Behind the Net
With the start of the 2010 hockey season, the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins are making themselves at home in their new state-of-the-art arena that features a range of high-performance products from Kawneer Co. Inc. The 735,000-square-foot center is the first NHL arena to receive LEED Gold certification.
The CONSOL Energy Center incorporates a mix of unique and upscale interior and exterior features that bring pride to its team, its fans and the city of Pittsburgh. Designed through a joint venture, all team members were challenged to not only create a modern arena that would meet the needs of the functional and sustainable requirements of the organization, but would do so in time for the start of the 2010-11 hockey season.
A key design element was creating a feeling of openness throughout the facility, which was bolstered by Kawneer’s 1600 Wall System 1 curtainwall which compromises 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. There were challenges with the curved nature of the curtainwall’s design. “The wall featured multiple curves and radii, requiring several adjustments to the drawings,” said Scott Pence, Kawneer project manager, “but we were able to strike a balance between the architects’ vision and the building functions that looked great on the finished project.”
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. Additionally, the 1600 SunShade was selected for the facility exterior to help reduce solar heat gain. To match the team colors, the curtainwall 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 concourses are open to the stadium itself-only the second NHL arena to utilize this design-allowing 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.
Of the 42 LEED points the Consol Energy Center received, nine were for indoor environmental quality and seven were for materials and resources; meaning 38 percent of the LEED points were aided by using Kawneer products.
According to Tim Mackin, project manager with D-M Products Inc., one of the glazing contractors, the biggest triumph was that the facility was completed on time and within budget. The center opened on August 18, 2010 with a performance by Paul McCartney, with the first Penguins game on September 22.
CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh
Construction managers: PJ Dick, Pittsburgh, and Hunt Construction, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Project manager: ICON Venue Group, Greenwood Village, Colo.
Architect: Populous, Kansas City, Mo., and Astorino, Pittsburgh
Glazing contractors: D-M Products Inc., Pittsburgh, and Universal Glass, Detroit
Curtainwalls: Kawneer Co. Inc., Norcross, Ga.,
www.kawneer.com
