Emerald Hills Executive Plaza One (now known as Ganot Plaza), located in Hollywood, Florida, was in desperate need of an overhaul. The 40-year-old building was encased with glass that used an inconsistent film, which struggled to keep sunlight out. In a highly competitive market, the property owner desired an upgrade to improve not only the building’s looks, but its comfort and performance, which resulted in faster leasing rates for the investment.
THE BUILDING: The Ganot Plaza is a 63,342-square-foot, six-story mid-rise office building. To give the building a sleek, modern, contemporary look and feel, the building received a major curtain wall retrofit.
SOLUTION: For this project, there was one clear choice -- energy-efficient VUE-30, one of Viracon’s highest performing coated glass. Working with a 28,000-square-foot curtain wall system, VUE-30 not only transformed the drab 40-year-old Emerald Hills office building into a modern marvel, but enhanced the energy efficiency of the building.
BENEFITS: In today’s tightening energy code environment, designers and developers have been demanding a low-emissivity coating with exceptional performance (a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of less than .20). To meet that need, Viracon developed the VUE line of glass coatings, which offers the opportunity to maximize window-to-wall ratio while maintaining performance that exceeds current domestic energy code requirements. Viracon VUE-30 provides natural daylight while reducing potential glare; balancing light with energy savings and low U-V transmittance. VUE-30 has superior solar performance with a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of .18 and Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 31% on clear glass resulting in an LSG of 1.72. VUE-30’s solar performance is complimented by a transparent appearance that designers have been asking for.
THE PLAYERS: Architect, Iraj S. Shojaie; General Contractor, Burke Construction; Curtain Wall Manufacturer and Contractor, Crawford-Tracey Corp.; Glass Fabricator, Viracon Inc.
To learn more, visit viracon.com
Related Stories
| Jul 7, 2014
5 factors that can affect thermal stress break risk of insulated glass units
The glass type, glass coating, shading patterns, vents, and framing system can impact an IGU’s risk for a thermal break.
Sponsored | | Jul 7, 2014
Channel glass illuminates science at the University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco’s new John Lo Schiavo Center for Science and Innovation brings science to the forefront of academic life. Its glossy, three-story exterior invites students into the facility, and then flows sleekly down into the hillside where below-grade laboratories and classrooms make efficient use of space on the landlocked campus.
Sponsored | | Jun 27, 2014
SAFTI FIRST Now Offers GPX Framing with Sunshade Connectors
For the Doolittle Maintenance Facility, SAFTI FIRST provided 60 minute, fire resistive wall openings in the exterior using SuperLite II-XL 60 insulated with low-e glazing in GPX Framing with a clear anodized finish.
| May 28, 2014
KPF's dual towers in Turkey will incorporate motifs, symbols of Ottoman Empire
The two-building headquarters for Turkey’s largest and oldest financial institution, Ziraat Bank, is inspired by the country’s cultural heritage.
| May 27, 2014
Fire Rated Glass contributes to open lab environment at JSNN
Openness and transparency were high priorities in the design of the Joint School of Nanoscience & Nanoengineering within the Gateway University Research Park in Greensboro, N.C. Because the facility’s nanobioelectronics clean room houses potentially explosive materials, it needed to be able to contain flames, heat, and smoke in the event of a fire. SPONSORED CONTENT
| May 20, 2014
Kinetic Architecture: New book explores innovations in active façades
The book, co-authored by Arup's Russell Fortmeyer, illustrates the various ways architects, consultants, and engineers approach energy and comfort by manipulating air, water, and light through the layers of passive and active building envelope systems.
| May 5, 2014
Tragic wired glass injury makes headlines yet again
In the story, a high school student pushed open a hallway door glazed with wired glass. His arm not only broke the glass, but penetrated it, causing severe injuries. SPONSORED CONTENT
Sponsored | | May 3, 2014
Fire-rated glass floor system captures light in science and engineering infill
In implementing Northwestern University’s Engineering Life Sciences infill design, Flad Architects faced the challenge of ensuring adequate, balanced light given the adjacent, existing building wings. To allow for light penetration from the fifth floor to the ground floor, the design team desired a large, central atrium. One potential setback with drawing light through the atrium was meeting fire and life safety codes.
| Apr 25, 2014
Recent NFPA 80 updates clarify fire rated applications
Code confusion has led to misapplications of fire rated glass and framing, which can have dangerous and/or expensive results. Two recent NFPA 80 revisions help clarify the confusion. SPONSORED CONTENT
Sponsored | | Apr 23, 2014
Ridgewood High satisfies privacy, daylight and code requirements with fire rated glass
For a recent renovation of a stairwell and exit corridors at Ridgewood High School in Norridge, Ill., the design team specified SuperLite II-XL 60 in GPX Framing for its optical clarity, storefront-like appearance, and high STC ratings.
