Project: Bradford West Gwillimbury Leisure Centre
Location: Ontario, Canada
Architect: Salter Pilon Architecture in association with Lett Architects
Glazing Contractor: Aeroloc Industries
Channel Glass Supplier: Technical Glass Products
Glass Style: Pilkington Profilit™ channel glass; low-e tempered Pilkington Profilit channel glass
Ontario's new Bradford West Gwillimbury Leisure Centre, designed by Salter Pilon Architecture, is one of the largest multi-use recreation facilities in the province. However, it does more than foster a healthy lifestyle through recreational and cultural activities. Its 1,400-sf serpentine channel glass wall delivers dramatic visual appeal for residents—one of the town's three core visions for the new facility.
To create the curving glass façade, the design team turned to Pilkington Profilit™ channel glass. Unlike conventional windows and glass block, its slender frames and narrow channel glass segments allow for tight radii—as low as 1.9 meters (78 in.). While this flexibility enabled the design team to create a serpentine configuration, one technical challenge was ensuring a homogenous appearance in areas of the facade with different radii. Channel glass segments tangent to one another flow smoothly into adjacent curves or straight sections. Creating a seamless transition is more complex where different radii prevent tangent segments.
To ensure the U-shaped channel glass system did not interfere with the joint connection and interrupt the channel glass wall’s uniform look, flanged L-shaped channel glass planks were installed on one side of the joint transition and full U-shaped channel glass planks on the opposing side. This configuration allowed the channel glass framing head and sill components to be stretch-formed into a smooth continuous structure with a precise radius.
The serpentine channel glass application is formed of a mixture of standard cast glass and clear channel glass. The standard cast glass diffuses light through its textured surface while also obscuring vision. Clear cast glass adds a second layer of visual interest and provides occupants with greater access to daylight and views to nature. This glazing combination helps the system meet the different light transfer, privacy and visibility needs of the various rooms it encloses. A low-emissivity coating further boosts the façade’s thermal performance.
The completed façade flanks the Bradford West Gwillimbury Leisure Centre’s east exterior wall. It breaks up the building’s rectangular shape and serves as a surround for a lobby, meeting room and multipurpose room. By day it transmits light into the leisure centre’s interior rooms. By night, its backlit form helps welcome people inside.
TGP’s Pilkington Profilit channel glass soars up to 23 feet, can be installed vertically or horizontally, and formed into straight or curved walls. It is available in a variety of textures and colors with varying degrees of translucency, allowing light through while maintaining privacy. Pilkington Profilit can be used in interior or exterior applications, with insulating Lumira® aerogel for superior energy efficiency.
For more information on Pilkington Profilit channel glass, along with TGP’s other specialty architectural glazing materials, visit www.tgpamerica.com.
Technical Glass Products
800.426.0279
800.451.9857 – fax
sales@fireglass.com
www.fireglass.com
Related Stories
Insulation | Oct 19, 2015
The expert’s guide to insulation materials
Even the best-designed envelopes can be undermined by thermal bridging in areas where insulation is deficient. Building envelope experts offers advice.
Building Enclosure Systems | Aug 11, 2015
Deriving value from coordinated building enclosure shop drawings
Building enclosure shop drawings play a critical role in guarding against common performance, cost, and schedule pitfalls associated with the transitions between adjacent enclosure components. Engineers with Simpson Gumpertz & Heger provide tips for success.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Jul 23, 2015
Japan announces new plan for Olympic Stadium
The country moves on from Zaha Hadid Architects, creators of the original stadium design scrapped last week.
Sponsored | Building Enclosure Systems | Jul 20, 2015
Fire Rated Curtain Wall Performance in Dramatic Weather Conditions
Materials selected for the building envelope had to protect occupants from Wisconsin's weather, as well as ensuring their comfort.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 16, 2015
New Jersey Supreme Court puts control of affordable housing agency in the courts
The court said the state’s affordable housing agency had failed to do its job, and effectively transferred the agency's regulatory authority to lower courts.
Brick and Masonry | Feb 5, 2015
3D-printed 'cool brick' may provide cooling solution for arid locations
Cool Brick is made of porous ceramic bricks set in mortar. The bricks absorb water, which cools the air as it passes through the unit.
| Dec 28, 2014
Robots, drones, and printed buildings: The promise of automated construction
Building Teams across the globe are employing advanced robotics to simplify what is inherently a complex, messy process—construction.
Sponsored | | Nov 19, 2014
Fire resistive, blast-resistant glazing: Where security, safety, and transparency converge
Security, safety and transparency don’t have to be mutually exclusive thanks to new glazing technology designed to support blast and fire-resistant secure buildings. SPONSORED CONTENT
Sponsored | | Oct 29, 2014
What’s the difference between your building’s coating chalking and fading?
While the reasons for chalk and fade are different, both occurrences are something to watch for. SPONSORED CONTENT
