coppertalk

By Fernando Pellicer, conservation architect and partner, DFS Inc. Architecture & Design

The Copper Development Association (CDA), in collaboration with the Canadian Copper & Brass Development Association (CCBDA), selected the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul as one of 12 recipients of the 2011 North American Copper in Architecture Awards Program. The winners showcase a wide range of projects, all of which highlight craftsmanship, attention to detail, and architectural vision. In addition to showcasing copper’s beauty, longevity and workability, sustainability was a running theme among the project submissions.

The Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul is a historic landmark in Montreal, built in 1931-32 and designed by noted architect Harold Featherstonaugh. The church building was gothic in style and featured a copper roof. We were contacted because the roof was buckling, it was poorly insulated and there were major problems with icicles. The roof needed to be replaced.

With the help of Istvan Kovacs, the project manager, we addressed the problems by creating a 17,500 square-foot copper batten seam roof system. We had demolition crews remove the existing copper panels, gutters, downspouts and underlayment to the existing structure. We then installed a new waterproof membrane, foil-faced polyisocyanurate insulation and plywood sheeting. For greater durability, we used 17,500 square feet of 20-ounce copper batten seam roofing panels. We worked with Couverture Montreal Nord Ltee., a sheet metal contractor, to complete the job over a six-month period.

Our renovations helped reduce heating costs for the church and the insulation solved the icicle problem. Copper was the material of choice for our project because of its durability and the ease of installation. It was a successful project and we were very proud to be part of restoring a church with a long and rich history in Montreal. The church’s original copper roof lasted nearly 80 years and I’m confident this new copper roof will have a long and sustainable life as well.

Projects of this nature present certain challenges, which at the start, fuel the drive to succeed. Having won this award means that we have successfully met these challenges and are ready for the next ones. We sincerely thank The Copper Development Association for bestowing this award to DFS Inc. Architecture & Design for its use of copper, a most noble material,  in the restoration of the Saint Andrew’s and Saint Paul’s church roof.

By Andy Kireta Jr., Copper Development Association Vice President of Building & Construction

The Copper Development Association (CDA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 North American Copper in Architecture Awards. The CDA presents the annual awards jointly with the Canadian Copper & Brass Association (CCBDA). Read more…

By Andy Kireta Jr., CDA Vice President of Building Construction

They’re back and better than ever. Our successful Do It Proper with Copper series is back with a second installment of do-it-yourself architectural and plumbing how-to videos.

These short, instructional videos provide step-by-step tutorials giving viewers practical instruction on how to use the versatile metal copper in plumbing, architectural, building and construction projects. These new videos show how to create vertical lap, flat and standing seams for architectural copper systems along with bending and flaring, structural adhesives and brazing techniques that are used in plumbing applications. Read more…

By Craig Thompson, Copper Development Association, Project Manager & Architectural Applications Specialist

Craig Thompson is an Illinois-registered architect.  He holds a graduate degree in architecture and, in 1972, began working in construction on residential, commercial and retail projects.  He joined the CDA in 1992, working primarily with architects.  He provides them with information for working with copper, including design assistance and help locating products and installers.

I recently attended hearings of the International Code Council (ICC) on the subject of copper roofing and fire ratings.  Some Building codes exist to enable architects and builders to specify the level of fire safety of the materials chosen for new construction – Class A, Class B or Class C.  For example, if someone building a home in an area of California where there are brush fires wanted to do something extra to protect the home, they would go with Class A materials.  For decades there was an exception for copper in the building code because it had always been considered non-combustible. Read more…

By Joe Gorsuch, Copper Development Association Manager of Health & Environmental Sciences

Joe Gorsuch works with environmental regulations and the collection of ecotox data.  For 30 years prior to joining the CDA in March, 2009, he worked with Kodak, conducting environmental effects and fate field and lab studies to register chemicals for the photographic industry.  From 2005 to 2009 he was President and Owner of Gorsuch Environmental Managements Services, Inc. [GEMS, Inc.] coordinating environmental studies.  He holds an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology and a master’s degree in Environmental Sciences, focusing on Aquatic Toxicology, both from Purdue University. 

Before I joined the CDA, I led the research program on silver at Kodak.  I was with the company for three decades and had amassed quite a body of work.  The experience and contacts I gained are invaluable, and I’m sure that was one of the reasons I was offered the position at the CDA.  Silver and copper aren’t the same programs, but the science is essentially identical and my background was a great fit. 

This past November, I was proud to receive the 2009 International Imaging Industry Association (I3A) Achievement Award (I3A is the leading global association and an accredited Standards Developing Organization for the imaging industry) for my work at Kodak and as an independent consultant in leading the 16-year silver environmental research program.  Here is a description of the award:

The I3A Achievement Award annually recognizes, encourages and celebrates outstanding accomplishment by an individual who has provided significant contributions to the advancement or growth of the imaging industry, through participation in I3A in either Standards and Initiatives or Advocacy.

It’s rewarding to know that my long career has led to others recognizing me.  I really feel great about it.  But I can’t take all the credit because of course I had colleagues helping me along the way.  Both at Kodak and the CDA, I’ve had the opportunity to work with world-class researchers and government regulatory people, and to build relationships based on mutual trust.  After leaving Kodak, there was kind of a void.  Although I was doing some exciting environmental consulting work, I wasn’t able to keep doing all the work I had been doing previously, in particular coordinating a major research program.  So I was very excited to get this opportunity with the CDA to bring my experience and knowledge to work on copper with some of the researchers I had collaborated with previously.  As I said earlier, the science is essentially identical.  But we’re now doing copper studies that I never had the occasion to do with silver, including marine studies that are far more advanced, in addition to marine sediment studies that I’m helping to coordinate, which is always exciting.  Anytime you get to be a pioneer, it’s exciting.

Craig Thompson, Copper Development Association

Project Manager & Architectural Applications Specialist

 Craig Thompson is an Illinois-registered architect.  He holds a graduate degree in architecture and, in 1972, began working in construction on residential, commercial and retail projects.  He joined the CDA in 1992, working primarily with architects.  He provides them with information for working with copper, including design assistance and help locating products and installers.

 I think I’m in a good position to assist architects in using copper for their projects, and that’s part of my job.  I have a lot of knowledge, and I enjoy sharing anything and everything I can. 

But one of the most exciting new developments concerning copper in architecture is in healthcare.  CDA is waiting to share with architects the results of the clinical trials, now underway, that compare the bio-load of standard hospital ICU rooms to “copperized” rooms.  Because the antimicrobial property of copper is a relatively new concept to the industry and we just recently got EPA approval, a lot of the products haven’t been mass-produced yet.  In other words, they’re not in catalogs for architects and builders working on healthcare facilities to call for.  And frankly, there will be lag time between when the architects are ready to go and when there’s general availability.  It’s kind of a “chicken and egg” situation.  The folks who make them won’t make a lot if they don’t think they can sell them. But if architects ask for them, they’ll make them.  And that’s coming.  The CDA has member companies that are taking a proactive approach and getting things ready to be marketed as antimicrobial. 

If there’s a down side, it’s the initial cost, which may be higher than standard materials.  But when you look at the big picture, copper is a money-saver.  It’s low-maintenance and won’t have to be replaced often.  It’s also sustainable, because copper and its alloys are easily recycled, and in fact are recycled all the time.  So hopefully soon, copper alloy IV poles, countertops, bedrails, work surfaces and plumbing fixtures will all be mass-produced and widely available. 

And how about public buildings and schools?  Germs are spread there, too.  Imagine the possibilities!