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Transformed West Side Pier Features Our Channel Glass

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Manhattan’s iconic Pier 57 has been transformed by an ambitious redevelopment project, with walls of our channel glass to help blend old with new.

Designed by Handel Architects, the $410 million restoration and revitalization project created 350,000 square feet of mixed-use space on the midcentury structure, with an additional 50,000 square feet on the ground floor for public amenities. With Google as the anchor tenant, Pier 57 will also offer a food hall curated by the James Beard Foundation, a public gathering place called the Living Room, and flexible meeting space for booking by community organizations.

Channel glass facade at Pier 57.

Pier 57, New York, NY by Handel Architects. Photos by Michael Young.

The building’s rooftop park, nearly two acres in size and open to the public, is the largest of its kind in New York City. The venue will also provide outdoor screening space for the annual Tribeca Film Festival.

Perfectly positioned to reflect Hudson River sunsets, the building’s walls are made of 6,400 square feet of our channel glass in our SF60 frame system, installed by David Shuldiner, Inc. The lower-level walls are primarily made of Clarissimo glass, a clear glass allowing extensive river views from the lobby and restaurant areas on the ground floor.  The walls of the second story offices and other selected panels are made of glass with the 504 Rough Cast texture. The choice of a translucent finish for the glass on this floor shields the workspace from glare while creating a glowing exterior. Throughout the building, low-e coatings serve to minimize the amount of ultraviolet and infrared light that is allowed to pass through the glass walls, while maximizing the transmission of visible wavelengths.

Channel glass facade at Pier 57 with people standing at the railing.

Jessica Levine, Senior Associate at Handel Architects, described the role of the channel glass at Pier 57 as follows:

“As a new structure built on a historic building, we wanted the pavilion on the roof of the Pier to read as a light intervention, both in material selection and the language of design. The channel glass achieves this balance for us by acting as a diffuser of light and also in its industrial appearance–complimenting the nature of a historic shipping pier. The channel glass allowed us to have a cohesive design by providing the flexibility between translucent and transparent finishes.”

Bendheim co-owner Robert Jayson commented, “We are proud to participate in the ongoing revitalization of New York City, including this important development. Our channel glass allowed the architects to build walls that are both functional and beautiful, making the most of Pier 57’s spectacular setting on the Hudson.”

Channel glass facade at Pier 57 at sunset.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Pier 57 was originally completed in 1954 as a project of the New York City Marine and Aviation Department. First used as a shipping terminal for the Grace Line steamship company, it was the largest dock ever built by the City of New York. With the decline of maritime shipping in New York, the pier became a parking garage for New York City Transit buses in 1969, then closed down altogether in 2003. The Hudson River Park Trust, a public benefit corporation established in 1998 to develop and operate public park space along Manhattan’s West Side shoreline, began efforts to redevelop the pier in 2008. The current project represents a significant public-private collaboration, with contributors including Google, RXR, Young Woo & Associates, The Baupost Group and Jamestown in addition to the Hudson River Park Trust and the City and State of New York.

Landmark Community Center Features Channel Glass from Bendheim

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The Brotherhood Sister Sol, a prominent youth development organization based in upper Manhattan, has unveiled a dramatic new headquarters featuring our channel glass. The building’s striking façade expresses its mission to serve as a beacon for the community.

The Brotherhood Sister Sol (also known as BroSis) has been serving the personal and academic needs of Black and Latinx youth from economically distressed communities since 1995. When the organization outgrew its longtime base of operations in a century-old Harlem brownstone, BroSis chose the firm of Urban Architectural Initiatives, a participant in New York State’s MWBE (Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise program), to design a new headquarters at the same location.

Exterior shot of Brother Sister Sol with Bendheim channel glass

Brotherhood Sister Sol, Harlem, NY by Urban Architectural Initiatives. Photo by Chris Cooper Photography.

And no ordinary building would do. As noted by BroSis Executive Director and Co-Founder Khary Lazarre-White, “From the very beginning of working with our architects, we challenged them to design a building that was about the enlightenment of children. Architecture speaks volumes about what happens within an institution.”

The new BroSis center creates a sense of life and motion through its remarkable flaring design. Each elevation appears to fan outward, cantilevering over the elevations below. The selection of our channel glass helped make this striking result a reality.

Channel glass is a U-shaped, translucent, machine-rolled architectural glass. Its unique geometry allows it to withstand imposed forces in ways conventional flat glass cannot.  Channel glass can create sweeping, virtually seamless glass walls uninterrupted by metal frames, including serpentine curves.

Exterior shot of Brother Sister Sol with Bendheim channel glass

In the case of the BroSis building, the design incorporated approximately 875 square feet of our 504 Rough Cast channel glass with low-e coating for thermal performance enhancement. The frame is our SF60 System for exterior double glazed façade applications in a custom Mineral Brown Metallic finish. The use of these products permitted the architects to design obtuse angled corners of continuous glass. The lightweight channel glass (weighing only 12 pounds per square foot) was also advantageous for the building’s iconic overhang design.

The channel glass also allows natural light to pervade the interior without glare. In the building’s aptly named Light Room, floor-to-ceiling walls of the channel glass help create a calm and uplifting atmosphere.

Interior shot of Brother Sister Sol with Bendheim channel glass

Bendheim co-owner Donald Jayson noted, “We are excited to contribute to that rarity for New York City, a building that will be entirely devoted to community educational use. We hope the beauty of the glass façade will draw attention to the life-changing work taking place within”.

Other members of the BroSis project team included LMW Engineering Group, EMTG Engineers, Krypton Engineering, Liz Farrell Landscape Architecture, Raymond/Raymond Associates, Noel Building Consultants, MaGrann Associates and Gilbane, Inc.

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.”

Renowned Architects Celebrate Women’s History Month with NYC Project Featuring Our Etched Glass

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A renowned architectural firm, owned by Iranian-born sisters Gisue Hirari and Mojgan Hariri, is celebrating both Women’s History Month and the recent completion of a dramatic renovation featuring our architectural glass.

Hariri & Hariri Architecture re-designed a 3,000 square foot office in Manhattan’s Diamond District. The tenant, SIBA Corp/SIBA Residences, is a prominent gem dealer and real estate business. The project includes our SatinTech™ etched glass to establish privacy while allowing natural light to enter the central space. The glass resists fingerprints and staining, diffuses light, reduces glare and minimizes reflections.

“Large frameless sliding doors and panels along the perimeter offices needed to be tempered for safety and etched for privacy,’’ Gisue Hariri said. “We also wanted a maintenance-friendly surface unlike coated, sandblasted glass.”

The architects incorporated their design trademarks, using a unique blend of architectural, artistic and interior design elements to create a space that is filled with art, timeless, healthy and inspiring. “We wanted to pay homage to SIBA’s heritage in the diamond business by making the architecture like a cut stone or jewel,’’ Gisue said. “We also wanted everyone to have their own views of New York City to enjoy the skyline and natural light.”

Bendheim etched glass installed as cubicle partitions.

SIBA Corp, New York, NY by Hariri & Hariri Architecture. Photo Eric Liagnel, courtesy of Hariri & Hariri Architecture

Hariri & Hariri have incorporated our products into various commercial and residential projects over the years. “The quality, variety, dependability and size is what makes Bendheim products special,’’ Gisue Hariri said.

SIBA’s main office is organized around a central open space with private offices and meeting rooms on the perimeter. Natural light enters the private offices via large windows and filters into the central open space through translucent doors customized with our etched glass. The design creates a bright, airy and tactile central space.

Three divisions of SIBA – diamond trading, real estate sales and building management – share the floor. The architects faced a design challenge in securing the gem side of the business, while also providing functionality and space for the other company divisions.

Solving architectural challenges is not unusual for the Hariri sisters, who came to the United States in the 1970s from Iran and have since become two of the world’s most highly regarded architects. They have won multiple awards, including the “2015 American Architecture Award” from The Chicago Athenaeum Museum and the “Academy Award for Architecture” from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Inducted into Interior Design Magazine’s Design Hall of Fame in 2006, they also received the Career Achievement Award from the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans.

After working independently for several years, the Hariri sisters formed their own multi-disciplinary architecture and design firm in 1986. Considered one of the most progressive and forward-thinking firms in the industry, it has completed a variety of projects, including luxury residential developments, hotels, single-family homes and high-tech, high-concept experiments.

The Hariri sisters are pioneers in the field of women’s architecture. The percentage of women registered with the American Institute of Architects continues to be astonishingly low. Only 17 percent of registered architects are women, according to the AIA. When the Hariris started their business in the 1980s, only about four percent of the architects were women, the AIA said.

Women’s History Month celebrates the contributions women have made in the United States and recognizes the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history. Gisue Hariri and Mojgan Hariri have been among the most influential women architects for more than 30 years.

“Our projects are unique, our concepts are different and our dedication has been rewarded,’’ Gisue Hariri said. “Being women has contributed to our work philosophy, vision and approach to architecture. Being different is an asset, being a woman is a gift, and being Iranian is a cultural strength.”  

Fred Jayson & Margaret Bendheim

Bendheim co-founder Margaret Bendheim with her son-in-law, second-generation owner Fred Jayson.

“It’s an honor to be chosen to work with such world-renowned architects,” said Ben Jayson, Bendheim President. “Diversity has enriched the industry and our team profoundly. Our company was co-founded by a woman in the 1920s. My great-grandmother Margaret Bendheim ran the business operations, while my great-grandfather Sem focused on sales. This set them apart at a time when only about one in ten married women worked, and very few held controlling positions in a business. I am truly proud of our legacy.”

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.”

Our Blue Glass Rainscreen Clads Major New York Train Station

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Quick Installation of 4,500 Square Feet of Our Textured, Tempered, Fritted Glass Helps Bring $95 Million MTA Project to a Close

 

Approximately 400 panels of our textured, tempered-and-laminated, blue glass rainscreen were installed as part of a $95 million renovation at the MTA train station in White Plains, N.Y., just outside of New York City. The glass serves an intuitive wayfinding and branding function.

We developed a tailored, “slim” Wall-F compression fitting for the project to achieve the required aesthetic and expedite glass installation. The miniaturized fitting was the right fit for the design and the scale of the glass panels, while still capturing as many as four glass corners at a time. Installation required just two months, as workers placed up to 20 panels per day.

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

MTA Train Station, White Plains, NY by Sowinski Sullivan Architects. Photo by Michael Del Rossi.

The glass features a blue ceramic frit, specified by Sowinski Sullivan Architects and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority as a match to the MTA logo color. Cladding each of the station’s platform entrances, the colorful glass guides commuters to the nearest approach. In total, it covers 4,500 square feet.

While the glass provides an important visual aesthetic, the swift installation was a key decision factor. Our precision engineering and shop drawings provided installers the necessary support and on-site flexibility to bring the project to a timely close.

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

“The glass and the fittings were new for us,” said Sean Forrest, Project Manager for AFI Glass & Architectural Metal. “Bendheim provided a good explanation on how to install it and was quite informative.”

A steel sub frame was placed over the walls to support the glass. The fittings were attached to the steel, then the glass panels were clipped into place. The walls holding the glass were quite tall, sometimes slanted both vertically and horizontally, as well as different sizes, creating an installation challenge.

“The fittings have a great degree of adjustability, so we didn’t have to be super exact,” Forrest said. “Most times, there is some adjustability, but not to this degree. The adjustability definitely played a huge part in helping us install quickly. It made a big difference.”

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

The entire renovation started in 2018 and took three years to complete. The White Plains station first opened in 1844 and is just 22 miles from New York City. It is the third largest in the Metro-North Railroad system, with an annual pre-pandemic ridership of more than 87 million.

Rainscreens stop more than 90 percent of wind-driven moisture and can completely transform and elevate a building’s appearance. Fritted glass is extremely durable and offers multiple benefits. Produced by permanently fusing powdered ceramic colors to the glass surface, fritted glass creates colorfast, UV-stable, scratch-resistant hues for exterior and interior use. The glass can be customized with various surface textures, designs, prints and graphics, and is available in hundreds of translucent and opaque colors.

Other recent major infrastructure projects featuring Bendheim glass include Omaha’s Eppley airport renovation and the new Gov. Mario Cuomo Bridge Welcome Center.