As the world’s largest online travel company, TripAdvisor went first class with its new 280,000-square-foot global headquarters in Needham, Massachusetts. Their building features a sustainable building design and the use of innovative technologies, including a new thermal insulating coating from Tnemec – Series 971 Aerolon Acrylic, a fluid-applied, high-build coating containing aerogel as an insulating additive.
“This coating is ideal for insulating structural steel in architectural applications,” explained Greg Pope of Righter Group, Inc. “It provides similar protection to conventional thermal break pads plus reduces the effects of condensation in wall cavities.”
Series 971 exhibits thermal conductivity similar or better in comparison to conventional forms of insulation. This helps reduce temperature transfer and its thermal properties help to reduce condensation caused by the difference in temperature between the two sides of a surface.
A single coat of Series 971 was spray-applied at 40-50 mils dry film thickness (DFT) on structural steel at building penetrations. The coating was shop-applied by the fabricator over a prime coat of Series 394 PerimePrime, a specially formulated, one-component micaceous iron oxide and zinc-filled aromatic polyurethane coating. Since the steel members were enclosed within the building’s wall cavities, a topcoat was not required.
A water-based formulation, Aerolon conforms to regulatory requirements for low volatile organic compound (VOC) coatings. The six-story headquarters building is designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification and includes amenities such as an employee fitness center, cafeteria, meeting areas and a 1,100-space parking garage.
“The use of Aerolon Acrylic as a thermal shield represents a new concept for the construction industry,” Pope added. “This insulating coating material is an efficient way of mimicking thermal bridging for structural and architectural applications.”
Founded in 2000, TripAdvisor-branded travel sites operate in 34 countries worldwide, including China, as well as a dedicated division for business. With space for 1,500 employees, the $85 million headquarters will accommodate the company’s engineering, marketing, sales and management operations.