Most innovative solar glass product - EcoGuard Solar Boost-LP, Guardian Industries Corp

This past year, Guardian Industries, Auburn Hills, Mich., introduced EcoGuard Solar Boost-LP, laminated parabolic mirrors for concentrated solar power applications. The mirrors are designed to provide high solar reflectivity, concentrating efficiency and durability. EcoGuard Solar Boost uses Guardian’s highest performing solar glass, EcoGuard Float, and the company’s mirror technology to create a laminated parabolic mirror with a minimum 94.5 percent solar reflectivity at an air mass coefficient of 1.5 (ISO 9050).

Guardian’s precise manufacturing process yields a smooth, accurate mirror. Durability is ensured by a laminated glass assembly similar to a windshield, where the mirror is encapsulated between two layers of glass and held together by a PVB interlayer. A mirrored surface is contained within the laminate on the backside of the forward glass. The thin front glass results in a shorter transmission path and industry benchmark reflectivity performance, according to company officials. EcoGuard Solar Boost-LP has been extensively field tested for durability and validated using numerous accelerated test protocols. The combined glass and PVB layers provide superior rigidity and durability compared to traditional monolithic glass systems. The laminated construction also results in optimum damping, wind resistance and reduction of subsequent field component damage.

“EcoGuard Solar Boost-LP withstands the extreme conditions to which concentrating solar mirrors and reflector panels are subjected, says Scott Thomsen, group vice president and head of North American Flat Glass at Guardian. “With a glass mean free path of just 3.2 millimeters, EcoGuard Solar Boost-LP mirrors attain an average solar reflectivity of more than 95 percent. This results in a reduction of total cost of ownership for our customers.”

Other performance advantages include: industry-leading solar reflectivity; if broken, the assembly will remain intact, retaining the majority of function; virtual elimination of the risk of damage to other components from falling glass; improved safety for operators and assembly crews; and lead-free mirror assembly, according to company officials. Designed specifically for CSP parabolic trough systems, EcoGuard Solar Boost laminated reflective panels are available in standard RP-2, 3 and 4 configurations, and are direct bolt-in replacements for the traditional monolithic configurations. In addition, custom sizes and shapes are available to meet the unique needs of individual customers and applications in the CSP and CPV markets.

Source : www.glassmagazine.com

Most innovative storefront/entrance project - Two Alliance Center, Innovative Structural Glass Inc.

The Two Alliance Center is a captivating presence on Atlanta’s Buckhead skyline, featuring an entrance that is approximately 140 feet wide, 15 feet deep and 24 feet tall at its apex. The canting glass structure consists of five separate axes. Each glass axis marries to form a multi-axis glass wall, glass roof and glass soffit element. The primary support element of this entry is a ribbed construction made of glass fins and glass rafters. The focal point is a recessed glass soffit area that houses a revolving door and tempered glass swing doors. There is a continuous 20-foot long, 1 1/2-inch thick laminated glass beam that supports the glass system above the revolving door and the tempered glass swing doors.

For this project, Innovative Structural Glass, Three Rivers, Calif., took the architectural intent developed by Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates Inc. of Atlanta and engineered, designed and supplied the glass entrance system to glazing contractor Trainor Glass, Alsip, Ill., for installation.

“SRSSA’s design was complex in that it was a multi-linear construction of canting and sloping planes of glass that were ultimately interconnected,” says Manuel Marinos, president and CEO, Innovative Structural Glass. “This all-glass structure not only enclosed the ground floor of a multistory office building, but was a self-supporting glass structure capable of resisting wind forces, seismic forces, thermal expansion and contraction, building movements, live load, snow load and water penetration. This design stretched the limitations of both structural glass engineering technology and glass fabrication capability.”

From an engineering perspective, the design required that Innovative Structural Glass design the system using 3D modeling techniques and Finite Element Analysis. This was done to ensure product fit and finish, in addition to structural performance. Custom glass connection brackets had to be specially designed and manufactured to accommodate the design. Innovative Structural Glass had each new design tested by an independent testing agency to verify the engineering results.

Much of the glass was custom oversized pattern cut glass that was tempered, laminated and heat soaked. The complex glass geometry required that state-of-the-art CNC glass machining centers were used to fabricate the glass. Oversized laminating and tempering equipment was also utilized to construct single lites of glass up to 20 feet in length. Due to the complexity of the glass fabrication, its oversized nature and the specifications it had to adhere to, Innovative Structural Glass had the glass fabricated offshore. Most of the glass fabrication was so complex, in order to convey the fabrication requirements for a single lite of glass, Innovative Structural Glass had to create multiple glass fabrication drawings. Before the glass was shipped, the company sent a team of quality assurance inspectors to inspect the glass lites to ensure they met its quality standards. Ultimately, when Innovative Structural Glass shipped the materials to the job site, it supplied a design engineer to provide onsite installation training and assistance.

The Beck Group, headquartered in Dallas, was the general contractor for the project. Crane Revolving Doors, Lake Bluff, Ill., fabricated the entrance’s revolving door.

Source : www.glassmagazine.com

Most innovative curtain-wall system - The Sixth System Paragon Architectural Products LLC

The Sixth System is a new glazing façade structural system from Paragon Architectural Products, Scottsdale, Ariz., that features a stainless steel supporting structure that is hidden within the silicone joint, according to Russ Hals, sales and marketing assistant, Paragon Architectural Products. By contrast, most glazing systems have clearly visible supporting structures in the form of aluminum mullions, transoms, steel trusses, columns, stainless steel cables, rods or glass fins on the interior or exterior of the glass façade.

“What’s so revolutionary about this system is that there are no internal or external supporting structures required, and it offers amazing views unobstructed from any supporting structure,” Hals says. The system also allows for additional interior floor space, and is cost competitive with a standard fin system. The installation sequence is fast and simplified, he says.

The Sixth System has been structurally engineered and fully tested, and can withstand the rigorous internal and external pressures, as well as all loading factors, according to a company release. The system features grade #316 stainless steel hardware available in numerous shapes, including round, square, rectangular, hexagonal and octagonal.

The system has not yet been used in any existing projects, but Hals says the company has a list of upcoming projects to be completed with the technology in the United States—New York City, San Francisco and St. Louis—and abroad—Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand.

Source : www.glassmagazine.com

Most innovative storefront/entrance system - NanaWall Systems

Crystal Achievement Award Judge BJ Katz, art director/principal for Meltdown Glass Art & Design LLC, Tempe, Ariz., calls the NanaWall SL82 Structurally Glazed Folding Wall System “simple and elegant, with clean, minimalist lines.” From NanaWall Systems, Mill Valley, Calif., the entrance is the result of three years of research and development, and was designed to meet demand for a structurally glazed folding door system for large openings that blended with the all-glass aesthetic of a structurally glazed curtain wall.

The structurally glazed door panels are created by mounting the dual-pane or triple-pane glass to the exterior of the structural door frames in a thin channel that is virtually invisible
from the exterior. A triple wraparound sealing process protects the glass edge when opening and closing the system. This seal also increases the overall strength of the system, which has been independently tested for water penetration, air infiltration, structural and thermal performance, forced entry and acoustic performance.

Suitable for commercial and residential applications, the system provides: an all-glass aesthetic; a slim line profile surrounding the glass panes for clean lines; the ability to create large exterior openings up to 39 feet wide and 8 feet, 2 inches high; 24 in-swing stacking configurations with options for swing / exit panels; long-term ease of operation along a single track with bottom-supported rollers and adjustable hinges; concealed multipoint locking hardware; three levels of seals for protection from wind pressure and driving rain; a high-performance sill; a fiberglass-reinforced thermal break that, with triple glazing, allows the SL82 to achieve a U-value of 0.29; the ability to accommodate double glazing or up to 1 ½-inch thick triple glazing; and the choice of hundreds of powder coated and anodized aluminum finishes.

Source : www.glassmagazine.com

Most innovative bath enclosure - PurfectKurv, MAAX Bath Inc

The PurfectKurv shower door, from MAAX Bath Inc., Sainte-Marie, Quebec, features profiled curved edges on 3/8-inch glass. “This is made possible because we use our patented hinge technology that can be adjusted easily by the installers,” explains Carlo Di Pietro, product business director, MAAX Bath. “Our PurfectKurv door hinges can be adjusted from left to right up to three inches. This is ideal when dealing with out of plumb walls or non-standard widths.”

PurfectKurv is 80 inches high and available in widths from 54 inches to 72 inches. It comes equipped with two sets of hinges, providing up to 6 inches of adjustment. Two styles of hinges and handles are available with chrome or brushed nickel finish. The door is suitable for corner or wall-mounted installations with 34-, 36- and 40-inch deep glass panels.

“First on the list for homeowners looking for a bath enclosure in this premium category is a unique design—something that appears to be tailored specifically to their needs,” Di Pietro says. “The beauty of the PurfectKurv is that it looks like a custom made unit, but it really comes in a box that’s readily available throughout our network of showroom dealers across the United States and Canada.”

Source : www.glassmagazine.com

LEED Platinum for Asia Square, Singapore: Sustainable Architecture Redefined

Asia Square – a compilation of twin towers at Marina bay in Singapore has earned for itself, the LEED Design Core & Shell (LEED-CS) Platinum pre-certification from the US Green Building Council. This is the only building in Singapore to attain the LEED Platinum, and it has also secured the Green Mark Platinum Award for a new non-residential building from Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

Features like energy & water-efficiency and high indoor environmental quality, among several others, helped the twin towers earn these honours. This multiple-use sustainable tower covers 2.65 million sq ft Grade-A space and its construction will be completed by the year 2012. It is estimated that Asia Square consumes 33 % less energy and 40 % less water, when compared to the other conventional buildings of similar size.

Structure

The twin towers float above a podium structure, and sport semi-transparent glass walls and a ceiling punctuated with glass roof panes. The podium structure accommodates “The Cube” - a vibrant, 100,000 sq ft (9200 sq m) public space used for networking and recreation – Exhibitions, performances and other shows are held here on a regular basis. Asia Square also includes 280-room five-star hotel and 60,000 square feet of retail space.

Asia Square Tower-1 will feature 43 floors and Asia Square Tower-2 will feature 46 floors with the hotel occupying the 32nd to 46th floors. The retail space within Asia Square will be located on the 1st and 2nd floors in both towers.

Asia Square will be connected to surrounding developments through an extensive network of underground pedestrian walkways and second storey links.

The structure incorporates several environmentally sustainable features. It will house the largest photovoltaic cells (solar panel) installation in Singapore and also the first bio-diesel generation plant in a commercial development in the CBD.

Sustainable Features

Façade
Tower-1 uses the triple Low-E Coating double glazing and insulated spandrel heights in the façade to trap the sunlight and flood daylight into the interiors, thereby reducing the cooling cost and conserve energy to a maximum possible extent.

The Cube

The Cube – an open air plaza towering at a height of 16m - is naturally ventilated and fully landscaped. Skylights in The Cube maximize the influx of natural light during the daytime. The roof is designed in a way that reduces the need for a mechanical ventilation and smoke extraction system. Also, high ceilings allow thermal stratification and the landscaping helps further regulate temperature.

Bio-Diesel Plant

Asia Square is the first downtown commercial building in Singapore to locate the bio-diesel generation plant. The oil waste from the catering establishment is recycled into 2, 40,000 litres of bio-diesel annually, which is planned to donated to charity.

Motion Sensor

Motion Sensors are installed at all lift lobbies, toilets, car parks and staircases to vary lighting levels according to occupancy and usage, ensuring maximum energy saving.

Water Efficiency

To maximum the conservation of the all-important natural resource, highly water-efficient fittings, certified as ‘very good’ and ‘excellent’ under ‘PUB WELLS’ are selected for all basin taps, bib taps, urinals etc. Further, rain water is harvested and discharged into irrigation water tanks, which will be reused for landscape irrigation. It is estimated that approximately 65 million litres of water can be saved annually through these water-friendly fittings and processes.

Photovoltaic Cell

Asia Square has the largest renewable energy generation systems of all commercial setups in Singapore. Photovoltaic cells cover the entire roof area and generate nearly 270,000 KWh of power per year.

Air Conditioners

Chilled water for the air-conditioning systems is supplied by the district cooling plant operated by Singapore District Cooling. Variable speed drivers will ensure that the chilled water is distributed by the pumps in accordance with the buildings’ cooling load requirements, thereby contributing to energy conservation.
Lighting

All office areas are equipped with T5 light fittings, complete with high-efficiency electronic ballasts, to achieve optimal energy saving while ensuring sufficient illumination.

Photo sensors are incorporated in all office areas, which assist in reducing the use of artificial lights at the perimeter zones.

Regenerating Elevators

Elevator movement generates kinetic energy which will be converted to electrical power, which in turn will be distributed back to the grid. The elevators are therefore expected to consume 18% less power compared to buildings without the power regeneration system.

Source: www.Asia-square.com

Glass for Transparency in Turkey’s Fashion House & Power Media Headquarters

A new headquarters for a Turkish fashion house Vakko and Power Media (Turkey’s equivalent of MTV) was built recently in Istanbul, Turkey. The construction of this structure was started on an old, abandoned and partially constructed concrete shell of a hotel. REX Architects created this building over an area of 9,100 m² (98,000 sq ft). Instead of hiding the old concrete skeleton of hotel, REX exposed it through a very thin and transparent glass façade, thus delivering their objective of creating a sustainable structure.

REX divided the construction of this structure into two structurally independent components. A ‘U-shaped' concrete skeleton (completed by a fourth side), labelled as “Ring”, was transformed into a conventional, flexible office space. At the ring’s centre, a new six-floor steel tower named ‘Showcase’, consisting of several special areas such as an auditorium, showrooms, meeting rooms and executive offices, and restrooms has been created.

Power Media Company, Turkey’s renowned music and television network at the upper floor of the skeleton’s subterranean parking incorporates a television studio, radio production facilities, and screening rooms.

The Transparent Glass façade of the building is stuffed with Glass Panes, which allow natural light to flood the interiors. At 5 feet by 10 feet, the 134 panels that wrap the building are a wafer-like 3/16th of an inch thick. Glass preferred for this building by the architects is Slumped Glass. This type of glass is repeatedly heated and cooled until it falls into a mould and assumes the mould’s form. Slumping is usually used for decoration purposes, but here it has been used for structural purposes: The glass panels feature an X-shaped impression that gives them vertical and lateral stiffness and strength. These glass panels are held in place by four simple pins at each corner.

Glass slumped with ‘X’ shape increases the glass’s strength. The thickness of the glass was thus reduced and the need for perimeter mullions was eliminated. The resulting ethereal glass “Saran Wrap” subtly reveals the Ring’s pre-existing concrete skeleton and suggests the Showcase behind. Glass panes give a clear view when viewed directly and capture light and reflections, when viewed from different angles.

The Showcase is clad in mirror-glass, cloaking the steel boxes with a mirage-like exterior, and enlivening the building’s interior to impart a kaleidoscopic effect. The slopes of the auditorium, showrooms, and meeting rooms create a circulation path that winds from the bottom upwards to the glass showcase.