Blain’s Farm
& Fleet overcame resistance from authorities in Verona, Wis., by constructing an environmentally friendly building, which became the community’s first “big box” store and was built on there developed site of a former assisted living facility.
Blain’s in-house staff, Strand Associates Inc., Madison, and Potter Lawson Architects, Madison, developed the store’s contemporary design. Butler builder Design Structures, Middleton, Wis., built the prototype that features a sleek storefront with five 26-foot-
(8-m-) tall second floor clerestory towers at intervals across the façade.
Rubble from the demolished nursing home was used as fill for the new store, which diverted 300 truckloads of waste material from landfills. More than 120 existing trees were moved and later replanted, including 35 that serve as a buffer between the store and a public park. Additional eco-friendly features include waterless urinals that could save up to 40,000 gallons (152,000 L) of water a year; 160 GPS-controlled skylights from Ciralight Inc., North Salt Lake, Utah, across the roof that track the sun with the changing seasons, cutting energy by 30 percent; reclaimed motor oil will be collected to heat the store’s auto service center; and energy-efficient lights have sensors that automatically shut off lights when offices or restrooms become unoccupied. Inside the store, the lights shut down when the skylights are admitting enough natural light to light the store. The energy-efficient HVAC system gets a boost at floor level from large ceiling fans from Big Ass Fans Co., Lexington, Ky.
Butler Manufacturing, Kansas City, Mo., supplied its Widespan framing and MR-24 standingseam metal roof system for the project. The Widespan framing features 30 to 65 percent recycled steel content, while the metal roof used a 50 percent greater insulation barrier than the retail chain’s previous stores and as required by local energy code. The insulation barrier used was the ELAMINATOR pre-engineered metal roof insulation system from Owens Corning, Toledo, Ohio.
Metal Design Corp., Madison, Wis., supplied and installed approximately 14,657 square feet (1,362 m2) of Classic Omega panels in Silver Metallic from Firestone Building Products Co., Indianapolis, for the exterior horizontal and vertical panels.
Big Ass Fans Co.
Butler Manufacturing
Ciralight Inc.
Firestone Building Products Co.
Owens Corning
