A brief history of windows in America

It’s easy to lose sight of the significance of historic windows when all they seem to contribute to the building aesthetic is peeling paint, rotting wood, corroding steel, or broken glass. To appreciate the architectural worth of aging windows, we must look back, briefly, at their origins.

The earliest American windows were wood casement windows, hinged at the sides. By the early 1800s, sliding single- and double-hung windows had come into popular use. However, devastating fires in a number of U.S. cities during the late 19th century led to the widespread adoption of strict fire codes, which decreased the prevalence of wood windows.

At the same time, the Industrial Revolution brought about major advances in rolled steel, permitting the mass production of steel windows. These fire-resistant frames and sashes became the standard for factories and commercial buildings, as well as for larger residential and university buildings, while wood windows continued to dominate the single-family residential market.

Steel remained the primary material for industrial, commercial, and institutional windows in the United States well into the 20th century. The strength of steel permitted larger expanses of glass, which enabled the thin profiles and repeated window patterns of Art Deco and early Modernist buildings. Then, after World War II, aluminum windows gained popularity due to their lower price and non-corroding properties. Toward the end of the 20th century, wood windows also fell out of fashion, as many homeowners replaced the original windows on their turn-of-the-century houses with vinyl, both for its inexpensiveness and for its promise of minimal maintenance.

Unfortunately, the replacement of original wood or steel windows with cheaper materials can significantly impact building appearance. Aluminum, for example, is much weaker than steel, requiring bulkier frame profiles that can destroy the delicate look afforded by multi-pane steel windows. Likewise, vinyl may discolor and warp over time, making it a far less durable material over the long term than the original wood.

The good news for building owners is that options for treating deteriorated historic windows are plentiful. Energy-saving retrofits, repair, or parts replacement can restore existing windows to like-new functional condition. Should replacement be called for, it is often possible to locate or custom-make historic replicas that won’t compromise building character.

Rural hospitals present unique opportunities and challenges for healthcare facility operators. Oftentimes, the infrastructure and building systems have not been updated for years and require significant improvements in order to meet today’s modern medical demands. Additionally, as these smaller, more remote hospitals are acquired by larger regional and national healthcare systems, the first step by new ownership is often to update and rehabilitate the building. But how can this be done thoughtfully, economically, and efficiently in ways that allow the engineering and facility staff to adapt to the changes? And how can the updates accurately reflect the specific needs of rural communities and the afflictions with which these areas most commonly face?

Architects | Dec 13, 2021

Dan Hart, FAIA, inaugurated AIA 2022 President

Dan Hart will be the AIA's 98th President.

Architects | Dec 13, 2021

MASS Design Group receives 2022 AIA Architecture Firm Award

The annual AIA Architecture Firm Award is the highest honor the AIA bestows on an architecture practice.

Architects | Dec 13, 2021

2022 AIA Gold Medal awarded to Angela Brooks and Lawrence Scarpa

The Gold Medal honors an individual or pair whose significant body of work has had a lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture.

K-12 Schools | Dec 10, 2021

Trends in K-12 school design, with Dan Boggio and Melissa Turnbaugh of PBK

Dan Boggio and Melissa Turnbaugh of PBK, the largest K-12 design firm in the U.S., discuss the favorable market conditions and the latest trends in K-12 school design with BD+C's Rob Cassidy.

Architects | Dec 9, 2021

Hoffmann Architects wins Connecticut American Institute of Architects Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Award

The AIA Connecticut J.E.D.I. Challenge, launched in November 2020, offers member firms the opportunity to commit to actions in each of the Challenge areas.

Giants 400 | Dec 5, 2021

2021 Justice Facility Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. justice facility/public safety sector

Turner Construction, DLR Group, AECOM, and Stantec top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms for justice facility/public safety buildings work, including correctional facilities, fire stations, jails, police stations, and prisons, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Dec 3, 2021

2021 Hotel Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. hospitality sector

Gensler, Jacobs, Suffolk Construction, and WATG top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest hotel sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.

Architects | Nov 29, 2021

LRK Names Tony Pellicciotti ‘Managing Principal’ of firm

Pellicciotti is one of LRK’s fourteen principals representing its markets in Memphis, Dallas, Philadelphia, Orlando/Celebration, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Little Rock, and Princeton.

Architects | Nov 23, 2021

HMC names new Director of Design

James Krueger will oversee design and lead strategies to improve the impact of HMC’s work.

Currently Reading

A brief history of windows in America

Tags

Healthcare Facilities | Dec 15, 2021

Architects | Dec 13, 2021

Architects | Dec 13, 2021

Architects | Dec 13, 2021

K-12 Schools | Dec 10, 2021

Architects | Dec 9, 2021

Giants 400 | Dec 5, 2021

Giants 400 | Dec 3, 2021

Architects | Nov 29, 2021

Architects | Nov 23, 2021

Most Popular Content

Magazine Subscription

Get our Newsletters

Follow BD+C: