To create an iconic design for The Nest apartment building in Burlington, Vt., Gossens and Bachman Inc. (gbA Architecture) incorporated a variety of metal panels and masonry on the exterior of the building. Additionally, project goals included constructing the building in an environmentally conscious manner, with an emphasis on energy efficiency and reducing its environmental impact.
In terms of size, the 4,366 m2 (47,000 sf) apartment building features nine stories, houses 49 units, including studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments.
In total, 1,820 m2 (19,595 sf) of three types of insulated metal panels (IMPs) were installed. The project used two profiles of flat IMPs, one coated in a black finish and a second coated in a zinc finish. Also, Wright and Morrissey installed ribbed IMPs coated in a pewter finish.
IMPs met multiple project goals, says Karim Muri, vice president of marketing services and strategy development at Kingspan. “The project initially called for metal composite material (MCM) panels and fiber cement, until budgeting became an issue. That’s when it became clear IMPs were the best choice, both on a financial level and, more importantly, on a sustainability level. They offer superior insulation properties and a longer lifespan, contributing to the building’s overall environmental responsibility.”