Ice and snow, remnants from an atypical winter storm, had turned downtown Atlanta gray and white—with one exception.

A field of bright gold glimmered through the mist, encasing the new College Football Hall of Fame, a $66.5 million showcase rising up on a former parking lot in Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park district. The color is a comforting sight to Doug Hall, senior project manager for Brasfield & Gorrie LLC, the lead contractor for the 94,256-square-foot facility.

That’s because it is the longtime symbol of DensGlass Sheathing. And DensGlass Sheathing is a key reason why Hall is confident the Hall of Fame construction will remain on track for its can’t-miss opening day deadline: August 23, 2014, to coincide with the opening of the 2014 college football season.

“For a project like this, it was vital to use sheathing that helps us work through tough weather and stay on schedule,” said Hall. “And with DensGlass, you don’t have to worry about the product getting damaged in weather like this and needing to be replaced.”

Built to stay strong and provide superior moisture and mold resistance, DensGlass panels helpscontractors maintain flexibility with construction schedules despite bad weather. This makes it a preferred substrate for a full range of water and air barrier products, along with other types of exterior coatings and claddings. DensGlass panels—thanks to the fiberglass mats on its front and back surfaces—is backed by a limited warranty against delamination and deterioration for up to 12 months of exposure to normal weather conditions.

That is indeed a comfort to Hall, as the Hall of Fame project relies on the simultaneous completion of a variety of phases that would greatly extend the already-tight construction schedule if they had to wait for the building to be dried-in or roofed first.

Other mold and moisture-resistant Georgia-Pacific Gypsum products—including DensGlass Shaftliner, a gypsum panel ideal for vertical and horizontal shaftwall assemblies, stairwell applications and area separation walls—allow mechanical work such as HVAC system installation to start during the pre-rock phase of construction, further helping mitigate risk caused by construction delays.

“While it is important during construction, we also know from experience that Dens products will be able to withstand wet conditions for years to come,” added Hall. “That level of confidence is so important for contractors.”

Lightweight and strong, the Dens Brand family of products also delivers superior fire resistance and dimensional stability. Many of them—like the DensShield Tile Backer—can be cut and installed without special tools or fasteners like competitive products, further enhancing speed of installation on the job site.

When completed, the College Football Hall of Fame will offer fans approximately 30,000 square feet of exhibit space with interactive multimedia displays, historic and contemporary artifacts, children's activities, a theater and meeting facilities. It will also featurea 45-yard indoor football field that can also serve as a unique, flexible programming and event space.

According to Hall, the project—unlike a standard office building with repeating floors—has a unique design, with every aspect of the building customized. That further complicates the construction schedule, and furthers the need for materials, like Dens Brand products, that can accelerate it.

“I don’t know how you can construct a building on schedule without products, like DensGlass, that can withstand various weather elements,” Hall added.

For more information on the College Football Hall of Fame, visit www.cfbhall.com.