Challenge:
Incorporate a slender profile window wall solution rather than using multiple operable windows with thick double aluminum frames which could negatively impact the commercial property’s minimalist mid-century modern design.
Solution:
Seven Amarr® 3552 Aluminum Full View Doors (one 16'3" wide x 7'9" high door and six 9'10" wide x 7'9" high doors) all with a clear anodize finish. Each of the doors also includes ½" tempered low-E glass. The smaller doors use 2" high lift track and the large door uses 3" high lift track.
Results:
Multiple highly energy efficient window walls in two door sizes with slender profiles that open up interior spaces to the outdoors and unobstructed views of dramatic surrounding desert mountain scenery as well as a vibrant downtown area that’s part of a popular conference and vacation destination.
Application:
The USCAP Interactive Learning Center
Environment:
Medical Education
Location:
Palm Springs, California
The USCAP Interactive Learning Center – Palm Springs, California
In 2014, when USCAP (United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology) relocated its offices roughly 2,000 miles west from Georgia to California (Palm Springs), only a few years passed by after that before the need arose to make another move.
USCAP’s executive team ultimately realized that they could do much better. What became an inefficient two-floor operation in an undesirable Palm Springs location also wasn’t conducive for educational conferences. As USCAP neared the end of its lease, the search began for a new home in Palm Springs.
This time for the move to its current location, USCAP relocated only one mile away down Palm Canyon Drive right into the heart of downtown Palm Springs.
Fortunately, USCAP discovered 18,000 square feet of available space on the third floor of a three-story commercial building with a mid-century modern design on Palm Canyon Drive available through Grit Development. Originally planned for multiple residential condominiums, Grit Development had decided instead to market the third-floor space for commercial use.
World-class medical education venues
After negotiating a favorable 25-year lease, USCAP finally moved into its new location in the spring of 2021 where it now operates two world-class medical education venues — The Powers-Sanchez Interactive Center and The Linder Learning Center — which cater to medical pathologists across the globe who are working on meeting their continuing education requirements.
The Powers-Sanchez Interactive Center features two microscopy labs where top experts in all subspecialties of anatomic pathology teach a variety of recorded courses. The Linder Learning Center includes a conference theater/event space and studio, a state-of-the-art video production studio, and a dedicated control room.
While USCAP takes up the entire third floor of the property, the first floor is dedicated to retail establishments, and the second floor is home to Grit Development’s corporate offices as well as other professional office space.
Commanding views from the west side of USCAP’s third floor reception lobby include the dramatic surrounding San Jacinto Mountains desert scenery. On the east side of the building, views from USCAP’s event patio include Palm Spring’s vibrant downtown area along Palm Canyon Drive.
“Window walls” open up interior spaces
Contributing greatly to those views are seven Amarr® 3552 Aluminum Full View Doors which act as “window walls” that maximize the penetration of natural lighting and open up the interior spaces to the outdoors which also enhances ventilation and airflow.
USCAP’s reception lobby, which also functions as a multi-use space, features one 16'3" wide x 7'9" high door and one 9'10" wide x 7'9" high door. An elevated work center in front of the large door overlooks the mountain scenery and is a favorite spot for USCAP conference attendees to hang out while spending time in the reception lobby.
A dedicated event patio containing a row of five 9'10" wide x 7'9" high doors is located just outside the Linder Learning Center conference theater. All of USCAP’s Amarr doors feature a 2"-thick extruded commercial-grade aluminum heavy-duty frame with a clear anodize finish.
During late fall, winter, and early spring, USCAP raises its doors during typical workdays, conferences, and special events to open up USCAP’s interior spaces to the outdoors.
“When the Amarr doors are raised, they slide past the fixed glazing windows above,” pointed out Mark Johnson, FAIA, Architectural Sales Manager, Amarr. “It’s interesting that the sun will then hit two layers of glass versus only one which enhances the natural room lighting at certain times of the day.”
Johnson added, “When open, the top panel of the recessed doors angles back slightly so even though the track is technically high lift, it’s somewhat of a hybrid approach between standard lift and high lift.”
Door performance meets stringent air infiltration standards
The angled 2" track for the smaller doors and angled 3" track for the large door prevents the 3 door seals from rubbing the aluminum storefront windows with fixed glazing above, providing sufficient clearance for the doors as they interact with the windows. The combined Amarr doors and storefront windows above provide full floor-to-ceiling views outside.
Also, the angled high lift track design means that when the doors are fully raised they won’t interfere with the exposed ceiling components including lighting, exposed HVAC system tubular ductwork, electrical conduits, HVLS (high volume low speed) fans, fire suppression system, and more.
When the jackshaft-operated doors are lowered, they remain fully sealed while meeting California’s stringent Building Energy Efficiency Standards – Title 24 as they relate to air infiltration. The doors are also highly energy efficient for USCAP’s specific type of window wall application.
“The Amarr doors integrate well with the
property’s minimalist mid-century
modern design and aluminum storefront
windows.”
Mark Johnson, FAIA, Architectural Sales Manager, Amarr
Each of the doors also features minimalist safety barriers with several rows of thin cable.
When the doors are closed and viewed straight on, the safety barrier supports are perfectly aligned with the door mullions. The barrier supports virtually disappear which enhances the unobstructed views through the Amarr doors and integrates well with their overall design.
USCAP’s remaining storefront windows on both sides of the property are located in more sensitive areas, such as the microscopy labs, to prevent the unwanted infiltration of dust and other contaminants.
“The Amarr doors integrate well with the property's minimalist mid-century modern design and aluminum storefront windows,” Johnson explained. “If the architect had chosen operable windows, that would have resulted in an extra frame of storefront aluminum causing thicker horizontal and vertical lines that would have negatively impacted the minimalist lines of the overall storefront design itself. Amarr’s doors provide a nice slender profile compared to the use of operable windows, and as a window wall, allow for a much larger opening to the outdoors.”
Note the horizontal operable window in the building’s third floor’s elevator lobby (far right side of building) and how the thick double frame would have impacted the building’s minimalist design if operable windows were used in conjunction with the aluminum storefront windows instead of Amarr’s aluminum full view doors.
An enhancement to USCAP’s environment
Michael Katsibis, co-founder and CEO of his architectural firm KAP Studios, handled the interior architectural design for The USCAP Interactive Learning Center.
“The Amarr doors in our patio area facing Palm Canyon Drive are an integral part of KAP Stuios’ design and we really love how they enhance our “The Amarr doors integrate well with the property’s minimalist mid-century modern design and aluminum storefront windows.” Mark Johnson, FAIA, Architectural Sales Manager, Amarr 4 overall environment,” said Christian Giangreco, Director of Information Technology, USCAP. “Michael and KAP Studios had carte blanche to change whatever they needed concerning our interior space and USCAP’s growing requirements.”
Asked about his experience working on the USCAP project with Amarr’s doors, Katsibis admitted, “while I didn’t have any previous experience with Amarr’s commercial doors, I would now definitely seriously consider them for future projects.”
“While I didn’t have any previous
experience with Amarr’s commercial
doors, I would now definitely seriously
consider them for future projects.”
Michael Katsibis, Co-Founder/CEO, KAP Studios
Ethan Kaminsky, founder of Kaminsky Productions and whose father (now retired) served as USCAP’s executive vice president from 2015 until 2021, managed USCAP’s relocation in Palm Springs. Kaminsky, who guided USCAP’s rebranding and marketing based on his father’s vision involving USCAP’s expanded use of technology for interactive learning, also actively manages all of USCAP’s conference and instructional video production.
Zero water infiltration during heavy rains
Giangreco mentioned that weather permitting, USCAP typically opens the Amarr doors during all conference events and even when their space is rented for other special events. He added that when the doors are closed, USCAP is very pleased with the level of energy efficiency.
When the doors are closed, several HVLS fans mounted to the ceiling above the event patio area along Palm Canyon Drive help facilitate air movement due to various wind patterns and on hot days when the USCAP’s HVAC system is running.
“On high wind days, we feel fully protected from sand and other airborne debris when the doors are down,” Giangreco commented. “The doors seal tightly and we don’t experience any air infiltration.”
He also mentioned that during a recent major rain storm, USCAP experienced some water infiltration through isolated ceiling areas. However, there was no water penetration through the door seals or doors themselves in either the event patio area along Palm Canyon Drive or through the Amarr doors in the reception lobby.
Mimicking Palm Springs residential living
“Our conference attendees and other visitors typically don’t expect to see a garage-type glass door on the third story of a building, so that in and of itself is a ‘wow’ factor,” Giangreco has observed. “The doors not only allow spectacular and unobstructed views of the mountain scenery and downtown Palm Springs but their finish complements the look and feel of other design elements in the building and contributes to our urban warehouse loft atmosphere.”
“The Amarr doors provide a perfect
solution to two other not-so-ideal
alternatives: either fixed windows … or
a completely open-air patio … the doors
provide an ideal blend of access to fresh
air when open or closed as windows
based on our specific needs.”
Christian Giangreco, Director of Information
Technology, USCAP
Giangreco continued, “The Amarr doors provide a perfect solution to two other not-so-ideal “While I didn’t have any previous experience with Amarr’s commercial doors, I would now definitely seriously consider them for future projects.” Michael Katsibis, Co-Founder/CEO, KAP Studios “The Amarr doors provide a perfect solution to two other not-so-ideal alternatives: either fixed windows … or a completely open-air patio … the doors provide an ideal blend of access to fresh air when open or closed as windows based on our specific needs.” Christian Giangreco, Director of Information Technology, USCAP 5 alternatives: either fixed windows that wouldn’t allow as much access to the outside or a completely open-air patio that would make the space unusable due to the accumulation of wind-blown debris. The doors provide an ideal blend of access to fresh air when open or closed as windows based on our specific needs.”
Giangreco further pointed out that “the Amarr doors play a huge role as part of the entire design ensemble of our building and third floor and open up the interior to the great outdoors which is also an essential part of Palm Springs residential living.” Much like typical home designs in Palm Springs which have an inviting entry area with views beyond of outdoor landscaping, patios, pools, or ponds, USCAP’s reception lobby provides a similar welcoming experience for conference attendees and visitors alike.
Available Architect Resources
For details on the 3552 Aluminum Full View Doors, visit Amarr Aluminum Sectional Doors. To explore more about available Lift Options, including Standard Lifts, visit Amarr Lift Options for Commercial Garage Doors.
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Visit Amarr Architect Resources to learn more or contact us at 800-503-DOOR (3667).