Buildings clad in large sheets of uninterrupted glass are relatively commonplace today. But this was an unthinkable concept before developing structural glazing capable of bearing heavy loads.

For more information, please visit Zhuzao.

So what is structural glazing, what are its advantages and disadvantages, and how can it potentially help your next project? Let&#;s dive in.

What is Structural Glazing?

Structural glass and glazing is glass that bears some of the structure&#;s weight. It&#;s composed of panels of reinforced, load-bearing glass usually held together by a strong silicone adhesive, allowing architects to create buildings or building components that appear fabricated from nothing but glass.

Structural glazing is traditionally used in glass skyscrapers but now has many other applications, from glass floors to minimal glass windows with no discernable frame. The glass within structural glazing is typically either laminated, monolithic, double-glazed, or triple-glazed insulating glass units (IGUs).

The sheer strength of structural glazing means it doesn&#;t need a heavy-looking frame to hold it up like most traditional glazing applications, presenting many design possibilities that can involve truly massive glass installations. Because of its lack of visible framing, structural glazing offers a streamlined look, greater penetration of natural light, and minimally obstructed views.

Able to bear weight either vertically or horizontally, structural glazing is flexible enough to be used at any scale and bonds to virtually any building framework.

From load-bearing glass decks and floors to glass entrances, skylights, elevator enclosures, and frameless sliding glass doors, structural glazing makes it possible.

How Does Structural Glazing Work?

Most modern structural glazing systems use stainless steel fittings countersunk into the corners of each glass panel. Panels are then attached to the building&#;s structure directly (instead of to a window frame).

Plenty of different types of structural glazing exist, including:

• Four-sided framed glazing: Structural glazing with a four-sided frame supporting the glass
• Two-sided framed glazing: Structural glazing with a two-sided frame supporting the glass
• Frameless glazing system: A glazing system that uses sliding folding panels able to move along a surface without bearings
• Unitized curtain wall system: A modular design consisting of pre-assembled and joined panels, ensuring easy and fast on-site installation
• Stick glazing: Installed using pressure plates and gaskets to hold the glass in place, stick glazing involves wet sealing of the system on-site, which usually requires temporary clamping while the silicone cures
• Glass fin-supported glazing: Glass sheets, known as fins, are used to reinforce the facade (instead of steel mullions)
• Tension systems: Uses high-tensile cables or stainless steel rods for support

All the above structural glazing systems offer a similar result: Greater transparency through a smooth and contiguous surface with little to no metal, pressure plates, or caps.

The History of Structural Glazing

Like most technological innovations, the history of structural glazing is one of small increments that have eventually led to glazing applications that contemporaries would have considered impossible just a few decades ago.

A few highlights in the development of structural glazing:

• Early s: Glass block, a load-bearing glazing material developed to bring more light into previously dark industrial spaces, is invented and used in a similar style to masonry
• : Plastic polyvinyl butryal (PVB) glass, a type of laminated safety glass often used in structural applications, is invented
• s: Float glass is developed, an architectural glass with the same thickness as plate glass but with much stronger structural capabilities
• s: The use of tempered glass in construction begins to pick up steam, leading designers to use larger pieces of tempered glass in doors and windows
• : The CN Tower in Toronto opens a glass floor made of structural glazing, at the time the first of its kind anywhere in the world
• : The Willis Tower in Chicago opens The Ledge, a glass box made of structural glazing suspended more than 1,000 feet above the ground
• : The longest glass bridge in the world, the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, opens in China in
• : Apple opens its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., featuring 3,000 sheets of glass and the world&#;s largest curved windows (47 x 10 feet exterior and 36 x 10 feet interior)

Applications of Structural Glazing

The existence of strengthened, laminated glass means architects and designers can now use glass similarly to any other building material, creating plenty of opportunity for innovation.

Want more information on Curved Curtain Wall? Feel free to contact us.

Indeed, structural glazing applications are all around us, from the ribbons of glass thrusting upward in our skyscraper-dotted cities to relatively modest frameless sliding glass doors, to several tourist attractions such as Chamonix, France&#;s Aiguille du Midi Skywalk and Canada&#;s Columbia Icefield Skywalk.

However, much of the growth in structural glazing over the past few years has been in the residential space. We&#;ve already mentioned using structural glazing on roofs, floors, and large curtain walls. Architects and designers can now add glass extensions with minimal to no framing to residences for more space and natural light.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Structural Glazing

Like any building material or technique, structural glazing has advantages and disadvantages. One of the most significant advantages of structural glazing is that it can be deployed in challenging locations previously unsuitable for glass or in regions prone to earthquakes that need stronger glass to reduce potential damage.

But there are other advantages of structural glazing, including:

Increased natural light: More natural light due to massive swathes of glass and unobstructed sightlines that wouldn&#;t be possible without strengthened glass. Natural light has positive health and performance-related effects in healthcare and other applications

Better connection with nature: The massive panes of glass possible in structured glazing means buildings can have a much more intimate relationship with their natural surroundings while still being protected from the elements

Insulation and energy efficiency: Technology advances have helped the insulating properties of structural glass, with thermal glass able to control solar heat gain and maintain a comfortable ambient temperature. The silicon used to connect glass panels also has a beneficial effect, as the lack of exposed exterior metal reduces the amount of thermal bridging; double- and triple-glazing helps improve thermal performance in colder climates

Architectural flexibility: Large glass walls or other structural glass fixtures add indisputable design flare to any project and is often deployed to help remediate older or heritage buildings. The versatility of load-bearing glass also opens up various architectural possibilities to create massive and unique glass structures or features.

Unicel Architectural Curtain Walls: Structural Glazing

Unicel Architectural&#;s aluminum curtain walls, skylights, and timber curtain walls are popular for architects wanting to add structural glazing with a seamless finish to their projects. Unicel Architectural fabricates all timber and aluminum curtain walls in-factory, which means minimal installation time and effort at the job site.

Contact Unicel Architectural today to learn more about our structural glazing options.

Re: 101 Seaport Blvd (PwC) | Parcel L1@Seaport Sq. | Seaport

vanshnookenraggen said:

The glass wall on the JHT is different in that it is designed to stand out. 4 WTC melts into the sky. I love the JHT more but that has to do with the shape rather than the glass.


/END TANGENT

Click to expand...

Van -- Cobb designed both the JHT and the Moakley's Sea Wall to mirror the surroundings and both do the job spectacularly

Of course both had help:

The Moakley Glass Sea Wall -- particularly from across the Fort Point Channel reflects the ever-changing harbor with its activities as a background with a foreground of the Court House Park. Unfortunately, its landside view from a pedestrian emerging from Court House Station on the Silver Line is worse than just mundane -- it just looks like a bunker. Some of that was the less than inspiring surroundings at the time of its design, but a lot of it is that there are a lot of internal, non-public Court House functions that don't want to be near to large windows and Cobb just put those on the landside of the building.

The JHT -- offers the best of all worlds as because of the the parallelogram floor plate, the setting of the building at an angle to the streets and the wide glass mirror of the neighborhood on the long sides. But even the short side view from Copley Square near to Trinity looking toward the church works well as the noted narrow mirror wall frames a reflected view of Richardson's incomparable masterpiece of Trinity. Other good views include:

• the Skywalk of the Pru where of course you can't see the Pru.
• Skywalk of the Pru at dusk catching the sunset and lights coming on
• from the plaza next to 500 Boylston looking toward Trinity where you can see the Old Hancock with the ever changing weather beacon reflected against the background of the sky's vicissitudes.
• Hancock 3 reflecting Hancock 2 and 1
• from the Public Garden nice views of the Back Bay and at certain angles you might see the reflection of the Old Hancock with the occasional championship pennant flying from its top.
• across the Charles in front of MIT-- with the seasons and the weather as a backdrop for the Back Bay neighborhood.

Since Cobb is involved in the Four Seasons Tower it will be interesting to see how he takes advantage of its neighborhood


PS: back to the original matter -- what about 601 Congress Street -- aka John Hanckock 4

Van -- Cobb designed both the JHT and the Moakley's Sea Wall to mirror the surroundings and both do the job spectacularlyOf course both had help:The Moakley Glass Sea Wall -- particularly from across the Fort Point Channel reflects the ever-changing harbor with its activities as a background with a foreground of the Court House Park. Unfortunately, its landside view from a pedestrian emerging from Court House Station on the Silver Line is worse than just mundane -- it just looks like a bunker. Some of that was the less than inspiring surroundings at the time of its design, but a lot of it is that there are a lot of internal, non-public Court House functions that don't want to be near to large windows and Cobb just put those on the landside of the building.The JHT -- offers the best of all worlds as because of the the parallelogram floor plate, the setting of the building at an angle to the streets and the wide glass mirror of the neighborhood on the long sides. But even the short side view from Copley Square near to Trinity looking toward the church works well as the noted narrow mirror wall frames a reflected view of Richardson's incomparable masterpiece of Trinity. Other good views include:Since Cobb is involved in the Four Seasons Tower it will be interesting to see how he takes advantage of its neighborhoodPS: back to the original matter -- what about 601 Congress Street -- aka John Hanckock 4-- doesn't have much around it so far to form interesting reflections

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Commercial Curtain Wall.