ICF Construction Provides Quiet, Energy Efficient Spaces for Residents in Urban Locations
by Joe Harnois
September 11, 2024
This modern and streamlined project at 21 Summer Street was constructed with Nudura ® ICF forms to ensure energy-efficient indoor comfort and quieter living spaces in the multi-use, multifamily project. Visit the Atlantic Builders Supply project gallery to learn more about why ICF was the best choice for this project.
Slated for a fall 2024 opening, 21 Summer Street in Natick, Massachusetts is a multi-use property redevelopment that meets the parameters of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) Multifamily Zoning Requirement. ICF construction was used to control sound intrusion and improve energy efficiency in this urban redevelopment. The mixed-use redevelopment with first-floor retail and apartments above is located in a World War II-era building. Nudura ICF with a 6-inch core is used to provide a quiet interior in this downtown location across from Center for the Performing Arts.
Noise Challenges in Urban Locations
The building was not originally designed with ICF construction. Contractor Key Industries suggested that ICF construction would provide better noise reduction and enhance energy performance, especially for a multi-use project with high-volume building traffic.
Take a look at the sound reduction that can be achieved with Nudura ICF:
NUDURA SOUND TRANSMISSION TESTING, 4” CORE
NUDURA SOUND TRANSMISSION TESTING, 6” CORE
NUDURA SOUND TRANSMISSION TESTING, 8” CORE
A sound transmission class (STC) rating, measured in decibels (dB), assesses how much sound passes through a material. Nudura’s insulated concrete wall system with a 6-inch concrete core provides an STC rating of 52.
Enhanced Energy Efficiency
As the cladding goes up to complete the project, future residents can rest assured that costs to heat and cool their living spaces will be lower than those in buildings built with more traditional materials. ICF exterior walls insulate interior spaces and require an estimated 44% less energy to heat. The Nudura ICF wall system detail for continuous insulation provides a minimum R-value of 24. ICF configurations are available with R-values as high as R-48, achieved with thicker EPS, surpassing the requirements for both the Massachusetts Stretch Code and New Hampshire Zone 6 construction.
Exterior cladding for 21 Summer Street includes a combination of metal composite panels and NewBrick insulated brick from Dryvit, supplied by Atlantic Builders Supply. NewBrick is a new, innovative, engineered brick that provides building owners, architects, installers, and general contractors with a lightweight, insulated, energy-efficient wall with brick veneer. When your plans call for high-quality construction in high-noise urban areas, increase the indoor quiet for your next project.
Atlantic Builders Supply can help you upgrade your STC. If you have questions, talk with an expert at Atlantic Builders Supply today at 604-427-5001 to learn more about NewBrick and the outstanding insulating properties of Nudura ICF.