GDA Architects designed the $90 million Confluence building at Riverfront Park in Denver, Colorado as a modern 34-story tower. With 288 luxury multifamily apartments, the Confluence was designed to be the tallest building in Riverfront Park, requiring a solution for a common problem in multi-level buildings: interior finishing deflection cracks.
In multi-level buildings, the upper floors exert force upon the lower floors and can cause cracking of the drywall where the lower floor wall meets the ceiling, especially when the upper floors are subject to variable load, impact, or other unexpected forces. These cracks are unattractive and a frequent motivation for repair calls in buildings where they occur.
In designing The Confluence, GDA Architects had to resolve the possible deflection of the floors to ensure the integrity of the drywall below. They chose Trim-Tex Deflection Bead to absorb these forces and ensure a superior drywall finish. Deflection bead not only eliminates cracks, but also leaves a clean shadow line finish at the head of the wall.
(Left) Inside corner cracking. (Right) Blistering inside corner due to deflection.
Wall-Mounted Deflection Bead features a co-extruded flexible gasket that compresses and expands during architectural deflection to provide protection for as much as 7/16” of deflection. Deflection Bead also features a tear-off strip that acts as a masking guide to protect the concrete finish from mud. The strip is then easily removed during final sanding, leaving the wall with a clean, finished edge.
Trim-Tex Deflection Bead is permitted in both fire-rated and non-fire- rated assemblies. GDA paired it with Hilti’s Firestop Top Track Seal to achieve a wall that is fire-rated as well as cleanly finished and free of cracks. The combined system fills in the gap between metal tracks and imperfect concrete, as well as prevents smoke, air, and sound transfer.
Additionally, GDA Architects’ inclusion of Trim-Tex Deflection Bead offers peace of mind to the building’s owner, who will have lower building maintenance costs, and happier residents enjoying their beautiful, modern home.
For more information on Trim-Tex Deflection Bead visit www.trim-tex.com.
Related Stories
| Jul 13, 2012
July 2012: Products at Work
Panel wall system, folding windows, rubber flooring, wire mesh railings.
| Jun 8, 2012
Allsteel names Kris Yates to head architectural products group
Yates is responsible for the start up, launch and ongoing sales and marketing of Allsteel’s new Beyond movable walls.
| Jun 1, 2012
New BD+C University Course on Insulated Metal Panels available
By completing this course, you earn 1.0 HSW/SD AIA Learning Units.
| May 31, 2012
Product Solutions June 2012
Curing agents; commercial faucets; wall-cladding systems.
| May 29, 2012
Reconstruction Awards Entry Information
Download a PDF of the Entry Information at the bottom of this page.
| May 24, 2012
2012 Reconstruction Awards Entry Form
Download a PDF of the Entry Form at the bottom of this page.
| Apr 4, 2012
Educational facilities see long-term benefits of fiber cement cladding
Illumination panels made for a trouble-free, quick installation at a cost-effective price.
| Dec 7, 2011
NSF International qualifies first wallcoverings distributor to the New American National Standard for Sustainable Wallcoverings
TRI-KES demonstrates leadership in environmental stewardship as the first distributor to earn qualification.
| Dec 2, 2011
What are you waiting for? BD+C's 2012 40 Under 40 nominations are due Friday, Jan. 20
Nominate a colleague, peer, or even yourself. Applications available here.
| Nov 11, 2011
Streamline Design-build with BIM
How construction manager Barton Malow utilized BIM and design-build to deliver a quick turnaround for Georgia Tech’s new practice facility.
