Blissfield, Michigan -- A local structural insulated panel manufacturer has been honored nationally for its model home design. Insulspan, located in Blissfield, Mich., received the grand prize for its creative design. The judges were impressed because its design brings beauty and strength together in one energy-efficient and award-winning package. Building Systems Magazine and the Building Systems Councils of the National Association of Home Builders handed Insulspan top honors in its 1999 Excellence in Model Home Design Contest. The award was presented to Insulspan CEO Frank Baker at a trade show and conference for building systems manufacturers in Puerto Rico.

The judges complimented the Pleasant Meadow for its beautiful arches, huge windows and attention to detail. Located on the River Raisin, this Craftsman-style home was designed by Rodney Pfotenhauer, a member of the American Institute of Building Design and president of The Housing Associates, Toledo, Ohio.

"These strong structural insulated panels are very versatile," says Baker. "We can adapt Insulspan panels to almost any home design. The end result will be a very strong and energy-efficient work of art."

The Pleasant Meadow rises from a square, forms a cross on the second floor, and is topped off with 13 distinct roof planes. It is surrounded by cozy porches on the outside and grand spaces inside. The Insulspan panels and beautiful timbers eliminate many interior walls to create an open floor plan. The ceiling soars to 25 feet as three handcrafted timber hammerbeam trusses crown the great room. Insulspan tongue and groove pine-clad panels span the 14-foot distance between trusses, creating a wood- decked ceiling and insulated roof deck in one simple step.

This 2,900 sq. ft. model home has three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. The free-flowing kitchen is designed for socializing, and services the dining room, bar and nook with ease. The sunroom and master bedroom suite are tucked away from the bustle and traffic of the great room and kitchen. Like most of the main rooms, the Insulspan roof panels create a dramatic open cathedral ceiling with an exposed timber ridge beam. On the second level, a balcony overlooks the great room and branches off to bedrooms two and three.

Insulspan panels are made of a continuous core of rigid foam that is laminated between two layers of engineered wood. This system creates an extremely strong and super-insulated wall that can be constructed in a few simple steps. It takes a builder only a fraction of the time to put together the shell of a building with INSULSPAN panels. Because of their energy-saving ability, high strength and speed of installation, these panels are rapidly gaining favor with builders, designers and homeowners throughout the country.

Recent government studies conducted on R-values demonstrated that structural insulated panels have much higher insulation value compared to stud framing methods, making them a better choice for building. Insulspan panels allow for attractive and versatile designs, while providing outstanding comfort.

Insulspan has manufacturing locations in Michigan, Idaho, Missouri, New Hampshire and Minnesota and has been featured in many national publications. These strong and energy-efficient panels were used to construct the grand prize winner of House Beautiful Magazine Home Building Design Competition, which is featured in the fall/winter 1999 issue of the magazine. The 1999 LIFE Magazine Dream Home featured in the May 1999 issue was also constructed with Insulspan panels.

Magazines like Country Home, Building Systems Magazine, New Discovery Home Plans Magazine, Professional Builder, and other building trade publications have featured Insulspan as the trend of the future. Syndicated television shows like This Old House, Bob Vila's Home Again, New Home Show, Dream Builders and Hometime have also featured Insulspan panels.