In June 2008, following a winter of heavier than normal snowpack and intense spring rainstorms, the Iowa River flooded parts of Iowa City, Iowa. It claimed several University of Iowa properties, including the venerable Voxman Music Building that was built near the western banks of the river. “Our community was torn asunder,” recalled music school director David Gier.
A decision was made to build a new facility on higher ground. The corner of Clinton and Burlington Streets was chosen as the new site, located about one-half mile east of the river and up an incline in terrain. In addition to housing all necessary music school needs, it would also help anchor the southern side of a thriving downtown area, adding an important new relationship between the school and the city.
The new Voxman Music Building will greet students when they return for Fall semester classes later this month. The 180,000 square-foot new home for approximately 450 students who major in music features a mostly glass structure containing a 700-seat concert hall, 200-seat recital hall, an organ performance hall, opera and chamber music rehearsal spaces, faculty studios, classrooms and individual rehearsal spaces. The university is planning a formal opening ceremony on October 21.
This wasn’t just going to be any school building. Since it would house the School of Music, it would have special needs. Everyone understood the building had to have a building enclosure that would be effective against air, vapor and moisture drive be watertight and could not have any issues. Besides the enclosure requirements, a whole host of geometrical issues also had to be dealt with.
The university engaged LMN Architects from Seattle to be the lead design firm that would partner with Neumann Monson to form a team to manage the complex project. As part of the design team, envelope consultant W.J. Higgins knew W. R. Meadows had the air and vapor barrier products and support to achieve the goals set forth in the unique construction requirements, so they specified W. R. Meadows products.
A building project of this magnitude and complexity usually experiences unexpected problems during construction. Advice on how to overcome those problems is something W. R. Meadows is very adept at providing, as Ryan Scrivner, foreman with Midwest Caulking, will attest.
With his company in charge of installing the air and water vapor barrier, Scrivner noticed a problem with the exterior Sheetrock drywall’s ability to hold the primer.
Loria also appreciated the field support. “The University had some concerns about the UV exposure. Due to construction sequencing and project scheduling, the membrane needed to be left exposed to the elements longer than what we typically see in our projects. The people from W. R. MEADOWS were called; they came and inspected the membrane and then wrote letters of certification that the membrane had suffered no damage from the UV exposure. It was very helpful.”
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