Exelon Pavilions in Chicago’s Millennium Park symbolize environmentally responsible design, from their demonstration of solar energy to their use of interior coating materials from Tnemec. “The architect selected coatings for their low volatile organic compound (VOC) content in keeping with Chicago’s efforts to become the most environmentally friendly city in North America,” according to Tnemec coating consultant Chris Wascher. “They used a combination of 100 percent solids materials, as well as water-based coatings, to meet that objective.”
Completed in 2004, the two North pavilions serve as an entry to Millennium Park and use state-of-the art technology to convert solar energy into electricity. The three-story Northwest Pavilion is 6,100 square feet and the two-story Northeast Pavilion is approximately 4,100 square feet.
Nearly 200 gallons of coatings were applied to concrete floors and to steel railings and fences in the two pavilions. Interior concrete floors were prepared by abrasive shot-blasting and primed with Series 201 Epoxoprime, a 100 percent solids polyamine epoxy, at 6.0 to 12.0 mils DFT. Next, a coat of Series 280 Tneme-Glaze, a 100 percent solids polyamine epoxy, was applied at 6.0 to 12.0 mils DFT with Series 211 Glass Beads broadcast into the coating to provide an anti-skid surface. A finish coat of Series 297 Enviro-Glaze, a low-VOC waterborne polyurethane, was applied at 2.0 to 3.0 mils DFT. The resin contained in Enviro-Glaze received the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Green Chemistry Challenge Award.”
Exterior steel paneling and railings were prepared in accordance with SSPC-SP6 Commercial Blast Cleaning and primed in the fabrication shop with Series 27 F.C. Typoxy, a polyamide epoxy which meets the 2.6 lbs. HAP/gallon of solids HAP Products regulation. An intermediate coat of Series 66 Hi-Build Epoxoline, a polyamide epoxy, was roller- and brush-applied in the field at 2.0 to 6.0 mils DFT, followed by a finish coat of Series 1075 Endura-Shield II, an aliphatic acrylic polyurethane, at 2.0 to 5.0 mils DFT.
“In addition to low VOC content, the architect wanted coatings designed to handle heavy hand and foot traffic at the two pavilions that house the Millennium Park Welcome Center and Exelon Energy Display,” Wascher noted. “The owner was pleased with the longevity and durability of the applied coating systems, which are exposed to daily hand contact and continual foot traffic.”