Kalwall Daylights the Walla Walla Way
In the Walla Walla Valley of southeastern Washington state, there's a common belief in getting things done through cooperation. They even have a name for it: the "Walla Walla Way". In this spirit, a host of environmental and natural resources groups, including a confederation of Indian tribes, came together to create the Walla Walla Community College William A. Grant Water & Environmental Center (WEC). These groups work together to develop curricula, training and "best practices" in water management, and aid in carrying out innovative and effective conservation projects.
Of course, forming a consensus of opinion isn't always easy. But the process of communicating and working together is made easier by a calming space of glare-free, natural daylight, which has long been shown to improve the mood and sense of well being of those within it. Formed of floor-to-ceiling Kalwall translucent curtainwall, "The heart of the project is the round Collaboration Hall," says Jeffrey Warner, AIA, principal of ALSC Architects, P.S., the WEC's design firm. "The goal of this room is to create an environment that encourages positive interaction in potentially contentious negotiations over water rights. Natural daylighting is an important component of achieving this end, and Kalwall offers the right distribution of soft, diffuse light."
At the same time, a limited number of traditional glass views to the outdoors were woven into the design of the WEC's nearly 1,000 square feet of translucent Kalwall curtainwall. As in a classroom setting, negotiators, without getting distracted from the task at hand, can still catch occasional glimpses of the very environment they hope to protect. Warner likes this kind of design flexibility; he also notes that Kalwall is "well suited for the hall's curved shape."
Additionally, "Kalwall offers good energy performance," says Warner, as it helps control brightness and glare, which also saves fuel costs due to the diminished need for artificial lighting. The thermally-broken panels' superior insulating properties limit unnecessary solar heat gain or heat loss, thereby lowering HVAC system expenses. Vandal-resistant Kalwall is also self-cleaning; grime simply washes off with every rainfall.
A green company itself, Kalwall is justifiably proud of its role in the Water & Environmental Center. "At night the Kalwall allows the hall to glow like a lantern" from within, says Warner, leading the way toward a better tomorrow for the entire Walla Walla Basin, and "expressing its importance to the WEC as well as the community it serves."
William A. Grant Water & Environmental Center
Walla Walla, WA
Architect: ALSC Architects, P.S.
Photo: © Explosive Illusions.com
Kalwall Specifications
Curtainwall: 998 square feet (90 square meters)
U-Value: 0.23 Btu/hr/ft²/°F (1.3 W/m²K) – Thermally Broken
Light Transmission: 20%
Exterior panel color: Ice Blue
Interior panel color: White
For more information, contact:
Bruce Keller
Kalwall Corporation 603-627-3861 (800-258-9777 N. America)
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