Fire Rated Glass Transforms a Working Distillery into a Destination
Key Highlights
- The distillery features a central 500-gallon copper still enclosed in fire-rated glass, serving as both a visual centerpiece and a safety feature.
- SAFTI FIRST's fire-rated glass systems enable expansive, transparent enclosures that meet strict safety codes while maintaining open sightlines and aesthetic appeal.
- A dramatic spiral staircase, reconstructed from steel and shaped over 8,000 hours, connects different levels while meeting fire safety requirements without compromising design.
- The project balances industrial authenticity with refined hospitality, creating an immersive experience that highlights craftsmanship and architectural innovation.
- Great Jones Distilling Co. demonstrates how high-performance glazing can elevate experiential design, blending safety, storytelling, and modern aesthetics in historic spaces.
In the heart of Manhattan’s NoHo district, Great Jones Distilling Co. brings whiskey production back to New York City for the first time since Prohibition. The project celebrates craft, hospitality, and design innovation within the walls of a historic 1920s commercial building. The 28,000-square-foot space combines a working distillery, restaurant, cocktail bar, and event venue—all seamlessly integrated into one cohesive experience.
Transforming a century-old structure into a modern distillery presented extraordinary challenges. The design and construction teams had to navigate strict fire and life safety codes, structural constraints, and landmark preservation requirements while creating an open environment that immerses visitors in the art of whiskey-making. The solution came through the creative use of USA-made fire rated glass and framing systems from SAFTI FIRST®, which allowed the design team to turn safety into a storytelling element.
A 500-Gallon Heart Encased in Fire Rated Glass
At the core of Great Jones Distilling Co. stands a 500-gallon copper still, the visual and symbolic heart of the brand. The still anchors the four-story building and serves as the centerpiece of the distillery tour. During the day, the surrounding space functions as a fully operational distillery. At night, it transforms into an event venue filled with light, sound, and energy. The still connects production and hospitality in one continuous experience that defines the spirit of the building.
Instead of concealing this monumental feature behind solid walls, the architects enclosed it with a two-hour ASTM E-119/UL 263 rated fire resistive glass wall system using SuperLite II-XL 120 and SuperLite II-XLB 120 in GPX Architectural Framing by SAFTI FIRST®. SuperLite II-XLB 120 offers the largest tested and listed sizes for two-hour fire resistive glass, allowing the design team to use expansive panels that maximize transparency. The two-story segmented curved fire rated glass enclosure spans the second and third floors and was carefully engineered to meet fire and occupancy separations while maintaining open sightlines between the distillery and the public areas.
Creating Seamless Transitions with Fire Rated Glass
Guests move directly from the copper still room to the bar area through a full-vision, fire rated door and wall assembly made with SuperLite II-XL 90 in GPX Builder Series Temperature Rise Pair Doors and SuperLite II-XL 120 in GPX Architectural Series Framing sidelites and transoms. By using ASTM E-119/UL 263 rated SuperLite II-XL 90 for the door vision panels, the design team exceeded the 100 square inch vision area limitation typically associated with fire protective glazing products such as ceramics.
This code-approved, fire rated entrance provides essential protection while enhancing the overall guest experience. Visitors in the bar can see the copper still through the transparent fire rated barrier, maintaining a strong visual connection between production and hospitality. As guests drink and dine, they remain fully immersed in the craft and energy of the working distillery.
Guests can also enter the bar from the atrium level through a dramatic spiral staircase that immediately draws attention. Crafted from a single piece of steel and shaped over 8,000 hours, the staircase was reconstructed after removing the existing storefront glazing system and brick veneer. Because the staircase also serves as an exit path, it required a two-hour fire resistive rating.
To meet this requirement without compromising openness or design intent, the team incorporated a segmented curved wall using SuperLite II-XL 120 and SuperLite II-XLB 120 in GPX Architectural Series Framing by SAFTI FIRST®. The result is a fire rated assembly that combines safety, transparency, and architectural elegance while preserving clear views between the atrium and bar.
A Model for Modern Hospitality Design
The success of Great Jones Distilling Co. lies in its ability to blend industrial authenticity with refined hospitality. Through the strategic use of SAFTI FIRST® fire rated glass, the project team achieved a balance of safety and storytelling—creating a space that feels both raw and sophisticated, functional yet immersive.
Recognized with an ENR New York Award of Merit for Renovation/Restoration in 2022, this project demonstrates how high-performance glazing can elevate experiential design and redefine how people interact with space. In the hands of innovative design teams, fire rated glass becomes more than a code requirement. It becomes a canvas for craft and creativity.
Ready to bring safety and design together in your next project? Contact SAFTI FIRST at 888.653.3333 or [email protected].
Project Name: Great Jones Distilling Co. in New York City
Architect: Evolve Architecture & Design
General Contractor: Schimenti Construction
Glazing Contractor: Above All Storefronts
Products Used: SuperLite II-XL 120/SuperLite II-XLB 120 in GPX Architectural Series Framing; SuperLite II-XL 90 in GPX Builders Series Temperature Rise Doors