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Located in historic New Bedford, an old whaling town on the Southern Coast of Massachusetts, Parallel Products of New England recently completed its Duchaine Boulevard project, a center for processing and technology development—on its 130-acre campus for recycling and the production of green energy.

The project called for a full new roof on the building – about 100,000 square feet in total. While otherwise a straightforward project, the weather posed the biggest challenge to completion.

Specifically engineered for controlled environments, the panels maintain the constant temperatures needed for insect breeding and storage at the high-tech cricket farm. Insulated panels provided an optimal solution for keeping crickets at prime temperatures, especially in the frozen storage portion of the facility.

A dramatic entry that adopts vertically hung standing-seam metal panels – more commonly seen on roofs, not walls – as both exterior cladding and an interior design element for the soaring lobby.

The Wentzville School District has been the fastest-growing school district in Missouri for the past decade, averaging more than 600 new students a year. Demographic data indicates that the number of pre-kindergarten children is expected to increase in the district for at least the next 10 years.

Building Enclosure was recently joined by Gary Badge, a Managing Principal at FK Architecture. Gary sat with us to talk about designing for the hospitality industry and the benefits of modular construction.

While modernizing facilities, it’s important to remember that service looks different in every market. First responders need well-equipped buildings that will allow them to assist the community with any challenges or natural disasters they may frequently experience.

Over 1,100 firms have joined the AIA 2030 Commitment to date. According to AIA's latest annual report AIA, 417 firms submitted data on 20,652 projects, accounting for a 50 percent decrease in predicted energy use intensity.

Governments and legislative bodies are targeting net zero carbon emissions in building operation and construction. For architects, targeting net zero carbon means that analyzing projects’ environmental footprints is more important now than ever.

While installation errors lead to most metal roofing issues, panel side laps, incorrect panel profile selection, and fastener locations can be problematic for exposed fastener panel installations on lower roof slopes.