When architects have questions about commercial glazing and building codes, Ray McGowan says the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) can be a good resource. That, he adds, also holds true if the certifying labels have been removed for whatever reason. “We have procedures,” says McGowan, a senior program manager for the NFRC, “so call us. […]
The beauty of Salt Lake City’s Public Safety Building may sneak up on you. Attribute it to the serpentine glass curtainwall used in the LEED-Platinum designed building’s construction. The brainchild of Salt Lake City-based GSBS Architects, the serpentine glass curtainwall slopes from one wing to the other. Additionally, the design called for the curtainwall to cant in […]
Sleek is one word you could use to describe the newly opened Krishna P. Singh Center for Nanotechnology at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) campus in Philadelphia. The high-tech research facility and laboratory features 18,000 square feet of glazing fabricated by J.E. Berkowitz (JEB). New York City-based architects Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi of Weiss/Manfredi […]
A retrofit office building project that includes custom, handcrafted steel doors and windows manufactured by Jamestown, N.Y.-based Hope’s® recently received a Small Project Award from the Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The Hope’s Jamestown175™ Series steel windows and 5000 Series™ steel doors were installed in the building, now home to the […]
This month, I am proud to add Certified FenestrationMaster (CFM) to the list of certifications, accreditations and accomplishments I’ve gained during my 38 years of experience in this ever-changing industry. I am one of the first people to earn this certification through AAMA’s FenestrationMasters™ program. FenestrationAssociate is offered for entry-level certification and is available to […]
The Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif., designed by Phillip Johnson in 1980, remains one of the most iconic buildings in the world. Vertical and horizontal glass attached to space frames creates a dynamic experience both interior and exterior. I can easily believe the story of Johnson taking Dr. Robert Schuller’s experience in starting the […]
“Glass, china and reputation are easily cracked, and never well mended.” While the latter two may be true, Benjamin Franklin may consider taking back the first part of that statement if he could see the glazing used in the newly renovated Benjamin Franklin Museum in Philadelphia. The museum was reopened recently to the public following […]
The American Institute of Architects (AIA), in partnership with Make It Right, St. Bernard Project, Architecture for Humanity and Dow Building Solutions recently concluded “Designing Recovery,” an ideas competition it says was created to aid in the rebuilding of sustainable and resilient communities. The competition was designed to help survivors of recent natural disasters in […]
A theme that emerged from last week’s GlassBuild America show was an array of commercial products offering viable solutions to the industry. Even more encouraging was reports from two CEOs who predict growth in this market. “We are focused on growing profitably—both top and bottom,” says Bill Griffiths, Quanex CEO. “In fact, if you ask […]
Looking for absolution? Designing the glass for a campus ministry may be the way to go. Guy Kemper, a commissioned artist who recently worked on the decorative interior and exterior glazing for the Sykes Center for Faith and Values at the University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla., says the architecture served as a spiritual guide […]
