In a recent project in Cape Breton where Certified Series was employed, material selection was driven by durability, and aesthetics, as the environmental influences are unforgiving in this region. A high-performance ceramic cladding system (TONALITY) is featured on the façades of the Nova Scotia Community College, Waterfront Campus (NSCC) started in late 2021.
Collaborating with the architectural teams, EA was able to ensure critical details were included to mitigate the tireless influence of weather on the structure. Drafting and engineering were completed by EA, the system provider. A façade installation team was assigned but did not have specific experience in high performance rainscreen, nor ceramic cladding systems so they were successfully trained and guided through the entire installation process by EA.
Halfway through the construction of the campus, Hurricane Fiona paid a not so warm and fuzzy visit. With only half of the façade assembly in place, and the rest wide open, the façade withstood the might of the tempest and not a single ceramic tile was disturbed. The success of withstanding this significant hurricane was the combination of suitable materials, collaboration and system-focused design and installation.
Not so long ago the greater importance of walls vis a vis thermal performance was recognized as part of the entire building envelope. Now the façade envelope is referred to as the Primary Passive Environmental Control System. Walls are important, and Certified Series provides a pathway to compliance and system longevity that speaks directly to our pursuit of sustainability. The NSCC project was completed in 2024 and has since won first place in the 2024 RAiNA (Rainscreen Association in North America) Awards for design and technical excellence in the New Construction category.
Jeff Ker is Senior Technical Advisor, Engineered Assemblies (founding RAiNA member). Photos: Julian Parkinson.
Other cladding types
The 2,980 sq.m two-storey École Saint-Martyrs-Canadiens has a steel-frame structure and thermal wheels with heat recovery to minimize energy costs. The EQUITONE cladding, installed as a rear-ventilated rainscreen, is a high-density fibre cement facade material consisting of cement, cellulose and mineral materials reinforced by a visible matrix, which can be transformed in any size or shape for crisp, monolithic details. https://www.engineeredassemblies.com/systems/certified-series
Located in Florida’s Lake Sheen community (Orlando), this custom home sits in a hurricane zone, demanding a facade that is durable, UV-resistant, and long-lasting. Trespa® Pura® NFC in Aged Ash was selected for its high durability, colourfastness, and sustainability. Beyond durability, the intent was also to create a beautiful space that could last for decades. Manufactured using patented electron beam curing (EBC) technology, Pura® siding has a smooth, closed-surface for exceptional resistance to impacts, weather and sunlight while also being easy to clean.engineeredassemblies.com/materials
Scanroc is a ventilated facade system with a proven 30-year track record of application and successful testing in Europe. The Scanroc system is engineered to reduce embodied carbon and operational carbon in buildings. It consists of KlinkerStone© BRICK™ (or concrete tiles) fastened to a metal frame structure which, in turn, is attached to the exterior wall and insulated to lower significantly a building’s energy consumption. The system offers reliability, durability, ease of maintenance, efficient manufacturability, and environmental sustainability. www.scanroc.systems
