PROJECT
windows
YOU CALL ME RAIN Interior walls demonstrate the ability of the Halio glass, shown in its clear state, to extend natural light to more areas while delivering privacy on demand.
Smart-Tinting Glass Dazzles Prospective Tenants
HYDROTECH CALLS ME OPPORTUNITY
A real-estate equity company upgrades its offices to showcase what technology can do for potential lessees.
F
or Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc., a Class A
company planned the installation, replacing the conven-
property is necessary in order for its innovative
tional interim glass over a weekend.
tenants to “successfully recruit and retain world-
class talent and inspire productivity, efficiency, creativi-
SKYLIGHT OPPORTUNITY
ty, and success.” The company looks to smart technolo-
During the office demolition for a remodel, the archi-
gies to deliver on its commitment to sustainability and
tects discovered framing for a skylight that had never
wellness for its tenants. When the company upgraded its
been installed. The area was the designated break room.
San Francisco office, they used Halio smart-tinting glass
Until then it had no windows, so management jumped
from Kinestral Technologies, Hayward, CA, to showcase
on the opportunity to bring in natural light and used
what the new technology can do for tenants.
Halio to manage it.
Halio was installed to highlight two applications. A
Because the smart-tinting-glass delivery date would
skylight demonstrates its ability to control heat gain and
come a few months after the completion of the remodel,
eliminate glare. Interior walls demonstrate the ability of
standard glass was installed while waiting for the
the glass to extend natural light to more areas while de-
smart-tinting glass to arrive. It proved to be a good “be-
livering privacy on demand. Each Halio panel has its
fore and after” test of a plain-glass skylight versus a smart-
own controller, so select panels can be tinted while oth-
tinting-glass skylight.
ers remain clear.
Howard Yao, assistant vice president of real estate de-
When compatible frames are installed, installing
velopment and design at Alexandria, is responsible for
smart-tinting glass is a simple glass swap. The real-estate
new construction and tenant-improvement projects in commercialarchitecturemagazine.com
JANUARY 2018
COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE
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