International Spy Museum

There are no doubt several secrets hidden within the walls of The International Spy Museum. But how architects helped developers reach their performance goals for fire resistance and sustainability with their choice of insulation materials isn’t one of them.

Project Overview

The International Spy Museum is a cultural destination designed to generate activity and interest within a Washington DC neighborhood noted for large scale utilitarian office buildings. It also supports the regeneration goals city planners have for 10th Street as part of the National Capital Planning Committee SW Ecodistrict Plan.

The Goal  

The museum’s design clearly needed to play on the business of espionage, “hidden in plain sight.” It also needed to address practical goals for the building envelope in order to meet LEED certification criteria.

Those goals included noncombustibility – safety in public buildings is always paramount – as well as sustainability, highly efficient thermal performance, and optimizing the acoustical design.

The Challenge

Architects needed a high-performing building envelope that worked with the unique design elements of the space. The museum’s exhibits are obscured behind a dark metal “black box” which sits above a transparent base.

Its evocative form, powerful slopped columns, folded metal panel skin, and pleated glass veil make a vibrant architectural and urban statement. The design team also needed technical assistance on assembly specifications and local support for procuring materials in a busy market.

In addition to the exterior assembly, the finished interior space needed its acoustical properties to align with its intended use as a public space. The complex would be used extensively for diverse educational programming and events – including a 30 percent larger classroom and a new 150-seat theater.

The Solution 

ROCKWOOL’s specifications and building science teams worked closely with the project’s stakeholders to ensure the design of the building envelope and interior walls met performance targets and its components would be easy to install. First, with the original design team that specified ROCKWOOL, and then longer term to support the efforts of the lead architecture team.

Two stone wool insulation products were specified for the job – Cavityrock® for the exterior continuous insulation, and AFB® (Acoustical Fire Batts) for the interior spaces.

Cavityrock is used as the thermal control layer for exterior continuous insulation assemblies. It provides long-term stable R-value, and its inherent durability means it won’t lose thermal performance over time – or any of its other performance benefits. And critical to the unique needs of the space, it also works as part of the exterior panel assembly to comply with Fire Code (NFPA 285).

AFB was included in the interior assemblies primarily to support the building’s acoustic goals. It is an important component of creating comfort for visitors to the museum as well as a positive and productive learning environment.

The products share many of the same features and benefits that are consistent across all products in the ROCKWOOL family. Stone wool insulation is noncombustible, so it will not develop toxic smoke or promote flame spread, even when directly exposed to fire.

Additionally, it is water repellent, sound absorbent, dimensionally stable, and will not promote mold and fungi growth. Stone wool is also environmentally sustainable, as it is made from one of the most abundantly available raw materials on the planet.