AAC Shaft wall Project for Peabody Hotel Expansion The Peabody Hotel project was Blafour Beatty's first experience using Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) for shaft walls. "Initially, we were concerned about using a new product on a project of this magnitude. However, within days of the start of installation those concerns were eliminated." Anthony Rogers, Assisant Superintendent, Balfour Beatty Construction speaks about the Peabody Orlando Hotel Expansion.

Southern Hotelier Selects Hebel to Secure Family’s Future Challenge John L. Williams and his associates at Williams Investment Company in Adel, Georgia were looking for a building solution that would enable them to provide superior sound insulation for guests at the company’s hotels in Tifton and Valdosta, Georgia. Over the course of more than 40 years in hotel construction, Mr. Williams had used a wide range of traditional building products, but he wanted a material that offered greater return on investment in terms of stability and long-term energy and insurance savings, as well as peace of mind. Solution As one of the few products that met Williams’ stringent hotel construction requirements, the team chose Hebel Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) because of its acoustical benefits, superior fire rating, insulating properties and fire and pest resistance. Mr. Williams selected Hebel AAC panels for all the hotels’ walls (interior, exterior and shafts) as well as the floor and roof to create a consistent, energy efficient envelope throughout the building.

Delta Core Development L.L.C, Uses Hebel Aerated Concrete for Coastal Projects Challenge: In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a Louisiana builder and developer wanted to build quality homes that could withstand weather and safety challenges on the Gulf Coast. Results: Delta Core Development’s President and CEO, Ned Couret, has used Hebel for dozens of residential projects since 2006. Delta Core is currently designing a development called The Grove at Inlet Beach, which will become the Florida Panhandle’s first high-density residential development built exclusively out of Hebel AAC products. Hebel provides the ideal solution for The Grove, as well as Delta Core’s other coastline projects, because of its fire and hurricane protection abilities.

AAC Home Offers Serenity for Architect Challenge: Asheville, N.C., residential architect Alice Dodson needed a building material that would provide breathable, masonry walls to align with her commitment to baubiologie and sustainability. Baubiologie, or building biology, analyzes outdoor and indoor living environments and aims to create an ecological solution for energy, water and material use, while enhances indoor air quality by reducing volatile organic compounds (VOC), dust, allergens and electromagnetic pollution. Results: AAC was the perfect solution for Dodson’s integrated approach for sustainable living. She used AAC blocks and panels for all of the walls and flooring throughout her 4,000 square foot house and saw immediate energy savings. AAC’s thermal mass, coupled with solar panels and a wood stove, resulted in only $100 in gas consumption during the first year she lived in the house. “Even when we lose power, the house will stay warm for two or three days,” Dodson said.

CMU Doesn’t Measure Up to Hebel AAC for Hotelier Challenge: Diplomat Companies, an owner and developer of hotel properties, wanted to establish a best practice for selecting future building materials for its growing portfolio of hotels. With 12 hotel properties, and more than 1,500 rooms serving travelers throughout Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, Diplomat sought data-driven results that would help its leadership quantitatively understand what materials would provide the best guest experience while simultaneously saving their corporation money. Results: The Red Roof Inn was built utilizing Hebel AAC for both its interior and exterior walls. The six-story hotel has 194 rooms and maintains 80-percent occupancy with a utility bill that has never exceeded $6,000 a month. Conversely, the 152-room Hyatt Place hotel was built with traditional CMU and took two months longer to construct. It maintains 70-percent occupancy and accrues a monthly utility bill averaging $8,000.

Guests Sleep Better In Hebel Hotel Challenge: Monroe Hospitality Services, Inc., a Georgia-based builder of Comfort Suites, Comfort Inn, Ramada and Days Inn brand hotels, was seeking a building product for a hotel on a slim lot adjacent to an interstate. Results: Fred Kapadia, chief executive officer – Monroe Hospitality Services, Inc., explains his Hebel choice, “When we compared the AAC (autoclaved aerated concrete) option to others, the energy efficiency, insurance savings for safety, fire- and wind-resistance, noise barrier and tight lot all contributed to our decision to use AAC. Our architect also highly recommended it and understood its plus points.” Read the full case study: