Nov 2008
STUDENT DESIGNED RESIDENCE HALL GOES GREEN; USES AUTOCLAVED AERATED CONCRETE BLOCK FOR STRUCTURE
INDIANAPOLIS – When the University of Indianapolis opens the doors to its newest residence hall in 2009, people concerned about the environment will be able to look favorably upon the new four-story structure from the ground up.
Featuring a design created with student input, the facility is being constructed with AERCON’s Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) block – an environmentally-friendly product made from recycled material that creates an energy-efficient structure is both sound attenuated and fire resistant. This marks the second time that AAC block will be used to build a facility at the campus. Central Hall was one of the first academic buildings in the nation to use this product.
The building will feature 160 signle-occupant rooms, each with private access and a bath shared with just one other room. Every floor will have lounges, and two-story atriums on the first and third floors will have overhanging balconies on the second and fourth floors, providing a very open feel throughout the complex.
"When we took into account the design of our newest residence hall, we focused on safety and sound attenuation, and Aercon’s AAC block addresses both of these concerns extremely well,", Spokeman for University of Indianapolis.
According to Mike Quaka, vice president – general manager, AERCON Florida LLC, the AAC product is ideal for cost-conscious clients because of the reduced time and
labor costs associated with installing the product. Once installed, the AAC block provides for lower maintenance and lower insurance costs.
Easy to drill, nail, saw or mill, AERCON AAC panels offer unlimited workability, says Quaka.
"No wall insulation is needed and because the blocks are lighter, the delivery costs are dramatically lower. It offers fast, easy installation, which gives the customer a faster payback on their investment," adds Quaka.
He continues, "AAC outperforms wood and concrete masonry’s thermal insulation and it’s approved for use in hurricane-prone areas. It also has the highest UL fire rating in the industry," explains Quaka, noting that Aercon AAC blocks emit
no toxins or gases when heated.
Acoustically, the product offer a sound insulation value of 7 decibels (db) per square feet of surface area, easily outpacing other materials of the same weight.