New York, NY Architectural glass manufacturers are increasingly focusing R&D efforts on developing engineered glass systems for interior and exterior applications. Bendheim, a leader in decorative architectural glass, attributes the shift to several macro drivers: The demand for easy-to-specify products; the need for quick-install glass systems; the emergence of circular design; and growing R&D investment to succeed in an increasingly competitive industry.
Integrated, single-source glass systems simplify the specification process. Having one company provide the glass, hardware, drawings, and warranty lowers the perceived risk to design professionals and clients. As a project partner,Bendheim has become more involved in the early stages of the design process to ensure its glass systems meet performance and budget requirements. For example, the company custom-designed the 1 Hudson Yards glass crown to install safely from the rooftop, instead of 33 stories up on the outside of the building.
“It’s important for us to be involved early in the decision-making process. It allows us to take on more responsibility during the planning of these projects,” said Said Elieh, Bendheim director of technical design. “Ultimately, we want to help ensure the building looks and performs its best.”
Building design is becoming increasingly dynamic, requiring frequent updates to façades and interiors.
Bendheim is responding by developing glass cladding systems that are easy to install and can completely transform the aesthetic of the building, inside and out. The company’s newclip-supported glass systems offer installation and maintenance savings by substituting time-consuming adhesives and glass drilling with quick-install compression fittings.
The idea that building systems should be designed for ease of disassembly is growing in recognition.Bendheim’s new interior and exterior glass cladding systems are North America’s first tested systems to implement fully-reversible mechanical connections. The patented compression clips eliminate the use of adhesives. Thus, glass panels can be easily moved, removed, or repurposed to facilitate demolition-free facelifts with minimal environmental impact.
Architectural glass is becoming increasingly specialized and ornamental. The trend, having started on the interior of the building, is now migrating to the exterior. Bendheim has quadrupled its decorative glass façade business over the past year, due in part to its reputation for specialty interior glass. The company has also developed a range of engineered glass solutions, including several non-traditional point-supported systems for glass rainscreens and ventilated façades and a TurnKey™ interior glass cladding system. Currently in development are quick-install systems for dry-erase marker boards.
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