Project: Cincinnati Art Museum in Cincinnati, OH
Architect: Emersion Design
Glazier: H&H Glass
Products: SuperLite II-XL 60 in GPX Framing (walls), SuperLite II-XL 60 in HMTR Framing (full-vision doors), SuperLite X-90 (door vision kits).
When the Cincinnati Art Museum embarked on an $11M renovation, the architects at Emersion Design wanted the entrance and main stair to be as inviting as possible. “The stairwell is the link between the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Longworth Hall Wing,” says Mark Stedtefeld, the project architect from Emersion Design. “An opaque material would not have enhanced the quality of the entry space like glass would.”
Adam Olson, SAFTI FIRST’s architectural representative for Ohio, worked with the architects in choosing a competitively priced clear solution that would meet the design, budget and fire rated requirements for the stairwell application. SAFTI FIRST supplied SuperLite II-XL 60 in GPX Framing for the sidelites and transoms for the 1 hour stair enclosure.
To maximize the vision area in door itself, SuperLite II-XL 60 in HMTR Framing full-lite doors. In some of the stairwell doors in less prominent locations, SAFTI FIRST provided SuperLite X-90 for the vision panels under 100 sq. inches, providing further savings compared to ceramics used in the same application.
Hardware selection was also a consideration. “The hardware needed to secure Longworth Hall from the Museum when the situation required it,” says Mark.
SAFTI FIRST’s in-house engineering team worked with the design team to provide the desired level of security without compromising the appearance of the system.
Last but not least, sustainable characteristics were also important. The “construction waste management, recycled content, visual access deeper into the building and low VOC emitting materials were important in selecting SAFTI FIRST as the basis of design,” says Mark. In the end, the project achieved a LEED Gold Rating.
Related Stories
| May 29, 2013
Realtors report positive trends in commercial real estate market
Realtors who practice commercial real estate have reported an increase in annual gross income for the third year in a row, signaling the market is on the road to recovery.
| May 29, 2013
6 award-winning library projects
The Anacostia Neighborhood Library in Washington, D.C., and the renovation of Cass Gilbert’s grand Beaux-Arts library in St. Louis are among six projects to be named 2013 AIA/ALA Library Building Award winners.
| May 28, 2013
LED lighting's risks and rewards
LED lighting technology provides unique advantages, but it’s also important to understand its limitations for optimized application.
| May 28, 2013
Minneapolis transit hub will double as cultural center [slideshow]
The Building Team for the Interchange project in downtown Minneapolis is employing the principles of "open transit" design to create a station that is one part transit, one part cultural icon.
| May 24, 2013
First look: Revised plan for Amazon's Seattle HQ and 'biodome'
NBBJ has released renderings of a revised plan for Amazon's new three-block headquarters in Seattle. The proposal would replace a previously approved six-story office building with a three-unit "biodome."
| May 23, 2013
Supertall 'Sky City' will house 4,400 families in Changsha, China
Broad Sustainable Building has completed a long and arduous approval process, and is starting excavation and construction on Sky City in June, 2013. The proposed "world's tallest building" will be a mixed-use project that could accommodate life and work needs of up to 30,000 people.
| May 23, 2013
Are design-build contracts killing small architecture firms?
Are federal design-build contract laws unfair to small firms? AIA thinks so, citing an interesting fact: an architecture firm spends a median of $260,000 to compete for a design-build project.
| May 23, 2013
Is the 'bring your own device' discussion stumping your IT group?
A new twist to the communication challenge most companies and IT departments face is the “bring your own device,” or BYOD, conundrum. I call it a conundrum because it is stumping many IT professionals.
| May 22, 2013
Return of retail? Rent growth seen in recovering markets
Like digging a ditch with a spoon, retail demand driven by population growth has eaten away at the supply of available store space in the markets that have been slowest to recover from the downturn. Vacancy rates are reaching a point that will give at least some landlords in every market the clout to demand slightly higher rents.