Art Glass Brings Tranquility to Norton Cancer Institute

A new landmark graces downtown Louisville, Ky.  – Norton Healthcare’s $27.7 million cancer treatment and research center by Karlsberger and Architection. Within this building, a two-story tall vibrant art glass wall creates a powerful yet tranquil gateway to the center.

Designed by Kenneth von Roenn Jr., and fabricated by his studio, Architectural Glass Art Inc., the 30’-by-30’art glass window is a key design element, projecting peace and tranquility into a space where patients and their families seek strength and healing.

The expansive wall of glass bathes the Institute’s Nixon Meditation Room in soft blues and greens, balanced with vivid magentas and oranges, all products of the sensitively chosen Lamberts mouth-blown range of glasses. Inspired by his brother’s long and successful fight with cancer, von Roenn chose colors and imagery to inspire positive, reflective thoughts, aiding the healing mission of the center.

“All human beings respond instinctively to color, and its effects are very important in the process of treatment and healing,” said von Roenn who has created numerous works of art for healthcare facilities. “When natural light is transmitted through glass, it elevates the effects of color. For this reason, colored glass windows are extremely effective elements in the design of healthcare environments.”

The wall of art glass is composed of 35 individual panels, incorporating Lamberts art glasses silicone laminated to clear float glass. The modern lamination technique enabled the studio to create this rich, painterly monumental installation without the black lines associated with traditional leaded glass windows. The Lamberts glass pieces are carefully cut and bonded to the base glass, forming an elaborate mosaic of light and color. Mouth-blown in Germany and imported exclusively by Bendheim in North America, Lamberts glass features subtle surface striations and small air bubbles, unmistakable characteristics of its centuries-old production method. Bendheim offers more than 500 glass colors, with over 5,000 additional colors and textures available through the Lamberts factory in Germany.

“Lamberts art glass transmits light beautifully because of its ancient glass making technique,” commented von Roenn. “The clarity of the color combined with the structure of the glass creates an unsurpassable visual effect.”

The composition of the piece relates to nature and growth; a large tree silhouette references the Norton Healthcare logo and represents the strength necessary to battle cancer. More than 1,000 inlaid, multi-faceted, hand-cut glass jewels scatter light onto the floor and walls, representing seeds of hope. The art glass composition is organized in a rectangular grid mimicking the design of the Institute. Another grid, composed of dichroic glass, is laminated to the exterior plane of the window, reflecting back portions of the design.