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DAYLIGHT VETROTECH SAINT-GOBAIN, GREENLITE GLASS PROVIDE KEY ELEMENT TO SALESFORCE TRANSIT CENTER WRITTEN BY STEPHANIE MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES Z. WU
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“When ground broke on this project, this technology didn’t exist.” Kevin Norcroos General Manager - Vetrotech Saint-Gobain
W
hen travelers start
120, developed by Vetrotech
give “San Francisco a grand
their journey at the
Saint-Gobain and Greenlite Glass
entrance that befits its status as
Salesforce
Systems, Inc.
one of the world’s great cities.”
Transit
Center, the new central hub of
Clark
Inside the airy and spacious
the
Grand Hall, sunshine is filtered
Francisco, the first thing they’ll
Salesforce Transit Center with
more than 100 feet below the
notice is Contraflam® Liteflam XT-
“soaring light-filled spaces” to
center’s above-street-level park
public
transportation
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in
San
Award-winning Pelli
Architects
Pelli designed
by the Contraflam Liteflam XT-120
came together and used the
Clarke Pelli. “It became clear to
walkable fire-rated glass floor and
combined decades of experience
us early on that the floor/skylight
skylight. More than 4,000 sheets
to produce and rigorously test
wasn’t going to be an off-the-shelf
of glass make up almost 300
an
multifunctional
solution that just anyone could
panels, providing daylight for the
solution involving horizontal fire-
bid, price and build. We’re very
Grand Hall. A second installation
rated glass, structural glass, and
happy with what Vetrotech and
brings natural light down below
spacers with airgaps to avoid
Greenlight came up with—it helps
street level.
replacing glass due to dirt and
push the limits of opportunity in
“When ground broke on this
condensation issues that would
our industry.”
project, this technology didn’t
develop with foot traffic and the
exist,”
outdoor environment.
says
Kevin
Norcross,
General Manager, Vetrotech Saint-
innovative,
“Architectural
Each panel of the floor was designed to fit a specific area,
design
in
and fit in concert with the unique
Gobain North America. “It has
some ways, about imagining the
function of the building—including
very specific specifications that
unimaginable
it
special seismic protections that
have never been incorporated
to life,” said Darin Cook, senior
allow certain areas to move
into a single project, ever. The
associate
independently of others in case of
and
principal
is,
bringing with
Pelli
fire rating, combined with the loading
requirements
and
seismic resistance make it an engineering feat. It’s a testament to the innovation of our team.” Pelli Clarke Pelli specified the most demanding requirements for a fire-rated glass floor and skylight to date for this project, and
Contraflam
Liteflam
XT
120 is the only exterior multipanel system to meet some of the world’s most stringent specifications and pass all tests, including two-hour fire rating, seismic resistance, live loading for foot traffic and waterproofing. Teams from Vetrotech and Greenlite Glass Systems Inc. worked in close collaboration with Roger Wilde Ltd., RDH, Larson Engineering and Pelli Clarke Pelli to on a designassist for the project. Experts ArchitectBlueprint.com™ | 5
earthquakes.
assembled in a packing crate and
next architectural challenge that
“I knew the project specifications
shipped in a configuration that
comes our way.”
and new challenges were going
allowed construction crews on
Facts at a Glance
to be a feat of modern glass
site to quickly fit each piece to its
• 1,400 square feet of glass
technology that only Vetrotech
individual frame in the building
flooring/skylight, about 2.5 football
could help us solve,” said Ryan
with minimal handling.
fields in length
Dennett, Greenlight Glass Systems
“Since
Salesforce
Transit
Inc., Canada. “I could not have
Center opened, the daylight filled
asked for a better project team to
Grand Hall has been a feature
collaborate within the Vetrotech
photographed and shared across
group. We are all very proud of
social media by San Francisco
our group accomplishments.”
residents
and
visitors
alike,”
• 298 individual glass panels • More than 4,000 individual pieces of glass • Nearly twice as heavy as a blue whale at 222 tons of glass •
Only
two-hour
fire
rated
Once the floor panels were
Norcross said. “We’re proud of
horizontal glass floor of its size in
manufactured, each was specially
it, and can’t wait to overcome the
the United States
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About Vetrotech
and hurricanes, we can provide
of each of us and the future of all.
Saint-Gobain North America
innovative solutions for even the
They can be found everywhere
Vetrotech Saint-Gobain North
most demanding of applications.
in our living places and our daily
America is part of the Saint-Gobain
Vetrotech
life: in buildings, transportation,
group. Vetrotech specializes in the
production sites, situated on three
infrastructure
development, manufacture and
continents, ensure reliable supply
industrial
sales of high-performance safety
to more than 60 countries over
provide
glass for the building and marine
regional sales offices capable
and
sectors, with a focus on providing
of providing global coverage.
the challenges of sustainable
multi-functional security, comfort
For more information visit www.
construction, resource efficiency
and design features for safe and
vetrotechusa.com or follow us on
and climate change. With 2016
seamless
twitter @vetrotechUSA.
sales of 48 billion, Saint-Gobain
building
integration.
By offering a broad selection of
has
eight
main
About Saint-Gobain
in
many
applications.
They
comfort,
safety
while
performance addressing
operates in 68 countries and has
designs,
more than 170,000 employees.
distributes
For more information about Saint-
to the threats of fire, impact,
materials and solutions which are
Gobain visit www.saint-gobain.
attack, bullet, blast, pressure,
key ingredients in the wellbeing
com and @saint-gobain.
high-security glass and framing products,
including
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resistance
Saint-Gobain
and
manufactures
and
"Since Salesforce Transit Center opened, the daylight filled Grand Hall has been a feature photographed and shared across social media by San Francisco residents and visitors alike.�
Kevin Norcroos General Manager - Vetrotech Saint-Gobain
What's Your Remodeling Dream? Convert your thoughts and dreams into reality by taking that first step.
Vetrotech Saint-Gobain North America 2108 B Street N.W. Suite 110 Auburn, WA 98001 p: 888-803-9533 north.america@vetrotech.com www.vetrotech.com ArchitectBlueprint.com™ | 9