David Geffen Hall

Architects specified a wall of custom architectural glass from Bendheim to meet complex challenges at David Geffen Hall, the newly renovated home of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. A 12-foot high band of ceramic fritted glass is framed by the distinctive tapered pillars of the concert hall’s portico, providing a projection screen for lighting along the top tier. However, this colorfully-lit band of glass alsos serve as the windows for a row of offices, occupied by New York Philharmonic staff.

The challenge was to support the desired illumination of the exterior while also allowing a view and protecting the comfort and privacy of the staffers inside. The solution was ceramic fritted glass — fully opaque from the exterior — which was laminated to Bendheim’s proprietary “vision glass”, creating the one-way view from inside. The glass was produced in 5′ x 12′ panels totaling approximately 8,000 square feet.