Fiber-cement Rainscreens at Work in Minneapolis
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2025 7:19 am
To manage water from the driving forces of surface tension, one should add drip caps under any projecting horizontal surface, such as windowsills, balcony floors, or soffits. Also, a drip edge should be specified for flashing.
To manage water from the forces of kinetic energy of raindrops, openings can be protected from direct rain entry by overlapping materials, sealant, or gaskets.
At the end of the day, the industry has come a long way in developing performance criteria for rainscreen systems that should be used when designing a rainscreen. A rainscreen must be viewed as a system and not as whatsapp number database its individual parts. Guessing must be taken out of the design stage, and all parts have to be tested to make sure they will work well together in every possible design combination.
Third North_Exterior_Closeup
This red and grey cladding was chosen to mirror nearby brick and concrete buildings, both in terms of color and shape. It was the first project in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to use fiber cement panels to cover more than 30 percent of a building’s facade. Photo courtesy Tom Witta and Schafer Richardson
For the Third North 204-unit apartment complex in Minneapolis, Minnesota the architects designed the façade to respect the existing aesthetics of surrounding historic buildings while still offering a modern look. A similar warehouse massing and the structure’s position abutting the sidewalk on three sides reflects the frontage of nearby warehouses, many of which have been adapted into office spaces or condos. The building’s U shape conceals residential features—including green space, a dog run, and pool—in the center and rear.
To manage water from the forces of kinetic energy of raindrops, openings can be protected from direct rain entry by overlapping materials, sealant, or gaskets.
At the end of the day, the industry has come a long way in developing performance criteria for rainscreen systems that should be used when designing a rainscreen. A rainscreen must be viewed as a system and not as whatsapp number database its individual parts. Guessing must be taken out of the design stage, and all parts have to be tested to make sure they will work well together in every possible design combination.
Third North_Exterior_Closeup
This red and grey cladding was chosen to mirror nearby brick and concrete buildings, both in terms of color and shape. It was the first project in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to use fiber cement panels to cover more than 30 percent of a building’s facade. Photo courtesy Tom Witta and Schafer Richardson
For the Third North 204-unit apartment complex in Minneapolis, Minnesota the architects designed the façade to respect the existing aesthetics of surrounding historic buildings while still offering a modern look. A similar warehouse massing and the structure’s position abutting the sidewalk on three sides reflects the frontage of nearby warehouses, many of which have been adapted into office spaces or condos. The building’s U shape conceals residential features—including green space, a dog run, and pool—in the center and rear.