{"id":2034508,"date":"2019-11-01T04:44:41","date_gmt":"2019-11-01T10:44:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/csengineermaga.wpengine.com\/?p=2034508"},"modified":"2019-11-06T15:25:17","modified_gmt":"2019-11-06T21:25:17","slug":"emulating-tobacco-barn-charm-with-modern-building-materials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/emulating-tobacco-barn-charm-with-modern-building-materials\/","title":{"rendered":"Emulating Tobacco Barn Charm with Modern Building Materials"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Phil Pearce<\/b><\/p>\n

Traditional tobacco barns owe much of their charm to the imperfection of wood. Built primarily in the 1800s, their exteriors have become weathered, creating a darkened appearance. Meanwhile, wood on the interior has enjoyed protection from the elements and retains a bright tone. In addition to this characteristic tonal pattern, the structures\u2019 exposed wood clearly shows its vertical grains. These simple buildings cut angular profiles against their backdrops of the verdant fields and glens of Kentucky.<\/p>\n

Tasked with designing the new Convention Center for Owensboro, Kentucky, Brad McWhirter, AIA, dreamt of tying his modern architecture to the antique flavor of the region.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were trying to find a building typology and something to draw from that was a vernacular architecture of the area,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

However, the picturesque tobacco barns that dot the surrounding farmland and define the area\u2019s aesthetic roots could not simply be imitated \u00ac\u2013 their essential wood material would not perform for a modern community hub. A replacement was required, but what material could reflect woodgrain and match the right colors while providing exceptional architectural performance?<\/p>\n

Matching Color with Performance <\/b><\/p>\n

In addition to his aesthetic goals, McWhirter required Exterior Architectural Grade Class I performance. McWhirter considered a number of options, but he had no answers by the time he ran into a familiar face at a tradeshow. When the architect resurfaced the Louisiana Superdome after Hurricane Katrina, Lorin Industries supplied 365,000SF of anodized aluminum, carefully color-matched to the original hue of the historic stadium.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was saying, \u2018I\u2019ve got another project and I have this theme in mind and a light-dark concept,\u2019\u201d says Phil Pearce, Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, Lorin Industries, Inc. \u201c\u2018Let me just see what you have.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Coil anodized aluminum offers a unique set of benefits to architects in the market for something very specific. Controlling the oxidation process through continuous coil anodizing creates a clear, translucent aluminum oxide layer that shows off the beauty of the natural metal. The resulting anodic layer can be colored, with the continuous coil process delivering a consistent tone. Lorin created a number of samples in different colors and finishes, like darker bronzes in mill finishes for McWhirter, in their lab. In the end, Black Matt\u00ae Long Line Brushed and Clear Matt\u00ae Long Line Brushed finishes \u2013 for the exterior and interior, respectively \u2013 matched the architect\u2019s vision. Lorin measured the three-dimensional colors of the specified samples using the Hunter L, A, and B scales, ran a trial run, and then began processing the product, which they were able to do with color control across all the material throughout the entire manufacturing process. Delta E measures the difference between colors on a scale from 0 and 100. For the project\u2019s production runs, Lorin achieved high color consistency with a Delta E of just 1.5.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The Owensboro Convention Center uses Lorin anodized aluminum to reflect the characteristic tones and woodgrains of Kentucky tobacco barns. Photo: Tim Hursley<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Emulating Woodgrain with Anodized Aluminum <\/b><\/p>\n

However, to truly emulate the tobacco barns, more than just color would have to match. Integrating the material into the sleek design while revealing a wood-like texture required careful coordination with the panel manufacturer.<\/p>\n

\u201cBack when I used to sell wood, when you change the grain it creates a flashing effect where two identical products can look dissimilar because of the angle of light reflection,\u201d Pearce said. The Long Line Brushed finish of the anodized aluminum reflects light in much the same way textured wood does \u2013”While not trying to be wood, it does have a texture you can feel,\u201d Pearce said.<\/p>\n

This was a feature for McWhirter, who appreciated the long grains in the reference architecture, but incorrectly manufactured or installed panels could defeat the effect.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe tried to create this smooth, vertical finish that would allow the building to feel like these vertical panels are very similar to the vertical woodgraining of the barns,\u201d McWhirter said.<\/p>\n

Sharp, angular wings mark the North and South ends of the Convention Center, posing a particular challenge to ensure a consistent vertical grain look. Charged with fabricating hundreds of panels with ranging lengths that required an angle, panel manufacturer MetalTech-U.S.A. had not worked with anodized aluminum before the project. As anodized aluminum experts, Lorin confirmed with MetalTech to roll-form panels in the direction of the grain created during the coil anodizing process, ensuring a consistent finish. These pieces fit tightly into a seamless smooth exterior, achieving the angularity of the buildings that inspired the structure, while ensuring the effect of grain was not lost.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the sun hits [the panels],\u201d McWhirter said with a smile, \u201cthere\u2019s this vertical reflection, very similar to some of those woodgrains you see on the tobacco barns.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Barns Fade, This Project Stands<\/b><\/p>\n

In all, Lorin supplied coil anodized aluminum for 170,000SF of interior and exterior paneling, allowing the project to successfully reinterpret the region\u2019s historic barns with tonal and textural flair while protecting the project with high-performance material. Unlike the structures that inspired the award-winning Owensboro Convention Center\u2019s design though, it will not fade with time. Instead, it is built for durability. The crystalline aluminum oxide layer on the panels belongs to the same family of gemstones as sapphire, and is second only to diamonds in terms of hardness. Architectural Grade Class I panels provide at least .007 inches of anodic layer for increased protection and greater longevity. Unlike paint or coatings, the anodized later does not chip, flake, or peel, and does not require special cleaning solvents. So, while wood could not have succeeded for the project, the project will stand as a durable testament to the humble architecture that inspired its design \u2013 and will continue to inspire pride in the local community.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe couldn\u2019t use wood as the exterior, but [the design picks] up on some of that color palette that you see, where the black woods [are] on the exterior of the barns, and the interiors, which weren\u2019t as weathered and have lighter wood,\u201d McWhirter said. \u201cIt was something that was rooted in place in Kentucky.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Phil Pearce<\/b> is the Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing for Lorin Industries, Inc. In this role, Pearce oversees strategic domestic and international sales and marketing for Lorin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Phil Pearce Traditional tobacco barns owe much of their charm to the imperfection of wood. Built primarily in the 1800s, their exteriors have become weathered, creating a darkened appearance. Meanwhile, wood on the interior has enjoyed protection from the elements and retains a bright tone. In addition to this characteristic tonal pattern, the structures\u2019 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4085,"featured_media":2034511,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6704,12415],"tags":[381,14303,14298,8764,14299,14083,14301,14304,14300,14295,14296,14294,14297,14302],"acf":[],"views":13,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Lorin-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2034508"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4085"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2034508"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2034508\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2034511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2034508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2034508"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/csengineermag.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2034508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}