1. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
THE ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCE FOR DESIGNING WITH FABRIC
SU STA I N A B L E FA BRI C 1 0 1
First in an on-going series of
in-depth reports on an essential topic
Wrapping up energy waste
in Melbourne
AIA Learning Units
Green roof basics
Subscribe at www.fabricarchitecture.info
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9:55:19 AM
2. KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK
with Sunbrella ®.
Season after season, the awnings at the St. Louis Cardinals’ awesome new Busch
Stadium will welcome crowds thanks to Sunbrella® performance fabrics. With
Sunbrella you get stunning colors that are permanently embedded into the very
fiber of the fabric. This unique Sunbrella process provides vibrant colors and
designs that are guaranteed to last five years in any weather. After all, Sunbrella
has been the leader in quality fabrics for decades.
For a winning season every year, specify Sunbrella fabric on your next awning
project. It will mean less worry for your customers and ultimately less hassle
for you. For more information on our variety
of styles and colors, contact your Glen Raven
sales representative or visit sunbrella.com.
www.sunbrella.com
Sunbrella® and are registered trademarks of Glen Raven, Inc. Location courtesy of
the St. Louis Cardinals. Awning installation by Lawrence Fabric Structures, Inc., St. Louis, MO.
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5. FABRIC ARCHITECTURE
VOLUME 20 NUMBER 1
SUSTAINABLE FABRIC 101
This issue begins an ongoing focus on the topic of sustainable
design using fabric. This year, we will examine the subject from
many points of view in an effort to bring you the latest industry
information, technical data, and resources to help you address
this most important (in light of recent global warming concerns,
some would say essential) issue facing designers and society
today. This issue opens the topic discussion, subsequent issues will
address new materials and technologies, regionalism, educational
programs, and practice (see “First word” on page 6.)
36 Living lightly on the land
Fabric’s sustainable future may help
lead design forward.
BY Mason Riddle
40 Wrapping it up
Inflated plastic bubbles enclose a shopping mall in
Melbourne, Australia solving a host of problems,
including energy waste.
BY Mason Riddle
42 Noble endeavour ON THE
Expressive canopy crowns a New Zealand home.
BY Shelby Gonzalez
COVER
COVER DESIGN BY Cathleen Rose
PHOTO COURTESY Structurflex
FABRIC ARCHI TECTURE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
PORTFOLIO
32 The best of 2007
Every year we bring you the award winners of the
International Achievement Awards. In this issue,
the structures category winners.
www.fabricarchitecture.info 3
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6. FABRIC ARCHITECTURE
VOLUME 20 NUMBER 1
20 46 8
EXPERTISE PRACTICE FOUNDATION
16 DESIGN | Energy 22 ENVIRONMENT | Wind 6 FIRST WORD
Let the sun (not) shine in A mighty wind
A new report presents hard evidence Textiles are applied to revolutionize 8 SAMPLES
for the benefits of awnings in helping hurricane protection systems. The latest examples of new work,
provide more sustainable housing. BY Sonja Hegman exhibitions, conferences and design
BY John Carmody, Kerry Haglund from around the world.
and Yu Joe Huang 46 MATERIALS | Hospital fabrics
Keeping it clean
20 COMMENTARY | Trend watch 14 REPORT | Las Vegas
From waiting rooms to surgical suites
See the light hospital purchasers look for fabrics
Fabric Structures 2007 Symposium
New technologies bring light — that protect and promote health. What was said, what the future holds.
and the message — to fabric. BY Katherine Carlson BY Bruce N. Wright
BY Lou Dzierzak
52 PRACTICE | Acoustics 59 AD INDEX
26 CONTINUING EDUCATION | Clear sound, clean design
Green roofs Fabric reflectors make their debut at
60 SKETCHES | Design camp
Seeing green up top the new London Royal Festival Hall.
BY Zackery Belanger Scaffolds, billboards and cupcakes
A green roof primer.
BY Bruce Dvorak and Teens find use for recycled billboards,
56 RE | Vision and learn a valuable lesson in
Marcus de la fleur
FABRIC ARCHI TECTURE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
Plane Geometry design-build.
31 CONTINUING EDUCATION | A San Antonio elementary school BY John Comazzi, Anselmo Canfora
Self test/reporting form improves the educational experience and Wendy Friedmeyer
by adding a new canopy.
58 NEW PRODUCTS |
Sustainable/eco-friendly
Fabric Architecture (ISSN 1045-0483), Volume 20, Issue 1 is published bi-monthly by Industrial Fabrics Association
COMING NEXT ISSUE: International, 1801 County Road B W, Roseville, MN 55113-4061. Periodicals Postage Paid at Minneapolis, MN and at
additional mailing offices. Postmaster send address changes to Fabric Architecture, 1801 County Road B W, Roseville, MN
New materials and new technologies 55113-4061. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Station A, PO Box 54, Windsor, ON N9A 6J5.
for sustainable design. We explore a Subscription inquiries, orders and changes contact: Sue Smeed, Assistant Circulation Manager, Fabric Architecture,
number of new products and processes 1801 County Road B W, Roseville, MN 55113-4061, Phone 800 225 4324 or +1 651 222 2508, fax +1 651 631 9334
to help you sort out what’s what. e-mail: subscriptions@ifai.com. 1-year USA $39, Canada and Mexico $49, all other countries $69, payable in U.S.
funds (includes air mail postage). Reprints: call 800 385 9402, rdgrimes@ifai.com. Back Issues: call 800 207 0729,
smdamico@ifai.com, www.bookstore.ifai.com.
4 www.fabricarchitecture.info
0108FA_cv1-p15.indd Sec1:4 1/15/08 2:26:54 PM
9. eye catching / breath taking
Birdair custom tensioned membrane structures, cable systems,
and lightweight building structures
expert design/build services, for projects large and small
progressive technical methods, premium fabrics and integrated solutions
U.S.-based specialty company with global resources
Award-winning projects in tensile architecture await you
800-622-2246
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Email: sales@birdair.com
50 years of timeless innovation
0108FA_cv1-p15.indd Sec1:7 1/15/08 1:50:01 PM
10. SAMPLES
Ultra-green
Sustainable prefab debuts at West Coast Green
The modular, prefabricated, zero-energy mkLotus Showhouse debuted to rave reviews at the recent West
Coast Green Residential Building Conference & Expo 2007.
West Coast Green, the largest green residential building conference in the country, took place in San
BY Shelby Gonzalez Francisco from September 20–22. It featured over 270 vendors and 250 presentations, including several
by mkLotus architect Michelle Kaufman.
In all, 10,782 people registered for the
conference. An estimated 8,500 attendees
toured the Showhouse, which was erected
across from City Hall, in front of the Bill
Graham Civic Center Auditorium where
the vendors and presentations were lo-
cated. At times, the line to see it stretched
across the plaza.
Designed by Michelle Kaufman Designs,
an eco-minded Bay Area architectural de-
sign firm, and assembled in the firm’s fac-
tory in Washington state, the mkLotus
boasts 62m2 packed with earth-friendly
features. One of the least visible but most
interesting of those features is the roof.
Solar panels capture enough energy to
power the home, while a carpet of native
plants reduces rainwater runoff, absorbs
carbon dioxide — the greenhouse gas im-
plicated in global warming — and reduces
the urban “heat island effect.”
Living roofs typically include a layer of
geotextile filter fabric above the drainage
layer to strain debris and stabilize the soil.
The mkLotus utilized a proprietary Bio-
TrayTM module system provided by Rana
Creek Living Architecture.
The mkLotus has a base price of
$175,000, which does not include tax,
solar panels, green roof, graywater recir-
culation, or rainwater catchment system.
Currently, it is available only in the West-
ern states.
For more information, check out www.
mkd-arc.com, www.ranacreek.com, and
www.westcoastgreen.com.
FABRIC ARCHI TECTURE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
Shelby Gonzalez is a California-based
freelance writer specializing in environmen-
tal issues.
ALL IMAGES: WEST COAST GREEN
Left: The mkLotus Showhouse installed temporarily
for the West Coast Green Building Conference
across from the San Francisco City Hall. Top: The
prototype, as rendered for a single wilderness lot
and in multiple clusters for a community, middle.
8 www.fabricarchitecture.info
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12. SAMPLES
Sports fans under fabric
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has released HOK Sport’s design of London’s
2012 stadium. The bowl-shaped stadium will hold 25,000 permanent and 55,000 tem-
porary seats, allowing for the stadium to be used as a local venue after the Games.
The stadium covers two thirds of the spectators with a cable supported roof and is
wrapped by a fabric curtain to ensure additional protection.
Olympics minister Tessa Jowell said, “We will ensure that the Olympic stadium
leaves a lasting legacy for London and the UK—a flexible venue with athletics at its
heart, but also capable of multi-sport, educational and community use.”
For more information, www.hoksport.com
Green roof report Hightex gets high sign
The American Society of Landscape Archi- The polymer membrane tensile structure producer Hightex Group PLC has won a 7 million
tects (ASLA) has released the first perfor- euro contract to provide a membrane roof that will be part of the upgrading of the First
mance report since the society’s green roof National Bank Stadium in Johannesburg for the 2010 FIFA Football World Cup.
was installed in July 2006. For more information, www.hightexworld.com
ASLA’s green roof retained 27,500 gal-
lons of storm water between July 2006 and
May 2007, reduced building energy costs
by hundreds of dollars a month and sig-
Green building moves outdoors
nificantly lowered outdoor air temperature ASLA, the Univeristy of Texas at Austin’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the
according to a report from the society. The United States Botanic Garden have announced the development of a new rating system for
report examined various components of sustainable landscape design called the Sustainable Sites Initiative. The new rating system
ASLA’s green roof demonstration project, was created to encourage sustainable landscape design.
FABRIC ARCHI TECTURE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
in downtown Washington, D.C., ranging The Sites Initiative will measure the sustainability of designed landscapes of all types,
from water and temperature monitoring to including public, commercial and residential projects. The U.S. Green Building Council plans
individual plant performance. to adopt the Sustainable Sites metrics into its LEED® system once they are finished.
For more information, www.asla.org For more information, www.asla.org
Larger than life Corrections
American Spaceframe Fabricators Interna- The client for the Las Vegas Motor Speedway project featured in the Sept/Oct issue was
tional has been contracted to build a fabric incorrectly listed as NASCAR (Sept/Oct, pg. 40.) This should have been Speedway Motors-
structure in Puerto Rico that, when com- ports (SMI).
plete, will be the largest of its type in the The Product Profiles section of the Nov/Dec issue (“Sourcing Guide 2008”) incorrectly
world. The company is moving its opera- listed the contact information for Transformit (pg. 64.) The e-mail address should have
tions to Ocala, Florida. been cparent@transformitdesign.com, and the Web site address www.transformit.com.
For more information, www.asfi.net We regret these errors.
10 www.fabricarchitecture.info
0108FA_cv1-p15.indd Sec1:10 1/15/08 1:50:49 PM
13. Wolfsburg Stadium - Germany Lords' Cricket Club - UK Silver Spur - USA
Louvre Museum - France Premium Outlets - USA Glaskubus Offices - Germany
St Louis Children Hospital - USA Paul Klee Museum - Switzerland Lorenzi Hotel - Italy
www.ferrari-architecture.com
Discover our complete range of
architecture and solar protection
textiles for energy reduction options
FABRIC ARCHI TECTURE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
(AIA classes available).
www.ferrari-architecture.com
www.soltis-textiles.com
www.stamisol.com
FERRARI TEXTILES CORP. Pompano Beach, FL, USA Tel: (954) 942-3600 - Fax: (954) 942-5555 - steve@ferraritextiles.com
www.fabricarchitecture.info 11
0108FA_cv1-p15.indd Sec1:11 1/15/08 1:50:52 PM
14. SAMPLES
Off the grid Conferences
A recent design probe from Philips called Off the grid: Sustainable Habitat 2020 is ex- Winnipeg, Canada 16–18 May 2008
ploring the possibility of using sensitive textile skins on buildings to create energy inde- “Fabric Formwork for Architectural
pendent structures. Structures”
The probe explores the integration of electronics and bio chemical functionalities into The first international conference explor-
the inert material of the built environment. This future habitat shifts from the current state ing recent developments in flexible fabric
where the building surfaces are benign in- formworks for concrete structures will fo-
ert materials only used for construction cus on new architectural forms, hear invit-
and shielding purposes, to sensitive func- ed speakers from numerous countries and
tional skins that are alive and act as mem- hold workshop demonstrations.
branes to harness energy. A membrane For more information,
creates a strong link between the interior www.umanitoba.ca/architecture/ffc/
and exterior of the habitat, used as a trans-
porter of air, water and light, taking build- Turin, Italy 1–2 July 2008
ings off the grid. “Architex”
For more information, As part of the international gathering cel-
www.design.philips.com ebrating Turin World Design Capital 2008,
Architex brings professionals together
from the textile industries with architects
and designers. Tied also with the XXIII
World Congress of Architecture, this ex-
hibition and symposium will examine the
latest developments for textiles, including
phase change materials, reflecting and lu-
minescent fabrics, color, and architectural
components for fabric structures.
For more information,
http://architextorino.com/index.php?eng FA
FABRIC ARCHI TECTURE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
12 www.fabricarchitecture.info
0108FA_cv1-p15.indd Sec1:12 1/15/08 1:50:53 PM
15. Bernburg
Dessau
Köthen
Hochschule Anhalt (FH)
Anhalt University of Applied Sciences
0108FA_cv1-p15.indd Sec1:13 1/15/08 1:50:59 PM
16. REPORT | Las Vegas
Fabric Structures
discussed at symposium
T
BY Bruce N. Wright his past year’s Fabric Structures symposium—held the day
before IFAI Expo in Las Vegas, Oct. 2, 2007—focused on a
single theme that had everyone abuzz: the future and im-
portance of sustainable practices in business. The day-long session
opened with a rousing call to action by noted architect and expert
on sustainable design Lance Hosey, AIA, LEED AP, partner in what
is perhaps the leading sustainability consulting design firm in the
world, William McDonough & Partners. Hosey touched on all the
key issues that all designers (indeed, all businesses) must address
in the near future: adapting existing materials to a more sustain-
able position, embracing aesthetics as part of successful sustain-
able designs (not ignoring aesthetics as early practitioners often
did during environmentalism’s beginnings in
the 1970s), and integrating sustainable con-
“Designs can utilize new cepts into today’s built environment so that
technologies, such as LED lighting these new sustainable-driven forms actually
enhance a building’s performance.
and integrated photovoltaics, to Hosey made the trenchant observation that much of sustainabil-
ity practice today is doing old things better. He notes that many of
increase a building’s efficiency and the earlier environmental movement’s concepts—recycling plastics,
rainwater collection for reuse, minimizing biomass impact on eco-
minimize its negative impact on systems, etc.—was right minded, just not resolved in sustainable
ways so that each concept could contribute to the greater health of
the environment, while providing the world. He also admitted that much of what was done in the ’70s
was ugly. “It doesn’t have to look this way,” he says. “Aesthetics are
a delightful, enriching setting.” not ‘icing on the cake’ but integral with design.” However, he warned
designers that sustainable designs need to accommodate the unique
—Cindy Thompson, Transformit
circumstances of each building—only styles that are appropriate to
a region should be used—and that across-the-board, cookie-cutter designs slapped down
without regard to local history or styles will not in the end be sustainable.
Hosey was followed by Cindy Thompson, president of Transformit, and
FABRIC ARCHI TECTURE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
a partner in the new collaborative The Fabric Alliance, a sustainability-
focused research group that promotes the use of fabrics and fabric struc-
ture technology as a sustainable method. Thompson emphasized interior
applications, how they can contribute to sustainable efforts, and how
important it is to “design for delight.” Designs can utilize new technolo-
gies, such as LED lighting and integrated photovoltaics, to increase
a building’s efficiency and minimize its negative im-
pact on the environment, while providing
a delightful, enriching setting.
Architect Douglas Kozel discussed
Right: Fabric sculptor Jens J. Meyer several modest but highly sophis-
inspired and delighted attendees at the ticated designs for office buildings
Fabric Structures 2007 symposium held in the Madison, Wisconsin area, all
in Las Vegas, last October. Opposite,
above: Naturally integrated shade fins by naturally integrating fabric shade
KEE Architects, Madison, Wisconsin. fins on the south sides of the build-
14 www.fabricarchitecture.info
0108FA_cv1-p15.indd Sec1:14 1/15/08 2:35:41 PM
17. I M A G I N AT I O N & I N N O V AT I O N
I N FA B R I C A R C H I T E C T U R E
ings. Landscape architect and professor
Bruce Dvorak spoke about the advantages
of using green roof technology, geotextiles
and geofilters in roof assemblies, and Jeff
Galland of S2 and Richard L. Warren of JCI
Engineering rounded out the mid-day ses-
sion with examples of applied sustainable
design in the Las Vegas metropolitan area.
To explore the future for sustainable de-
sign using fabric, structural engineer Craig
Huntington of Huntington Design Associ-
ates presented an experimental, but suc-
cessful application of photovoltaic systems FabriTec Structures can help make your project concept a reality with virtually
on the roof of a Las Vegas parking struc- unlimited design options and applications.We utilize the most advanced architectural
ture. The project placed reflective tensioned
fabrics available to create structures that are practical as well as visually spectacular.
FABRIC ARCHI TECTURE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
fabric sails underneath the extensive light
collectors of the rooftop system, showing
Design/Build Services Include:
us yet another way to integrate fabric ele-
ments in cutting-edge designs. Ending the • 3D/CAD Rendering & Engineering
information-packed day, German artist • Construction Documents
Jens J. Meyer delighted and inspired the
• In-house Fabrication & Manufacturing
audience with numerous examples of his
beautiful fabric sculptures, most often in- • Experienced Project Management
stalled in gritty or urban settings. By day’s • Nationwide Installation
end, the symposium left everyone with re-
newed energy and inspiration for a future 350 Kalmus Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626
toll free 877.887.4233 fax 714.427.6983
of sustainable design that bodes well for
F www.fabritecstructures.com
the fabric structures industry. A
FabriTec Structures is a brand of USA SHADE & Fabric Structures, Inc.
—Bruce N. Wright, Editor, Fabric Archi- www.usa-shade.com
tecture magazine
www.fabricarchitecture.info 15
0108FA_cv1-p15.indd Sec1:15 1/15/08 1:51:06 PM
18. DESIGN | Energy
Let the sun (not) shine in
A new report presents hard evidence for the benefits of awnings
in helping provide more sustainable housing
Editor’s note: This is the second of two energy The benefits of awnings in residential buildings
studies conducted by the University of Minnesota’s Awnings have advantages that contribute to more sustainable buildings. First, awnings re-
Center for Sustainable Building Research under the
support of the Professional Awning Manufacturers sult in cooling energy savings by reducing direct solar gain through windows. This directly
Association (see FA May/June 2007, pg. 14.) reduces the impact of global warming from greenhouse gas emissions. A second benefit is
Copies of the full reports can be obtained at: that peak electricity demand is also reduced by awnings potentially resulting in reduced
www.awninginfo.com.
mechanical equipment costs. Reduced peak demand may also result in energy cost savings
in the future if residential customers are charged higher rates during peak periods. Another
outcome of peak demand reduction is the overall savings to utility companies and the pub-
lic from a decreased need to build new generating capacity.
Table 1: Summary of awning impacts on cooling energy in 12 U.S. cities
Table 2: Summary of awning impacts on peak demand in 12 U.S. cities
FABRIC ARCHI TECTURE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
TURE
NOTE: The annual energy performance figures shown here were generated glazed windows are used in all cases. For all cities, the awning deployment
using RESFEN for a typical (new construction) 2000 sq ft house with 300 sq ft shown is either a 12- month or summer only condition, whichever produces the
of window area. In the first case, the windows are equally distributed on all four best result. RESFEN is a computer program for calculating the annual cooling
sides of the house. Where windows are predominately on the west side, the and heating energy use and costs due to window selection. It is available from
distribution is 240 sq ft on that side and 20 sq ft on the others. Clear double Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (windows.lbl.gov/software/resfen)
16 www.fabricarchitecture.info
0108FA_p16-p25.indd Sec2:16 1/15/08 1:31:22 PM
19. Cooling energy savings and predominantly cold climate (Boston) and a ing and whether the awnings are in place 12
peak demand reduction predominantly hot climate (Phoenix). Win- months per year or only in the summer.
Tables 1 and 2 show the impact of aw- dow types shown are clear double glazing, For a house with windows equally dis-
nings on reducing cooling energy and peak high-solar-gain low-E glazing, and low-so- tributed on the four sides, Table 3 shows
demand in 12 U.S. cities with different cli- lar-gain low-E glazing. Shading conditions the annual heating and cooling energy use
mates. The cities are listed starting with include: no shading, awnings deployed 12 and the peak electricity demand for each
the lowest cooling energy use (Seattle) up months a year, and awnings deployed in combination of glazing and shading condi-
to the highest (Phoenix). For each city, the summer only. tion. Table 3 also shows the impact on the
results are shown for two typical houses. total cost of heating and cooling. In each
The first house has windows equally dis- Cold Climate Impacts case, the table shows the percent savings
tributed on all four orientations while the Table 3 shows the impact of awnings on a compared to the unshaded condition.
second house has 80 percent of the win- typical house in Boston, Massachusetts, a As shown in Table 3, the awnings reduce
dows facing west (the case with the high- predominantly cold climate. The impact var- the cooling energy 23–24 percent compared
est cooling energy use from heat gain). ies depending on the type of window glaz- to a completely unshaded case. The actual
The results in Tables 1 and 2 represent the
best case for savings when awnings are ap-
plied to clear double-glazed windows and
operated seasonally (details appear in the
full report).
Table 1 shows cooling energy savings in
all cities for all orientations, while Table 2
shows peak demand savings in most cit-
ies. In all cases, the cooling energy and
peak demand savings from awnings are
greater in the house with predominately
west-facing windows. The highest percent-
age savings do not necessarily produce the
highest actual savings. This occurs because
some of the warmer cities with lower per-
centage savings have greater actual cool-
ing energy and peak demand savings than
colder climate cities with higher percentage
FABRIC ARCHI TECTURE • JANUAR
savings and lower actual savings. Surpris-
ingly, there can be little or no peak demand
savings from awnings in some hot, humid
cities. This is due to climatic variations that
influence whether peak demand is driven
more by solar gain through windows or by
factors such as temperature and humidity.
It is important to remember that these re-
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
sults are for a 2000 sq ft house and should
be interpolated for larger houses. In addi-
tion, the energy prices may rise in the fu-
ture increasing the savings and shortening
the payback for investing in awnings.
Tables 3 and 4 show more extensive set
of impacts from awnings for two cities: a
www.fabricarchitecture.info 17
0108FA_p16-p25.indd Sec2:17 1/15/08 1:31:32 PM
20. DESIGN | Energy
savings are greater with the clear glass (A) The total cost of heating and cooling is tem. The actual reduction is greater with
and less with the low-solar-gain low-E glass about equal in Boston when awnings are the clear glass (A).
(C). Because awnings block passive solar only used in the summer, but the total
gain in winter, heating energy increases by cost is increased if they remain in place 12 Hot Climate Impacts
6–9 percent if the awnings remain in place months a year. Table 4 shows the impact of awnings on a typ-
12 months a year. By removing or retract- Table 3 also shows that awnings reduce ical house in Phoenix, Arizona with different
ing the awnings in winter while keeping peak electricity demand by 17–22 percent orientation conditions. The same window ori-
them in place in the summer, the lowest in Boston. This may contribute to the abil- entation, window types, and shading condi-
total energy use is achieved. ity to downsize the mechanical cooling sys- tions used for Boston are applied in Phoenix.
Table 3: Impact of awnings on a house—Boston, Massachusetts
Table 4: Impact of awnings—Phoenix, Arizona
FABRIC ARCHI TECTURE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
NOTE: The annual energy performance figures shown here were
generated using RESFEN for a typical (new construction) 2000 sq ft
EBRUARY
house with 300 sq ft of window area. All cases in this report assume
that there are no other shading devices such as overhangs or blinds
and that the house is not shaded by trees or other buildings.
The costs shown here are annual costs for space heating and
space cooling only and thus will be less than total utility bills. Costs
for lights, appliances, hot water, cooking, and other uses are not
included in these figures. The mechanical system uses a gas furnace for heating and air conditioning for
cooling. Electricity costs used in the analysis are $0.18 per kWh in Boston and $0.12 per kWh per in
Phoenix. Natural gas costs used in the analysis are $16.20 per MBTU in Boston and $12.84 per MBTU
in Phoenix. These figures are based on 25 year projected average costs for electricity during the cooling
season and for natural gas during the heating season. All data is provided by the Energy Information
Administration (www.eia.doe.gov). RESFEN is a computer program for calculating the annual cooling and
heating energy use and costs due to window selection.
18 www.fabricarchitecture.info
0108FA_p16-p25.indd Sec2:18 1/15/08 1:31:33 PM
22. COMMENTARY | Trend watch
See the light
New technologies bring light—
and the message—to fabric
BY Lou Dzierzak
B
usinesses operate on a 24-hour clock today. Capturing the attention of customers
once the sun goes down requires ingenuity, creativity and staying abreast of new
technologies. Since commerce after dark is too big of a market to ignore, new cutting
edge technologies are offering new solutions to traditional backlit fabrics.
Oracal USA, Black Creek, GA recently introduced two vinyl film products certified by Cee-
Lite LLC that use the company’s cutting edge LEC (light-emitting capacitor) technology.
CeeLite LEC panels can turn any surface into a light source. The paper-thin LEC panels
do not generate heat and require very little power for illumination. CeeLite panels use a
LEC structure with Sylvania phosphors placed between a series of electrodes. Powered by
AC voltage, the electricity generates a changing field within the phosphors that causes the
phosphors to emit light.
Craig Campbell, product applications manager at ORACAL sees tremendous opportu-
nities ahead, “The growth potential is truly immeasurable. By providing the only CeeLite-
certified inkjet media that is currently available, our Orajet Series 3880 is generating
“Using the combination of these technologies has
allowed graphic providers to think outside the box and
put illuminated images where never thought possible.”
Top: CeeLite LEC panels were used to create a gi-
Craig Campbell, product applications manager ORACAL ant 160m2 interactive display illuminating five two-
story high images of Madonna to produce a fully
interactive fashion show that lights up New York’s
Fifth Avenue. Opposite, below: CeeLite technology
interest on a global scale. Projects using the combination of these technologies has al- also was used on indoor billboards in the Grand
FABRIC ARCHI TECTURE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
lowed graphic providers to think outside the box and put illuminated images where never Central Station subway for Westin Hotels.
thought possible.”
Blue Ocean Worldwide, a creative services and production firm in New York, NY
has used CeeLite technology to create illuminated Absolut Vodka bus vehicle wraps, sig-
nage for the Washington Redskin’s Fedex Field and indoor billboards for the Westin Hotels
on display in New York’s Grand Central Station subway.
David Stadler, ceo of Blue Ocean states, “I truly believe this product will completely CONTACTS
change the industry. It’s such a versatile product that can do so many things.” Blue Ocean Herculite Products Inc.
uses litho, screen or digital printing to apply graphics. Limitations are few but include ad- www.herculite.com
dressing size limitations if seams are needed. Oracal
Stadler often has to calm overly enthusiastic customers after they see CeeLite presented. www.oracal.com
“Once that is panel on, people’s minds take off and they have lots of ideas. You have to CeeLite
sometimes slow them down a little bit.”
FA www.ceelite.com
Lou Dzierzak is a freelance writer/editor who covers technical topics on a regular basis for nu- Blue Ocean Worldwide
merous trade journals. www. blueoceanworldwide.com
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24. ENVIRONMENT | Wind
A mighty
wind
Textiles are applied to
revolutionize the capacity
of hurricane protection
systems
BY Sonja Hegman
T
he hurricane barrier/protection in-
dustry started about 50 years ago.
Initially, only wood planks were
used to board up windows, and the more
well-to-do homeowner used wood shutters
with iron clasps to keep out the elements.
“Now, wood shutters are commonly used
for decoration,” says Dennis Grubb, found-
er of Wave Guide Technologies in Jackson-
ville, Fla.
As technology marched forward, alumi-
num became the popular choice for protection,
Grubb said, but it was cumbersome and expensive. Aluminum was generally used as a
manual shutter that had to be closed using a fastener. Eventually, aluminum was replaced
with roll down products [that were] originally developed and used in Europe, Grubb says.
“They were used to control heat loss or heat gain. In World War II, roll downs were used
as security.”
The roll-down technology was brought to the U.S. about 20 years ago, and it was devel-
oped and sold—in either motorized or manual form—as a hurricane protection product.
But, Grubb says, these products were still expensive. “About five years ago, I decided that
needed to change,” he said.
FABRIC ARCHI TECTURE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
So Grubb developed a product that was more affordable and easier to deploy that used
industrial fabrics: the Clearlar system, which is designed to custom fit to the window using
an aluminum mounting system that works manually or motorized. Made from an industri-
al/military grade of super reinforced polymer-based fabric, Clearlar is coated with multiple
layers of an ultraviolet- and mildew-resistant PVC coating material. It is certified by the
National Accreditation & Management Institute Inc. for installation in any hurricane prone
area, as it complies with the state of Florida’s hurricane protection building codes. When
tested by the state of Florida, Grubb claims that Clearlar withstood winds of 330km/hr; it’s
guaranteed up to wind speeds of 282km/hr by Grubb’s company. “It has never failed me on
a test,” he says.
Fending off flying debris
Though Dr. Patrick Hook’s company doesn’t manufacture products specifically for hurri-
cane protection, Auxetix Ltd. has developed preventive fabrics that stretch and can contain
flying debris. As managing director of the company in Witheridge, Devon, England, U.K.,
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