The modern design of the Kum & Go Downtown Headquarters, Krause Gateway Center, presents an innovative use of space, with natural light throughout the building, outdoor meeting spaces, and a rooftop garden.
Its original design included several thermal break pads to combat the threats of thermal bridging. But when considering the performance and cost of the thermal pads, the architect decided to specify something more cost-effective: Tnemec’s fluid-applied thermal break, Aerolon.
“We introduced the project team to our innovative alternative to thermal break pads,” stated Rory Sudbeck, Tnemec representative with SGA Coating Consultants. “They agreed that Aerolon would be more efficient when it comes to material and labor costs.”
Steel was fabricated by LeJeune Steel and delivered to Central Sandblasting in New Brighton, Minnesota, for coating. All shop steel received a prime coat of the moisture-cured zinc-rich urethane primer, Series 90-97 Tneme-Zinc. Series 90-97 was spray-applied at 2.5-3.5 mils dry film thickness (DFT).
“Series 90-97 offers excellent corrosion protection, creating an ideal prime coat for a product like Aerolon,” said Sudbeck.
Following the prime coat, Central Sandblasing spray-applied Series 971 Aerolon Acrylic, a low VOC and low odor acrylic insulating coating applied at 40-50 mils DFT per coat. For thermal break protection, Series 971 is applied 18-24 inches outward from the point of penetration on both the interior and exterior side of the steel.
“Structural steel was delivered to the jobsite ready for installation,” noted Sudbeck. “The new facility will be completed in early 2018.”
Kum & Go is a major Midwestern convenient store and gas station chain located in West Des Moines, Iowa. Its new five-story headquarters, overlooking Downtown Des Moines and the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, looks to achieve LEED certification while providing Kum & Go employees a modern and collaborative work environment.