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Decorative Glass Manufacturers Ramp Up Development of Easy-to-Use Systems

Architectural glass manufacturers, such as Bendheim, are increasingly focusing R&D efforts on developing engineered glass systems for interior and exterior applications. We attribute the shift to several macro drivers: the demand for easy-to-specify products; the need for quick-install glass systems; the emergence of circular design; and growing R&D investment to succeed in an increasingly competitive industry.

Demand for Easy-to-Specify Products

Integrated, single-source glass systems simplify the specification process. Having Bendheim provide the glass, hardware, drawings, and warranty lowers the perceived risk to design professionals and clients. As a project partner, we have become more involved in the early stages of the design process to ensure our glass systems meet performance and budget requirements. For example, we custom-designed the 1 Hudson Yards glass crown to install safely from the rooftop, instead of 33 stories up on the outside of the building.

One Hudson Yards Tower by Davis Brody Bond. Photo by Said Elieh.

“It’s important for us to be involved early in the decision-making process. It allows us to take on more responsibility during the planning of these projects. Ultimately, we want to help ensure the building looks and performs its best.” – Said Elieh, Bendheim Director of Technical Design.

A Need for Quick-Install Glass Systems

Building design is becoming increasingly dynamic, requiring frequent updates to facades and interiors. We are responding by developing glass cladding systems that are easy to install and can completely transform the aesthetic of the building, inside and out. Our new clip-supported glass systems offer installation and maintenance savings by substituting time-consuming adhesives and glass drilling with quick-install compression fittings.

1 South Halsted Parking Structure, Chicago, IL by FitzGerland Associates. Photo by Derek Larsen.

Circular Design

The idea that building systems should be designed for ease of disassembly is growing in recognition. Bendheim’s new interior and exterior glass cladding systems are North America’s first tested systems to implement fully-reversible mechanical connections. The patented compression clips eliminate the use of adhesives. Thus, glass panels can be easily moved, removed, or repurposed to facilitate demolition-free facelifts with minimal environmental impact.

Growing R&D Investment by Specialty Glass Suppliers

Architectural glass is becoming increasingly specialized and ornamental. The trend, having started on the interior of the building, is now migrating to the exterior. We have quadrupled our decorative glass facade business over the past year, due in part to our reputation for specialty interior glass. We have also developed a range of engineered glass solutions, including several non-traditional point-supported systems for glass rainscreens and ventilated facades, as well as our TurnKey™ interior glass cladding system. Currently in development are quick-install systems for dry-erase marker boards.

TurnKey™ wall featuring back-lit translucent white glass (left) and Wall-H clip system featuring etched glass (right)

Versatile Building Material Expands the Architectural Palette with Virtually Unlimited Custom Options

We are pleased to report an increase in the demand for color-customized glass used to brand building exteriors and interiors. Companies working to strengthen their corporate brands amidst growing global competition are increasingly using architectural glass to brand key physical environments, such as their retail spaces and corporate HQs.

Public and shared areas – facades, lobbies, meeting rooms – are among the leading architectural applications, presenting the most visible and effective color-branding opportunities. According to our design experts, demand is spurred by the competitive commercial market, in combination with recent architectural glass technological developments that deliver more accurate custom colors with long-term durability.

“When it comes to colors, focused attention at every step of the specification and fabrication process is absolutely necessary to meet the needs of the high-profile architects, designers, and corporate clients we work with,” said Steven Jayson, Bendheim Co-Owner and Vice President. “We are also constantly increasing our production capabilities to meet the growing demand for custom glass products.”

There has been an increasing demand for Bendheim’s brand-customized architectural glass in the following categories, as illustrated by several projects highlighted below:

• Colored textured glass (color through LED lighting or built into the glass)
• Custom colored or imprinted laminated glass
• Back-painted glass

Pier 17 South Street Seaport, New York City

At New York’s recently opened Pier 17 South Street Seaport by SHoP Architects, four-story-tall light boxes feature our custom textured channel glass with colored LED back-lighting. The light boxes function as a ventilated rainscreen facade over a traditional glass curtain wall. Custom-profile channel glass with deeper flanges reaches 20-foot continuous heights and spans across elevations without the need for mid-point wind clips, creating a seamless lighting effect. Illuminated in red – ESPN’s brand color – the facade celebrates the sport network’s new broadcasting center on the Pier. Photo by C. Taylor Crothers Photography, Inc.

The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, Texas    

In the first and only installation of vertically-unitized, multi-colored ceramic-fritted channel glass in North America, the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio features a vibrant colored glass facade that corresponds to the hospital’s new brand identity. The cheerful translucent hues are visible during the day and night, and contribute to the young patients’ improved mood and healing process. The unitized glass façade elements were collaboratively designed by Overland Partners’ architects and our technical design team, and installed by Sharp Glass. Photo courtesy of the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio.

“We are constantly increasing our production capabilities to meet the growing demand for custom glass products.”

IAAI Headquarters, Westchester, Illinois 

Colored laminated glass partitions highlight shared meeting areas, while maintaining Cannon Design’s open floor plan. The vibrant warm hues of the glass align with IAAI’s signature color palette, branding the space and adding energy to the design.

The Row Hotel, New York City 

A custom colored glass lobby wall creates a millennial-inspired design highlight – in a bright pink hue matching the midtown Manhattan hotel’s brand color. The custom laminated glass shifts from clear to translucent, creating a sense of mystery and discovery. Designed by Gabellini Sheppard Associates and installed by Empire Architectural Metal & Glass. Photo by Anna Lorente.

The British Airways Lounge, Dulles International Airport, Virginia     

Designed by TPG Architecture, back-painted glass in British Airways’ signature “Midnight Blue” creates an expansive entrance wall, helping passengers easily locate the lounge. The glass is produced with our proprietary HardShell^® color coatings for added durability and UV-stability. The coatings are baked-on at approx. 600 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure superior adhesion, allowing the glass to be handled and installed without damaging the color. They can be used to produce 100% VOC-free glass surfaces in the entire spectrum of color – from custom hues to ultra-brilliant whites and luminous metallics.

Recent developments in our architectural glass manufacturing include growing fabrication capacities that allow speedier production of customized glass products. A combination of exacting, proprietary color formulas and spectrometer calibration processes is used to achieve the fine tonal changes necessary for precise color matching. Simultaneously, the inherent durability and maintenance benefits of architectural glass make it a preferred “branded” building material, especially for high-traffic exterior and interior spaces.