Hot Yoga Studio, Harrisonburg, Va.
Retrofit Team
Architect: Gaines Group Architects, Harrisonburg
General Contractor: Herr & Co., Harrisonburg
Insulation Contractor: Elite Insulation & PolyPro LLC, Broadway, Va.
Mechanical Engineer: Blauch Brothers Inc., Harrisonburg
Materials
In remodels, insulation is often a secondary consideration to cosmetic and space functionality enhancements. However, during the retrofit of this 130-year-old building, which would house a hot yoga studio, insulation had to be the primary consideration.
Hot yoga is practiced in 90-minute sessions in a room heated to 108 F with 40 percent humidity. The extreme heat and moisture is intended to mimic the climate of India, the birthplace of yoga. Understandably, this heat and moisture could pose serious risk to the overarching building structure. At 2 stories and constructed of wood with mixed exterior substrates, the property also houses traditional tenants, including a law firm with offices situated right above the ground-level yoga studio. The biggest concern of the design/construction team was the prevention of moisture migration through the wall assembly, which posed risk of creating mildew, mold and poor air quality throughout the adjacent office suites. Another concern was the higher than normal temperature escaping the studio’s insulation envelope to a colder building exterior, which would cause considerable condensation and possible structural damage.
For the yoga studio owner, the prevention of mold and mildew growth inside the studio posed serious concern; a primary goal of the studio is to enhance the health of the yoga practitioners using the space, not make them sick.
The design and construction team treated the insulation much like an exterior wall SPF application (with brick ties), using some clips for drywall attachment. This enabled a virtually seamless application, limiting thermal bridging. Sheets of 4- by 8-foot, 1-inch-thick moisture resistant rigid insulation were applied over the stud wall framing. Custom metal clips were made and attached to the wall studs. The blue board was installed on the walls with the attachment clips protruding. The ceiling features a similar application with blue board attached on the ceiling and drop drywall ceiling grid attachments protruding. All materials penetrating the walls were installed prior to the installation of the spray foam insulation so an airtight seal could be achieved.
A 2-inch layer of closed-cell spray foam was applied to the walls and ceiling of the studio. The thickness of the spray foam was gauged by how much of the drywall attachment clips were left protruding.
Closed-cell Spray Foam Manufacturer: FOAM-LOK by Icynene-Lapolla
Photo: Icynene-Lapolla