When designing the first new residential construction project in over 15 years for Burlington, Vermont’s Downtown District, Nedde Real Estate asked for an iconic building that would be a landmark in Vermont’s largest city.  

gbA Architecture & Planning had a high standard to meet when designing The Nest – a nine-story, 49-unit apartment building, which is one of the tallest buildings in the city. In addition to a sleek, modern aesthetic, green building practices during the construction process were essential.

Brick, glass and insulated metal panels (IMPs) were used to achieve a modern design while connecting the building with its surrounding urban environment and the natural world outside. The project initially called for aluminum composite materials (ACM) panels and fiber cement, until budgeting became an issue. That’s when it became clear IMPs were the best choice – both on a financial level and more importantly, on a sustainability level. 

The many climate-friendly features of IMPs can help construct residential projects, like The Nest, that could potentially have a lower total carbon footprint with less embodied carbon than concrete wall assemblies, depending on the brand specified. A high-performance, energy-saving building envelope solution, IMPs also have exceptional air and weather tightness that significantly reduces heat loss or heat gain, ensuring the comfort of building occupants.

Over 19,000 square feet of Kingspan’s IMPs were used to achieve green building practices – including Kingspan’s Optimo panels in Tricorn Black, KS Mini Micro-Rib panels in Pewter and KS Azteco panels in Weathered Zinc.

Kingspan’s Optimo panels deliver a flat, aesthetically appealing modern building envelope solution. The use of pearlescent micas or metallic colors can provide an even more dynamic finish to any project. 

Kingspan’s KS Series panels provide unique aesthetics through a wide range of profiles while delivering supreme thermal performance. Adjustable module widths can integrate for distinct architectural flair while providing a clean, finished appearance.

Kingspan’s Optimo and KS Azteco panels on this project utilize the company’s QuadCore® Technology. QuadCore is Kingspan’s next generation of self-blended hybrid insulation core and is one of the most thermally efficient insulation cores on the market. This thermal efficiency helps maintain constant temperatures and reduce heating and cooling costs for The Nest.

The Nest was built for 21^st century living with energy efficiency in mind – not only in regard to its building materials, but also in the features offered to residents. The building includes forward-thinking, thoughtful details including on-site EV charging stations, a solar array and a green roof. Most of the studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units are located in the corners of the building to provide multiple views. The Nest features spacious floorplans and 9-foot windows that supply natural light.