The Origins of Continuous Insulation

How A2P's Founder & CEO established his roots in thermal innovation.

As the 20th century drew to a close, Alaska’s extreme climate posed an enduring challenge to builders and engineers. In regions like Fairbanks, where temperatures can swing from blistering 90°F summers to chilling -60°F winters, thermal comfort was not just a matter of efficiency but survival. Permafrost, moisture, and relentless freeze-thaw cycles conspired to damage buildings from the inside out. Traditional wall assemblies, reliant on metal framing, created direct pathways for heat loss and condensation, leading to mold, rot, and structural decay.

Amid these harsh conditions, G. Matt Krause saw a path forward. As an innovator, Matt recognized that Alaska’s environment was the ultimate test for building science, a test that most assemblies failed. Rather than accept inadequate systems, he designed and engineered a complete solution from first principles: a system that would create a truly continuous, uninterrupted thermal envelope.

Alaska Climate Challenge

Fairbanks sits within Climate Zone 8, a subarctic environment where building science meets its greatest test. The region’s permafrost complicates foundations, while sharp temperature contrasts push building envelopes to their limits. Early structures lacked effective thermal strategies, and their conductive materials transferred heat directly through wall systems, leaving cold spots and condensation points that undermined both comfort and durability.

Matt Krause recognized this as a systemic issue. It was not just a construction challenge, but as an opportunity to engineer a wall system that could truly separate interior spaces from the harsh exterior environment.

The Carlson Community Center: A Turning Point

The Carlson Community Center, named after visionary Mayor John A. Carlson, became Fairbanks’s pride, a multi-purpose arena that stands as one of the most important public projects in Alaska’s interior. The building began construction in the 1980s after years of planning and financial hurdles, and officially opened its doors on June 13, 1990.

Designed to seat over 5,000 people, the facility quickly became the heart of Interior Alaska, hosting hockey, concerts, and community events. From the beginning, the Carlson Community Center was designed with a new wall system that incorporated continuous insulation without any through-metal. The design intent was clear: engineer a structure capable of delivering thermal efficiency in one of the harshest climates on Earth while ensuring long-term durability and energy efficiency.

Matt’s role in this project was pivotal. Working alongside Enserch Alaska Construction, Inc. and M&M Contracting, he guided the invention of an innovative continuous insulation wall assembly that eliminated the thermal bridging that had plagued prior designs. The system integrated fractional metal girts and thermal spacers to hold the insulation in place, ensuring structural integrity while maintaining a complete thermal break.

Innovation in the Cold

This new continuous insulation system represented a significant advancement in cold-climate construction. By eliminating all through-wall metal, the Carlson Community Center’s structure achieved a level of thermal performance previously unseen in the region. The result was a building that stayed warmer, used less energy, and offered lasting protection against condensation and freeze-thaw damage.

The wall system became a benchmark for effective envelope design in extreme climates, balancing strength, performance, and sustainability.

Legacy & Evolution

The success of the Carlson Community Center laid the foundation and created the DNA for what would become A2P’s composite metal hybrid systems, well known today as GreenGirt CMH and SMARTci. What began as a solution for Fairbanks in the 1980s evolved into a framework for high-performance wall assemblies around the world.

The Timeline of A2P

Built on Technology. Driven by Performance.

Engineering What's Next

Explore the full timeline of Advanced Architectural Products, from early installations to achieving over 4,000 projects.

Learn about the projects and history that led to the first installations of GreenGirt CMH on A2P HQ, the University of Cincinnati, and the Doha International Airport.

See where A2P is at currently, and where it’s headed for the future of continuous insulation and building enclosure systems.