Project Profiles: Hospitality Entertainment

Silver Creek Resort, Snowshoe, W.Va.

RETROFIT TEAM

General Contractor: Pillar Construction Inc., Washington, D.C., www.pillarconstruction.com
Structural Engineer: Keast and Hood Co., Philadelphia, www.keasthood.com
Building Envelope Consultants: Williamson & Associates, Atlanta, williamsonassoc.com, and Peter Fillat Architects, Baltimore, pfarc.com

MATERIALS

The resort’s 740 windows were replaced with M950 Series thermally broken, horizontal sliding and fixed-window assemblies.

Manufacturer: Wojan Window & Door Corp., www.wojan.com

StoTherm Lotusan NExT EIFS (exterior insulation and finish system), a 5-inch-thick drainable cladding, was used on 125,000 square feet of the building, providing an approximate R-23 of continuous insulation.

Manufacturer: Sto Corp., www.stocorp.com

After
Photo: Sto Corp.

THE RETROFIT

The 9-story high-rise building features 239 condominiums for owners and vacationers. Its original EIFS had been experiencing water leaks since it was installed in 1985, during which time there was no option for substrate protection, air barriers or drainable systems.

Before starting the retrofit, sections of the building had to be opened up to identify the existing conditions, including the way the EIFS panels were hung, window-leakage issues and imperfect seals. Much of the metal-stud cladding wall system had been significantly corroded and deteriorated, though the primary structural system was in fairly good shape.

Adding a continuous air and moisture barrier was crucial and gave the building a much truer R-value. The air barrier connected to the new windows to give it a tight seal.

There were several water tests and inspections along the way, including after the windows were installed. Williamson & Associates performed ASTM E1105, a uniform static pressure test to evaluate water-infiltration performance, capabilities of the windows and related construction.

The project was completed in two phases and lasted more than two years, during which time the building was occupied.