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.

Ideas are cheap. Solutions are what count. The latest installment in BD+C's Great Solutions series presents 14 ways AEC professionals, entrepreneurs, and other clever folk have overcome what seemed to be insoluble problems—from how to make bricks out of agricultural waste, to a new way to keep hospitals running clean during construction.

| Dec 29, 2014

HealthSpot station merges personalized healthcare with videoconferencing [BD+C's 2014 Great Solutions Report]

The HealthSpot station is an 8x5-foot, ADA-compliant mobile kiosk that lets patients access a network of board-certified physicians through interactive videoconferencing and medical devices. It was named a 2014 Great Solution by the editors of Building Design+Construction.

Husqvarnas DXR140 demolition robot in action. The robot shown here is controlle

| Dec 28, 2014

Robots, drones, and printed buildings: The promise of automated construction

Building Teams across the globe are employing advanced robotics to simplify what is inherently a complex, messy process—construction.

Sasaki Associates used detailed network visualizations like this traffic flow pa

BIM and Information Technology | Dec 28, 2014

The Big Data revolution: How data-driven design is transforming project planning

There are literally hundreds of applications for deep analytics in planning and design projects, not to mention the many benefits for construction teams, building owners, and facility managers. We profile some early successful applications.

At Coastline Community Colleges Newport Beach (Calif.) Campus, the Building Tea

| Dec 28, 2014

AIA course: Enhancing interior comfort while improving overall building efficacy

Providing more comfortable conditions to building occupants has become a top priority in today’s interior designs. This course is worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW.

Students chill in a lounge at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. The $

| Dec 28, 2014

6 trends steering today's college residence halls

University students want more in a residence hall than just a place to sleep. They want a space that reflects their style of living and learning.

Rendering: Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES)

| Dec 28, 2014

Using energy modeling to increase project value [AIA course]

This course, worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW, explores how to increase project value through energy modeling, as well as how to conduct quick payback and net present value studies to identify which energy strategies are most viable for the project.

| Dec 28, 2014

The lowdown on LODs: Bringing clarity to BIM

These days, BIM is par for the course across most facets of design. But a lot of the conversation surrounding BIM still lacks clarity due to ambiguous terminology, a lack of clear-cut guiding illustrations, and widely varying implementation, writes GS&P's John Scannell.

| Dec 28, 2014

The future of airport terminal design: destination status, five-star amenities, stress-free travel

Taking a cue from the hospitality industry, airport executives are seeking to make their facilities feel more like destinations, writes HOK's Richard Gammon.

Gensler's San Francisco office. Image © Gensler

| Dec 28, 2014

10 key design interventions for a healthier, happier, and more productive workplace

Numerous studies and mountains of evidence confirm what common sense has long suggested: healthy, happier workers are more productive, more likely to collaborate with colleagues, and more likely to innovate in ways that benefit the bottom line, writes Gensler's Kirsten Ritchie.

Currently Reading

A brief history of windows in America

Tags

| Dec 29, 2014

| Dec 29, 2014

| Dec 28, 2014

BIM and Information Technology | Dec 28, 2014

| Dec 28, 2014

| Dec 28, 2014

| Dec 28, 2014

| Dec 28, 2014

| Dec 28, 2014

| Dec 28, 2014

Most Popular Content

Magazine Subscription

Get our Newsletters

Follow BD+C: