Skip links

Member Login

Bendheim

Header Right

Main navigation

Menu
MyBendheim

Retrofit on Schedule & on Budget: A Rainscreen Case Study | Video

by Leave a Comment

Bendheim Wall-F rainscreen system effortlessly upgrades a commercial building without costly, wasteful demolition

 

About Rainscreen Applications for Retrofit Projects

An architectural rainscreen is an over-cladding system that is drained and back-ventilated, or pressure equalized. Both rainscreen types allow water to escape and air to circulate behind them. Rainscreen systems can reduce the risk of mold, mildew, and water damage to buildings. They can breathe new life into existing structures by presenting an attractive, refreshed, modern face. And they can accomplish this without disrupting occupants or requiring costly, wasteful, time-consuming demolition.

Retrofits & Green Building

The growing inventory of aging buildings, marked by a dated aesthetic and deterioration, poses architectural and environmental challenges. Many of our buildings were constructed during post-war booms in the 1960s and 1970s, and are approaching 50 years of age and older. Their skins have a reasonable life expectancy of up to 30 years.

According to Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, an engineering and design firm specializing on building rehabilitation: “Most old buildings perform poorly for their owners and occupants. Whether they leak, look shabby or waste energy, they still provide the basis for a sustainable future. Most of our building environment is already built; and the greenest building strategies are to reuse, not demolish, existing buildings… For environmental performance improvements, enclosures can be tuned-up, over-clad or re-clad. Each strategy involves varying levels of demolition, cost and energy improvements on the exterior. Overcladding and recladding offer additional opportunities to rebrand and update the building’s aesthetics.”

Rainscreens: Reuse | Reduce | Recycle

Rainscreen application supports at least two of the three core pillars of the green movement – Reduce & Reuse. Retrofitting an existing building by over-cladding with a functional, attractive glass rainscreen allows maximum reuse of existing building structures and resources, eliminates wasteful demolitions, and reduces the quantity of new construction materials needed.

The third core pillar of eco-friendly construction – Recycle – can also be addressed through the application of glass rainscreen systems featuring up to 100% recycled metal components, such as our compression glass fittings, and/or up to 40% post-consumer recycled glass panels, such as our decorative EcoGlass™.

In their article “The Science of Over-Cladding,” published in the NRU City of Toronto Edition, authors Michael McClelland, Graeme Stewart, and Dr. Ted Kesik note the following: “Internationally, over-cladding aging high-rises has been a key strategy for carbon reduction, especially in the European Union. A leader in the field has been Germany, where the tower blocks of post-wall Berlin have been significantly upgraded as part of both environmental policy and unification. In Bratislava, the entire district of hundreds of tower blocks is in the process of being over-clad as part of Slovakia’s environmental agreement in joining the EU… The project is not only making buildings more efficient, but also breathing new life into this aging district through new mixed use and improved public space.”

Ease of Rainscreen Installation & Maintenance

Existing buildings already present ample available surface to which new insulation, moisture protection membranes, and rainscreens can be applied with relative ease.

Eliminating or minimizing disruption to normal building operations is key to the rainscreen / over-cladding strategy. Rainscreen application allows the retrofit process to take place almost exclusively on the outside of the structure, avoiding interruption to occupant activities inside the building. This process also provides a unique opportunity to completely transform the building appearance and convert derelict structures into attractive architectural landmarks.

Bendheim’s patented fittings for glass rainscreens, ventilated facade, and interior wall cladding applications offer exceptionally easy setup and quick assembly methods. Unlike other systems, these compression fittings require no cut-outs or holes in the glass, affording superior wall strength and low fabrication costs. Also unique to our clipped glass systems, individual glass panels can be quickly and easily replaced without having to deglaze surrounding panels:

 

3001 Orchard Parkway Case Study

At a Glance

  • The Challenge: Modernize and raise the profile of the non-descript circa 1980 office building, and increase rent revenue potential.
  • The Solution: Bendheim’s ventilated decorative glass rainscreen, featuring our Längle® Wall-F compression fittings and three different types of laminated safety glass, enveloping the building.
  • Location: San Jose, CA
  • Completion Year: 2014
  • Approx. Surface Area: 5,000 sq. ft.
  • Architect: MODULUS
  • Glazier: Classic Glass
  • Glass: Safety Laminated

Primary Retrofit Goals:

  • Achieve a contemporary, elegant aesthetic
  • Budget-friendly remodel
  • Avoid disturbing existing occupants
  • Ease of installation and maintenance of new facade

Feedback from the Architect:

“… We turned to the possibilities of what we could create using the Längle clip rainscreen as a key element. With the conceptual approach of a jeweled screen to modernize and accentuate the existing massing, the system proved to be a perfect match unachievable through any other avenue. Both its cost and ease of installation resulted in a newly transformed building garnering great attention and accolades throughout the technology driven Silicon Valley, with a facade and image unlike any other in the area. It was without question a huge success and we’re anxious to use this product again in new and inventive ways as we transform the face of what buildings and architecture can be.” — David Fenster, AIA LEED AP, MODULUS

From the Contractor:

“It was our first time installing Längle rainscreens, but hopefully not the last. Everything went very smoothly, and the process was straightforward and surprisingly stress-free from start to finish, especially when you consider that tenants were in and out of the building while we were mounting the system. The Bendheim team was very responsive and a pleasure to work with. We are very proud of how the installation came out and of our part in this beautiful transformation.” — Christine Jacobs, Classic Glass, Inc.

Introducing New Ultra-White Laminated Fade® And Low-Iron Etched Fade® Architectural Glass

by Leave a Comment

We have added two new glass options, Ultra-White Laminated Fade® and Low-Iron Etched Fade®, to our line of decorative architectural glass. The new, gently fading glass designs present an elegant, timeless aesthetic, defining interior spaces when used in partitions, doors, windows, atriums, and staircases.

The superior fade effect of Bendheim’s Ultra-White Laminated Fade® glass is produced through a unique ink technology. Ultra-dense and brilliant white at the bottom, the glass smoothly fades to clear at the top. The durable, maintenance-friendly laminated safety glass is available in sizes up to 60”W x 120”H and thicknesses up to 3/4”.

Our new Low-Iron (ultra-clear) Etched Fade® glass is fully etched up to approx. 52” from the bottom of the sheet, then gently fades to clear as it approaches the top. The durable, stain-resistant, satin-smooth etched glass is available in safety (tempered and/or laminated) form, in sizes up to 86″ W x 124″ H and thicknesses up to 3/8”.

The superior gradient effect now available through these new architectural glass varieties elevates interiors, projects a sense of openness, and delivers daylighting advantages while maintaining the right amount of privacy. Glass sheets can be custom-cut at the top and/or bottom to reposition the fade up or down within the panel. Fully custom fade configurations are also available on request.

Bendheim’s Ultra-White Laminated Fade® glass is prominently featured throughout the new Preston Robert Tisch Center for Men’s Health at NYU’s Langone Medical Center. The glass provides the necessary level of privacy, maintains daylighting advantages, and elevates the style of the interiors.

Bendheim’s Channel Glass Wall Systems Win 2015 Architizer A+ Award

by Leave a Comment

Bendheim’s Channel Glass Wall Systems have been named the Architizer A+ Jury Award Winner in the prestigious global competition’s Building Products category.

Bendheim’s Channel Glass was chosen from entries submitted by over 100 countries. A panel of over 300 renowned jurors, including architects, designers, cultural thought leaders and developers, deemed Bendheim’s glass systems the category winner and representative of the best in the world of architecture.

Over the last three years, the highly esteemed Architizer A+ Awards program has strived to recognize the industry’s top international architecture and design offerings. Each submission is evaluated based on form, function, and innovation.Contest winners are chosen by a renowned jury.

Notable industry leaders participating on this year’s jury include Charles Renfro, Bjarke Ingels and Tom Kundig, as well as respected individuals from fields outside of architecture including Tony Hsieh, CEO, Zappos; Yves Behar, Fuseproject; John Edelman, CEO, Design Within Reach; Cameron Sinclair, Architecture for Humanity; and Barry Bergdoll, MoMA.

Bendheim Wall Systems’ Channel Glass offers a stunning alternative to traditional exterior and interior flat glass wall systems, creating virtually seamless glass walls of unlimited lengths. Channels of glass, standing as tall as 23 feet, are available in six decorative textures, three specialty thermal coatings, and hundreds of ceramic frit colors. The glass contains a total recycled content of approximately 60%, and is manufactured by Lamberts in Europe’s only ultra-clean burning, oxygen-fueled cast glass furnace. It is the only factory-produced tempered channel glass certified by the Safety Glazing Certification Council (SGCC) and available with a 100% heat soak testing.

Construction Canada Magazine Publishes Cover Story on Bendheim Glass Rainscreen Systems

by Leave a Comment

We are pleased to announce that “Construction Canada,” the official publication of CSC (Construction Specifications Canada), has selected to feature Bendheim Wall Systems’ educational article on glass rainscreen technology as the magazine’s February 2015 Cover Story.

The expert article, titled “Glass Rainscreen Systems Enhance the Building Envelope,” discusses the design principles and benefits of flat and channel glass rainscreen assemblies. It was authored by Said Elieh, Director of Technical Design for Bendheim Wall Systems, and is intended for all building professionals (architects, designers, engineers, specification writers, construction managers, contractors, building owners, etc.), regardless of their rainscreen expertise level. The instructive commentary reveals the significant role glass rainscreen technology can play in the protection and improvement of the building envelope. It demonstrates the clear functional and design benefits of this over-cladding strategy for new and retrofit buildings alike.

To access the complete, authorized PDF reprint of this educational article on glass rainscreen design and application, please follow this link: Construction Canada Cover Story: Glass Rainscreen Systems Enhance the Building Envelope.

“Construction Canada” is a leading architecture and design publication with a qualified audience of over 12,000 professional readers.

Bendheim Unveils Back-Painted Glass In Custom “Marsala” Pantone® Color Of The Year

by Leave a Comment

Bendheim showcases its decorative architectural Color Coated (back-painted) glass in the recently revealed Pantone® 2015 Color of the Year – “Marsala.” Rich and welcoming, Marsala makes an elegant, polished statement. It adds a sense of warmth to interiors ranging from hotel lobbies and restaurants to conference rooms and living spaces.
Made in the USA, Bendheim Color Coated Glass offers endless design possibilities with precision-matched custom colors. The company’s production facilities incorporate the most advanced color technologies, enabling it to match Pantone, paint manufacturers’ color chips, as well as corporate and brand colors with the utmost precision. Bendheim can supply its extensive line of specialty textured glass and satin-smooth etched glass in almost every imaginable color. The flexibility and unparalleled customization options of Bendheim’s Color Coated Glass create a world of exciting applications – from wall cladding and feature walls to backsplashes, countertops, and table tops.
The company’s color coating process uses specialty water-based paints to create a safe, enduring, and VOC-free product, ensuring improved indoor air quality. The UV resistant color coatings are stable – formulated and applied to last for many years – while the naturally hygienic, non-porous Bendheim glass surfaces are exceptionally maintenance-friendly. Color Coated Glass can be tempered or laminated for additional safety and security. It is available in thicknesses ranging from 1/4 to 3/4 inches, and in sizes up to 60 by 120 inches.
Bendheim’s vertically integrated fabrication provides in-house precision cutting, polishing, waterjet, CNC, tempering, lamination, and back-painting services. These capabilities ensure the finest quality, a budget-friendly product, and timely delivery.

Enhanced Rainscreen Technology Benefits New Construction

by Leave a Comment

Bendheim rainscreen systems help create beautiful & long-lasting buildings, protecting our collective architectural legacy

What is a Rainscreen?

A rainscreen is an exterior wall cladding that stands off from the building’s exterior weather-resistant barrier. It envelopes and protects the building facade from water infiltration, controlling water drainage and evaporation. In lay terms, a rainscreen is akin to an elegant raincoat that protects the building from the elements, while delivering an added dose of style.

eppley glass rainscreen

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

Role of Rainscreens & Glass in Architectural Landmarks through History

Rainscreens can be a key component in the protection and preservation of buildings of importance, shielding them from the elements, ensuring their structural viability, and helping extend their productive life.

Although a modern concept in the United States, the rainscreen principle is not new. Rainscreen design has been proven throughout Europe with installations dating back to the Middle Ages. Early examples of rainscreens can be found in some Norwegian churches built centuries ago using layers of open-joint, drained, back-ventilated wood claddings set over a traditional wood or stone wall. Many of these historic structures are still standing today, including a stave church in Urnes, Norway (circa 1130). It is considered by some to be the oldest standing example of a rainscreen.

The Middle Ages saw the rise of another architectural technology – large-scale decorative glazed openings. Spurred by advancements in window making, medieval architects introduced monumental stained glass windows: Masterpieces that brought light, color, and beauty into buildings of importance.

Kinnick Stadium Fritted Glass Facade

Restoration of historic Kinnick Stadium with Bendheim’s glass rainscreen. Iowa City, IA by Neumann Monson Architects and HNTB. Photo by Cameron Campbell, AIA.

Enhancing Rainscreens – Bendheim Decorative Glass Rainscreen Systems with Längle Compression Fittings

Bendheim’s glass rainscreen systems are unique, multi-functional glass wall systems. They can add elegance to a building facade with a stunning array of decorative architectural glass options. These highly functional walls of glass can also preserve newly built structures for posterity, safeguarding the legacy of building creators and owners.

Decorative architectural glass has been defining the identities of powerful architectural monuments since the Middle Ages, and continues to do so to this day. Colored and patterned decorative glass is enjoying tremendous popularity, creating dynamic, stimulating environments and prominent building facades. Recent developments, such as colored, patterned and photographic printed interlayers, as well as direct-to-glass printing techniques, make glass facades the perfect medium for large-scale creative architectural expression.

According to contemporary architect and color expert Fiona McLachlan, “Color generated through the play of light is never static and has the capacity to… tune and transform architectural space.” (Source: McLachlan, Fiona. “Architectural Colour in the Professional Palette.” London & New York: Routledge, 2012)

The unprecedented development of contemporary architectural glass technology makes decorative glass rainscreens an ideal building method to adopt in North America today. Furthermore, the inherent durability and ease of maintenance of non-porous glass surfaces is an undeniable benefit in contemporary rainscreen applications. There is no better building material to stand up to the punishing effects of water, wind, and time than glass.

One of the main purposes of Bendheim glass rainscreens is to shield a building from the elements. Water is the biggest factor in the premature deterioration of buildings. A dangerous leak can be created in the presence of the following three elements:

  1. water (rain, melting snow and ice);
  2. an opening or a weak point in the building envelope, through which water can penetrate; and
  3. pressure (wind force)

Bendheim glass rainscreen systems effectively protect the building from moisture by creating a barrier envelope around it. All exterior systems, including Wall-F (Flat), Wall-H (Horizontally Overlapping), and Wall-VH (Vertically-and-Horizontally Overlapping), have been tested in accordance with ASTM & AAMA requirements for Water Penetration, Pressure Equalization, Air Leakage, and Structural Performance. They performed admirably, having received the best rating for preventing water ingress. Bendheim Rainscreen Systems allow water to escape and air to circulate, reducing the risk of mold, mildew, and water damage. Any small amount of water making its way behind the glass is drained and channeled away from the building. Any water vapor is ventilated through the top of the system, as air circulates upward between the rainscreen and the exterior building wall.

Glass rainscreen by Bendheim.

Essex County College, West Caldwell, NJ by Netta Architects. Photo by Bendheim.

Next Steps

For more information on how to create a unique, protective glass rainscreen façade for your next project, please contact Bendheim at +1.800.221.7379, Option 5 or e-mail your requirements to rainscreens@bendheim.com.