Bendheim Earns Architectural Design Award from International Parking & Mobility Institute for Innovative Glass Facade

Bendheim Glass has received an Award for Excellence—Honorable Mention from the International Parking & Mobility Institute (IPMI) for its innovative glass facade system at the Froedtert Hospital Blue Parking Facility. The award, which was given in the Architectural Design category, recognizes the significant role Bendheim’s architectural glass solution played in advancing the project’s design, sustainability, constructability, and overall user experience.

“This award recognizes the tremendous impact that the innovative use of facade materials like architectural glass can have on both the appearance and performance of a structure,” said Said Elieh, Vice President of Innovation for Bendheim. “Our goal was to create a facade system that not only enhanced the architectural character of the facility but also delivered meaningful operational and construction benefits. As this award demonstrates, we succeeded.”

Presented annually, the IPMI Awards for Excellence honor projects that demonstrate outstanding achievement in architectural design, innovation, functionality, and operational performance. Bendheim was recognized for the custom ventilated glass rainscreen facade it engineered and fabricated for the six-level, 2,274-space facility serving patients, visitors, and staff at Froedtert Hospital, home to Wisconsin’s only adult Level I Trauma Center.

Designed as more than a traditional parking structure, the facility was envisioned as a welcoming front door to the hospital campus. Bendheim’s glass enclosure transforms the garage into a refined architectural element that reflects the surrounding campus and changes appearance throughout the day as light and weather conditions shift.

The award-winning facade functions as a transparent second skin around the structure, allowing natural airflow and daylight to penetrate deep into the garage. By enabling passive ventilation, the system reduces reliance on mechanical ventilation equipment, helping lower energy consumption while creating a brighter, more welcoming environment for users.

At the heart of the innovation is a proprietary glass and compression clip attachment system developed specifically for the project. Unlike conventional facade systems that often require extensive steel support structures, Bendheim’s engineered clip system allows glass panels to be mounted directly and efficiently. The approach significantly reduced structural steel requirements, simplified installation, and accelerated construction compared to traditional enclosure methods.

The result is a building envelope solution that delivers benefits across multiple dimensions of project performance. The reduced steel requirements lowered material consumption and embodied carbon, while the simplified installation process improved constructability and project efficiency. At the same time, the glass facade elevated the architectural presence of the structure, helping it become an integrated and visually distinctive component of the healthcare campus.

Designed by Milwaukee-based architecture, engineering, and design firm EUA, the facility also incorporates advanced parking guidance technology, enhanced security systems, access-controlled areas, a rooftop snow-melting system, and integrated safety features. Together with Bendheim’s facade system, these elements contributed to a project that redefines expectations for healthcare parking infrastructure.

The IPMI recognition underscores the growing role that innovative building envelope solutions play in advancing design excellence, sustainability, and construction efficiency. Through its work on the Froedtert Hospital Blue Parking Facility, Bendheim demonstrated how architectural glass can help create infrastructure that performs better, builds faster, and contributes more meaningfully to the overall built environment.