"egger building"

Traditional parking garage designs used to have opaque fire rated building materials like concrete, masonry and drywall which made these spaces dark, cold and uninviting. That all changed, thanks to the emergence of new technology, clear, fire resistive glazing tested to ULC/CAN S101 up to 2 hours that are available in large sizes and low-iron glass make-ups with high visible light transmission for superior clarity and color neutrality.

For a recent renovation of a stairwell and exit corridors at Ridgewood High School in Illinois, the design team specified SuperLite® II-XL 60 in GPX® Architectural Series Framing for its optical clarity, storefront-like appearance, and high STC ratings. In order to meet the code requirements and maximize the daylight penetrating into the building, the architects decided to use fire rated glass in the one-hour exit corridor. Because the glazing exceeds 25% of the wall area, fire resistive glass and framing assemblies rated equal to the wall had to be used.

Central to the new UC Davis Medical Center Surgery and Emergency Services Pavilion's design was a large skylight that allows natural light to vertically flow into the atrium area and other light wells throughout the building. However, they also wanted to let light flow horizontally into the adjacent hallways, rooms, etc. Because the walls in the atrium and light wells have to meet a 2-hour rating, Stantec Architects approached SAFTI FIRST® for a solution. Large portions of the 2 hour atrium and light well walls were made “transparent” with the use of SuperLite® II-XL 120 in GPX® Framing.

The newly opened Exploratorium has brought energy and excitement to the city's bustling waterfront. EHDD transformed the historic Pier 15, built in 1915, to a 330,000 square foot indoor and outdoor campus, being touted as the largest net-zero building in the city and potentially the largest net-zero museum in the world. SAFTI FIRST® supplied a total of 19 pairs of 45-minute steel doors 11 pairs on north side and 8 pairs on the south side using SuperLite® II-XL 45 IGU in GPX® Builders Series Fire Protective.

Codes required fire wall separations between parking garages and businesses, markets, homes and other uses. Architects can replace entire walls with glass to open up buildings like never before. For example, SuperLite® II-XL in GPX® Architectural Series Framing by SAFTI FIRST® is a USA-made fire resistive transparent wall system that blocks radiant heat and meets the same stringent ASTM E-119/ UL 263/ NFPA 251 code requirements that any opaque fire rated wall must meet.

A building’s design is very much influenced by the function it performs and the perceived threats that it may face – whether it’s from natural disasters, accidents or terrorist attacks – with the latter being a foremost concern for federal courthouses, embassies, government facilities and other high profile buildings. Because of these security concerns, trade-offs have been made when it comes to daylighting, energy efficiency and aesthetics to name a few. The good news is that today, high-performance security glazing make-ups are available to meet the level of protection needed while continuing to provide natural light and a feeling of openness.

For BART's Doolittle Maintenance Facility at the new Oakland Airport connector, SAFTI FIRST® provided 60 minute, fire resistive wall openings in the exterior using SuperLite® II-XL 60 insulated with low-e glazing in GPX® Framing with a clear anodized finish. SAFTI FIRST® engineered a connection that allows the structural elements of the GPX® Architectural Series Framing System to support an integral sunshade system, instead of being hung in front of it. The Doolittle Bart Station is one of the first installations of the GPX® Architectural Series System with sunshade connections, which also include SLCC New Instruction and Administrative Building in Salt Lake City, UT.

The architects at Morris Adjmi wanted large, 11-ft. tall glass walls to highlight the breathtaking views for the reimagined Warehouse in New York City’s growing architectural wonderland of Chelsea. However, the building was on a lot line, mandating 2 hour fire walls. SAFTI FIRST® made this dream a reality by supplying the largest tested and listed 2 hour fire resistive glazing available today. The inclusion of low-iron glass in the fire-resistive glazing units ensured superior clarity and aesthetic continuity with the adjacent non-rated windows. The fire resistive units incorporated high performance glazing and were filled with argon for energy efficiency and occupant comfort.

Adaptive reuse, or the process of taking an old building or structure and repurposing it for something other than what it was originally designed for, has gained a lot traction with developers and architects alike – and for many good reasons. For one thing, it is more economical and sustainable to work with an existing structure than to demolish an old building, clean up the site, and rebuild with entirely new materials. It also helps preserve historical structures that add character to the community, as well as reduce urban sprawl. For the multifamily sector, we’ve seen adaptive reuse applied to old schools, government buildings, warehouses, etc. because these structures are usually centrally located in many downtown areas.

This new 120,000 square foot, state-of-the-art convening center features a 1,000-seat auditorium that is large enough to host the entire MBA class. The glass atrium floods the multi-purpose lobby with natural light, as well as provides a visual connection between the interior of the building and the outdoor environment. To maximize transparency, SAFTI FIRST® met with the architects during the design phase to create a large, 2-hour, glass wall that separates the lobby from the auditorium while providing a visual connection between them. Since this 2-hour glass wall also serves as the entrance to the auditorium, deciding on a 90-minute door system was of upmost important. SAFTI FIRST®’s in-house engineering department provided design assistance, system details, engineering calculations and support from the planning phase all the way to the submittal process.

Casa Loma is a Gothic Revival castle-style mansion and garden in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that is now a historic house museum and landmark. It was constructed from 1911 to 1914 as a residence for financier Sir Henry Pellatt.Part of the renovations carried out was improving the water management on the exterior terrace located at the back of the building. The requirement was for the stormwater to be collected and disposed of efficiently without creating an unsightly 3D grading of the terrace surface. Linear drainage was the natural selection.ACO KlassikDrain KS100 was chosen for its robustness and ability to withstand Canadian weather conditions. The perforated stainless steel grate will resist corrosion and it is AODA and heelproof compliant, important requirements for this public venue.

Project DescriptionOne of the most awe-inspiring pavilions at the Expo 2020, was the Korean Pavilion embodying the theme “Smart Korea, Moving the World Forward.” It was the fifth-largest exhibit at the Expo, and the entire pavilion was shaped like an octagon. The unique pyramid structure ensured enough light entered the pavilion, while the north façade had rotating cubes that displayed myriad images and colours. To truly revel in the beauty of the pavilion, visitors could walk through the spiral aisles to admire the exhibits inside while still catching glimpses of the extraordinary view.About the ClientEstablished in 1962, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) helps expand small and medium local businesses in overseas markets. They also work to attract foreign investment and develop international trade relations. KOTRA is known for spearheading innovative businesses and successfully building mutually beneficial partnerships. They sustain their growth through 127 offices worldwide, with over 15 offices in West Asia, including one in Dubai Media City.The BriefThe client wanted to truly showcase Korea’s forward-thinking vision. They designed a unique façade for the pavilion, with a steep slope on the south to let in adequate light and warmth. On the opposite side, a rotating cube protrudes from the basic slope, creating a dynamic façade that changes with

Scope of WorkProcess, deliver and install façade cone glazing for the dome.Build Up12mm FT HST Sunguard Neutral 50 + 16mm Black Warm Edge spacer + 88.4 Clear HSProject DetailsCaspian Waterfront is the reimagined building of the original government congress centre. In 2016, local developer Pasha Construction started transforming the building into a 120,000 sq. m. retail entertainment and leisure complex. Located on the shore of the Caspian Sea, the structure opens onto the waterfront on three sides.The retail centre’s unique structure posed a challenge. The building complex has geometric shapes similar to the Sydney Opera House, with shell roofs that reflect the surrounding water. The central flame tower has an eight-angled glass façade inspired by the country’s emblem, the eight-pointed star. Since the building would resemble a place of pride, we had to ensure that our panels surpassed every quality level. Due to the unique triangular shape of the glass panels extra care had to be taken during production, delivery and installation to prevent injury, breakage and damage.At Future Glass, we always prioritise quality. Our state-of-the-art processing facility enabled us to deliver the panels on time with minimal on-site rejections. Today, Caspian Waterfront has become a national symbol of Azerbaijan.

1.  About the ProjectOne of the most prestigious national pavilions at Expo 2020 Dubai, The German Pavilion, represented the Federal Republic of Germany's commitment to innovation and sustainability. Designed by renowned Berlin-based LAVA Architects, this 4,600 m² architectural showcase demonstrated Germany's leadership in environmental technology and intelligent building solutions through its unique "forest of steel poles" design.Project Specifications:Location: World Expo 2020 Dubai, UAEBuilding Owner: German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and EnergyArchitect: LAVA Architects, BerlinFacade Contractor: Future Glazing LLC, UAEMain Contractor: ARGE Deutscher Pavilion EXPO 2020 Dubai GbRInstallation Date: June 2021Exhibition Period: 6 months with over 3 million international visitorsTotal Pavilion Area: 4,600 m²FutureX Eclipse™ Intelligent Glazing Area: 113 m²2. The ChallengeFuture Glass was tasked with creating intelligent facade elements that would perform flawlessly in Dubai's extreme desert climate while maintaining perfect environmental control for millions of international visitors. The architects required a building envelope that could respond instantly to rapidly changing conditions including sandstorms, intense solar radiation, and temperatures exceeding 45°C.The project demanded breakthrough glazing technology that could eliminate mechanical shading systems while providing instant environmental adaptation. The design called for individual glass panels to operate independently whilst maintaining overall design coherence across the pavilion's complex geometry. Additionally, the system needed to be maintenance-free, withstand sandstorm conditions, and deliver consistent performance throughout the six-month exhibition period without any mechanical intervention.Given the prestigious nature of this international exhibition space, any failure or performance degradation would have significant reputational impact, making reliability and consistent operation absolutely critical.3. The OutcomeThe FutureX Eclipse™ installation delivered exceptional environmental control, enabling Campus Germany to maintain perfect occupant comfort for international visitors while showcasing German innovation in intelligent building technology. The electropolarization system responded instantly to Dubai's challenging environmental conditions, providing seamless transitions between maximum transparency and sophisticated solar protection in one second or less.The installation demonstrated zero mechanical shading requirements across the entire facade system, with individual 1.5-meter wide rotatable glass elements operating flawlessly throughout the exhibition period. The success of this project established new benchmarks for intelligent glazing performance in extreme climatic conditions and proved that breakthrough electropolarization technology could transform architectural vision into responsive, high-performance building envelopes.The pavilion's environmental control system impressed over 3 million visitors and received international recognition for its innovative integration of intelligent building technology with sophisticated architectural design.4. Products UsedFutureX Eclipse™ Electropolarization Switchable Glass System:Surface Area: 113 m² of intelligent glazing elementsQuantity: 61 individual switching unitsGeometry: Rectangular configurations with rotational capabilityConfiguration: 28 fixed glass panels, 4 standard doors, and 29 intelligent folding door elementsSwitching Speed: ≤1 second response timePerformance: Neutral colour throughout all switching statesTechnology: Eclipse® electropolarization switching layer with controlled electrical field modulationControl System: Individual panel control with building automation integrationEnvironmental Rating: Designed for extreme desert climate operation including sandstorm resistance

About Galliard HomesHaving serviced London’s real estate market for over a quarter of a century, Galliard Homes is the English capital’s largest privately owned residential developer. Over their years in the business, Galliard has become synonymous with regeneration, rejuvenation and reinvention. About Our CustomerProviding a wide range of façade design and engineering services to real estate companies across Europe, Yuanda has been transforming the continent’s skylines for over a decade. By offering a combination of European system design and Chinese materials and fabrication, Yuanda continues to provide world-class and cost-effective façade solutions to the UK, France, Germany and Switzerland. The BriefThe Harbour Central project was conceptualised to transform the London Docklands into an up-and-coming residential area. The project, which comprises 5 residential towers, boasts a total façade area of 63,000 square metres. The façades were designed to superimpose a metal mesh on the shadow box area and showcase the aesthetics of the blocks. Moreover, the team of architects at Rolfe Judd had very precise specialty glazing requirements for the buildings. “We discussed product aesthetics, construction and design considerations. The architect had a specific idea in mind regarding the kind of colour finish they required and Future Glass was able to provide the perfect gold and silver tones that were needed.”- Mr Alain Anthony, Design Director, Yuanda EuropeThe Future Glass SolutionThe search for the perfect glass led us across countries and continents. After an exhaustive search, the silver mesh was procured from Germany while the gold mesh was procured from Italy. Since the glass panels required were of a very large size, an innovative solution was sought by which panels of a maximum size of 1,500 mm x 4,000 mm were created with the metal mesh suspended in the cavity of the IGU. To put concerns about mesh sagging and distortion to rest, a sample panel was provided to the client. For energy efficiency, Climaguard Premium 2T, a high performance Low-E coated glass was procured from Guardian Glass in Europe. The glass itself is made up of a combination of products. The outer-lite is a clear ecoLAM (HS) of 10.76 mm. The expanded metal mesh infill is within a 24 mm black spacer with argon gas. Finally,  the inner lite is a 6 mm clear ecoFACADE (HS). Despite the complicated product combination, the performance specifications were designed to meet the client’s requirements perfectly. A total of about 4,100 square metres of finished insulated glass units with expanded metal mesh were provided for the Harbour Central project.The Future Glass AdvantageAt Future Glass’ state-of-the-art facility in UAE, a dedicated workforce was tasked with ensuring the high-specialty glass was treated in a sterile environment where temperature and humidity could be controlled. Each glass panel is handmade and pieced together under the supervision of qualified engineers. The finished glass panels were placed in IPPC-certified wooden crates for transport. As per local requirements, each piece was individually banded and then shipped to Yuanda’s Shenyani factory. From there, the panels were carefully assembled into a framing system that was delivered to the site in London. Despite the fact that the materials were sourced from various countries, the logistics and operations team took every precaution necessary to ensure zero breakages during the delivery process. In case panels needed to be replaced, we did what was necessary without impacting the timelines, even though it was difficult to procure smaller quantities of mesh from the supplier.