Our Channel Glass at Museum of the Bible Wins Product Innovation Award

Architectural Products’ Award Celebrates Several Bespoke Channel Glass Design Solutions – from Selective Fritting to Seamless Integration with Clear IGUs

Bendheim’s channel glass at Museum of the Bible has been recognized with a Special Citation and a full-page feature in Architectural Products’ Product Innovation Awards issue. The award recognizes the ability of our channel glass to provide unique solutions to the design challenges of the project.

The Museum of the Bible by SmithGroupJJR accomplishes several challenging objectives with the help of Bendheim’s technical design team and the structural capabilities of our Lamberts® channel glass.

At the 40-Foot-Tall Main Entrance:
Channel glass’ ability to reach 20-foot continuous heights was essential to achieving a monolithic, uniform appearance.

Museum of the Bible, Washington, D.C. by SmithGroup JJR. Photo By Alex Fradkin.

Inside the Main Hall (Arcade):
Bendheim’s ability to provide selectively-fritted glass channels allowed the architects to crate opaque white glass wall cladding that seamlessly transitions into a see-through glass partition. The partition opens views from the upper story to the 140-foot-long Arcade bellow. Throughout the Arcade, our low-iron, white-fritted Clarissimo™ channel glass wall claddings reflect light from the ever-changing image-projecting ceiling. The constantly shifting colors and reflections add a kinetic quality to the space and help create a more dynamic, immersive visitor experience.

Museum of the Bible, Washington, D.C. by SmithGroup JJR. Photo By Alex Fradkin.

On the Facade:
Our 504 Rough Cast™ textured channel glass with a Low-E thermal performance coating integrates with clear IGUs within the same frame system. Bendheim’s technical design team spearheaded the design of the unified glass facade, successfully integrating the two glass types through stylish, unobtrusive tie-ins.

Museum of the Bible, Washington, D.C. by SmithGroup JJR. Photo By Alex Fradkin.

Throughout the Museum:
The luminous light-diffusing channel glass conveys a crystalline appearance, inspired by the original building’s function as a cold storage facility. According to David Greenbaum, SmithGroupJJR Lead Designer, “the translucent channel glass bridges the old building and the new museum.”

About Bendheim’s Channel Glass:
Channel glass offers a unique alternative to traditional opaque and transparent building walls. It creates continuous walls, including glass-to-glass corners and complex curves, that can be hundreds of feet long and can span across elevations. The three-dimensional (U-shaped) glass channels can stands as tall as 23 ft. (7 m) in a relatively lightweight 1/4” (6 – 7 mm) thickness, facilitating design & installation. Bendheim’s channel glass is available in regular and ultra-clear low-iron glass, eight decorative textures, three thermal performance coatings, and hundreds of fritted colors.

About the Awards:
According to one of the judges commenting on the use of Bendheim’s channel glass at Museum of the Bible, “Even after seeing this project often since its opening, I still am ‘wowed’ when I see the effect of the vast space, formed by the U-shape of the glass that makes for a spectacular volumes in the design.”

Architectural Products’ Product Innovation Awards (PIAs) honor innovation in the development and refinement of building products, ranging from cladding systems to interior finishes. Products are judged by a group of 16 independent industry professionals.

“Building on the success of last year’s program, our eighth edition of the awards proves commercial building manufacturers are committed to, and are working arduously toward, delivering more sustainable products, as well as products that deliver better performance, life and affordability,” said Jim Crockett, Architectural Products Magazine Editorial Director.

Bendheim’s channel glass frequently features as a key design element in award-winning projects throughout North America, including the University of Iowa Visual Arts Building in Iowa City, IA, and Blu Dot Showroom in West Hollywood, CA.