The Pinnacle of Performance: McClain Athletic Facility's Tensile Marvel in Tensotherm? Mastery

Nestled within the heart of the 美国威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校 sprawling Athletic Village, the McClain Athletic Facility has undergone a transformative evolution, reaching new heights in architectural innovation. The facility, a pivotal space for the development and refinement of student athletes, now stands proudly under the expansive shelter of a state-of-the-art Tensotherm? insulated translucent membrane roof.

Originally adorned with a non-insulated PTFE construction by Birdair in 1988, the McClain Athletic Facility's roof has been meticulously upgraded to a cutting-edge 41,920-square-foot Tensotherm? masterpiece in 2012. Birdair, Inc. spearheaded this architectural marvel, serving as design build specialty contractor .

One of the standout features of the Tensotherm? roof is its seamless integration with the facility's existing aesthetics. The design maintains the distinctive look of the original roof, characterized by elegant tensile barrel vaults and standing seam metal roofing. The interior ambiance is further enhanced as the roof's existing structural support steel was carefully cleaned for reuse, contributing to the overall visual appeal of the space.

At the heart of this architectural prowess lies the Tensotherm? with Lumira? aerogel, a groundbreaking insulated translucent membrane roofing system developed collaboratively by Birdair, Cabot Corporation, and Geiger Engineers. In the case of the McClain Athletic Facility , this extraordinary material comprises 25mm of Lumira? aerogel insulation expertly sandwiched between structural PTFE fabric . Remarkably, this insulated composite is less than two inches thick (40mm), yet it delivers an insulation value of R10.10, setting new standards for efficiency in climate control.

This innovative feather-light insulation layer serves a dual purpose, significantly reducing solar heat gain in warmer conditions while adeptly retaining warmer air in cold exterior climates – a crucial attribute for Wisconsin's often challenging weather. The Tensotherm? roof thus stands as a testament to the facility's commitment to providing an optimal environment for athletic training, regardless of the external elements.

The McClain Athletic Facility , now crowned with the Tensotherm? masterpiece, not only symbolizes a commitment to excellence in sports training but also showcases a harmonious blend of architectural aesthetics and technological innovation. As student athletes engage in their rigorous pursuits within this state-of-the-art space, they do so under the shelter of a roof that represents the pinnacle of tensile architecture and technological mastery. The legacy of McClain Athletic Facility continues to evolve, a beacon of inspiration for future advancements in athletic facility design.

About Birdair

Birdair, Inc., is the leading specialty design build contractor of custom tensile structures around the world. In addition to pre-construction services such as design assistance, budgeting, construction methodologies and project scheduling, Birdair provides design-build solutions in all aspects of project design, fabrication, installation and maintenance. The company offers a selection of architectural fabric membranes, including PTFE fiberglass , TensoSky? ETFE film , PVC and Tensotherm?, an insulated tensioned membrane system . Birdair, based in Buffalo, NY, is a member of the Taiyo Kogyo Group, with operations serving North and South America and other international locations. For more information about Birdair , call 1-800-622-2246 or visit Birdair.com .