University of Wisconsin Boasts New Innovative Insulated Roof from Birdair

Student athletes at the University of Wisconsin now practice under a Tensotherm™ insulated translucent membrane roof at the McClain Athletic Facility in Madison, WI. As part of the university’s new $76.8 million “Athletic Village” development, the roof at the training facility was upgraded from non-insulated PTFE constructed by Birdair in 1988 to a new 41,920-squarefoot Tensotherm™ roof.

Birdair, Inc. served as the roofing contractor and provided design-build services for the roof retrofit. The new Tensotherm™ roof allows McClain Athletic Facility to maintain the look of its previous roof featuring tensile barrel vaults and standing seam metal roofing. On the interior, the roof’s existing structural support steel was cleaned for reuse and adds another element of aesthetic appeal.

Tensotherm™ with Lumira™ aerogel is an insulated translucent membrane roofing system developed by Birdair, Cabot Corporation and Geiger Engineers. For McClain Athletic Facility, the material consists of 25mm of Lumira™ aerogel insulation sandwiched between structural PTFE fabric, an insulated composite that is less than two inches thick (40mm), yet delivers an insulation value of R9. This innovative feather-light insulation layer reduces solar heat gain in warmer situations and retains warmer air in cold exterior conditions, which is key for Wisconsin’s climate.

“Before the installation crew stepped foot on the roof, Birdair had an excellent plan established,” says Jeremy Shecterle, P.E., LEED AP, AC, project executive for J.P. Cullen & Sons, Inc., the project’s construction manager. “The local craftsmen retained by Birdair learned the intricacies of the Tenostherm™ roof system to provide a safe and productive installation. Birdair worked closely with the standing seam roof contractor to assure the transitions and flashings were done properly to provide a watertight and continuous roofing system. The crew never wavered from the schedule and Birdair stayed on top of the project during construction. We would welcome the chance to work with Birdair again.”

By maintaining translucency, Tensotherm™ provides glare-free daylighting and contributes to a high level of energy efficiency by reducing the need for artificial lighting. Beyond cost savings, studies have shown that better daylighting can result in higher productivity, enhanced learning, and promotion of healing. Additionally, the material offers high moisture control and superior acoustic attenuation capabilities.

“The new Tensotherm™ roof provides many enhanced aesthetic and functional advantages for McClain Athletic Facility,” explains David Capezzuto, Director of Business Development, Birdair. “The material’s ability to insulate while maintaining daylighting is an ideal fit for an athletic facility located in a cold climate. In addition to its energy efficiency, the roof will contribute to reduced maintenance requirements and will retain its brilliance over time due to its durability.”

Retrofit roofing construction on McClain Athletic Facility began in May 2012 and was completed in August 2012. In addition to Birdair, the project team included owner University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, architect VOA Associates, Chicago, IL, engineer Berners Schober Associates, Green Bay, WI and construction manager J.P. Cullen and Sons, Janesville, WI.

As a full-service specialty contractor, Birdair offers complete design build assistance and solutions throughout the design-build process, and has completed more than 1,300 tensile architecture installations worldwide. Learn more at www.birdair.com.

Tensotherm™ is a patent pending product of Birdair, Inc.