment. The construction of the new facility allowed researchers to upgrade their testing capabilities and equipment, increasing efficiency and productivity.
“From a performance standpoint, the owners were looking for a sustainable, high-performance building and doing the right things that got us to the mark,” said Dan Rew, design principal with HDR Inc. “It ended up being a LEED® Silver project. It operates at about 30 percent below baseline energy level.”
Completed in 2012, the facility is situated on a 330-acre campus in Albany, New York. The lab features numerous energy efficient elements including a reflective roof, a responsive HVAC system and CENTRIA’s high performance metal panel systems. The facility features ample research and office space and a floating glass atrium located in the building’s lobby.
The state of New York wanted to update and enhance their current testing abilities while enriching the look of the campus. The first new development on campus in decades, the lab was designed with a simple yet modern aesthetic. Metal was a way for the architects to integrate energy efficiency, low maintenance and an elegant aesthetic.
CENTRIA’s Formawall Dimension Series insulated metal panels were selected for their benefits in sustainability, performance and aesthetics, which aligned with the main goals of the design team. The CENTRIA system forms a continuous, consistent vapor barrier. Interlocking assembly eliminates the risk of thermal shorts and vapor infiltration. The all-in-one fabrication and assembly also delivers single-source contractor accountability on façade construction while minimizing scrap, freight costs and materials - supporting sustainability goals.
Formawall Graphix Series insulated metal wall panels with Directional Reveals reimagines architectural IMP systems. Now, architects have the ability to form unique, complex patterns and designs that are also easy to install by combining horizontal, vertical and diagonal reveals in a single panel. With the new directional reveals, a single insulated panel can be customized to look like up to 24 smaller ones, each with its own reveal - or combination of reveals - and in its own color. A single component wall system, Formawall Graphix Series was designed with CENTRIA’s Advanced Thermal and Moisture Protection (ATMP®) technology to provide the most advanced protection from air and water penetration and maximum thermal performance.
“CENTRIA’s Formawall system is economical and has a good insulation value,” Rew said. “We also liked the way it looked. It gave us the opportunity to design a vertical panel system that we liked. We ended up with a couple of different finishes on the project.”
CENTRIA’s patented FormaBond aluminum composite wall system presents a stronger, flatter Aluminum Composite Panel (ACM), complete with pressure-equalized joinery and superior impact resistance. The dry joinery eliminates wet seals and provides optimum venting to allow wall cavities to dry effectively while prohibiting the entry of rainwater. FormaBond panels are manufactured entirely by CENTRIA using a proprietary reaction injection molding process. These revolutionary, thin aluminum composite panels provided the facility with sharp, crisp sight lines and lent it a sleek exterior.
CENTRIA’s MetalWrap Series insulated composite backup panel system serves as the ultimate backup wall for nearly any type of exterior rainscreen system - from single-skin metal and ACM to brick, stucco, terracotta and a wide range of other exterior cladding products. Designed with CENTRIA's innovative ATMP® building-envelope technology, MetalWrap panels have earned Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certification by UL Environment, an independent safety-science organization.
MetalWrap panels achieve energy-efficiency goals with a single component that eliminates the need for conventional batt or board insulation, exterior gypsum, air barriers, vapor retarders and building wraps. Featuring an air-and-vapor barrier, along with insulation and a metal drain plane, MetalWrap panels control moisture and air infiltration without sacrificing thermal efficiency. As a single panel, MetalWrap delivers thermal performance with U-values that exceed ASHRAE requirements, while also meeting the requirements for the NFPA 285 multi-story fire test.
The innovative single-component construction of the MetalWrap Series insulated composite backup system provides a single source of responsibility, which means less coordination, fewer scheduling and interface issues and one-step installation by one contractor. In addition, buildings can be enclosed faster in all weather conditions with MetalWrap panels, which work well for all building types in all climates.
Finally, CENTRIA’s Ecoscreen Perforated Screenwall provided the unique façade and an airy aesthetic. Often used to blend industrial and other applications with their surroundings, Ecoscreen can also be used for custom applications to create unique design elements. The panels can be installed vertically or horizontally and are available with coated aluminum and uncoated stainless steel substrates.
In 2014, the New York State Food, Safety and Metrology Laboratory was awarded the Nation’s Healthiest Lab Award from the Association of Public Health Laboratories. The program is intended to recognize environmental responsibility and healthy workplace practices.
The architect was HDR Inc. of Pittsburgh, PA. The CENTRIA products dealer/installer was A.C. Dellovade Inc. of Canonsburg, PA. The contractor was Bette & Cring of Latham, NY. The 46,200 sq. ft. facility was completed in August 2012.
CENTRIA products used on this project included:
• Formawall® Graphix Series™ 3” Vertical - Square Feet: 19,177; Color: Champagne Bronze; Finish: Smooth; Coating: Sundance Mica; Gauge: 22/26.
• Formawall® Dimension Series® 3” Vertical - Square Feet: 6,924; Color: Champagne Gold; Finish: Embossed; Coating: Sundance Mica; Gauge: 22/26.
• Formawall Dimension Series 3” Vertical w/ Longitudinal Corners - Square Feet: 3,910; Color: Champagne Bronze; Finish: Smooth; Coating: Sundance Mica; Gauge: 22.
• MetalWrap™ Series - Square Feet: 3,311.
• Formabond® 8mm R&R Horizontal - Square Feet: 1,493; Color: Champagne Gold; Finish: Smooth; Coating: Sundance Mica.
• Formabond 8mm R&R Horizontal - Square Feet: 1,034; Color: Stainless Steel; Finish: Smooth; Coating: Sundance Mica.
• Formabond 8mm R&R Horizontal - Square Feet: 590; Color: Silversmith; Finish: Smooth; Coating: Sundance Mica.
• Ecoscreen® Perforated Screenwall - Square Feet: 2,036.
• Column Cover.
• C/S Louvers.