{"id":16774,"date":"2016-05-20T11:07:47","date_gmt":"2016-05-20T15:07:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.constructionspecifier.com\/?p=16774"},"modified":"2017-01-20T12:53:58","modified_gmt":"2017-01-20T17:53:58","slug":"cool-new-home-for-polks-penguins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionspecifier.com\/cool-new-home-for-polks-penguins\/","title":{"rendered":"Cool new home for Polk’s penguins"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Comprising
Comprising metal panels, Polk Penguin Conservation Center\u2019s fa\u00e7ade mimics the shimmer and color of the Antarctic landscape.<\/span>
Photo courtesy Valspar Corp.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Detroit Zoo<\/a> is home to 83 penguins, so it\u2019s only fitting its Polk Penguin Conservation Center resemble Antarctica\u2019s icy landscape.<\/p>\n

Now open to the public, the facility\u2014which holds more than 1,234,044 L (326,000 gal) of water, including a 7.6-m (25-ft) deep aquarium showcasing four species\u2014welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year as part of the 510-ha (125-acre) zoo.<\/p>\n

Sparkling brightly in the sun, the 3066-m2 <\/sup>(33,000-sf) conservation center\u2019s exterior is designed to reflect the aquatic birds\u2019 natural habitat.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted the exterior of the Polk Penguin Conservation Center to capture the essence of Antarctica\u2014the most otherworldly place on Earth,\u201d said John Hrovat, director of architecture and design for Albert Kahn Associates. \u201cAntarctica has an ever-changing landscape due to the ice and light, and we were determined to have the center reflect this original penguin habitat as closely as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

To create the iceberg exterior, the design team turned to four different types of customized proprietary metal panels, the most prominent being a diamond-shape panel replicating the jutting and jagged edges of Antarctic terrain. The panels are color-matched to mimic a shade of white with a hint of blue that is more visible in Antarctic snow. Further, they feature a pearlescent, color-shifting finish to create the effect of a snowy, icy landscape.<\/p>\n

After coil-coated the paneling, the Polk Penguin Conversation Center\u2019s exterior emits a piercing white color. The proprietary coating contains 70 percent polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) resins, which can protect against dirt and staining, as well achieve color consistency and retention. Further, the it features proprietary solar reflective technology, which can offer high resistance to ultraviolet (UV) rays. The solar reflective coating can also help reduce overall energy consumption and keep the interior of the penguin center cool, maintaining an environment closer to the birds\u2019 original habitat.
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