The Talisman Centre in Calgary is getting a multi-million dollar renovation, which includes the installation of the world’s first insulated composite membrane roofing system.
Innovation
The Talisman Centre in Calgary is getting a multi-million dollar renovation, which includes the installation of the world’s first insulated composite membrane roofing system.
“The whole product was designed specifically for this project, but we have done a few other installations in the mean time,” said Eric Reese, director of business operation with Birdair. “There is no other product like this in the tension membrane world. It is light-weight, covers long spans with little intermediate structure and has very high insulation and natural light transmission values.”
Birdair, Inc. was awarded the contract to provide the updated tensile roofing system for Talisman Centre for Sport and Wellness in Calgary. The company is a contractor that installs specialty lightweight long-span roofing systems and tensile structures.
“The main tension panels consist of two layers of structural PTFE fiberglass membrane,” said Reese. “FEP (Fluorinated ethylene propylene) makes it a true vapour barrier. The insulation is a Nanogel, which is a proprietary product by Cabot Corporation. The insulation is the lightest and best insulator in the world.”
Tensotherm is a composite architectural membrane roofing system, developed by Birdair, Cabot Corporation and Geiger Engineers.
The material consists of a Nanogel aerogel layer sandwiched between two layers of structural PTFE fabric. The insulated composite is less than two inches thick.
Tensotherm, which was developed for the Talisman Centre, was recently installed at the Dedmon Athletic Center at Radford University in Radford, Virginia.
The new Tensotherm roofing system at the Talisman Centre will replace the current fabric roof, which has had problems since the facility was open in 1983.
“The roof hasn’t failed and it was working as it was designed to, but it has come to the end of its lifetime,” said Rob McAuley, manager of the office of the capital lead with the city of Calgary. “The roof still keeps water out, but what wasn’t put in at the time was good insulation. After the roof was constructed, they put in a layer of insulation, but it didn’t perform as it should.”
McAuley said a number of factors affected how the roof performed, such as a big fire at neighbouring housing development, which discoloured the insulation and caused it to settle over time.
“As a result, we got major temperature differences and condensation from the pool got water on the gym floor and disrupted programs,” he explained.
These problems also led to poor temperature control, which creates very hot days in the summer and very cold ones in the winter.
Tensotherm will match the look of the current roof, while providing five times the existing insulation value and solving condensation problems.
The $45 million renovation project began on Jan. 2 and is being divided into two parts.
The aquatic side of the centre closed on Jan. 1, so work could start on the removal of roof panels and components.
The dry side of the centre, which includes a running track, a gym, cardio-fitness equipment and weights, will remain open until the end of February. Construction on this side will begin on March 1.
Along with the roof upgrades, the Talisman Centre will also do a major renovation of its locker room facility, sound system and install a new lighting.
The funding for the project will come from the City of Calgary’s Municipal Sustainability Fund. The project aims to achieve minimum of LEED Silver certification.
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