News Release
For immediate release:
May 2, 2013
For more information contact:
Michael B. Loughery, CertainTeed
(610) 341-7328
mike.b.loughery@saint-gobain.com
www.certainteed.com/pressroom
Canadian Sports Arena Meets Sustainability, Performance Requirements with
CertainTeed® AirRenew® Extreme Impact Gypsum Board
(Mississauga, Ont.) – CertainTeed® AirRenew® Extreme Impact gypsum board has contributed
toward a more sustainable and durable interior for the Palais des Sports Léopold-Drolet de
Sherbrooke, a 47-year-old multi-purpose sports arena in Québec, Canada. The recently
completed remodel is the first project in the province to feature AirRenew Extreme Impact, an
especially durable board that actively removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) circulating
indoors and traps them inside the board.
“AirRenew Extreme Impact was an ideal product choice, considering the arena’s large crowds
and activity level,” said Nicolas Bilodeau of Bilodeau Baril Associés Architectes. “Sustainability
goals were important, but we also had to make sure that the gypsum specified would meet the
performance demands of the design.”
General Contractor Construction Guy Sebas, Inc. used approximately 1,600 sheets of AirRenew
Extreme Impact to outfit much of the interior of the more than five thousand capacity building.
“This project went well due to the fact that the installer didn’t need to glaze, or skim coat, the
surface with ready-mix before application, which saved on labor costs,” said Pierre Lemay,
principal of Construction Guy Sebas, Inc. “It came ready to finish with paper on the face of the
panel. We’ll definitely use it again.”
News Release
Sherbrooke Canada –Page 2 of 3
AirRenew Extreme Impact features M2Tech® patented technology, which offers the added
benefit of enhanced moisture and mold resistance. In addition, AirRenew will continue to
remove VOCs from the air, specifically formaldehyde and other aldehydes. AirRenew Extreme
Impact also contains a specially designed fiberglass reinforcement to provide superior durability
in high traffic areas prone to hard impacts and penetrations. Moreover, the product has
completed UL Environment’s Environmental Claims Validation process and is GREENGUARD
Indoor Air Quality Certified® and GREENGUARD Children & Schools CertifiedSM.
The newly remodeled arena is now home to the Sherbrooke Phoenix, the newest franchise of the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. To better accommodate the team, the renovation also
included the addition of 32 luxury boxes, 18 galleries, and an increase in general seating, for a
total of 4,328 seats. Terraces were also constructed, and the concessions area was given a facelift
as well. Work was complete this past summer, with the Phoenix playing their first game in
August.
“We are happy that AirRenew was used on the renovation — as much for its air-clearing
properties as for its longevity,” said Jean Désourdy, construction project manager of the city of
Sherbooke. “The refurbished stadium represents the high standards and pride we take in our city.
We received very positive comments from visitors throughout the province for the achievement.”
Offering a broad range of gypsum and finishing products for interior and exterior needs,
CertainTeed Gypsum has served the North American building industry for more than 80 years
and is a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, the world’s leading producer of gypsum products. This, in
combination with the full range of affiliated CertainTeed Corporation building products,
provides architects, contractors, builders and dealers one partner to provide service and support
for commercial and residential building projects. For more information, visit
www.certainteed.com/gypsum.
About CertainTeed
Sherbrooke Canada –Page 3 of 3
News Release
Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products,
CertainTeed, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., 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® is North America’s leading brand of exterior and interior
building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, foundations, pipe,
insulation, gypsum, ceilings and access covers.
A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, the world’s largest building products company, CertainTeed and
its affiliates have more than 5,700 employees and more than 60 manufacturing facilities
throughout the United States and Canada. For five consecutive years, the company has received
top honors from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its contributions in protecting the
environment and was most recently the recipient of the 2013 ENERGY STAR Sustained
Excellence Award. The group had total sales of approximately $3.3 billion in 2012.
www.certainteed.com
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