Edmonton International Airport’s Central Tower features RHEINZINK-prePATINA blue-grey zinc material for exterior cladding

The Edmonton International Airport’s (EIA’s) 130,000-square-foot Central Tower adds dramatic impact to the arrival and departure experience. Defining the building’s undulating ribbon-like exterior wrap, RHEINZINK-prePATINA^® blue-grey zinc was fabricated by Grant Metal Products into interlocking flat lock shingles. The natural, sustainable metal also supports the Central Tower’s LEED^® Gold certification through the Canada Green Building Council.

Inspired by the unimpeded Alberta wind that sculpts the tall prairie grasses as well as the seasonal snowdrifts, DIALOG designed the eight-story structure. It houses administrative offices, retail space, dining outlets and an observation deck. Perched atop the building at one end is a NAV Canada air traffic control tower.

Approximately 50,000 square feet of material from RHEINZINK America, Inc. was used to create the continuously curving façade system. The profile of the exterior zinc cladding provides optimal passive solar shading on the south and west elevations, while allowing maximum light penetration on the north.

The exterior wrap begins 43 feet above the ground and twists upward to an overall height of 148 feet. Each metal ribbon contains either two or three facets that vary in height, width, thickness and angle as they trace around the building. Approximately 35,000 individual RHEINZINK panels, each measuring 1 by 2 feet, were needed to complete the skin. The same prePATINA blue-grey material also was used extensively in the interior concourses as a design accent element and to highlight various retail storefronts.

The unusual design represented both challenge and opportunity for the building envelope contractor, Thermal Systems KWC Ltd., Calgary. Thermal Systems partnered with the parametric modeling experts at the company formerly known as Gehry Technologies, and with steel framing provider Radius Track, to turn the architect’s vision into reality.

The fabrication challenge was to find a way to make the metal curves smooth, while accommodating the undulating design of the wrap. The solution was a curving hat channel system that provided a smooth attachment surface for the RHEINZINK shingles.

“The challenge was all about the geometry,“ said Tyler Weisgerber, Thermal Systems’ commercial division’s general manager. “Our design team partners were essential assets in providing the necessary 3D modeling and BIM technology to create the system. But you can only assume that a material is going to react a certain way until you actually apply it to a certain type of geometry.”

He continued, “To be absolutely certain, we built a proof-of-concept mock-up to test and refine our system. We constructed an actual ribbon section from the building and wrapped it around a 40-foot sea container in our yard. Once we built all of the components, we quickly found out what worked and what needed some tweaking. Our leadership trades guys were really crucial in refining the system. Going through that mock-up process was key to the success of the project. And then these same craftsmen led the teams that completed the installation in spectacular fashion.“

Thermal Systems is a long-time RHEINZINK systems partner and has extensive experience with the material. “RHEINZINK is near and dear to my heart,“ Weisgerber said. “I‘ve always enjoyed working with zinc. It has amazing characteristics. The lifespan and maintenance-free aspects of the product make it very appealing to our customers.“

LOCATION

1000 Airport Rd NW, Nisku, AB, Canada

BUILDING OWNER

Edmonton Regional Airports Authority; Edmonton, Alberta

CONTRACTOR

General contractor: EllisDon; Building envelope contractor: Thermal Systems KWC Ltd.; Metal wall panels – architectural zinc fabricator: Grant Metal Products Ltd.

MANUFACTURER

RHEINZINK America Inc

BUDGET

N/A

SIZE

130,000 square feet

DATE COMPLETED

2012