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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.

Our Channel Glass Transforms Multi-Story Parking Facade in San Antonio

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Frost Tower Project Includes 28K Square Feet of Our Light-Diffusing U-Shaped Glass

Frost Tower Parking Structure | Bendheim Channel Glass Project

A custom-engineered channel glass system by Bendheim creates the parking facade of the high-profile Frost Tower in San Antonio, Texas, by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. Our system accommodates the substantial floor movement caused by the hourly changes to the loading of the decks, as vehicles enter and exit the 1,000-space parking structure.

The project includes approximately 28,000 square feet of our single-glazed Lamberts® channel glass, captured at the top and bottom in our customized SF60S frame system. It also includes a special faux frame for the large non-glazed openings, creating a visual continuation to the channel glass frame.

The translucent glass channels admit over 70 percent of daylight into the parking structure, while their privacy-friendly texture obscures outside-in views of the parked cars. The pattern of alternating glazed and open sections becomes a design element on the facade and provides natural ventilation.

Frost Tower Parking Structure | Bendheim Channel Glass Project

Channel glass is ideal for parking facilities because of its versatility. It can be manufactured in lengths up to 23 feet, and – at just ¼” thick – is a remarkably strong yet lightweight solution. The U-shaped channels can be oriented vertically or horizontally, and their flanges can face inward or outward to create different aesthetics. Glass coatings can be applied for aesthetic purposes, while also improving the solar shading performance of the facade. Hundreds of translucent or opaque channel glass colors are also available to add a level of privacy and shading or brand the parking structure. The joints between the glass channels can be sealed with silicone or left open for added natural ventilation.

Haley-Greer, Inc., installed the channel glass for the project, while Clark Construction Group LLC served as the general contractor. Kendall/Heaton Associates was the architect of record. We closely coordinated on-site logistics and staging with Haley-Greer, tackling the challenge of installing a large quantity of glass on a very large structure. We ensured the material arrived as it was needed for each construction stage, meticulously packing the glass channels in the proper order to expedite installation.

Frost Tower Parking Structure | Bendheim Channel Glass Project

Photos by Ray Briggs/okushi.photography

Frost Tower is the first tower in San Antonio in nearly 30 years. It includes 450,000 square feet of Class A office space and 10,000 square feet of retail and dining. The 23-story octagonal form utilizes shimmering glass facets to reduce the bulk of massing, while implying a helical upward movement.

Bendheim’s channel glass is installed in parking structures worldwide, including projects in Spain and Germany, as well as the United States. Channel glass made its debut in the United States in 2001, and is getting specified more frequently for parking projects due to its striking aesthetics, ability to deliver daylight and natural ventilation, as well as its ease of installation.

We offer a variety of fully customizable, engineered glass solutions for parking projects. For more information, please visit https://bendheim.com/campaign/jewel-glass-parking-facade/.

Helical Bendheim Channel Glass Walls Grace Pennsylvania College

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Stunning Curved Design by Steven Holl is a First in Exteriors

Eight helically-curved, double-glazed, 16-foot channel glass walls by Bendheim are key to the design of the new Franklin & Marshall College Winter Visual Arts Center in Lancaster, Pa. They clad the building’s 2nd and Mezzanine levels and define its celebrated “box-kite” shape.

Steven Holl Architects designed the $29 million project – a three-story, 33,000 square foot building that opened in the fall of 2020. The unique building design curves in plan and section in response to several large, historic trees. “The trees are the largest thing of this campus. I made the actual geometry of the building concave in response to the diameter of the trees,’’ Holl said in a video on the company website.

Channel glass at Franklin & Marshall during the day

Our ultra-clear low-iron channel glass with translucent white insulation creates a crystalline, brilliant white glass facade. Photo by Paul Warchol.

One of the main challenges for Bendheim was to engineer a unique, parallel, single-glazed, tip-to-tip framing configuration for the curved glass walls. The unusual façade layout, which has never been done before in North America, minimizes the visual appearance of the channel glass joints. Together with the use of translucent white insulation and ultra-clear low-iron channel glass, the new design produces a homogenous façade featuring a crystalline, brilliant white aesthetic.

Channel glass joints create a signature linear aesthetic, and tend to be fairly pronounced in traditional double-glazed applications. Typical to Steven Holl, the architect took a building material he frequently employs and made it brand new.

channel glass helix curve - elevation view

Bendheim detail drawing of the mezzanine level channel glass helix curve – elevation view

The customized facade configuration at the Pennsylvania college deemphasizes the joints and creates walls with deeper cavities, allowing the insertion of double-thickness insulation. This enhances the thermal performance of the wall and the diffusion of natural daylight. During the day, the helically-curved channel glass walls diffuse approximately 20 percent of visible light to the interior, eliminating glare – ideal for light-sensitive art studio environments. At night, they emit a subtle, visceral glow.

The building design allows for natural ventilation during mild times of the year, while geothermal heating and cooling, coupled with an insulated envelope, dramatically reduce energy costs. The project was designed to achieve LEED Gold certification.

National Enclosure Company installed the channel glass. Casali Group served as the project manager, while Harvey Marshall Berling Associates and Knipper Helbig Advanced Engineering served as façade consultants.

Glass Parking Facades: New Virtual AIA Continuing Education Program for Architects

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Case-Study-Based CEU Focuses on Parking Facade Design

Our new AIA continuing education program, titled “Case Studies: Facade Projects Shaping Parking Design Today,” reviews ten built projects to explore new facade technologies that improve the design process and outcomes for parking garage designers, developers, owners, and users. The program launched virtually on March 23, and is available on-demand here, or as a live presentation through your local Bendheim representative. Participating architects will earn 1 AIA HSW Learning Unit.

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According to Said Elieh, Vice President of Systems and Innovation for Bendheim and one of the principal developers of the program, “there is very little educational information on parking design for the modern age – especially AIA credit programs – and there is even less information on new facade technologies. Architects will find our ‘case study’ course format rich with ideas, as well as enjoyable.”

Wismar Port Parking Structure | Channel Glass Project

Old Town Port Parking Structure, Wismar, Germany by Lengfeld & Wilisch. Fritted channel glass facade.

Our new educational program is non-promotional in nature and focuses on innovative facade technologies that improve the user experience, elevate the design of parking structures, and facilitate their evolving role in the cities of tomorrow. In addition to nine short case studies, participants will fully investigate a new Chicago carpark facade to reveal the key elements of its design-assist process and the resulting sophisticated, yet economical, solution.

 

Learning Objectives

  1. Review case studies to identify glass parking facade materials and applications maximizing natural ventilation and daylighting
  2. Assess the user-experience, safety, and environmental benefits of glass parking facades
  3. Identify design assist strategies to deliver projects on time and on budget
  4. Explain the benefits of glass facades to owners and developers, in terms of cost, labor savings, and energy savings
ALDI Supermarket Parking Facility | Glass Rainscreen Façade

ALDI Supermarket Parking Facility, Chiasso, Switzerland.

The course hones in on several aspects of Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW), including daylighting, natural ventilation, and occupant comfort. Primary focus is on properly designed glass parking facades and how they shield structures and their occupants from the elements (rain, snow, and wind), while providing high-quality diffused daylight, improved solar shading, passive ventilation, and enhanced occupant safety through natural surveillance.

To watch a recording of the live webinar, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kio6DK_BQX-zRiGio_RJiw. To schedule on-demand face-to-face or virtual presentations with a local representative, please navigate to our Rep Finder.

Introducing HexaLite™ Glass: Honeycomb-Reinforced Lightweight Glass Cladding

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Extra Strong, Rigid, Lightweight Glass Cladding Is Ideal for Lobbies & Elevator Interiors

Our new HexaLite™ honeycomb-reinforced glass is designed for added strength and rigidity in a lightweight construction for wall cladding applications. The laminated safety cladding material is ideal for elevator interiors, lobbies, and designs requiring large glass panels and long spans.

The development of HexaLite was originally inspired by our work with elevator cab companies. We were tasked with developing a more lightweight decorative laminated glass in order to reduce the cab weight and elevator motor size.

HexaLite Glass Samples

Honeycomb-reinforced laminated architectural glass

HexaLite’s aluminum honeycomb backing lends strength and rigidity to any glass thickness, while minimizing the overall weight of the panel. It can add as much as 1/2” to the thickness of the panel, with just 1 lb./ft² additional weight. The lightweight construction is also beneficial in renovation and rehabilitation projects, where it can achieve a completely new and luxurious aesthetic without costly and disruptive structural upgrades to walls.

Strength is HexaLite’s key differentiator. The glass-to-metal laminate is created with a special Bendheim adhesive, which is triple the strength of VHB tapes and silicones. HexaLite passed ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Cat. II 400 pound-force (lbf) impact assessment safety tests with no visible cracks or breakage. Watch the 1-minute testing video here:

 

“The test results were impressive,” said Donald Jayson, Bendheim Co-Owner and Executive VP. “The goal of the test is to take the glass to its breaking point and then measure the damage. Our glass simply couldn’t break. The technicians at the testing facility were really impressed.”

Aluminum Honeycomb Backing

Honeycomb-reinforced wood veneer laminated glass – edge detail

HexaLite is produced in the USA by Bendheim in sizes up to 60” x 96” or 48” x 120”. The prefabricated cladding panels are delivered cut to the specified shapes and sizes for a speedier and cleaner installation. They can be mounted with traditional Z-clips or our new Z-KISS™ cladding system. When specified in 3/4” overall thickness, the lightweight glass panels are also compatible with most standard wall cladding systems.

Pantone’s 2021 Colors of the Year Captured in Glass

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Pantone’s 2021 Colors of the Year, Illuminating and Ultimate Gray, are captured in durable,
luminous architectural glass manufactured by Bendheim

Each year, the Pantone Color Institute selects the color that will best reflect the year ahead. This year marks only the second time two colors have been selected.

“It’s a combination that speaks to the resilience, the optimism and hope and positivity that we need, as we reset, renew and reimagine and reinvent,” Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute, said in a video call along with Executive Director Leatrice Eiseman.

City Market at O Street | Yellow Glass Wall

Pantone’s 2021 Color of the Year, Illuminating, in the City Market at O Street project in Washington, D.C. Photo by Dorian Shy; courtesy of Framework Photographic.

Our easy-to-clean and sanitize architectural glass in the Illuminating color selected by Pantone is already in use. In Washington D.C., City Market at O Street features our polished, low-iron laminated safety glass. The 1 million square-foot urban infill project in downtown Washington includes more than 87,000 square feet of retail space, nearly 600 residential units and 500 parking spaces.

Illuminating is described as “a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power,’’ Pantone said on its website. Ultimate Gray is “emblematic of solid and dependable elements which are everlasting and provide a firm foundation.”

The Corcoran Group | White Fade® Glass Desk

Pantone’s 2021 Color of the Year, Ultimate Gray, in back-painted architectural glass manufactured by Bendheim at The Corcoran Group in New York, NY. Photo by Sandra McDonald.

For more than 20 years, Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in industries such as fashion, home furnishings, industrial design, product packaging, and graphic design. In 2016, Pantone selected Rose Quartz and Serenity as the Colors of the Year. Classic Blue was selected as the 2020 Color of the Year.

Bendheim has responded to the color trends emerging from Pantone and the company’s own consultative design work with leading architecture and design professionals, continuously expanding its colored glass catalogue. Our in-house back-painting and lamination capabilities facilitate quick turn-around on new and custom design products.