Smart glass innovations for smarter buildings

The category of glazings collectively termed “smart glass” are adding to the interior and enclosure applications.

New techniques developed for smart glass include thin films that can display augmented reality (AR) information in compatible devices or convert solar energy into electricity, or both.

Similarly, ultrathin photodetectors—used in many smartphones—hold promise for glazings with automated sensing properties, according to Corning, which collaborated with Penn State’s Materials Research Institute on a novel way to integrate the light detectors with the manufacturer’s chemically strengthened Gorilla Glass.

While glazings with instant smarts will one day grace building façades and interior partitions, current commercial applications are focused on optimizing daylight, according to Brad Pfahler, Project Manager with Studio Ma.

“We are working on residential and institutional projects exploring very high-performance solutions such as net-zero energy and water, and advanced techniques are necessary to get to net zero, and one of the options is electrochromic glass,” says Pfahler.