Energy Innovation Center receives new lease on life

Developers and contractors need high-performance, sustainable coatings to safeguard a building’s elements, especially when it comes to renovations and extending the lifespan of an existing building. When it came to protecting and beautifying the 80-year-old concrete floor of a newly retrofitted building in Pittsburgh – the Energy Innovation Center (EIC) – a waterborne polyurethane coating was selected for the large-scale commercial application.

Waterborne polyurethane coatings have evolved over the past three decades to meet stringent regulations and increased demand for reduced volatile organic compound (VOC) content. The floor coating selected for the EIC met these tougher limits with solvent levels of less than 50 grams/litre of co-solvent, an important consideration for the building’s LEED Platinum certification aspirations.

Steven Reinstadtler, market manager, Construction Coatings, Coatings, Adhesives & Specialties, Covestro LLC, will present the case study "Decorative yet functional floor coating at the Energy Innovation Center,” at 8:30 am, Tuesday, January 19, during SSPC 2016 in San Antonio.

The presentation will cover the challenges of repairing the damaged 20,000ft² floor and how it affected the application of protective and decorative coatings. Through the use of waterborne coating technology, the EIC was able to create a space that features a neo-industrial look, while meeting LEED requirements.