Sustainable Garapa Siding Selected for Coast Guard Academy

Written by Chris Nolan on Tue, Mar 12, 2024 @ 05:03 AM

Garapa wood is a durable, sustainable, and attractive hardwood that is often used for siding in rainscreen systems. When the Coast Guard was considering sustainable cladding for their new Maritime Center of Excellence building on campus, Garapa became the clear-cut winner. Check out this amazing rainscreen project and find out why.

Birsdeye view of MCOE building Birdseye view of the new Maritime Center of Excellence building on the Coast Guard Academy campus in New London, CT

Sustainability was a key design consideration for the Coast Guard Academy’s new Maritime Center of Excellence for all aspects of their scope of work. The goal was for this project to attain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. The architectural team at the SmithGroup incorporated this practice into every phase of the project design. For the building facade, sustainable Garapa hardwood siding and the Climate-Shield rainscreen System helped them achieve their design vision.

Garapa rooftop deck and wood rainscreen cladding on Maritime Center of Excellence Garapa rainscreen cladding and hardwood rooftop deck on MCOE

Why Choose Garapa?

Garapa wood is tough and durable and can take a lot of punishment. Garapa is a higher-density tropical hardwood, so it can withstand harsh maritime weather, and is naturally resistant to insects, rot, and decay. The architects knew this and a lot more:

Sustainably harvested
Also available FSC® Certified
Affordable budget-friendly option compared to other options
Naturally beautiful renewable resource
Exceptionally long-lasting
Life cycle performance
Low lifetime costs
Easy to work with
Will take a stain or sealer

Aesthetically, the design team found the lighter golden tones of Garapa pleasing. It provided them with a natural wood material to complement the rest of the building's façade. They chose Garapa cladding for the front of the building as a welcoming beacon to usher the cadets into this new facility.

Garapa pre-mitered outside corners for the rainscreen cladding at the entry of MCOE

When considering Garapa wood siding for a project that places such a high value on sustainability, the design team chose a supplier that prioritizes quality materials and sustainable practices by sourcing their wood from responsibly managed forests. This ensures that the wood is harvested in an environmentally responsible manner that promotes the long-term health of the forests from which it is derived.

RELATED: Environmental Preservation

Why Use a Rainscreen Design?

A rainscreen siding system is a method of cladding the exterior walls of a building to provide a ventilated airspace between the outer surface and the structural wall. This airspace helps manage moisture, improves insulation, and enhances the overall performance of the building envelope.

Rainscreen systems, in general, are primarily designed to manage moisture and improve the thermal performance of a building. They typically consist of an outer cladding layer that provides a barrier to the elements, an air gap for ventilation, and a moisture-resistant inner layer. Well-designed rainscreens help prevent moisture from penetrating the building envelope while allowing for the release of any trapped moisture.

Garapa siding at USCGA Wood rainscreen siding encapsulates three of the street-level facades.

The Climate-Shield Rainscreen system is the leading wood rainscreen system available on the market. The effectiveness of a rainscreen system depends on various factors, including the building type, location, climate conditions, and the cladding materials used.

Based on the specific needs of this project, the Climate-Shield system was the most appropriate rainscreen. Here are a few reasons why:

Moisture management. Climate-Shield is an open joint, back-ventilated rainscreen allowing rapid removal of bulk water and vapors.
Energy efficiency. The ventilated air space provides thermal insulation, contributing to energy efficiency by reducing heat transfer through the building envelope. This project also incorporated exterior insulation behind the cladding held in place by thermally broken z-girts. Between the outboard insulation and the rainscreen, the entire wall assembly is a leading example of smart, sustainable design.
Material durability. Climate-Shield components are manufactured from marine-grade aluminum and will last indefinitely in a rainscreen design. When paired with a long-lasting wood cladding like Garapa, expect an extended lifetime of usage.
Design Flexibility. The design flexibility of the Climate-Shield system was a great match for the specific needs of this project.
Ease of Installation. The Climate-Shield components were very compatible with the wood siding and attached quickly to the thermally broken Z-Girts.
Material cost. The affordability of the Garapa siding provided an all-natural sustainable cladding option that met the project budget.
Code compliance. Climate-Shield is engineered to meet the needs of the oceanfront wind loading design value requirements in the northeast.