Reading clear
The Salt Lake City Public Library used 145,000 sf of transparent glass to glaze its curtain walls, lens walls, and massive $1.2 million skylight. According to architect Steve Crane of local VCBO Architecture, the building “reads transparent from the outside,” while the glass is also highly energy efficient, both reasons for choosing Solarban 60 Glass. The glass has a light to solar gain (LSG) ratio of 1.84, surpassing the U.S. Energy Department minimum of 1.25 LSG ratio for spectrally selective glass. The face of the main triangle-shaped building, a long, swooping crescent wall (pictured above), was made from more than 400 different laminated units of Solarban 60 glass, some measuring as large as 25 sf The wall wends from one end of the library plaza to the other, sweeping further and further away from the body of the building, stretching at its greatest length more than 21 feet from the main building’s vertical wall. The 237,000-sf facility contains more than 500,000 books and other library materials.
PPG.
Reader Service No. 202**
Keep out sound and fire
Glass can be used as a clear fire barrier and a clear acoustic barrier in sound studios, manufacturing facilities, libraries, airports, and other high-end commercial buildings. The SuperLite II-XL has a sound transmission class rating of 49, which means there is a subjective loudness reduction of approximately 96%. It protects against fire and harmful noise and can be customized to provide security (bomb-blast and attack-resistance), energy efficiency (solar and reflective), and aesthetic detail (etched, tinted, mirrored, etc.) SuperLite II-XL features a nontoxic, gel-filled construction and is tested to provide fire-rate applications up to 120 minutes.
Safti.
Reader Service No. 203
Clear connection
The Singapore Changi Airport’s 150-meter-long mezzanine glass bridge, which provides a pedestrian link between two terminals, is made from a white translucent PVB interlayer color glass, creating an illuminated “light box” look. The glass’s translucence also obscures utility services and the maintenance catwalk that runs behind the glass cladding.
Solutia.
Reader Service No. 204
Safety glass
Cherokee County, Ga.’s state-of-the-art, $35 million public safety facility uses Makrolon Hygard security glazing materials on cell doors, in common areas, and in visitation booths. The glazing was chosen because of its multiple layers of polycarbonate or polycarbonate/acrylic bonding interlayers. These come in six different levels of protection, ranging from containment-rated sheet to UL Level 3 bullet-resistant material capable of withstanding multiple rounds fired from super-powered handguns.
Sheffield Plastics Inc.
Reader Service No. 205*
See-through education
Maryland Institute College of Art’s $20 million Brown Center adds much to the Baltimore skyline with its striking exterior glazing system, designed by glazing contactor Harmon Inc. and general contractor The Whiting-Turner Construction Co. The 61,410-sf, five-story structure houses 1,370 students and provides a 550-seat hall for MICA’s public performances. The wall system was developed in 3-D CAD drawings, which established critical connection locations for the structure. From these drawings, Harmon provided and installed the entire exterior curtain wall, atrium steel trusses, all-glass entrances, and structural glass railings. As a result, no metal supports can be seen on the Center’s exterior. The building’s exposed concrete structure supports the curtain wall system. A white frit pattern on the glass enhances energy efficiency while visually unifying the building materials.
Harmon.
Reader Service No. 206**
Wire glass meets CPSC standard
Fire-rated, laminated polished wired glass is available in stock sheet sizes and meets Consumer Product Safety Commission 16 CFR 1201 Cat I Impact Safety Standards. Pyroshield Plus comes in large sheets, which can be cut and fabricated as needed. Its fireproof plastic interlayer, which is sealed between a 4mm float glass and a 6mm polished wired glass, enhances impact safety. Pyroshield Plus achieves a 45-minute-plus hose-stream rating, as well as an 18-inch drop-height performance rating.
Pilkington.
Reader Service No. 207
Rebuilt to last
New York City’s World Trade Center Building #7 project will use a low-iron, clear, high-transmission glass. Lead architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, New York, chose UltraWhite glass because of its ability to project the true color of the silk-screen and coating. Standing 50 floors tall, the rebuilt #7 will use as much as 1 million sf of glass. Building #7 was the third building to collapse following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center Complex and will be built by Tishman Construction, New York, to be completed.
Guardian Industries.
Reader Service No. 208
Low-e, energy saver
Low-e architectural glass products are available in a variety of light transmission levels, including VRE-54 (54% visible light transmittance), VRE-38 (38%), VRE-46 (46%), and VRE-59 (59%). The products differ in their heat transfer ratings, each meeting different energy code restrictions.
Viracon.
Reader Service No. 209
Glass film stands strong
Panorama designer and safety window film includes an 8-mil. product designed to help hold commercial glass in place if shattered, reducing the chances of break-ins and property damage due to storms or hurricanes. The product reduces energy consumption, preserves furnishings, and improves occupant comfort, according to the manufacturer. Product warranty coverage ranges from 12 years to lifetime.
Bekaert Specialty Films (BSF).
Reader Service No. 210
Calculate the easy way
A Web-based program that generates glass sizes from field measurements helps architects create designs and calculate final glass sizes for storefronts. Storefronts Online allows users to enter a list of components that are going to be used for a particular project and the rough opening dimensions. Visual prompts appear on screen and aid in the selection of correct components for the configuration. The program then calculates final glass sizes and displays detailed information, including handle and closer locations. www.crlaurence.com.
CRL.
Reader Service No. 211