Homewood Suites

NEXUS was contracted by Rowley Properties to provide comprehensive building envelope consulting, design, and testing for a new eight-story hotel project in Issaquah, Washington. This project was a design-build project led by GLY Construction and designed by Abbott Architecture.

A key part of the efficiency of this project was achieved by utilizing pre-fabricated wall panels with the entire window and wall assembled off-site in segments and hung on the building similar to a curtainwall. During the design phases, NEXUS provided specific feedback and guidance on the continuity of the air barrier at the joints between the panels and sealing around the PTAC units which were installed after the walls. This included performing a quality control inspection in the manufacturing facility. Additionally, NEXUS performed energy modeling on the panels and prepared the submittals required for Washington State Energy Code compliance.

Once construction commenced, NEXUS coordinated closely with GLY Construction to facilitate air barrier and window water penetration testing. All window testing was performed in-situ and required access via aerial manlift. Testing revealed a significant deficiency in the window design that resulted in the manufacturer making in-field repairs. Repairs were then re-tested and confirmed as sufficient to warrant repairs to all installed windows prior to substantial completion. The results from this testing improved the overall quality of the building and saved both the Owner and Contractor significant money and frustration that would have resulted from on-going window failures during occupancy.

Final air barrier testing of the completed building envelope confirmed that the pre-manufactured panel system resulted in a very tight building envelope. Infrared thermography was used to identify a minimal amount of air leakage during the final air barrier testing and all test results/findings were formally documented in a written report.