The Mansfield Elementary School in Connecticut recently underwent a transformative exterior makeover resulting in a strikingly welcoming educational environment. A key natural design element was sustainable Ipe wood siding. Learn why Ipe was specified to create a warm, inviting, naturally sustainable exterior to greet generations of students.
Ipe wood rainscreen siding shown on the back entryway around impressively large steel framed window walls
In this article:
Designing an Inviting Educational Environment
A Sustainable and Strong Siding Option
A Real Wood Siding with Low Maintenance
Add the Protection of a Rainscreen System to Add Longevity
The Enduring Beauty of a Well-Designed Rainscreen
Side view of the back school entryway and another wing of the building behind it, showing off the dimensional vertical battens over the Rainscreen horizontal siding.
Designing an Inviting Educational Environment
Ipe siding is a naturally durable hardwood known for its rich, brown color tones and intricate grain patterns. Its timeless appeal make it an ideal choice for architects and builders seeking to create a welcoming and inspiring exterior in a learning environment.
Ipe wood offers multiple advantages to architectural designs including:
- Rich brown tones with natural color variations ranging from light to dark
- Exotic grain pattern that adds dimension and visual interest to the façade
- Exceptional high fiber density, for durability and strength in architectural design
- Longevity for lasting designs and projects that stand the test of time
- Sustainable, responsibly harvested wood siding option
- Class A Fire Rated to meet common educational project criteria
The natural color range of Ipe extends from elegant lighter medium browns to darker sophisticated browns, here shown with an oil based clear protectant finish
A Sustainable and Strong Siding Option
Ipe is an ideal choice for architects who are committed to sustainable design and construction practices and also need durability and strength in their siding material choice.
In addition to its aesthetic appeal, Ipe wood is a highly sustainable material. Mataverde Ipe wood is harvested from responsibly managed forests in South America. The inherent durability and resistance to moisture, decay and insects eliminate the need for chemical treatments.
It's worth noting that Ipe is the highest fiber density exotic hardwood giving it an exceptionally long lifecycle, proven to be 25 years or more without any finishing. At the end of its useful life Ipe wood siding can be safely recycled, not added to the landfills.
For architects who are committed to sustainable design and construction practices, Ipe siding is ideal. All Mataverde siding lumber is certified as responsibly harvested and Ipe is also available as FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified. This makes Mataverde Ipe wood siding perfect for LEED projects and to meet the increasing demand for sustainability in client project criteria.
See for yourself! See the quality and innovative design, request an Ipe rainscreen siding sample:
Ipe wood was used for the breezeway and soffits, too, to complete the immersive exterior environment
A Real Wood Siding with Low Maintenance
One of the most important advantages for educational building exteriors is Ipe hardwood siding’s naturally low maintenance requirements. Ipe wood siding maintains its beautiful appearance for many years with minimal effort.
Ipe’s inherent high fiber density is behind it’s incredible durability including exceptionally low porosity. While this means standard paints and stains won’t take on Ipe, it also means that water and humid air are repelled naturally, preventing opportunities for mold, rot, and water damage.
Ipe wood can be finished on site with an oil-based UV protectant made for hardwoods, like Penofin, then refinished as needed to maintain the original wood tone and colors.
(Or you can skip refinishing and allow the Ipe to weather to iconic gray, resulting in a silvery satin patina that stands out for its beauty.)
Looking straight on at the front entryway shows the overall design impact of the Ipe battens over the siding boards, with a warm wood entryway contrasted with steel and glass walls.
Add the Protection of a Rainscreen System to Add Longevity
To provide additional protection and enhance the longevity of the Ipe wood siding, the Mansfield Elementary School project incorporated wood rainscreen system design. The rainscreen cavity allows air to flow behind the siding and lets moisture drain away, preventing water damage and mold growth.
Exterior insulation is becoming a design trend to keep the dew point outside of the building envelope. Z-girts are a great way to facilitate this effort. In this project, the rainscreen siding is installed over Z-girts, allowing the space for exterior insulation to increase the energy efficiency of the entire wall assembly.
Climate-Shield Z-girts are available in many different web sizes depending on the regional climate and the design team’s specification for exterior insulation thickness.
An example of of Ipe Rainscreen installed over Z-Girts
The Enduring Beauty of a Well-Designed Rainscreen
In addition to the long-lasting beauty of Ipe hardwood siding, the design itself catches the eye immediately. Architectural details of vertical accents laid over horizontal lines add dimension and a sense of movement to the design. To achieve this, wood siding boards were installed horizontally, wrapping the exterior., using Climate-Shield Rainscreen Clips over the Z-Girts.
An expansive window wall is framed by Ipe on the front façade giving a peek into the school and adding to the inviting aesthetic as students and families arrive. Finally, Ipe battens were installed vertically, creating a dimensional architectural detail that adds interest and dimension.
Freshly installed, Ipe shows off its vibrant natural wood tones and variations. In the future, the school can maintain this natural color with a penetrating oil finish with a UV protectant reapplied as needed.
Or, another popular choice is to skip the refinishing and allow the exterior to weather to a natural silvery gray patina. Weathered Ipe requires minimal maintenance, just cleaning as needed. Even weathered exotic hardwoods, especially Ipe, stay durable and strong, the high fiber density inherently resisting splitting and checking for decades.
The installation of Mataverde Ipe wood siding at the Mansfield Elementary School is a powerful example of thoughtful design using sustainable materials. This exterior design not only enhances the building's curb appeal but also provides a durable, low-maintenance solution that will serve the school community for generations to come. Architects and builders who are seeking to create beautiful, sustainable, and welcoming educational environments should consider incorporating Ipe wood and rainscreen systems into their designs.
Interested in viewing some award winning educational and institutional rain screen screen designs?
Download the "Wood Rainscreen Design Educational Projects Portfolio" today.
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