New York may be home to more architectural landmarks than any city in the U.S., so when renowned architect Bjarke Ingels was commissioned by Durst Fetner to design a new apartment building along the city’s Hudson River, he chose to make a splash.
The result is VIA 57 West, an audacious, shape-shifting structure that appears as a soaring 467-foot spire when seen from the city-side of the building and a glittering metal-clad pyramid when viewed from the river.
Featuring a hybrid design that unites the traditional looks of a courtyard-block-style apartment complex and a towering Manhattan high-rise, VIA 57 West creates a striking profile on the New York city skyline and satisfies Ingels’ desire to connect residents to the outside world. To achieve that objective, the architect incorporated a variety of components, including a generous courtyard that punctures the center of the façade, open terraces that perforate the glittering metal curtain wall and oversized bay windows strategically positioned to brighten each of the building’s 709 apartments.
Utilizing Solarban® 70XL glass by Vitro Glass, the floor-to-ceiling windows in VIA 57 West contribute to an integrated energy management program that incorporates a highly efficient mechanical system, occupancy sensors for lighting and a hybrid water source heat pump system.
Carlos Amin, vice president of sales for Tecnoglass, said his company fabricated 5,000 window units from Solarban® 70XL glass in an array of shapes and sizes for the project, which he called one of the most complex he had ever worked on.
“The building faces west, so the architect was intent on specifying a product with a high solar heat gain coefficient,” he explained. “He also wanted a glass with good transparency to preserve the views.”
Formulated with the industry’s first triple-silver coating, Solarban® 70XL glass has a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.27 and a visible light transmittance of 64 percent in a standard 1-inch insulating glass unit. That configuration, which was specified for VIA 57 West, enables window units to block more than 70 percent of the ambient solar energy from entering the building, reducing demand for air-conditioning in the spring and summer, and enhancing the comfort and views of building occupants throughout the year.
As a glass and metal fabricator, Tecnoglass served as part of an integrated team of high-end contractors involved in meeting the building’s complex design demands. Working together, Tecnoglass, ENCLOS, Techniform and Bunting Architectural Metals fabricated, assembled and installed more than 350,000 square-feet of curtain wall; a 110,000-square-foot stainless steel slope wall; 1,200 stainless steel cladding components and 50,000 square-feet of glass-fiber reinforced concrete to create a 515,200-square-foot building envelope.
Since opening in 2016, VIA 57 West has gained numerous accolades for both its design and environmental performance. Even more important, it has added a gleaming new inhabitant to New York’s register of famous architecture while providing an oasis of comfort and sustainability to more than 700 residents and their families.
To learn more about Solarban® 70XL glass and other high-performance glass products by Vitro Glass, visit www.vitroglazings.com.
Related Stories
| May 17, 2013
5 things AEC pros need to know about low-e glass
Low-emissivity glasses are critical to making today’s buildings brighter, more energy-efficient, and more sustainable. Here are five tips to help AEC professionals understand the differences among low-e glasses and their impact on building performance.
| May 8, 2013
Preventable curtain wall failures - AIA/CES course
In many cases, curtain wall failures are caused by fairly simple errors that occur during the fabrication and installation process. This presentation will highlight common errors and when they typically occur.
| May 8, 2013
Guardian’s Scott Thomsen headlines Glass Performance Days Finland Conference, June 11-15
Scott Thomsen, president of Guardian Industries Global Flat Glass Group, will engage the global glass technorati in an opening speech at Glass Performance Days Finland June 11-15 in Tampere. In addition, Guardian technologists and scientists will present a wide variety of technical papers and glass industry innovations.
| May 6, 2013
SAFTI FIRST announces 3D Autodesk Revit models for fire rated wall, window, and door systems
SAFTI FIRST, leading USA-manufacturer of fire rated glass and faming systems, is proud to announce that Autodesk Revit models are now available for its fire rated walls, window and door systems via www.safti.com and Autodesk Seek.
| Apr 30, 2013
Tips for designing with fire rated glass - AIA/CES course
Kate Steel of Steel Consulting Services offers tips and advice for choosing the correct code-compliant glazing product for every fire-rated application. This BD+C University class is worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW.
| Apr 10, 2013
23 things you need to know about charter schools
Charter schools are growing like Topsy. But don’t jump on board unless you know what you’re getting into.
| Apr 8, 2013
Oldcastle Architectural acquires Expocrete Concrete Products
Oldcastle® Architectural has acquired Expocrete Concrete Products Ltd., giving North America’s largest producer of concrete masonry and hardscape products an increased presence in the high-growth region of western Canada.
| Mar 27, 2013
Small but mighty: Berkeley public library’s net-zero gem
The Building Team for Berkeley, Calif.’s new 9,500-sf West Branch library aims to achieve net-zero—and possibly net-positive—energy performance with the help of clever passive design techniques.
| Mar 23, 2013
Fire resistive curtain wall helps mixed-use residential building meet property line requirements
The majority of fire rated glazing applications occur inside the building in order to allow occupants to exit the building safely or provide an area of refuge during a fire. But what happens when the threat of fire comes from the outside? This was the case for The Kensington, a mixed-use residential building in Boston.
| Mar 20, 2013
Folding glass walls revitalize student center
Single-glazed storefronts in the student center at California’s West Valley College were replaced with aluminum-framed, thermally broken windows from NanaWall in a bronze finish that emulates the look of the original building.