Lamboo Inc. Partners with Canducci Group to Form the Most Eco-Sustainable Building Systems

Lamboo and Canducci are pleased to announce the expansion of their collaborative efforts to develop the most eco-sustainable building systems with low energy consumption throughout Europe and surrounding regions. The Canducci Group is the premier European structural material specialist and glu-lam fabricator with a remarkable history of diversity, innovation, culture, and natural stewardship in the wood construction industry. Lamboo Inc.’s structural laminated veneer bamboo (LVB) technology signifies the next generation of greenbuilding products due to its superior structural, thermal performance, durability, uniformity, and sustainable attributes. This alliance brings new possibilities to the forefront of ecologically aware architecture and the firms’ shared commitment to quality and creativity.

“The spread of Lamboo’s structural laminated veneer bamboo (LVB) technology throughout Europe requires the expertise and authenticity of construction industry professionals like the Canducci Group,” said Luke Schuette, President of Lamboo Inc. “Both of our firms know that collaboration grows market awareness, and we believe that our partnership will significantly multiply the integration of this technology in the European market with noteworthy professionalism.” Here, the Canducci Group’s large network of influence and capacity to innovate becomes central:

“The construction sector is highly orientated towards stronger, more efficient, more durable materials, and I personally believe structural laminated veneer bamboo (LVB) has all the credentials to push the construction quality beyond expected limits”; “Today’s architects ask for longer life spans, higher volume, and fancy finished materials: Lamboo’s advanced technology offers these performances and more; it is what we were looking for!,” added Davide Canducci, CEO of Canducci Group srl.

At both Lamboo Inc. and the Canducci Group new tools, networks, and technology are being developed to help evolve the excellence expected in their industries. Together Lamboo Inc. and Canducci are pioneering biocompatible design of engineered glued laminated bamboo structures to elevate the aesthetics and performance of materials in the XXI century.

Company Information

Lamboo, Inc. is an American material technology and manufacturing company founded with the combined experience of seasoned architects, structural engineers, material scientists, and biotechnology specialists. Anchored by a culture of innovation, our nonnegotiable purpose is the development of sustainable design technology for high-performance OEM applications as well as architectural, structural, and design industries worldwide. Lamboo Inc. aspires to be a corporate change-maker through ground-breaking products, sustainable practices, and distinguished partnerships. www.lamboo.us

The Canducci Group is a long-established glued laminated service company with roots in the market of timber and bamboo construction, both in Italy and the international building sector. The Canducci Group’s deep knowledge of structure and design, together with a firm commitment to the engineering design process, make the firm a reliable partner able to meet every kind of architectural request related to glued laminated structures. The Canducci Group shows consistent commitment since 1940 to advanced engineered solutions, top quality raw materials, specialized human resources, rigorous safety norms, reliability and punctuality, and cost-efficiency. www.canducci1940.it

AEC Daily Continuing Education – Lamboo

AEC Daily is a developer of online education courses for the construction and architecture industries. It is an e-learning provider for architects, engineers, and other construction professionals and serves over 450 companies.

Founded in 2001, online education courses are the main field of AEC Daily. They provide over 300 courses with a focus on sustainable design. Most courses are free while there is a submission fee for courses like the virtual tour of the USGBC headquarters. AEC Daily won the highest award in education from the American Institute of Architects in 2009 and continue to attract the highest numbers of design professionals in the industry. AEC Daily has been recognized as the common denominator for education in the AEC industry.

Lamboo offers a course covering laminated veneer bamboo (LVB) use in structural and curtain wall applications. This course compares the structural and mechanical properties of common building materials and composites, and illustrates how LVB components can be fully integrated into structural or curtain wall designs and meet the requirements of today’s sustainable built environment. Additional courses for window & door and interior panels will be added in coming months.

 (View PDF)

Sustainable Building Certifications: LEED

Sustainable building certifications have been gaining momentum for several years now and data centers are jumping on board in increasing numbers. You have seen data center operators such as RagingWire, Apple and Digital Realty achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Certifications and/or the EPA’s Energy Star for Data Centers. Many data center operators aren’t sure which certification to pursue, or if they should pursue one at all. In order to make this decision a little easier, I have provided a synopsis of each certification and their pros and cons to help guide you toward your sustainable goals.

What is LEED?

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a third-party certification program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 2000. It has undergone many iterations and is now operating under LEED 2009. The certification process provides independent validation of a project’s green features and verifies that the building operates the way it was designed.

LEED Certification Process

LEED uses a points based system to achieve certain certification levels recognizing the effort and commitment by the owner and project team. There are four LEED certification levels with point requirements ranging from Base (40-49 points) to Platinum (80+ points).

At last count, there were 13 data centers that had received LEED Platinum certification.
LEED points are weighted by impact on energy efficiency and CO2 reduction. As an owner/end-user, your first decision is which LEED rating system you intend to pursue your certification under. Data centers will fall under one of the following rating systems:

• New Construction and Major Renovations: Includes new buildings and projects in which the majority of the building will be modified.
• Existing Buildings-Operations and Maintenance: Addresses whole building cleaning and maintenance issues. This is generally applied to a building that is in operation, but wishes to make their operational processes more sustainable.
• Commercial Interiors: Intended for tenant improvements within an existing structure. At least 60% of the gross building area must be modified to the intended use to qualify for this rating system.
• Core and Shell: This system is complementary to Commercial Interiors and deals with the structure, envelope and HVAC system of the building.
  

Other rating systems that are not applicable to the data center industry are Schools, Retail, Healthcare, Homes, and Neighborhood Development. For the purposes of data center certification, Commercial Interiors is most frequently used.

Once your rating system is chosen, points are earned through implementing green measures in each of several categories. Each category has prerequisites that must be achieved before any points are earned. The categories are:

• Sustainable Sites: Focuses on areas related to the overall building site such as storm water run-off, pervious pavement, and availability of public transportation.
• Water Efficiency: Measures are established related to water conservation.
• Energy and Atmosphere: Energy efficiency measures account for most of the points in this area, which also has the largest number of points available of any category.
• Materials and Resources: Points are awarded in this category for using rapidly renewable materials and for sourcing materials that are manufactured within 500 miles of the site.
• Indoor Environmental Quality: This category focuses on human comfort factors such as the ability to adjust temperature and supply fresh air.
• Innovation in Design: This is the area in which innovation is recognized for new sustainable applications.
  

As you see, it is critical that the decision to pursue LEED Certification is made at the beginning of the design phase to eliminate redesign associated with tailoring materials and methods to LEED standards. During design, the project is registered with the USGBC ($450 for USGBC members and $600 for non-members) indicating your intent to pursue certification.
Also during the design phase, a worksheet indicating the credits you intend to pursue is completed. As the design progresses, credits are approved toward certification. This process continues during the construction phase as the sustainable measures are implemented and documented.

Clearly, documentation is the key to gaining credit for all of your efforts and requires constant attention. This effort should not be taken lightly and must be overseen by a LEED Accredited Professional, preferably with a specialty in the rating system you are pursuing. Documentation may take 50% or more of a team members’ time during the duration of the project.
When construction is complete, the project must be commissioned to ensure that the building operates as it was designed. Given that all data centers perform this task, no additional effort is required. Upon completion of the commissioning, all documentation is submitted for final approval and a fee is paid for certification.

The USGBC states that the average cost of certification across all rating systems is $2,000, but can be as high as $27,500 for a large project. After the submission is approved, your building can be included in the LEED registry and you receive the plaque for your building.
(Read More)

(Excerpt of article by Data Center Knowledge. NOT AFFILIATED WITH LAMBOO)

 

For questions regarding Lamboo, our products, or to schedule an interview please
visit our website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us 866-966-2999

“MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD” – Lamboo Incorporated

Blog by: Dustin Dennison

‘Green buildings’: From LEED to ‘net-zero’

“Green buildings” are structures that comply with sustainable practices throughout their life cycle – from construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and demolition. Though perhaps born in the energy crisis of the 1970’s, the green construction idea has found new urgency recently in relation to climate issues. Gaining more popularity, it is a now a key element in social measures that aim to lessen carbon footprints.

Green buildings use less water, generate energy savings, conserve natural resources, produce less waste and offer healthier spaces for its tenants, far from a conventional building’s features. Generally, they are designed to ease the sore impacts of the infrastructure both on human health and the environment.

More and more stakeholders are getting attracted to the concepts and practices of green buildings, and this has led to the creation of standards, codes and rating schemes by several organizations across different countries. These aid government regulators, developers and consumers in constructing green buildings with assurance.

Green building rating tools such as the United States’ Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design; the United Kingdom’s Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method; Japan’s Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency; and Malaysia’s Green Building Index, among others, help users find out how green a building is.

They recognize and credit buildings that observe green design in categories like location and site maintenance, water conservation, energy efficiency, building materials sustainability and even occupants’ comfort and health. The number of credits given generally indicates to what level a building achieves its set goals.

The LEED standard of the United States Green Building Council is touted as the most prominent of the green building rating schemes and even as having spearheaded the “modern green building movement,” according to the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, a green industry advocate.

The race to green the buildings

In the race to develop “greener” buildings, countries are taking their concrete steps to be successful.

In the United States, President Barrack Obama took the move to the national level by issuing a memorandum in 2011 that urged all commercial buildings to be at least 20 percent more energy efficient by 2020. The president pledged to invest $4 billion to pave the way for energy upgrades in both federal and private buildings through the Better Buildings Challenge.

Among those that took the challenge was the iconic 81-year-old Empire State. Its ongoing retrofit is said to be the largest of its kind to date in the country, expected to significantly cut emissions by 105,000 metric tons over the next 15 years and reduce energy use by over $4.4 million every year. Overhaul plans for the 102 storey-skyscraper include upgrades of its 6,500 windows, new heating and cooling systems that automatically adapt to the temperature, insulation of the building space, improvement of its existing control system and installation of Internet-based system for occupants’ energy monitoring.

In Asia, countries are also working hard to keep up. China, which rivals the United States in the amount of emissions it sends to the atmosphere, is overhauling the architecture of its buildings. The 128-storey Shanghai Tower, when completed in 2014, will not only stand to be the tallest building but significantly will benchmark the green revolution in the country. It features wind turbines, a complex rainwater collection system, two envelope layers that wrap nine interior sky gardens and an ingenious design that will ease lateral loads from wind and reduces the necessary structural steel by over 20 percent.

India, on the other hand, has been vocal about its intentions to become one of the global leaders in green buildings by 2015. It has been making intensive efforts in greening the buildings across the country – ranging from home projects, factory buildings and LEED-certified buildings in India. To date, the Indian Green Building Scorecard shows that there are about 267 certified sustainable buildings existing, including some hotels, shopping centers, office spaces and state infrastructure such as the Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 3.

Net-Zero Buildings: The next big thing in green construction

No doubt, green buildings are booming, as venture capitalists generously invested over $4 billion on them since 2000, another report by Lux Research showed.

The study also found out that the first wave of green building start-ups has reached its maturity, and now these investors want something new and better technologies that will further improve green buildings.

“Early VC investors are looking for exits for the first wave of successful green buildings start-ups and the seeds of the next crop are being sown in on-site generation and sustainable materials,” said Ryan Castilloux, Lux Research analyst.

(Read More)

(Excerpt of article by EcoSeed. NOT AFFILIATED WITH LAMBOO)

In this new era of green construction the industry will have to search and develop innovative practices and materials to replace traditional forms that are no longer sustainable. Bamboo is a example of one of these new ultra renewable resources that will be looked towards to meet the burden of demand in our expanding society.

Bamboo as a resource is unmatched in its potential as a environmentally friendly structurally stable renewable building material. Bamboo produces 30% more oxygen and sequesters 35% more carbon than a like sized timber forest area. With a growth rate of 6-8 years to maturity (compared to timber 25-50) and root structure that eliminates the need for replanting bamboo can be produced on a large scale with much more ease than timber forests cutting costs and limiting energy consumption. Learn more about the amazing attributes of bamboo here.

Additionally incorporating Lamboo (LVB) laminated veneer bamboo into projects can earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification under MR Credit 6 - Rapidly renewable materials, IEQ Credit 4.4 - Low-emitting materials; ID Credit 1 - Innovation in Design (Environmentally Preferable Material), and ID Credit 2 - Innovation in Design (Life Cycle Assessment / Environmental Impact).

*Please refer to USGBC for information regarding project requirements

  For questions regarding Lamboo, our products, or to schedule an interview please

visit our website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us 866-966-2999

"MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD" - Lamboo Incorporated

 

Blog by: Dustin Dennison

Eco-friendly substitute to wood, steel and iron

While there is a thriving cement, iron, steel and wood industry, there is no such industry or even a business model to commercialize and popularize bamboo and take it to the masses, writes M. Sai Gopal

After China, India is the second largest producer of bamboo in the world. Despite this, bamboo has never been in the running to become the most sought after material for furniture, interiors and structures. It has always been the less ‘eco-friendlier’ options with wood, iron, steel and cement dominating the market.

People looking for furniture or wanting to do up the interiors have preconceived notions and tilt towards wood as the first choice. There are myriad things one can do with a piece of bamboo, yet availability of information about its versatility is limited.

However, since past few years, bamboo has emerged as a strong alternative to traditional raw materials with a promise of being eco-friendly and a tag of being a more sustainable building material. Till recently, bamboo was synonymous with ladders and scaffolding. However, in the last few years, consumers and manufacturers have started taking a ‘fresh’ look at the various other uses of this plant.

“Some bamboo species can be harvested in one to five years while it takes anywhere from 10 to 50 years for softwood and hardwood. Harvests are possible every second year for up to 120 years. The bamboo yield is 25 times higher than timber hardwoods like oak tree, which takes at least 40 years to mature before harvesting,” explains Prashant Lingam of Bamboo House India.

Technically, bamboo is a grass. And yet, it is popularly known as ‘vegetable steel’ with a tensile strength of 28,000 per square inch. The tensile strength of steel is 23,000 per square inch. When bamboo is cut, new shoots come up and they mature in just five years. While other hardwood species take at least 50 years to grow back.

“There is a definite change in perception among general public towards bamboo in the last few years. They are more positive about it and are gradually realizing that bamboo is an eco-friendly substitute to wood, steel, iron and plastic,” says Aruna lingam, who along with Prashant Lingam have pioneered the many applications of bamboo in daily lives.

So what are the applications of bamboo in our daily lives? According to Mr. Prashant, bamboo can replace wood in nearly every application. “Paper, flooring, furniture, charcoal, building materials and much more can be made from bamboo. What's more, bamboo fibres are far stronger than wood fibres and much less likely to warp from changing atmospheric conditions,” says Mr. Prashant.

(Read More)

(Excerpt of article by M. Sai Gopal of The Hindu. NOT AFFILIATED WITH LAMBOO)

Lamboo, Inc. is working towards developing the infrastructure to fully utilize this remarkable resource. Traditional building materials can be replaced in nearly any application using Lamboo (LVB) laminated veneer bamboo offering a truly sustainable replacement for both the commercial and industrial markets. From structural systems (recognized by ASTM), window & door, to complete interior remodeling Lamboo is not only a renewable resource but exhibits superior performance and durability over traditional forms of soft and hardwoods.

For questions regarding Lamboo, our products, or to schedule an interview please
visit our website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us 866-966-2999

"MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD" - Lamboo Incorporated

 

Blog by: Dustin Dennison

Green Buildings: Boost Business and Neighborhoods

Seems the green building movement isn't just good for the planet, but for the pocketbook as well.

Developers and commercial building owners are increasingly using sustainable, environmentally friendly and energy efficient practices to lower costs, and the practice is spreading to include entire communities.

The U.S. Green Building Council just announced that the total footprint of commercial projects certified under its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building program surpassed 2 billion square feet. An additional 7 billion square feet is currently in the pipeline across the globe, the council reports.

Roof gardens, systems that recycle a building's heat and water, solar panels and drought-resistant landscaping have all been popular upgrades to older properties and built into new ones.

The trend has boosted business for a myriad of professions and industries. Architects and engineers who have embraced the green building movement are busy designing cutting-edge systems that save water, energy and money. Companies that manufacture or install solar collectors and other forms of sustainable energy have also benefitted from the tilt towards green.

The U.S. Green Building Council predicted that green building will support or create nearly 8 million jobs between 2009-2013 and contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product.

Another by-product of the greening effort has been its attraction for tenants. Now there is a higher demand for healthier working space, and a recruiting edge for companies headquartered in green buildings. Improved indoor environmental quality in LEED-certified buildings has contributed to reductions in absenteeism and work hours affected by asthma, respiratory allergies, depression, and stress and to self-reported improvements in productivity, according to a study in the American Journal for Public Health.

The green development movement has expanded beyond individual buildings and has spread to include whole communities, with the U.S. Green Building Council's newest designation, LEED for Neighborhood Development.

The program, funded by a $500,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, aims to reduce suburban sprawl, promote smart growth principles and sustainability, and offers assistance to developers of affordable housing that employ green practices.

(Excerpt of article by Dave Winzelberg of Long Island Business News. NOT AFFILIATED WITH LAMBOO)

Recent trends show that government officials, city planners, architects and even consumers are becoming much more conscious of the environment and how rapid population growth combined with increased consumption is starting to take its toll. As finite building materials such as aluminum, steel and even slow growing timber resources become much more difficult to source and use on a large scale there will be opportunities for rapidly renewable materials to take their place. Bamboo with its extraordinary strength and performance attributes and its 6-8 year growth rate will be looked towards to carry much of the burden.

Lamboo Technologies through species selection, adhesive bonding, and lamination processes have been able to create the first structural grade bamboo material available to the world that is eligible for up to 4 LEED credits. In addition to LEED certification Lamboo has also orchestrated the inclusion of laminated veneer bamboo (LVB) into the 2012 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, one of the most recognizable and respected certification bodies in the world.

...

For questions regarding Lamboo, our products, or to schedule an interview please
visit our website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us 866-966-2999

"MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD" - Lamboo Incorporated

 

Blog by: Dustin Dennison

ASTM 11a 5456 – Inclusion of Laminated Veneer Bamboo (LVB) as a Structural Composite Lumber Product

Founded in 1898, ASTM International has grown into a globally recognized leader in the development and delivery of international voluntary consensus standards. Today, over 12,500 ASTM standards are used around the world to improve product quality, enhance safety, facilitate market access and trade, and build consumer confidence.

The 2012 Annual Book of ASTM Standards has one historic addition under “Evaluation of Structural Composite Lumber Products” as it lists laminated veneer bamboo (LVB) as a certified product for structural applications under ASTM 11a 5456. The D07 orchestration of the inclusion of LVB in ASTM Standards has been a goal Lamboo Incorporated President Luke Schuette and Bruce Craig, Director of Certifications have been working towards since 2007.

Craig, with over 32 years of experience in the field of engineered wood product research and development specializes in product certifications, product development, and quality assurance for engineered wood products. Through his efforts and that of Schuette this inclusion marks the first bio-based structural material addition in around 30 years.

“Sustainability is becoming more and more of a focus in commercial construction. Now architects and engineers will be able to specify possibly the most ecologically friendly material to ever be integrated into the most respected international standard.” Said Luke Schuette, Architect, and Chairman of ASTM task group D07.02.03.

(Lamboo LVB)

D5456 is a standard specification for evaluation of structural composite lumber products that is intended for use as an engineering material for a variety of end-use application. (ASTM standards, D5456) Schuette, chairman of the task group ASTM D07.02.03 along with Craig, a 22 year ASTM member, have drafted and revised standards to be set forth, for the future use of Bamboo as a structural application. This specification recognizes the complexity of structural glued products.

This certification is a major step forward in the transition from finite building materials such as aluminum to rapidly renewable resources in the construction and architectural industries. Bamboo has always been touted for its remarkable attributes to grow and replenish much more rapidly than traditional forms of timber (6-8 years) but this certification also showcases bamboo’s superior strength and performance. The necessity for transition from less renewable sources such as steel, aluminum, and even timber is a reality that the industry must come to terms with.

For questions regarding Lamboo, our products, or to schedule an interview please
visit our website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us 866-966-2999

"MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD" - Lamboo Incorporated

 

Blog by: Dustin Dennison

Boom in bamboo buildings has green benefits

GIRARDOT, Colombia — Forget steel and concrete. The building material of choice for the 21st century might just be bamboo.

This hollow-stemmed grass isn't just for flimsy tropical huts any more it's getting outsized attention in the world of serious architecture. From Hawaii to Vietnam, it's used to build everything from luxury homes and holiday resorts to churches and bridges.

Boosters call it "vegetal steel," with clear environmental appeal. Lighter than steel but five times stronger than concrete, bamboo is native to every continent except Europe and Antarctica.

And unlike slow-to-harvest timber, bamboo's woody stalks can shoot up several feet a day, absorbing four times as much world-warming carbon dioxide. "The relationship to weight and resistance is the best in the world. Anything built with steel, I can do in bamboo faster and just as cheaply," said Colombian architect Simon Velez.

(Excerpt of article by NBCNEWS.com. NOT AFFILIATED WITH LAMBOO)

As the first manufacturer of certified structural grade bamboo, Lamboo is preparing for the shift in sourcing of construction materials from traditional sources such as timber to more rapidly renewable sources to meet the growing demand the future undoubtedly will bring. Although bamboo grows remarkably fast and requires much less effort to replenish it is still a natural resource that we must protect and use wisely if it is to be implemented as a sustainable alternative to timber. Lamboo is working internationally to cultivate land management programs across the globe to ensure that bamboo as a resource will one day reach its potential and avoid misuse that can damage the ecosystems where this remarkable plant species grows.

To learn more about sustainability efforts Lamboo is involved in please visit our website here.

For additional information about Lamboo certifications including the recent inclusion of LVB (Laminated Veneer Bamboo) in the 2012 Annual Book of ASTM Standards sign up for updates using our "Follow By Email" box at the top right hand side of this page.

...

For questions regarding Lamboo, our products, or to schedule an interview please
visit our website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us 866-966-2999

"MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD" - Lamboo Incorporated

 

Blog by: Dustin Dennison

Wood architecture: as close as nature can get

In a new volume, Star-writer Philip Jodido captures the wondrous world of wood architecture. See what he found from Tierra del Fuego to North Cape, from Japan to Germany.

Wood is renewable and sustainable, solid and attractive. Wood architecture is just that - and so much more dazzling than ever thought. Woods is the material of the moment for contemporary architecture.

In a new volume readers are now able to get a glimpse of the most exciting and dynamic new uses of wood in architecture from all over the world. Like earthen architecture, the use of wood is almost as ancient as building itself. The columns of Greek temples are stylized trees. Today’s wooden buildings do all kinds of surprising things, and most of all, they are as “green” as they come.

(Excerpt of article by Philip Jodidio, of World's Luxury Guide. NOT AFFILIATED WITH LAMBOO)

Timber is rapidly being recognized for its potential as a great building material in a culture where designers are looking to other alternatives than the non-renewable resources traditionally used such as steel or aluminum. It only makes sense to start using options that we can replenish over time rather than using a finite resource; however, effective in terms of application and cost it ultimately may be. Many species of timber have attributes that make it ideal for construction and even though it is renewable many of these species take 25-50 years to reach maturity and require expensive and damaging replanting, threatening many weakened ecosystems. As we have been reporting bamboo is increasingly being recognized and used in many applications where timber has in the past providing remarkable strength, performance, and stability far exceeding anything we have witnessed with natural materials (in addition to having a growth rate of 6-8 years). Testing and forecasting by experts has led to the coining of the term "the next super material" due to Bamboo's amazing attributes and resiliency.

Lamboo is working to make these predictions come true by manufacturing the world's first certified structural grade bamboo component. Through species selection, patented adhesives, and lamination processes Lamboo is able to create bamboo panels and components that may appear very similar to traditional lumber on the outside but far exceed its performance in nearly every aspect.

For more information about Lamboo attributes please visit our Resource Library, or check out our certifications.

Lamboo interior grade panels

For questions regarding Lamboo, our products, or to schedule an interview please
visit our website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us 866-966-2999

"MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD" - Lamboo Incorporated

 

Blog by: Dustin Dennison

C.T. Windows partners with Lamboo, Inc. to create innovative, bamboo curtain wall system

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 2012 -- C.T Windows strives to provide property owners, designers, architects and contractors with the most innovative and environmentally friendly products. This is what makes Lamboo, Inc. and C.T.W. such a good fit. C.T.W's newest series HYBRID is a perfect example of what they as a company stand for in their products.

As a new and unique concept in façade solutions, HYBRID is a fully tested and compliant composite wood and aluminum system. HYBRID achieves remarkable insulation properties and is complemented by a full range of operating windows and doors. Combining the long life and low maintenance of aluminum to the exterior, with the aesthetics and environmental benefits of Lamboo to the interior, this HYBRID system surpasses all current benchmarks.

The HYBRID system offers the ideal solution for new buildings and retrofit projects where aesthetics, performance and sustainability are paramount. C.T. Windows offers Lamboo's engineered bamboo for integration within aluminum exterior systems. Whether your goal is to have a more sustainable product, increase thermal properties or if you want to achieve a natural aesthetic, the HYBRID series is a perfect option.

Lamboo, Inc. uses proprietary manufacturing processes to offer products at a quality that is unmatched by all within the building and design industries. Lamboo products are not only a superior option over traditional sources in terms of quality and performance, but also a much more sustainable option. Lamboo, Inc. offers a durable, aesthetically pleasing, workable product that appeals to finish carpenters, custom designers, builders, and product manufacturers wishing to use high performance bamboo.

Through partnership with C.T. Windows, Lamboo seeks to combine high performance bamboo products with the most advanced engineered systems in the market today.

LEED Credits available through Lamboo integration:
• MR Credit 6 - Rapidly renewable materials
• IEQ Credit 4.4 - Low-emitting materials
• ID Credit 1 - Innovation in Design (Environmentally Preferable Material)
• ID Credit 2 - Innovation in Design (Life Cycle Assessment / Environmental Impact)

• FSC Certification - Available Upon Request

For questions regarding Lamboo or our products please visit our

website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us

"MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD" - Lamboo Incorporated

 

Blog by: Dustin Dennison

Mechanical and structural marvel gives lesson in resource conservation

Richmond Olympic Oval

At night the structure of the building is clearly visible: the main arches that span 100m across the sports hall spring from inclined concrete buttresses, while the gently curved roof panels soften the silhouette [photo by Hubert Kang].

The Richmond Olympic Oval was the largest structure to be built for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games held in Vancouver and Whistler BC. The Oval was designed to accommodate the Olympic long track speed-skating events with seating for 8,000 spectators, before being transformed into a multi-sports training and recreation facility after the Games. Located adjacent to the Middle Arm of the Fraser River minutes from Vancouver’s international airport, the facility will become the focus of a new residential and commercial neighbourhood.

With a plan area of 25,000 m2 and a total floor area of more than 47,000 m2 the complexities and scale of this building, and the need to reconcile them with the client’s requirement to achieve LEED Silver certification, meant that a truly integrated approach to design was essential from the outset. The process began with goal-setting meetings and continued at regular intervals throughout the project, at times bringing together a team of more than 25 consultants.

The building is arranged on three levels: a parking garage; a ground-oriented entry, circulation, service and amenity level; and above, the activity level including the main sports hall and a mezzanine for fitness. The vaulted sports hall with its 100m span, unique wood roof and expansive views north to the river and Coast Mountains is the architectural highlight of the project.
The concrete box formed by the lower floors acts as a rigid raft, and rests on shallow expanded-base piles that resist differential settlement in the poor soil conditions. This system is designed to maintain the tight tolerances of ice surface flatness required for international competition. The second floor slab connects opposing pairs of concrete buttresses that support the shallow arched roof and resist the large spreading loads that would otherwise be directed into the ground.

Wood Roof Structure

Composite glulam and steel arches spring from the tops of the inclined concrete buttresses to free span the width of the arena. Spanning between these arches is a novel pre-fabricated structural panel system, known as the WoodWave©. This system employs conventional light framing lumber harvested from forests devastated by the Mountain Pine Beetle.

Because it comes from a renewable resource, requires little energy to process, and has no toxic by-products, solid sawn lumber is by far the least energy intensive and least polluting of the major construction materials. With more than 450 panels covering the 2.5-hectare roof, the WoodWave© system has greatly expanded the understanding of what is achievable using conventional sawn lumber.

The V-shaped cross sectional geometry of the arches is maintained using a horizontal steel truss that creates a very stable structure and a hollow space inside, which conceals the main mechanical services. Holes drilled through the beams at intervals allow for the ventilating system to distribute warm or cold air as required, and for sprinkler lines and conduits to connect to branch lines concealed in the WoodWave© panels.


(Excerpt of article by Jim Taggart of SABMag. NOT AFFILIATED WITH LAMBOO)

 

This is a great example of engineered wood used within the construction industry in the hopes of building more sustainable structures for the future. Although this material is a step in the right direction timber resources are continually strained due to the long life cycle and expensive process of clearing roots and replanting. Bamboo is another resource that could be utilized due to its remarkable growth rate (6-8 years to maturity versus 25-50 for timber) and ability to regrow from previous root structures. Using this remarkable resource Lamboo Technologies is able to offer an alternative to wood that is not only more sustainable but features greater stability and performance compared to any other plant species on the planet. Lamboo materials are manufactured through a patented lamination process which can produce members and components to replace wood in any application while increasing stability and longevity. Learn more about the sustainability of Lamboo products here.

 

 For questions regarding Lamboo, our products, or the growing importance
of bamboo in sustainable construction please visit our website at
www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us - 866-966-2999

"MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD" - Lamboo Incorporated

 

Blog by: Dustin Dennison

In Bali, Bamboo Is the Bricks and Mortar

SIBANG, INDONESIA — When Macarena Chiriboga came to Bali in 2009, she had just finished a master’s degree in architecture in the United States, doing her thesis on the use of bamboo as a building material.

The trip was meant to be a vacation. But drawn by the unusual architecture of a school on the island — the Green School, whose buildings are all made from bamboo — she was soon back, and is now designing buildings for a “green village” being built by the developer Ibuku International about an hour’s drive from the Indonesian island’s beaches.

With Effan Adhiwira, a 28-year-old Indonesian who is senior architect and also oversees construction at Green School, the Ibuku team is creating a collection of structures that look more like treehouses and pirate ships than luxury villas.

But they are actually luxury villas. Perched on huge bamboo poles, and overshadowed by lush green jungle on the edge of the rock-strewn Ayung River, they have multiple, verandah-like levels, beautifully designed kitchens and bathrooms, and very few walls.

“People tend to have this assumption that luxury is all about air-conditioning and technology, about owning a big car — but luxury can also be about feeling the wind blow right through your house, being in contact with nature and walking around barefoot in your home,” said Ms. Chiriboga, 26. “These houses are all about allowing people to realize their dream of sustainable living, of experiencing a whole different lifestyle.”

Three dozen buildings will ultimately form the “Green Village,” which is going up on three hectares, or almost 7.5 acres, of land. Giant, 18-meter, or 59-foot, poles, each about 25 centimeters, or nearly a foot, wide, support the roofs and several layers of open-plan floors. Some jut out, mast-like, at odd angles. Smaller, slimmer poles form open-sided stairs that lead from one platform-like level to the next — three or four in each house.

The flooring, the roofs, the banisters that fence in the terrace-like living spaces, but leave the sides open — everything is made of bamboo, lightweight, bendable, super-tensile and specially treated to protect it from the ravages of insects and humidity.

There’s hardly a right angle in sight. Curves and gentle bends rule. “We’re taking bamboo to a different level,” said Ms. Chiriboga, who is from Ecuador. “Where I come from, in South America, bamboo is seen as a poor man’s material. If you’re rich, you won’t use it to build a house. When I show people pictures of what we’re doing here, they are amazed. They never thought you could do these things with bamboo.”

Each of the houses is unique, fitted around the plot on which it is built, said Elora Hardy, creative director at Ibuku. There was no need to bulldoze the jungle, dig foundations and build retaining walls: The structures simply rest on poles anchored in the rock, contouring around their part of the steep river bank.

Each is to some extent tailored to the buyer’s special wishes: Want an open-plan office-cum-media room? Or two rather than three bedrooms? An extra guest bathroom? But, of course.

“It’s like building a super yacht, made to measure, in the middle of the jungle,” said Peter Wrathall, commercial director at Ibuku. At a cost of $225,000 to $750,000 each, the buildings are drawing interest from around the world, he said.

Indonesia as a whole, and Bali in particular, has become increasingly popular with foreign investors, drawn by the country’s friendly climate and buoyant economy. Foreigners cannot own land or houses directly in their own name in the country but it is possible, and common, for them to arrange ownership through local nominees or surrogates. Another option is to acquire long-term leases of as long as 25 years, which can be transferable and extendable, and are thus an attractive alternative, Mr. Wrathall said.

Possibly the most unusual aspect of the Ibuku houses — apart from the fact that they are 98 percent bamboo — is that their sides are largely open to the elements.

Beneath the canopy-like roofs, which are in turn overshadowed by the jungle, there are only floors and the bamboo support pillars. The houses have 150 to 300 square meters, or 1,615 to 3,230 square feet, of living space, but no walls, no windows.

That may sound unbearably hot and steamy, but there generally is a gentle breeze blowing through the structures.

Buyers can opt to have parts of their houses enclosed — with bamboo walls — so the areas can be cooled and dehumidified. But most areas are free of energy-guzzling air-conditioning and costly insulation materials. Ibuku also plans to take the whole “village” off Bali’s electric grid, providing power from biomass, the energy given off by decaying natural materials — all in line with the green, environmentalist philosophy that pervades the development.

(Read full article)

(Excerpt of article by Bettina Wassener of the New York Times. NOT AFFILIATED WITH LAMBOO)

For questions regarding Lamboo or our products please visit our

website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us

"MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD" - Lamboo Incorporated

Booming bamboo: The next super-material?

Bamboo is being hailed as a new super material, with uses ranging from textiles to construction. It also has the potential to absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide, the biggest greenhouse gas, and provide some of the world's poorest people with cash. 

Bamboo's image is undergoing a transformation. Some now call it "the timber of the 21st Century". Today you can buy a pair of bamboo socks or use it as a fully load-bearing structural beam in your house - and it is said that there are some 1,500 uses for it in between.

There is a rapidly growing recognition of the ways in which bamboo can serve us as consumers and also help to save the planet from the effects of climate change because of its unrivaled capacity to capture carbon. "From the field and the forest to the factory and the merchant, from the design studio to the laboratory, from the universities to those in political power, people are more and more aware of this potentially renewable resource," says Michael Abadie, who took up the presidency of the World Bamboo Organization last year.

"In the last decade, bamboo has become a major economic crop," Abadie continues.

New technologies and ways of industrially processing bamboo have made a big difference, enabling it to begin to compete effectively with wood products for Western markets.

It is estimated that the world bamboo market stands at around $10bn (£6.24bn) today, and the World Bamboo Organization says it could double in five years.

The developing world is now embracing this potential growth.

In eastern Nicaragua, bamboo was until recently regarded by most of the local population as valueless - more as a nuisance to be cleared than a boon to them and their region. But on land that was once under dense forest cover, then turned over to slash-and-burn agriculture and ranching, new bamboo plantations are rising.

This is the world's fastest growing plant, ready to be harvested annually and sustainably after four to five years in contrast to the typical tropical hardwood that takes many years longer to mature and can be harvested only once.

The investment in bamboo is having a positive effect on local plantation workers, providing paid employment for people, including women, many of whom were previously jobless, or for men who once had to travel to Costa Rica to find work.

There is long way to go before the grasses now being nurtured in Nicaragua - for technically bamboo is a member of the grass family - can safely be described as the timber of the 21st Century - and the key plant in a more sustainable future for forestry and therefore for the world.

But, for now at least, bamboo is definitely booming.

Read More

(Excerpt of article by Mike Wooldridge of BBC News. NOT AFFILIATED WITH LAMBOO INC.)

 

For questions regarding Lamboo or our products please visit our

website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us

"MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD" - Lamboo Incorporated

Blog by: Dustin Dennison

In addition to our commitment to innovation in sustainable design practices Lamboo is focused on operations that surpass ethical standards in the industry.  Lamboo, Inc. meets BBB accreditation standards, and strives to maintain good faith both with stakeholders and consumers. Lamboo holds a A+ rating with this agency.

To learn more about Lamboo, our practices, or products please visit our 

website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us.

"MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD" - Lamboo Incorporated

Lamboo Galesburg facility

In order to effectively provide our products in the domestic U.S. market, Lamboo is continually expanding within the Galesburg distribution hub. This centralized Illinois location enables Lamboo to deliver products coast to coast within 3-5 days following order of stocked products. Lamboo relies not only on the efficient programs and processes used to create our products but through logistics practices as well.

To learn more about Lamboo, our facilities or products please visit our 

website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us.

"MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD" - Lamboo Incorporated

Walsh Industries & Lamboo, Inc.

Walsh Industries, LLC of Portland, Oregon is a leader in providing glu-lam and other structural building materials for the international commercial construction market. Their investment and management role with Western Structures, Inc. further enhances their ability to deliver high quality glu-lams quickly and at competitive prices. Projects include stadiums, libraries, schools, restaurants, churches, resorts and high-end residences. Their customers are located all over Japan, China, Taiwan the Middle East, North America, India, England, Hong Kong and Singapore. Walsh Industries has a deep understanding of wood construction and the expertise to deliver into global markets.

Beyond the partnership with Western Structures, Walsh Industries enjoys long-term relationships with 5 US-based APA and JAS approved glu-lam plants. They also represent glu-lam manufacturers in Germany and Japan. Through the utilization Lamboo® Structure™ materials Walsh is able to provide quality systems that exhibit superior performance and sustainability to traditional hardwoods.

 For additional information about Lamboo, our products, or Walsh Industries please 

visit our website at www.lamboo.us or contact us at info@lamboo.us.

"MAKING INNOVATIVE THINKING A STANDARD" - Lamboo Incorporated