Tysons Corner, VA

Adaire

Scope/Solutions

The Adaire brings apartments and retail to the blooming neighborhood around the new Spring Hill Metro station. With its curving geometry and alternating facade panels, the Adaire’s tower attracts attention from the area’s busy corridors. SGH consulted on the building enclosure and fire/life safety design for the thirty-four-story building with a residential tower constructed over a retail and parking podium.

SGH consulted on the design of the building enclosure, including below-grade and plaza waterproofing, window walls with alternating colors of opaque metal wall panels, and roofing. Highlights of our work include the following:

  • Developed a materials narrative and helped the project team select the building enclosure systems and materials
  • Performed hygrothermal analysis of the metal wall panel assembly
  • Reviewed the building enclosure design, recommended ways to improve performance and developed details to integrate the various systems, including waterproofing at the podium terrace and rooftop pool deck
  • Helped develop a below-grade waterproofing and drainage strategy
  • Prepared a performance specification for the window wall system
  • Participated in a mockup of the window wall and metal panel systems
  • Consulted on a wind tunnel study to evaluate the effects on pedestrians

Complementing our enclosure consulting, SGH performed whole building energy modeling to estimate annual energy use and compared the effects of varying insulation thicknesses, glazing options, and wall systems. By applying ASHRAE’s energy cost budget method, we demonstrated to the code official that the overall building enclosure performance complies with code requirements despite having more vertical fenestration than permitted.

SGH helped the design team evaluate fire and life safety requirements. We prepared a code summary report and interfaced with code officials about interpretative aspects of project code compliance.

We provided construction administration services, including reviewing submittals, witnessing performance testing, and observing construction.

Project Summary

completion-date

2016

Completion Date
construction-value

82M

Construction Value
award-winner

AWARD

Winner
certification

LEED

Certification
Solutions
New Construction
Services
Building Enclosures | Performance & Code Consulting
Markets
Residential | Mixed-Use
Client(s)
R2L:Architects
Specialized Capabilities
Building Science | Facades & Glazing | Roofing & Waterproofing | Fire Life Safety & Accessibility | Energy & Sustainability

Key team members

Bradford Carpenter
Bradford Carpenter
Senior Principal
John Karras
John Karras
Principal