July/August 2020 News

In April, Logix Brands hosted a webcast to recognize the top ICF projects built with that brand. Winners were chosen in three different categories: small residential, large residential, and commercial. Andy Lennox, president of the company, hosted the webcast. He says, “Every year, Logix ICF asks installers, dealers, and homeowners to share their most impressive ICF projects. It’s a pleasure to recognize the achievements of the clients and customers we value so much.”

The winning residential project is a 16-story apartment building, built in winter conditions in Calgary Alberta.  Dan Reefke, territory manager for that area says, “Affordable housing is a high priority for our local governments and the greatly reduced operating costs of this ICF building make affordable housing much more achievable.” The runner-up is also located in Calgary.  It’s a four-story, 10,000-sq.-ft. multifamily rental complex.

The top residential project is a massive 21,000-sq.-ft. home near Tampa, Florida, with high-end finishes, extra insulation, and provisions for natural disasters.  Remarkably, it was a first-time project for the installer.  John Martins, the ICF dealer that supported the project confirms, “This contractor had never built an ICF home before. He studied the installation manual and built this massive complex building.” 

Other winning projects were located in Manitoba, Minnesota, and Nanton, Alberta.  Additional information, photos and video of the projects and the award presentation itself can be accessed online via the Logix website, www.logixicf.com.

A Net-Zero home built for charity in the north Utah city of Ogden is getting significant attention.  It’s part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Solar Decathlon” competition.  About 150 universities from around the world applied, and Weber State University’s proposal was among the 10 selected. At 2,450 sq. ft., it’s the largest home in the competition, but also among the most efficient.  All the home’s energy needs are produced on site, with 39 solar rooftop panels and battery storage that allows it to be off-grid for 72 hours or longer.

Because of the timing of the acceptance, the team didn’t break ground until December of 2019, and had a certificate of occupancy by the end of May.  The house will be the first affordable net-zero home featured in the Northern Wasatch Parade of Homes later this summer, which has wanted to showcase affordable housing and net-zero housing. This house checks both boxes. Ultimately, the house will belong to a mother and six children who lost their home in a tornado in 2016.

The basement was constructed using ICFs from BuildBlock Building Systems.  Above grade walls are Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs).  “This project shows that you can build net-zero homes on par with traditional construction costs,” said Chris Blackham, WSU student. “It’s significant to try to change the thoughts people have about solar and net-zero.”

“We are really tightening up that building envelope, keeping the conditioned air where it belongs so our mechanical systems run less, and we’re saving energy,” says Janae Thomas-Watson, the student lead project manager. The energy costs for the entire year to power the home will be $100 or less, something she said would bode well for families who often struggle with paying sometimes hundreds of dollars a month for natural gas and electricity, on top of a mortgage.

Thomas-Watson said she hopes the project can be an inspiration for how new homes can be designed to be more energy efficient.

Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects, best known in this industry for the series of energy-efficient ICFs schools they’ve designed, is expanding and growing.  

Last fall, they announced the hire of Donna Farmer in their Louisville, Kentucky office. She focuses exclusively on educational facilities and offers 24 years of experience providing programming, design, project management, as well as the management of contract document preparation for numerous P-12 schools throughout Kentucky. Her experience includes numerous school renovation projects, the Zero Ready Irvington and Hardinsburg Elementary schools in Breckinridge County, as well as career and college readiness centers for Meade, Breckinridge and Taylor County Schools. 

In January, Kevin Matthews was promoted to principal at the firm, with seven others promoted to associate principal.

“These talented and valued members of our team have consistently demonstrated the core leadership traits that have been fundamental to Sherman Carter Barnhart’s successes,” said Mike Smith, the firm’s president. “With these well-earned promotions, we recognize their contributions to the firm in anticipation of achieving great things together in advancing firm goals and initiatives.”

Allison Commings, Andrew Owens, and Jennifer Cash, were promoted to associate principal and have extensive experience with ICFs schools and other zero-energy and zero-energy-emerging projects.

The other new associate principals are Brandon Ward, Ian McHone, Susan Mooney, and Tony Pham.