Glass/Glazing systems | Building Design + Construction

For glass openings, how big is too big?

Advances in glazing materials and glass building systems offer a seemingly unlimited horizon for not only glass performance, but also for the size and extent of these light, transparent forms. Both for enclosures and for indoor environments, novel products and assemblies allow for more glass and less opaque structure—often in places that previously limited their use.

Northwestern University Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey Biomedical Research Center, Chicago. Photo courtesy Perkins and Will

New ideas in glass curtain walls, window walls, and storefronts

Driven by two distinct influences, a new generation of glass building enclosures now has a unique trajectory—toward higher performance and sustainability. One of those forces is the work by building teams who effortlessly blend design analysis with the creation of novel system solutions.

MarketAxess Eric Laignel, courtesy Spacesmith, AIA course BDCuniversity.com

Bigger windows, more glass: Creating efficient, safe, and inspiring spaces

Thanks to data and analytics used routinely today to model and predict building performance, new and remarkably subtle approaches are being used to create facades and interior glass assemblies that allow more visible light transmission while reducing undesirable heating by direct sunlight.

Project teams are using technologies like digital ceramic printing to incorporate graphic patterns and imagery in glass panels. Photo courtesy Edmon Leong

Architectural glass mutates as building teams innovate

Novel concepts in glass and glazing are opening new vistas in the buildings world. From massive openings and bent panels to decorative finishes and integrated smart technologies, a cornucopia of glass innovations have been hitting the market in recent years. A review of new projects and recent product introductions gives an idea of the astounding range—and a few key lessons to live by—in today’s institutional and commercial sectors.