Ipé Clads the Kellogg Global Hub
and metal building envelope, and Ipé met all of the structure's rigorously specified engineering and environmental requirements.
Ipé's technical properties are legendary; it is strong, hard, dense and durable, while being resistant to fire, insects and rot. Yet these same characteristics can make the species challenging to work with and often costly to install.
The Kellogg Global Hub design team's solution was to use an innovative system to attach the wood soffit, known as the Vanish Rain Screen and Soffit System from Iron Woods. Engineered to meet national wind loading standards, the system employs a drained and back-ventilated approach that allows for the free movement of air and moisture through the cladding and does not attempt to minimize the effects of wind by means of pressure equalization. Instead, the cavity behind the cladding is drained, and positive back-ventilation promotes rapid evaporation of any rainwater deposited on the inner leaf or vapor barrier.
Back-ventilated cladding and soffit systems improve the service life of building envelopes in environments that experience extreme wind, rain and UV conditions, and wood's low thermal conductivity helps improve the building envelope's overall energy performance.
THE WOOD'S WARM NATURAL TONES COMPLEMENT THE GLASS AND METAL BUILDING ENVELOPE, AND IPÉ MET ALL OF THE STRUCTURE'S RIGOROUSLY SPECIFIED ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS.
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Frequently asked questions
Why was Ipé chosen for the Kellogg Global Hub cladding?+
Ipé's warm natural tones complement the glass and metal building envelope, and the species met all of the structure's rigorously specified engineering and environmental requirements.
What are the technical properties of Ipé wood?+
Ipé is strong, hard, dense and durable, while being resistant to fire, insects and rot. However, these same characteristics can make it challenging to work with and often costly to install.
What attachment system was used for the Ipé soffit at the Kellogg Global Hub?+
The design team used the Vanish Rain Screen and Soffit System from Iron Woods. It is engineered to meet national wind loading standards and uses a drained and back-ventilated approach.
How does the Vanish Rain Screen and Soffit System manage moisture?+
Rather than minimizing wind effects through pressure equalization, the cavity behind the cladding is drained, and positive back-ventilation promotes rapid evaporation of any rainwater deposited on the inner leaf or vapor barrier.
What are the benefits of back-ventilated cladding systems?+
Back-ventilated cladding and soffit systems improve the service life of building envelopes in environments with extreme wind, rain and UV conditions. Wood's low thermal conductivity also helps improve the building envelope's overall energy performance.