The building seamlessly blends with its surrounding environment, while incorporating high thermal efficiency, rooftop terraces, courtyards and water-conservation features. The building envelope is designed to meet AIA’s 2030 challenge for efficiency and thermal performance. With the use of KarrierPanel, the building’s rainscreen achieves a high R-value and reduces energy consumption toward a goal of LEED certification. 

Over the course of a five-year process, architects from Wolf Ackerman and EskewDumezRipple combined forces to create a building that prioritized sustainability as much as the building’s overall aesthetic. When examining façade choices, architects realized Kingspan’s KarrierPanel universal barrier wall met several needs for the building, especially allowing them the freedom to attach a specific façade without compromise. KarrierPanel also helped meet AIA’s 2030 challenge for efficiency and thermal performance. KarrierPanel serves as the high-performing air and vapor barrier for the entire building by providing continuous insulation in an all-in-one product. KarrierPanel has an R-value of up to 8 per inch when equipped with QuadCore® closed-cell insulation core. Energy efficiency is so important for the CODE Building that there is a telemetry system that reports energy usage, providing monthly reports and even comparisons to other buildings.

The cavity between the façade and the KarrierPanel provides the duct for a necessary feature for the building: the direct outside air system (DOAS). The system pulls in fresh air from the outside, while only ventilating enough for heating or cooling. Continuous insulation from KarrierPanel also puts less strain on DOAS, leading to greater energy efficiency. Operable windows, a rare sight for an office building, further increase the CODE Building’s airflow.

The ease of the KarrierPanel system allowed installers from Glass and Metals, Inc. to streamline construction in tight quarters. The all-in-one insulated metal panels eliminated the work of several subcontractors, speeding up construction and allowing other crews more space to work.