Alcoa Products Used Throughout; Alcoa and Penguins to Jointly Promote
Aluminum Can Recycling
PITTSBURGH–Alcoa (NYSE:AA) today announced it will play a key part in the
Pittsburgh Penguins’ and the CONSOL Energy Center’s efforts to be green.
Alcoa will work with the Penguins to promote recycling at the new
735,000 square-foot CONSOL Energy Center and throughout Pittsburgh. And
Alcoa’s Kawneer unit, the leading supplier of architectural aluminum
products and systems for the commercial construction industry, has
supplied products that are integral to the new facility’s Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, signifying
the building as among the most environmentally responsible facilities in
the world.
The CONSOL Energy Center is the first National Hockey League (NHL) arena
and among the first sporting venues in the world to attain Gold LEED
certification. Of the 42 LEED points the CONSOL Energy Center received
as part of the rigorous process, nearly 40 percent were aided by using
Alcoa’s Kawneer products (nine for indoor environmental quality; seven
for materials and resources).
Alcoa and the Penguins have been long-time proponents of recycling, with
Alcoa recycling approximately 700,000 metric tons of aluminum a year
back into new and infinitely recyclable products. For example, as a
result of Alcoa programs, an aluminum beverage can is consumed and
turned back into a new beverage can in less than 60 days. Alcoa has a
stated goal to increase recycling rates in the US from 57 percent to 75
percent by 2015. To help, Alcoa has distributed tens of thousands of
recycling bins across the country in the past year. In the new CONSOL
Energy Center, Alcoa Recycling will make more than 200 recycling bins
available for use inside and outside the facility year-round. The
Penguins and Alcoa will also promote recycling in a variety of team
vehicles throughout the season – both within the CONSOL Energy Center
and throughout Pittsburgh.
The CONSOL Energy Center incorporates a mix of unique and upscale
interior and exterior features that bring pride to the team, its fans
and the city of Pittsburgh. It was designed and constructed by Kansas
City, Mo.-based architecture firm Populous (formerly HOK Sport Venue
Event), Pittsburgh-based Astorino architectural firm, a joint venture
between construction managers PJ Dick and Hunt Construction and project
management firm ICON. The construction team, which also included glazing
contractors from Universal Glass & Metals, Inc. and D-M Products, Inc.
was not only challenged to create a modern building that would meet the
needs of the functional and sustainable requirements of the
organization, but to do so in time for the start of the 2010-2011 hockey
season.
Tim Mackin, project manager with Pittsburgh-based D-M Products said the
biggest triumph was that the facility was completed on time and within
budget — a feat for such a major undertaking. The CONSOL Energy Center
opened August 18, 2010 with a performance by Paul McCartney. The first
Penguins game is scheduled for September 22.
Alcoa’s Kawneer Products in CONSOL
Energy Center
Creating a feeling of openness throughout the facility was a key design
element, bolstered by Kawneer’s 1600 Wall System®1 curtain
wall which comprises the entire Downtown-facing west side of the
facility. Besides providing magnificent views of the city, the
serpentine-like glass façade allows daylight to reach deep into the
building. Scott Pence, project manager with Kawneer, says there were
challenges with the curved nature of the curtain wall’s design. “The
wall featured multiple curves and radii, requiring several adjustments
to the drawings,” he said, “but we were able to strike a balance between
the architects’ visions and the building functions that looked great on
the finished product.”
Kawneer’s Trifab® VG (VersaGlaze®) 451T framing,
featuring an IsoLock® thermal break, was also utilized on the
new arena to help enhance thermal performance and energy efficiency. In
addition, 1600 SunShade® was selected for the exterior of the
facility to help reduce solar heat gain. With a 30-inch projection, the
1600 SunShade® shades interiors and conserves energy. To
match the team colors, the curtain wall and several sunshades were
painted Champagne Gold. Throughout the facility no detail was spared in
theme and energy conscious design, including the retail shop where racks
shaped like hockey sticks were made from bamboo.
The center’s open concourses—only the second NHL arena to utilize this
design—allows fans and visitors to leave their seats without missing the
action. To handle the wear and tear of the approximately 700,000 people
projected to visit the arena annually, Kawneer’s 500 Heavy Wall™
Entrances were incorporated throughout the building. Designed for heavy
traffic areas, 500 Heavy Wall™ Entrances feature five-inch vertical
stiles and 3/16-inch walls throughout for additional strength and
reliability, as well as two framing options to provide a choice for
designers.
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of primary aluminum, fabricated
aluminum and alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum
industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the
aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial
transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the
past 120 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled
products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa® wheels,
fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building
systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as
titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral
part of Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and
engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow
Jones Sustainability Index for eight consecutive years and approximately
75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in
active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 59,000 people in 31
countries across the world. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.