Burgundy Farm Country Day School is a Pre-Kindergarten through 8th Grade independent school located on 23 wooded acres in the Fairfax County section of Alexandria Virginia. Burgundy Farms was founded in 1946 on the property of a former dairy farm, its unique and historic campus includes renovated barn buildings as well as new academic buildings that have been added over the years. In 2012,architects developed a concept design to develop Phase 2 of Burgundy Farms Master Plan implementation, focusing on renewal of the campus center. The project included a new Community Building – housing performing and visual arts – as well as a full re-design of an important adjacent community gathering area referred to as the “blacktop”. The concept reflected an understanding that environmental sustainability and issues of environmental stewardship are fundamental to the school’s program and mission.

The new Arts & Community Center is about big dreams. This is a bold, but much-needed move—broad in scope, ambitious in spirit, and transformative for students. Burgundy’s arts program has grown immensely since its current Loft was built in 1969, a decision was made to expand the schools a comprehensive multimedia program. The new Arts & Community Center will be the heart of Burgundy’s campus. The building will have a theater with a mezzanine, a gallery/exhibition hall, a servery, a Market space lab, a large drama room, two music classrooms, two art rooms and one elective room. Adjacent to the building, a lush new Campus Commons will emphasize what is at the heart of the Burgundy experience: an outdoor space with room to learn and grow as individuals and as part of the community. The Commons will provide a gathering space for students and the entire community right in the center of campus, a place that reflects Burgundy’s values for the natural world.

Scope of Work

For this job General Contractor Forrester Construction contacted the crew from Cameron Building Envelope Specialist and asked us if we would use a combination of Rigid Foam Insulation and a Sheet Air Barrier. Rigid foam can be used in walls, roofs, and foundations, for new construction. Rigid foam sheets are sold in several thicknesses; most lumberyards carry insulation ranging from 1/2 in. to 2 in. thick. Thicker sheets (up to 6 in. thick).Rigid foam can solve thermal bridging problems.Thermal bridging through the studs significantly degrades the thermal performance of the wall. In all climates, exterior foam sheathing improves a wall’s performance. Installing rigid foam insulation over wall or roof framing reduces this thermal bridging, raises the R-value of the wall or roof assembly, and can eliminate or reduce air leaks.

Sheet Air Barriers are designed to control air leakage and moisture movement in all types of wall assemblies. AIR-SHIELD membranes are strong, durable and remain flexible, even in cold temperatures (see our low-temp products). AIR-SHIELD will not shrink, sag, dry out, crack, or rot, and offers excellent resistance to punctures during installation.