Kalwall translucent cladding has helped the New Belgium Brewing company accomplish a raft of sustainability awards for its latest brewery on the East Coast of the USA.
Specified by international architects Perkins + Will, the new brewery in Asheville has been hailed as a showcase for the art of sustainable practice and design. The project earned three LEED Silver Certifications for the Distribution Center, Gold for the Brew House and Platinum for the ‘Liquid Centre’. At the SEAL Business Sustainability Awards event, all this helped New Belgium Brewing be recognised as one of ‘The 50 most sustainable companies in the world’.
The use of Kalwall in the clerestory adds to the building’s ‘striking’ appearance as well as contributing valuable points for the LEED ratings. Not only does Kalwall diffuse daylighting deep into the interior but it removes shadows and glare and the stark contrasts of light and shade. The system also enhances simplicity in external design by eliminating the need for blinds, curtains or solar control. Kalwall’s insulating properties also mean that U-values down to 0.28 can be achieved, thereby helping with the important requirements of Part L.
All this contributes to a more comfortable and safer environment for the occupants. In addition, studies have shown that the use of natural light in commercial spaces improves employee satisfaction, reduces absences and boosts employee productivity levels.
Kalwall’s exterior face is colour stable with formulated with a UV-resistant self-cleaning resin. This means that normal rainfall helps to keep the surface free of dust and dirt, while at the same time retaining its original colour during the weathering process.
