{"id":121745,"date":"2020-10-13T06:54:51","date_gmt":"2020-10-13T10:54:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionspecifier.com\/?p=121745"},"modified":"2020-10-09T14:35:25","modified_gmt":"2020-10-09T18:35:25","slug":"mississippi-aquarium-features-distinctive-and-sustainable-zinc-clad-buildings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionspecifier.com\/mississippi-aquarium-features-distinctive-and-sustainable-zinc-clad-buildings\/","title":{"rendered":"Mississippi aquarium features distinctive and sustainable zinc-clad buildings"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Mississippi<\/a>
Mississippi Aquarium, Gulfport, Mississippi, features distinctive, resilient, and sustainable zinc-clad buildings.<\/span>
Photo \u00a9 Mississippi Aquarium, photo courtesy RHEINZINK<\/span><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Mississippi Aquarium<\/a> welcomes visitors to downtown Gulfport\u2019s latest destination attracting both residents and tourists. Its three main buildings showcase a distinctive, scaled pattern using 16,000 zinc tiles fabricated in a blue-gray material. With a potential lifespan of 100 years or more, this resilient, natural metal supports both the Aquarium\u2019s economic and environmental goals.
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\n<\/em><\/strong>Set on 2.3 ha (5.8 acre), the aquarium\u2019s exhibits and buildings are connected by landscaped walkways with plants representing all seven physiographic regions of Mississippi. Three main buildings house the Aquatic Wonders exhibits, Changing Tides building, which is an event space, and the ticketing services and gift shop.<\/p>\n

The blue-gray panels clad each of the three buildings. Their complex, curved geometric shapes present a welcoming, distinctive look with a dynamic, evolving appearance that develops a natural patina over time. In addition to the zinc material\u2019s unique aesthetic, the wall panels maintain their self-healing, low-to-no-maintenance, corrosion-resistant performance for many decades.<\/p>\n

Creative collaboration<\/em>
\n\u201cFrom an architectural perspective, we wanted to be unique. Our buildings are guitar pick shape with odd angles and they add a distinctive look and color to the skyline. The contrast of the buildings and the white sails give a spectacular view,\u201d said Kurt Allen, president of Mississippi Aquarium.<\/p>\n

The aquarium\u2019s design and details were refined by Eley Guild Hardy Architects<\/a> (EGH) along with the aquarium design specialists at PGAV Destinations PC<\/a> of St. Louis. For more local expertise with projects in Downtown Gulfport, EGH also added Christian Preus Landscape Architecture<\/a>, Uzun+Case<\/a> structural engineers, and Brown, Mitchell & Alexander, Inc.<\/a> (BMA) consulting engineers to contribute to the aquarium\u2019s project team.<\/p>\n

Construction considerations
\n<\/strong><\/em>General contractor Roy Anderson Corporation<\/a> (RAC) oversaw the construction project. Working closely with RAC, the manufacturing company fabricated and installed the zinc flat-lock wall tiles on all three buildings using more than 36,922 kg (81,400 lb).<\/p>\n

Cladding complexities
\n<\/strong><\/em>All of the aquarium\u2019s three buildings feature diamond flat-lock wall tiles installed by in a scaled, offset, overlapping pattern. The rounded, guitar-pick forms of the buildings are composed of three curved walls that splay outward as they rise.<\/p>\n

Since every building is differently sized and shaped, it took some strategic geometric planning to layout and scale the panels appropriately, said EGH\u2019s Thomas Allen, AIA. \u201cEach building\u2019s panels are custom-sized to make all of them look uniform in their overall massing. It is a forced perspective. Hopefully, you will not be able to notice the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

At four stories and 2062 m2<\/sup> (22,200 sf), the Aquatic Wonders building is largest of the three and uses 610 x 610-mm (24 x 24-in.) zinc tiles. The mid-size, 1263-m2<\/sup> (13,600-sf) exhibit building has 508 x 508-mm (20 x 20-in.) tiles that clad the entire fa\u00e7ade include its parapet and dramatic canopy.<\/p>\n

At 502 m2<\/sup> (5400 sf), the smallest building uses 406 x 406-mm (16 x 16-in.) tiles to scale the ticketing area and Gulf Shop. Sheltering visitors from Mississippi\u2019s occasional rain, EGH inset the ticket windows and entrances, allowing the walls to provide an integrated covering. Where needed, custom trim, flashings, and other detailing from the same material were used to make the wall tiles.<\/p>\n

Patina and perpetuity
\n<\/strong><\/em>\u201cIt [zinc] is a homogenous material and it has a lifespan much longer than other products,\u201d said EGH\u2019s Allen. \u201cMany other wall claddings\u2014aluminum, prefinished metal, even stainless steel\u2014would start to fade and pit after many years in these coastal conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Allen also praised the material\u2019s aesthetic virtue and endurance saying \u201cthe zinc material begins with a consistent blue-gray color and, as it ages, its patina continues to gain character from the salt air and climate. They get more beautiful as time goes on. Similar to copper, it evolves instead of fails.\u201d<\/p>\n

Proven performance
\n<\/strong><\/em>Since 15 years ago Hurricane Katrina\u2019s flood levels topped at 7.5 m (24.5 ft), the elevation of the project site was raised to 7.6 m (25 ft) and complemented by a seawall surrounding the aquarium.<\/p>\n

Flooding, high winds, fade, corrosion, and rust were all concerns expressed by the aquarium\u2019s executive team, designers, and contractors. EGH specified 1-mm (39-mils) thick flat-lock panels to meet the project\u2019s multiple performance requirements. Tests were conducted to ensure the zinc tiles could withstand hurricane-force winds of up to 281 kmh (175 mph).<\/p>\n

Ahead of the zinc material\u2019s installation, a plywood fire-treated exterior-grade substrate was set in place. Next a thick liquid waterproofing coating was applied, temporarily giving the structures an orange hue.<\/p>\n

The field team anchored each zinc tile in place with sealed, concealed fasteners.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is complicated and hard work, but it makes for great pull out strength, while sealing all the holes well. You should never have to remove the fastening clips, but if necessary, the tiles can be removed,\u201d said EGH\u2019s Allen.<\/p>\n