Any glazier or glass fabricator worth their salt strives to meet the architect’s intent for a building element – a point-supported structural wall, a cascading canopy, a glass and stainless guardrail. Whatever. When you finally envision that intent into black-and-white deliverables, then it becomes a matter of how to make it happen.
Since many of us still have a Halloween hangover, I’ll zero in for a moment on what I think is one of the scariest “intents” to deliver. And that’s how to match up a glass vestibule entrance with glass revolvers on either side. Sounds simple … until you have to somehow connect the two seamlessly so that air temperatures are under tight control, yet it all remains engaging and attractive – with the architect usually looking more for “stunning.”
Sometimes there is not a lot to go on in the building spec, so it’s up to glazier. However, they are usually layered up with other building requirements. Such was the case with a new entrance for the 625 Michigan Ave. building in Downtown Chicago.
We were delivering one of our OSTIUM Pre-Engineered Glass Vestibule and Entrance Systems, and Boon Edam was delivering the revolvers. And glazier Mid-States Glass and Metal, Inc., of Niles, Illinois turned to us to solve the challenging interface between them.
We responded with a complete solution. It featured minimal custom metal and glass support structures – to make the interface secure while meeting the architect’s intent. The entrance went in without a hitch.
Years ago, we invested in our own in-house engineering capabilities, and our Fulcrum Architectural Design Assist Division brought this experience to BoonEdam. We put our heads together, and made it happen. After all was said and done, BoonEdam complimented us on our expertise and project management support. And we thank them, here, for that!
The real story, here, is that as architects continue to migrate toward more glass and less metal, fabricator’s will need to know how to turn their vision into reality. Or play havoc with the glazier’s installation flow.
Solving engineering problems is a hallmark of Glass+Metal Craft. Next time you’re in Chicago, stop by 625 North Michigan and see for yourself.
