Lofty Windows

One day into the 2011-2012 school year, Tropical Storm Lee destroyed the original Owego Elementary School, Owego, NY. Highland Associates designed a replacement building with a high-performing envelope in order to meet LEED requirements. Photos: Guy Cali Associates, courtesy Guardian Industries

After The Storm Guardian SunGuard coated-glass products balanced high performance and energy effi ciency to replace a school destroyed by a tropical storm.

One day into the 2011-2012 school year, Tropical Storm Lee changed the community of Owego, NY, forever. The school district had four of its buildings completely destroyed by the 2011 fl ood and sustained signifi cant damage to many others. One of the buildings destroyed was the original Owego Elementary. Within days of the initial fl ooding, Highland Associates Architects, New York, was on site working hand-in-hand with the school district, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), New York State Education Department, and the State of New York to assess the damage.

The architects committed to creating an atypical elementary school. “We wanted the building to be an integrated tool for their curriculum and foster different types of learning: classroom learning, spontaneous interaction, small-group collaboration, large-group instruction, outdoor learning, etc.,” explained David Degnon, senior as

The addition of the interior surface coating (SunGuard IS 20 glass) helped bring the U-value performance of double-gla ze units closer to that of triple-glaze. sociate, Highland Associates. “It was important for us to ensure the school embody the healing of a community devastated by a natural disaster and serve as a symbol of the determination and perseverance of the Owego community.”

Additionally, Highland Associates needed to design a building with a high-performing envelope in order to meet LEED requirements, including the enhanced acoustical performance credit. While it examined high-performance, low-e glazing options, the building team knew that incorporating laminated glass would greatly reduce the amount of outside noise.

In approaching the design, Degnon said the firm considered that a 120,000-sq.-ft. building can be very overwhelming, especially to a four-year-old going to school for the first time. In order to avoid long, tunnel-like corridors, the halls are bent and broken, creating intermittent learning spaces that are filled with natural daylight and views of

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SunGuard SNX 62/27 coated glass was used because of its balance of performance and light transmittance.

the outdoors. In fact, the design provides unobstructed views of the outdoors in more than 90% of the occupied spaces, an important consideration given that multiple studies prove students perform better with natural light and outside views.

Owego follows the school design trend to include several multipurpose rooms. Staff want the flexibility of spaces that can be used at all times of the year, which means the glass must help manage solar heat gain and thermal performance.

“The spaces have a sense of relaxed vitality that comes only with a strong connection to the outdoors,” Degnon said. “This would not be possible without the strategic use of specialized glass products such as Guardian (Auburn Hills, MI) SunGuard coated glass.”

SunGuard SNX 62/27 coated glass was selected because of its balance of performance and light transmittance. “To increase the thermal performance, we initially looked at a triple-pane system,” he said. “Because of the added complexity of the laminated glass, the curtain wall system would have become a custom system. This would have dramatically increased the cost of the façade. The solution was to use argon in place of air for the airspace and to couple that with SunGuard IS 20 coated glass. By doing this we were able to achieve triple-pane performance in a laminated, double-pane system.”

The addition of the interior surface coating (SunGuard IS 20 glass) helps bring the U-value performance of double-glaze units closer to that of triple-glaze, improving performance in buildings where maximum heatflow resistance is desired while still allowing abundant natural light. This combination of SunGuard products, fabricated by independent Guardian Select fabricator J.E. Berkowitz, Pedricktown, NJ, and installed by Forno Enterprises Inc., Trout Creek, NY, has a 60% visible light transmission and a low 0.26 solar heat gain coefficient, for a light-to-solar gain ratio of 2.34. The project also used EFCO System, Monett, MO, 5600 curtain wall.

“Highland Associates designed the school to a very high standard of energy savings using SunGuard products,” said Eddy Scott, Guardian Glass architectural design manager. “Strategically incorporating our interior surface coating boosted performance without compromising budgets or, more importantly, aesthetics.” CA

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Lofty Windows Architectural renovation of an historical building uses Zola windows to provide modern energy effi ciency.

Located in the heart of Tribeca, New York City, 6o White Street combines high-end design and craftsmanship with the standards of architectural preservation and environmentally conscious construction. The developer of this reimagined 1869 building—with a collection of eight residential lofts—is the Sorgente Group of America, New York.

With careful selection of materials and inspired interior design, the charm, character, and history of the landmark edifice is preserved and celebrated, while creating a modern loft experience. Zola Windows, Steamboat Springs, CO, played a role in helping embrace and engender the Passive House construction standard, aiding the transformation of a landmark-protected, large commercial building into an architecturally precise, low energy, high-performance facility.

For 60 White Street, a brand new class of window was developed that pushed the technological envelope while replicating the look appropriate for a 146-year-old historical edifice.

Spanning three panes, Zola’s American Heritage SDH (Simulated Double Hung) window created a well-insulated, draft-free building envelope. The replica-quality window is said to provide industry-leading airtightness and thermal performance, coupled with craftsmanship fitting a detailed historical restoration. 60 White lofts provide large and gracious rooms with ample lighting in a modern and luxurious space. Approximately 80% of the project’s materials were reused or maintained from the existing structure. The rest of the finishes were sourced locally, helping to breathe new life into the buildings. Some of the local materials include Vermont Danby Marble from Vermont Quarries Corp., Mendon, VT, and 300-year-old reclaimed oak from The

Hudson Company, New York. The marble embodies the performance and durability of the project, while the reclaimed wood speaks to the natural and historical quality. An important component of the project is the biophilia and the use of nature to improve the building’s living conditions, including a planted green wall in the lobby, which offers aesthetic charm while contributing to a healthy and natural ventilation system. These materials help execute the vision of excellence, sustainability, and historical preservation—choosing to honor the past while building for the future. CA

Photography: Nico Arellano Above. Windows were developed for the 60 White Street project that pushed the technological envelope while faithfully replicating the look appropriate for a 146-year-old historical edifi ce.

Top left. The building houses eight residential lofts with windows providing airtightness and thermal performance, coupled with craftsmanship.

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