CertainTeed(R) GlasRoc(R) Exterior Sheathing Brings Superior Performance, Design Flexibility to Hilton Hotels' Newest and Largest U.S. Mainland Complex

VALLEY FORGE, Pa., June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The buildings of Bonnet Creek, Hilton Hotels Corporation's newest and largest U.S. mainland hotel and convention center complex, have great skin -- thanks to CertainTeed GlasRoc Exterior Sheathing.

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The water-resistant, glass-mat CertainTeed Gypsum sheathing product was used to form the exterior skin of the luxurious Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, the Hilton Orlando Convention Center and the Waldorf Astoria at Bonnet Creek. Now in construction, the complex sits on a prime 482-acre location, just a stone's throw from Walt Disney World.

The hotel complex is a partnership between Hilton Hotels Corporation and Orlando-area developer Bonnet Creek Venture, Ltd. Bonnet Creek Venture hired international development company KUD International, LLC, to manage the design and development of the project. In addition, they retained Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart & Stewart, an international design firm with an office in Tampa, Fla., as architect and the Orlando branch of Hunt Construction Group as general contractor.

Because of the project's immense size, Hunt Construction subcontracted the installation of the exterior skin (framing, sheathing, vapor barrier, lath and stucco) to two contractors. Beginning last year, Burkett Stucco, of Lutz, Fla., installed the exterior skin of the 17-story Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek Hotel (634,388 sq. ft.), and West Star Interiors, of Tampa, installed the skin of the two-story Hilton Orlando Convention Center (265,898 sq. ft.) and the 15-story Waldorf Astoria at Bonnet Creek (532,537 sq. ft.).

The 5/8-inch fire-resistance rated GlasRoc Exterior Sheathing panels conformed to Bonnet Creek's design specifications and met all applicable building code requirements. In addition, the product was able to meet certain aesthetic challenges of the buildings' design. Because of GlasRoc Exterior Sheathing's unique ability to bend to curved surfaces, crews were able to wrap it around the columns in front of the Hilton Orlando Convention Center and Waldorf Astoria without any cracking. The embedded glass mats also made the product easier for crews to handle.

"With the glass mats embedded, the board is sturdier and much easier to handle because you don't have to worry that it will break," says Servi Sosa, project manager for West Star Interiors. "The easier it is to handle, the less time it takes to stock and install. The extra sturdiness of GlasRoc also allowed for more bending in a tighter radius than other comparable products."

Another advantage contractor crews noticed during installation was how the sheathing allowed quicker drying times for joint compounds and how well it protected the structure against wet weather.

"One of the biggest advantages we found is that GlasRoc gave us the ability to apply silicone over the joints and achieve a rapid drying time," says Don Genovese, executive vice president of Burkett Stucco. "GlasRoc seemed to hold up better than other sheathing products in wet conditions and resulted in far less waste."

GlasRoc Exterior Sheathing's patented technology offers combined reinforcement of glass mats, fully embedded into a water-resistant gypsum core. It is a composite board mechanically and chemically bonded together that virtually eliminates any chance of separation or delamination. GlasRoc has uniform hardness across the board, which reduces the effect of overdriven fasteners and performance failures. It is structurally strong, yet snaps free after simple scoring of one face. GlasRoc requires no special installation tools or fasteners and is installed in the same manner as conventional gypsum board.

The Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek is the largest development in Hilton Hotels Corporation's history, featuring 1,000 luxurious rooms and suites; 122,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and pre-function area; six restaurants and lounges; a 2-acre lagoon-style, zero-entry resort pool; and retail space.

The Waldorf Astoria at Bonnet Creek is the first newly built Waldorf Astoria since the original Art Deco-inspired location opened in New York City in 1931. It features 497 deluxe rooms and suites, with 28,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and pre-function area; signature Waldorf Astoria food and beverage establishments; a formal swimming pool with private cabanas; and a recreation pool.

The two hotels will share a 7,113-yard Rees Jones-designed 18-hole golf course and the 24,000 square-foot Waldorf Astoria Spa by Guerlain and Fitness Center. The Bonnet Creek hotels and convention center are scheduled to open October 1.

CertainTeed Gypsum manufactures and markets a broad range of gypsum and finishing products for interior and exterior needs across the U.S. and Canada. This, in combination with the full range of affiliate CertainTeed Corporation's building products, provides architects, contractors, builders and dealers one partner to provide service and support for commercial and residential building projects.

About CertainTeed

Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products, CertainTeed has helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the firm's slogan "Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed," quickly inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed(R) is North America's leading brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, windows, fence, decking, railing, trim, foundations, pipe, insulation, gypsum, ceilings and access covers.

Headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., CertainTeed and its affiliates, including CertainTeed Gypsum, have more than 6,000 employees and more than 65 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. In 2009, CertainTeed was named ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a national award that recognizes environmentally responsible corporations. The group had total sales of more than $3 billion in 2008. www.certainteed.com.

    For more information contact:
    Michael B. Loughery, CertainTeed
    (610) 341-7328
    mike.b.loughery@saint-gobain.com
    www.certainteed.com/pressroom