Kalwall Bridges Gap with Solarium and Walkway Systems

At Kelly Services in Troy, Michigan, two buildings stood adjacent to one another with only a sidewalk connecting them. For people traveling from one building to another, braving the outdoor elements, it became obvious an enclosed walkway would be a welcomed addition. Luckenbach- Ziegelman & Partners, Inc. designed the walkway to be as visually appealing as it is functional. A 156' x 12' enclosed Kalwall Ridgeway Walkway proved to be the best solution.

Kalwall is a structural composite sandwich panel formed by permanently bonding specially formulated, fiberglass-reinforced translucent faces to a grid core constructed of interlocked, extruded structural aluminum or composite I-beams. Every system is comprised of standardized components for maximum economy yet is custom pre- engineered and fabricated specifically for each application.

Kalwall offers the optimum in design flexibility. Curved or straight eave roofs are possible in free-standing or attached-style configurations for solariums and walkways. These modules are 4'-2" wide to provide better views with fewer joints and less framework than any other unit. Operable windows are available to provide maximum ventilation when desired.

Due to the walkway's length and expanse, energy and HVAC issues were major considerations. Highly insulating Kalwall is super energy efficient. Heat or cold loss and gain is greatly minimized. During manufacturing, translucent insulation can be infilled into the panels to further increase energy efficiency. Kalwall is available in "U" factor options ranging from .54 to .10, as tested by NFRC procedures. In the walkway at Kelly Services, panels with .29 "U" factor were utilized.

Kalwall is available in a variety of standard and specialty colors. The aluminum framing system can be specified in factory applied, long-life, architectural colored finishes and treatments. For the application in the Kelly Services walkway, the exterior panels were specified rose while the interior panels are white.

Kalwall's diffuse-light-transmitting technology is ideal for a solarium or walkway application, delivering an even balance of glare-free, usable natural daylight. The natural daylight luminescence of interior space provides pleasant lighting levels even on cloudy days. Kalwall offers light transmission ranges from 3% to 74% and shading coefficients from 1.0 to under 0.04. Furthermore, Kalwall systems also have great visual impact at night, as the interior lighting creates a dramatic glow when viewed from the exterior.

Kalwall stands up to the grueling effects of high wind loads, driving rain, snow and ice. Kalwall is shatterproof, maintenance-free and extremely durable with proven performance in every climate and even under hurricane conditions. The exterior faces feature an innovative, super-weathering glass erosion barrier with colorfast resins the full thickness.

For more information, contact:
Bruce Keller
Kalwall Corporation
1-800-258-9777

Architect: Luckenbach-Ziegelman & Partners, Inc., Birmingham, MI