Wausau Provides Blast-Mitigating Curtainwall for the Richmond Federal Courthouse

Wausau Window and Wall Systems (Wausau, WS) provided a curtainwall system meeting the security requirements established by the U.S. government for the largest courthouse project ever undertaken by the Mid-Atlantic Region of the General Services Administration (GSA), the new Richmond Federal Courthouse, which now houses the U.S. District Court, U.S. Bankruptcy Court and related agencies in prominent downtown Richmond, VA. The $95 million, 337,000-square-foot building opened this summer following five years of design and construction preparations. In addition to its protective qualities, the Richmond Federal Building is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council?s LEED® Green Building Rating System? seeking Silver-level certification as a new construction project.

Designed by Robert A.M. Stern Associates of New York City and constructed by Tompkins Builders, a subsidiary of Turner Construction, Washington, D.C., Wausau engineered a high-performance, blast-mitigating curtainwall system for the facility.

?It?s important to get everyone involved early in the design process to avoid surprises later. To calculate the effect of design blast loads on a building, we need to have a solid understanding of not just the peak pressure and impulse, but also the window system?s configuration. Any modification to the substrate, glass type, size, or rigidity, can change the amount of energy absorbed through deflection and deformation, significantly altering the performance of the integrated system,? emphasizes Carl Wanta, Wausau?s project manager.

"Blast design criteria and system reactions vary across all projects, and it cannot be assumed that a system that works on one building will work on another,? adds Wausau?s regional sales manager, Kevin Robbins. ?Wausau uses computer models to cost-effectively determine performance of the complete system.?

?To meet the unique blast load requirements of this building, the openings are reinforced with steel supports. In addition to the blast mitigating curtainwall, Wausau fabricated the custom mullions to hide the steel and smoothly transition from window system to wall system,? says Wanta.

"The façade creates a dramatic balance of glass and brick,? notes Robbins. Combining security and aesthetic performance, the seven-story building features a curved footprint that provides a garden-like setting for two adjacent historic churches. A six-story, 100-foot-tall, glass atrium overlooks the Capitol Square district to the south and blends well with the less-formal appearance of the commercial district to the north.

Design of the new courthouse began in January 2002 with demolition to prepare the 2.2-acre site. Replacing the existing 1960s building, the new Richmond Federal Courthouse was ranked second among the Top 20 projects recommended by the Judicial Conference of the United States.

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