Project: Pennsylvania Drilling Company headquarters
Project Size: 3,400 square foot office building
Location: Imperial, Pennsylvania
Building Contractor: Exterior Systems Industries
Problem: High energy costs
Solution: 8” accel-E™ Steel Thermal Efficient Panels (S.T.E.P.)

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When Thomas Sturges decided to move his company into new offices, his main interest was in building a solid, energy efficient headquarters that would serve his company, Pennsylvania Drilling Company, for many years to come.

Thanks to an innovative wall panel system, that is faster and simpler to build with, while also offering better energy efficiency, the new headquarters now promises to serve as a model for future buildings.

Sturges was introduced to the accel-E™ Steel Thermal Efficient Panel (S.T.E.P.) wall system by his building contractor, Anthony Rosenberger of Exterior Systems Industries, who was contracted to construct the new 3,400-square-foot office building.

“We had originally contracted for a split-block exterior using conventional construction techniques, but Tony said he had something else we might be interested in,” Sturges recalled. “We saw we could do the accel-E™ STEP wall system for about the same price, with a lot less waste material, a lot more insulation value, and a simpler construction process.”

We saw… a lot more insulation value, and a simpler construction process.”

Developed by ACCELERATED™ Building Technologies, the accel-E™ STEP wall system replaces traditional framing, insulation and sheathing components with strong, energy-efficient insulating panels. The panels are formed using a proprietary production technology, which combines the strength and performance of cold-formed steel framing with the superior insulation properties of expandable polystyrene (EPS) to create lightweight, strong, easy-to-use panels.

As impressive as those benefits are, however, Surges said it was a visit to a traditional construction site that convinced him to build using accel-E™ panels.

“We saw how they were using the chip board, and the insulation and the wall studs, and by comparison with the accel-E™ panels it just looked flimsy,” said Sturges.

But the most compelling advantage was the energy efficiency that is made possible by the new wall system, which features 8-inch thick accel-E™ wall panels, finished with a brick exterior.

Energy Efficiency… and a Quieter Working Environment

The accel-E™ STEP system was a first step that ultimately resulted in the new company headquarters becoming a model of energy efficiency, using eight geothermal wells, a geothermal heat exchanger, and a combination of forced-air heating and cooling with radiant tube heating in the floor.

“We won’t know for sure how that works until we go through a winter, but so far it is working out very well,” Sturges said, recalling one hot summer day, after the building shell was finished but before the cooling system was installed.

“Even then, you could tell when you walked into the building it was so much cooler, just because of the insulation value,” he said. “It was really amazing.”

An added benefit of the accel-E™ STEP wall system is the much quieter work environment. The new offices are located near buildings in which the company carries out heavy contracting work, but Sturges says, “When they fire up a drill outside we can just barely hear it. It’s very nice.”

In the end, all the various advantages of the accel-E™ STEP wall system contribute to greater owner satisfaction, as Sturges is quick to point out.

“This is an extremely comfortable, very quiet building,” he concluded. “It’s just great.”
Accel-E™ panels are produced in a variety of thicknesses, ranging from 5½ to 8 inches, depending on individual project requirements. Window and door openings are precut for quick on-site installation. The open cavity on the panel’s interior offers generous space for electrical and plumbing components. The materials used in the panels are fire resistant, and also resist mold, mildew, termites and other insects.

Learn more about accel-E™ STEP wall systems by visiting www.accel-E.com,
or call 888-9-accelE (888-922-2353).

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