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Historic New York Church Windows Restored with Our Lamberts® Mouth-Blown Glass

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All Souls NYC, a Unitarian church of historic significance, has completed restoration work to its 90-year-old sanctuary on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. As part of this ambitious project, the church’s large neo-Georgian windows were completely replaced using our authentic mouth-blown glass.

The Unitarian Church of All Souls traces its origins back to 1819, and its members have included such prominent New Yorkers as William Cullen Bryant, Calvert Vaux, and Peter Cooper. The present Colonial Revival church, designed by Hobart Upjohn, was dedicated in 1932.

By the early 21st century, this Depression-era structure was in serious disrepair. Major problems included a crack in the steeple, leaks in the slate roof and periodic failures of an outdated sewage pump system. Many of the church windows had broken panes or could no longer be closed with the original hand cranks.

restored window diffuses tinted light into the church

In response to this situation, All Souls raised over $15 million in support of an extensive renovation effort. To design and direct the work, All Souls chose Studio Kraeher Architects, whose principal brought experience with the renovation of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Repairs began in early 2019 and were essentially complete by July 2020, although the impact of COVID-19 prevented an immediate return to normal services. By the spring of 2022, All Souls could resume public worship in a refreshed and rebuilt space.

The replacement of the large sanctuary windows was a critical portion of the project, given their importance to the building’s Colonial aesthetic. When the quality of the glass proposed by subcontractors proved disappointing, All Souls embarked on a search for the right material. Ultimately, the church selected Bendheim’s authentic mouth-blown glass, which recreates the wavy “antique” appearance of preindustrial glasswork.

detail showing distortion typical to antique glass

Each pane of glass was hand-made in Germany by the glassblowers at Glashütte Lamberts; please see 1-minute video below on How It’s Made. For the work at All Souls, the architect specified a subtle tint for some of the panes, in one of seven different shades. Light entering the sanctuary is gently diffused, with the slightest hint of color. The new windows are double-paned for energy conservation and now meet ANSI standards for water and air infiltration.

Tower Insulating Glass of North Bellmore, NY incorporated the artisanal glass in IGUs. Project Manager Eduardo James supervised on-site assembly of the windows for the construction management firm E.W. Howell, uniting the glass with frames that had been made to order by MHB in the Netherlands. Bronx-based Kilroy Architectural Windows performed the installation.

Detail image of the windows of All Souls NYC comprising of Bendheim's Lambert's mouth-blown glass

All Souls NYC Unitarian Church Restoration, New York, NY by Studio Kraeher Architects. Photos by Michael Del Rossi.

All Souls was fortunate in numbering several experienced architects among its members, allowing the church’s Building Advisory Task Force to bring professional expertise to the project. For example, Task Force Chair Louis F. “Fritz” Reuter IV had previously served as Executive Director of the Capital Master Plan for the United Nations and as Senior Vice President for Facilities Management at NewYork-Presbyterian. Reuter and his colleagues understood how important the choice of glass would be to the final outcome, and were willing to make it a high priority.

“We knew what we were looking for, and luckily, someone connected us with Bendheim. Once they had supplied us with samples, we could see that their product was superior to everyone else’s in terms of quality, color, and impact,” explained Reuter.

Architect Rolando Kraeher visited our warehouse in Wayne, NJ to select the exact range of glass colors required for this historic restoration. He was assisted by our co-owner, Steven Jayson. Steven credits Glashutte Lamberts’ centuries-old artisanal mouth-blown method for the wide range of glass hues available to clients. Colors can be created in relatively small batches through the addition of precise amounts of metal oxides, such as cobalt, silver, and gold.

“We are extremely proud of our partnership with the artisans at Lamberts, and of our ability to supply glass of this quality for historic restoration projects,” he added. “When recapturing the style of times past, only authentic mouth-blown glass will do.”

Dazzling Downtown Marketing Suite Features “Magical” Privacy Glass

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Prominent architectural firm Eastlake Studio specified our Houdini™ Privacy Glass in a high-end marketing suite on the 12th floor at 1 South Wacker, a luxury office tower in Chicago. The design seeks to bring the outside in and uses advanced materials to create a work environment that combines glamor and functionality.

Houdini™ glass features a precision-rolled micro-fluted pattern to transmit maximum daylight while providing a high level of visual privacy. The name refers to the remarkable visual effect it creates, whereby people and objects seem to disappear behind it even as light continues to shine through. In addition to diffusing light, Houdini™ reduces glare and minimizes reflections.

“Our design team was drawn to Houdini glass because it creates a unique blur effect that is different from other fluted options,” noted Emily Koss, Technical Designer at Eastlake Studio. “The combination of the vertical flutes and the horizontal striation creates a dynamic visual which allows natural light in, but also created division and privacy,” Koss added.

Eastlake Studio’s design for the 37,000 square foot marketing suite uses elements such as breezeway block, recessed lighting, and plants.  A key aspect of this outdoor theme is the inclusion of as much daylight as possible.  Eastlake used approximately 1,000 square feet of laminated Houdini™ glass for the office partitions, allowing high-quality natural light to fill the space.  Other uses of Houdini™ glass throughout the suite reinforce this fundamental of the design.

Glass office partitions with Houdini textured privacy glass

1 South Wacker suite renovation by Eastlake Studio. Photos by Hall + Merrick + McCaugherty.

As Emily Koss explained, “We used the glass throughout the space to help form the cohesive design story. It appears in full-height walls in meeting rooms, as a feature in the break room, and as booth dividers. In addition to being aesthetically interesting, the glass filters light in, while keeping a focus on what is in the foreground, and limiting distraction beyond.” Installation at 1 South Wacker was carried out by MTH Industries.

Houdini™ glass can be customized through combination with a virtually unlimited range of color interlayers, prints, and other textured and etched glass varieties. It can also be back-painted or laminated to mirror for wall cladding applications. The glass is an ideal solution for environments where privacy and natural light are vital, including educational facilities, retail applications, healthcare and laboratories, along with offices.

“There are multiple benefits to Houdini™ glass in this application,” Bendheim co-owner Steven Jayson said. “It establishes visual privacy, while managing daylight and bringing high-quality natural light into the core of the space. We have seen substantial growth in the popularity of linear privacy glass, and it’s great to see it contribute to projects that represent the leading edge of design.”

New Prospero™ Collection Expands the Design Palette

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New Linear Pattern Glass Collection Balances Visual Privacy and Daylight

We are expanding architects and designers’ material palette with a new privacy-friendly linear glass collection, Prospero™. The collection comprises five etched and carved designs in low-iron (ultra-clear), grey, and bronze 3/8”-thick tempered glass. Ideal for elegant frameless partition walls and shower enclosures, the monolithic glass balances visual privacy, daylight, and value.

Prospero™ combines an intricate decorative aesthetic with shorter lead times. It is also a cost-effective solution for applications blending a decorative pattern and color, which typically require more costly lamination fabrication.

“Delivering projects on time is a major pain point for the architect, installer, and building owner,” said Ben Jayson, Bendheim President. “Glass is one of the last interior finishes on the project, and the market needs speedier decorative glass solutions with guaranteed quality. Today, we can turn around a fully fabricated, polished, and tempered Prospero order in as little as two weeks.”

Prospero™ glass is ideal for privacy partitions in offices, transportation, hospitality, and healthcare projects. It is also perfectly suited for frameless shower enclosures in hospitality and multi-family residential applications.

Grey Carved Corduroy Glass Rendering

Rendering of Prospero Grey Carved Corduroy glass in a frameless shower enclosure.

Linear glass remains timeless yet trendy. Demand for our linear patterns has increased more than 120 percent in the past few years. Architects and designers also gravitate towards ultra-clear or neutral glass colors for their projects. Prospero™ glass combines the in-demand linear design aesthetic with several important functional benefits. The maintenance-friendly glass resists permanent stains from water and fingerprints, diffuses light, and reduces glare. Stocked and fabricated in the United States, it also offers controlled lead times and premium quality.

We fabricate the glass to the desired size, shape, aesthetic, and safety requirements of the project. Maximum panel size depends on the application. Our tempered Prospero™ glass meets building safety codes, the requirements for ANSI Z97.1, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission CPSC 16FR, Part 1201 – Safety Standard for Architectural Glazing Materials.

Our design consultants can also work with architects to tailor the glass, creating completely new aesthetics. Mirrored or back-painted, linear-pattern glass can serve as unique, maintenance-friendly and durable wall cladding with dynamic qualities. Architects can conduct project consultations in person or live-remote via our Design Lab: https://bendheim.com/professional/design-lab/

International Year of Glass and Infrastructure Bill Create Unique Demand for Glass Systems

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The International Year of Glass coupled with the government’s recently-passed legislation addressing the nation’s infrastructure creates an opportunistic juncture for architects to include architectural glass in their transit projects, according to Bendheim President Ben Jayson.

The United Nations International Year of Glass 2022 celebrates the essential role glass has and will continue to have in society. The UN announced the program last year, and kicked off the celebration with opening ceremonies in February. Last November, the United States signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Part of the $1 trillion, five-year investment plan will allow architects and building professionals to focus on energy-efficient, sustainable design.

Bendheim glass rainscreen system installed at the MTA White Plains Train Station.

Bendheim blue glass rainscreens at MTA Train Station, White Plains, NY by Sowinski Sullivan Architects. Photo by Michael Del Rossi.

Our architectural glass solutions support both initiatives by providing energy-friendly products with aesthetically-pleasing designs and cost-saving systems that expedite the installation process. One recently completed infrastructure project, at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s train station in White Plains, N.Y., included approximately 400 panels of our rainscreen system. The easy-to-assemble system reduced installation time and helped save money on the $95 million project.

“By streamlining and simplifying the decorative glass specification and installation processes, we enable our clients to live our passion for bringing art into architecture,” Jayson said. “We help them by re-engineering the way specialty glass can be used, designing systems that minimize installation and maintenance costs while delivering enhanced aesthetics.”

A key component to the U.S. infrastructure investment is designing more eco-friendly buildings. Bendheim offers a range of sustainable solutions, including our ventilated glass facades and rainscreens. Ventilated facades prevent moisture damage and shield structures from rain and wind. The use of translucent and transparent decorative glass preserves daylighting advantages. The glass rainscreen systems stop more than 90 percent of wind-driven moisture as they modernize and rebrand the building in one swift motion. The systems extend building lifespans, rather than demolishing structures and building anew.

Orleans Train Station | Glass Rainscreen System

Clipped ventilated clear glass facade at Orleans Train Station, Orleans, France. Photo courtesy of Masia Vilalta.

Our glass systems have been used in many infrastructure projects. Another recent application was part of an $89 million project at Eppley Airfield in Omaha, where approximately 11,000 square feet of decorative laminated glass were installed. The project included several applications: a rainscreen over existing opaque walls, a second-skin facade over a curtain wall, and interior wall cladding.

“In conversations with designers and glaziers, we understand that providing systems, which are fully supported by our engineering team, streamlines the process and significantly reduces labor costs,’’ Jayson said. “Reliability and ease of installation play an important role in expediting and reducing project costs.”

eppley glass rainscreen

Eppley Airfield, Omaha, NE by HDR. Photo by Jen Miret.

The International Year of Glass celebrates the role glass has in society and sustainable development. “The vision is to celebrate the past, present, and future of this transformative material following the United Nations’ goals in Agenda 2030,” according to the National Glass Association website.

The focus on glass coincides with the U.S. goal to address its infrastructure concerns, particularly in reducing its carbon footprint. Glass is a sustainable recyclable material, which provides important environmental benefits, especially in mitigating climate change.

“Our work with architects and designers is becoming ever more important, and perhaps even more so in this International Year of Glass,” Jayson said. “We stand at an important crossroads of design and sustainability, and Bendheim will do its part to meet and exceed the critical objectives of our clients and our society.”

New Short Video Case Study | Infrastructure Project

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We have added a new video to our ongoing series of architectural case studies. In less than 2 minutes, the short film highlights the challenges architects faced when designing several structures at the new Gov. Mario Cuomo Bridge Welcome Center, and how we were able to offer solutions.

“Our ongoing two-minute video case studies distill the most relevant information to provide architects quick, valuable insights,” said Ben Jayson, Bendheim President. “Architects and designers are pressed for time, but have to continue accumulating product and application knowledge. We offer a range of solutions, from virtual project consultations to these short case studies.”

Designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects of London, the focus of the new case study includes a welcome center, electric vehicle charging stations, bike repair station, outdoor pavilion, and public art. The complex serves commuters, cyclists, and pedestrians, drawn to the bridge’s biking and walking paths for their breathtaking views of the Hudson River.

welcome center Bendheim

Bendheim’s short educational video addresses the challenge of constructing distinct structures serving completely different functions that achieve coherence through their use of our three-dimensional channel glass. It shows how, at the entrance of the plaza, the architects used 2,220 square feet of channel glass to envelop the Center’s comfort station. Our glass provides the restroom structure with the highest level of privacy, while transforming it into an architectural highlight.

channel glass canopy pavilion bendheim

To unite the pedestrian plaza, the architects then chose channel glass to cover the open air Pavilion. This decision made the Cuomo Bridge Welcome Center the first project in North America to include Bendheim’s channel glass as a canopy. 880 square feet of our channel glass in unusual tempered-and-laminated form were used on the overhead installation to meet building codes.

For more 2-minute video case studies, please visit our YouTube channel.

Our Projectable Glass Rainscreen System Wins Design Award

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projectable glass rainscreen award

Our new projectable glass rainscreen system is a winner in Interior Design Magazine’s NYCxDESIGN awards. The innovative cladding solution helps architects create fully customizable facades that transform buildings and double as monumental projection screens. It presents several eco-smart innovations: from the ability to eliminate costly, carbon-heavy steel sub-structures to its bird-friendly glass design.

This year’s NYCxDESIGN award submissions totaled 553, from 225 manufacturers. Our system claimed the top honor in the competitive Architectural Products category. The fully customizable cladding system features engineered compression clips and a distinctive glass makeup. It fastens directly to buildings, eliminating the need for traditional steel supports and the shadow lines they cast. Along with the use of our new LumiFrit™ surface #1 fritted glass, it becomes an ideal canvass for monumental projected art.

At night, the glass cladding bounces front-projected light to create a sharp image. During the day, it creates a brilliant white aesthetic, as sunlight reflects off the fritted glass surface. The projectable glass can be imprinted with any custom pattern, including bird-safe designs. Maximum panel size can reach 84 x 165 inches.

Bendheim can custom design the system to the unique requirements of each project. The fittings are fully adjustable, and can be engineered with tolerances of several inches in multiple directions to facilitate speedy fabrication and installation. This built-in flexibility allows fabrication to begin from the approved architectural drawings, rather than precise field measurements, expediting the construction schedule by weeks or months. Field adjustability is also a time and cost saver for the installer.

The Momentary blue back-lit glass rainscreen

Among The Momentary’s most striking new architectural features is an 80-foot-tall projectable glass rainscreen by Bendheim. Illuminated at night, seen here in blue, it becomes a beacon on the site. Photo courtesy of The Momentary, Bentonville, AR.

The Momentary in Bentonville, AR by Wheeler Kearns Architects is the world’s first building to use this rainscreen system as a 6,000 sq. ft. projection screen. The custom-imprinted glass scrim wraps an 80-foot tall concrete stair and elevator tower. It was tested as a projection surface – and stage – during the museum’s opening. A performance group staged a gravity-defying vertical ballet on the glass facade, while a dynamic light show was projected onto its surface.

dance on top of Bendheim glass rainscreen

The Momentary by Wheeler Kearns Architects. Vertical performance by BANDALOOP on top of the Bendheim glass rainscreen. Photo courtesy IG Art.

The innovative system’s latest recognition follows its Architectural Record Editor’s Choice Award for Best Building Envelope Product of 2020.