ONE ON ONE WITH ALAIN GARNIER Alain Garnier - Country Manager UK, Ireland & Middle East, SageGlass

One on One with Alain Garnier

1. What is SageGlass?

SageGlass manufactures dynamic glass that controls the amount of light and heat entering a building throughout the day. The IGU and control system are adapted to customer requirements and custom-made. The heart of the dynamic glass is an electrochromic coating. It consists of a 5-layer inorganic metal oxide coating that either tints or clears the glass on demand. We can control the IGUs and therefore influence the solar heat gain coefficient and visible light transmission entering a building either automatically with a building automation system or manually with a touch panel or a mobile application.

The product is based on more than 30 years of R&D and has already been installed in more than 1,000 buildings worldwide. Since the very beginning, our electrochromic glass has been continuously optimized in order to meet the highest standards for occupant comfort and energy savings.

2. What are the main benefits of SageGlass smart glass?

There are numerous benefits: Our electrochromic glass saves energy by providing passive solar gains during heating seasons, minimizes cooling loads during cooling seasons, provides maximum daylight harvesting potential and replaces the use of electric lights with natural light in all seasons. The average energy consumption can be reduced by 20 percent, peak energy consumption by as much as 25 percent on average.

Additionally, SageGlass can increase the comfort and well-being of the occupants thanks to a continuous connection to the outdoors and the optimal use of daylight. Because SageGlass can achieve transmissions of 1 %T or less, it can control glare without using blinds or shades, thus preserving the view and connection with nature in contrast to mechanical alternatives, which block the view. Recent research, particularly in “biophilic design” has underlined the positive effect of a connection to nature in supporting our health and well-being, which can be achieved through views to the outdoors. Furthermore, dynamic glass works reliably even under harsh weather conditions such as wind, hail or snow. Since there is no mechanical sun protection necessary, electrochromic glass provides a large usable area thanks to the slim building envelope. The absence of external shading devices also leads to low maintenance costs and a long life expectancy, because there are no mechanical or textile components on the building envelope that require regular maintenance or repair. As the tint of SageGlass happens absolutely silently, the occupants are not disturbed in their work.

3. What do these benefits mean for architects and specifiers?

SageGlass helps to increase the design freedom. The ability to adapt to the sun’s activity allows the architect to control the heat and light entering a building. As a result, the use of electrochromic glass such as SageGlass enables an architect to design with more glass, thus providing the needed access to daylight and views without any compromise on energy savings or comfort. By the way: Electrochromic coatings can be easily integrated into a single, double or triple glazing unit just like traditional coatings. By adding colors or additional coatings to the exterior glass pane different exterior aesthetics can be achieved.

4. How can you achieve a neutral colour rendering in the room with SageGlass?

This is a very good and popular question. Through continuous improvement, the SageGlass product portfolio has become more in tune with the natural colour rendering in the room. For example, SageGlass Neutral Clear offers a colour rendering index of 97 percent in the clear state. With our newest product SageGlass Harmony, which offers gradual in-pane tinting, building owners can achieve a colour rendering index of over 90 percent.

5. What does a façade with SageGlass cost?

The cost depends on the size and the complexity of a project. In most cases, the investment is between that of a conventional façade — consisting of IGUs and external shading solutions — and that of a double skin or closed cavity façade. However, the maintenance costs are significantly lower with SageGlass. If you consider all the advantages you have with SageGlass over time (i.e. lower energy costs, larger room space and the increased occupant comfort), investing in a dynamic glass façade pays off within ten to 15 years.

6. What is the life expectancy of SageGlass?

Our products have been tested for quality and durability by the international organisation ASTM and have successfully passed 100,000 switching cycles. Thanks to its inorganic components, the electrochromic layer does not diminish over time. Accordingly, the life span of a SageGlass IGU is the same as that of a standard IGU, which is around 30 years.

7. What general developments in the building envelope do you currently see on the market?

The building envelope itself is becoming a connected object. This is creating tremendous opportunities for the building industry. Commercial real estate owners will be able to better use the space available, and charge higher tenant fees for intelligent buildings for a variety of reasons including lower operational costs as well as the support for improved safety, comfort, security, and productivity for the occupants.

We want to foster the adoption of these smart solutions together with all stakeholders in the market, real estate developers, investors, building owners, architects, consultants, contractors, and installers. We all aim to satisfy the requirements of the end customer, the building occupant, who is looking for an innovative solution that will constantly improve their well-being and comfort. Saint-Gobain SageGlass is offering solutions that are part of that development.

Aesthetics and Function

with High-tech Glass

A central, open stairwell links the three floors and allows visual contact across all the levels. © James Newton

Aesthetics and Function

with High-tech Glass

Low Street in the British city of Sunderland was once a place where goods were warehoused and ships were built. Today, the young professionals here dream up online games for the company Tombola. The design of the new headquarters embraces the historic industrial architecture of the local area, while the use of SageGlass® technology provides employees with maximum comfort and a state-of-the-art working environment.

Sunderland is located at the mouth of the River Wear in North East England and was originally established as a result of the coal and salt trade in the area.

From the 14th to 19th century, people turned their attention to building ships. 200 years later, modern sectors have replaced these longstanding sources of income in the port city. Tombola was founded in Sunderland in 2006. The family-run company develops and markets extremely successful online games and now has four branches worldwide. In 2018, to meet the demand for an innovative, high-tech employer, a new headquarters was designed and built by Ryder Architecture. The building, awarded a prize by the Architects’ Journal, is situated in Low Street in the center of Sunderland, on the southern bank of the Wear.

The main feature of the new building is its trio of roof pitches that merge seamlessly with the longer sides of the red brick outer shell. To contrast this, the fully glazed facade on the eastern side forms the “face” of the building and opens up the view of the nearby port. A central, open stairwell links the three floors and allows visual contact across all the levels. The wide, single-flight stairway provides space for meeting others and the seating areas in the middle section invite people to linger. In the evening, the spatial transparency also becomes apparent from outside the building as the front facade loses its reflective effect and the inner levels of the building emit a uniform glow of warm light.

As one of the leading companies in the gaming industry, it was extremely important for the client to create an attractive, contemporary working environment. This can be seen in the open-plan office and communication spaces. The user comfort and climate design also needed to meet the latest standards. As most of the company’s staff work on a computer, it was essential to control glare at their workstations. Everyone agreed that the striking appearance of the pitched roofs and glass facade should not be diminished in any way by internal or external shading systems.

The glazed facade on the eastern side is the “face” of the new Tombola headquarters. In the evening, the glass loses its reflective effect and the inner levels of the building emit a uniform glow of warm light. © James Newton

The wide, single-flight stairway provides space for meeting others. Seating in the middle invites people to linger.© James Newton Most staff at Tombola work on a computer, making optimal glare control essential. SageGlass makes this possible without needing to spoil the building’s striking look with external shading systems. © James Newton

After extensive research, the team of architects discovered SageGlass. The dynamic electrochromic glass not only met the clients’ ambitions for the building aesthetically and functionally, it also provides major performance benefits such as lower HVAC costs and improved individual comfort. A total of 9,365 square feet of SageGlass Climaplus Gray was therefore installed at the new Tombola headquarters.

SageGlass automatically tints in response to the position of the sun, meaning that it can precisely meet the needs of the building’s users. The smart glass also reduces operating costs, as it allows comprehensive control of the heat and light entering the building.

Alain Garnier, Country Manager UK, Ireland & Middle East at SageGlass

Since mid-2015, Alain Garnier has been in charge of developing the SageGlass business for Saint-Gobain in the UK and Ireland. His goal is to support continued and sustainable growth for SageGlass dynamic glazing and to address this new market from a position of strength across the regions.

Alain joined the Saint-Gobain group in 2002 to head the newly created Photovoltaics business unit within the Flat Glass division in Europe and later in the US. In 2012, he took up the challenge of developing the market for SageGlass in Europe, and successfully completed the first large scale projects.

Alain graduated in Engineering from the Ecole Centrale (France) and studied at the Technical University of Berlin (Germany). He received his MSc in Industrial Robotics from Cranfield University (UK), and later graduated from the ESSEC business school executive management program.

Alain is passionate about glass and its use in the building envelope. He is a frequent speaker at conferences, seminars and trade shows.

Coming in June…

IGS SUMMER 2021 COLLABORATION NATION

2021, the summer of love – Architects, developers, façade engineers, glass manufacturers, installers and specifiers (the list goes on) collaborate to design and build projects that will redefine cityscapes across the globe. The network and relationships that are required from the concept to fruition of a building envelope are staggering. Indeed, the final façade is a product of multiple inputs and agendas; coupled with increasing expectations of glass as a building material and the performance of building envelopes, a vast number of challenges arise during the process. The glass and façade industries have proven their abilities to adapt, innovate and listen; responding to the requirements of architects and clients through the development of new technologies and products, and through the design and engineering of demanding, unique and ground-breaking projects. This is the story we shall tell…

In the summer edition of IGS magazine, we explore these relationships through project case studies, insightful thought leadership and interviews, unraveling the complex nature of the modern façade and how they come to be. From the client to the architect to the façade engineer to the glass manufacturer, IGS takes you on a journey of collaboration.

“Alone we can do so little;

together we can do so much.” - Helen Keller

COLLABORATION

The Glass Supper, Remembers

The world has been in crisis for over one year now, the times they are a changing and The Glass Supper has had to change and adapt also. Late last year on 3rd December we held our first digital event called The Glass Supper....Virtually Speaking 2020. The big advantage with hosting a digital event as opposed to a physical face to face event is technology, here digital wins hands down. One can get as close to your client as is humanly possible, but you cannot touch them or smell them. IGS would like to say a massive thank you to our very long-standing Event Partners, DOW, SAINT-GOBAIN and PERMASTEELISA, and also to our sponsors, AGC Interpane, Sika, EOC Engineers and all the companies that took part in our adventure to the moon.

During the Glass Supper this year we introduced a "Spot the Celebrity" Competition Sponsored Glas Trösch, with a number of celebrities posted in and around the venue, including Mother Theresa, Mohammed Ali, Gandhi, Marilyn Monroe and guests were invited to try to spot all of the celebrity avatars. A number of you took part in the competition, we hope you had a bit of fun, but the outright winner as chosen randomly by Mr.Paul Anderson of Glass Trosch was Eva Babel of ARUP. Eva has won adverts for the year in IGS magazine for ARUP, plus an all singing and dancing apple i-Pad. Coming in a very close second place is Eckersley O'Callaghan's Katherine Smale who wins an apple i-Pad, and in a very respected third place was Beatriz Fernandez of Seele. Congratulations to all the winners and to everyone who took part in our little bit of festive fun, we hope you enjoyed it.

2018 at The Roundhouse Kai-Uwe trys to keep the wolves from the door

Glass Supper virtual booth

As things have not yet settled down and covid remains lurking in the atmosphere, there will be no Glass Supper once again this year, but let's keep our fingers crossed that we can all get together in all of our favourite getting together places and hug and talk without masks or any form of social distancing in 2022. For now, let's do a little reminiscing and take a look back at some of the more recent Glass Supper events from 2018 when we were at the Roundhouse, then 2019 inside London's Guildhall with its glitteringly fascinating history. We end with some views of last year’s digital event.

Virtual Lobby

Virtual Auditorium

2019 at the Guildhall

James O’Callaghan on stage with Professor Stefan Behling

Professor Martha Thorne with Ian Ritchie, you can call him Ludwig