Delivering neutral facades with high light transmission, desired energy performance

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[["a",["href","https:\/\/www.pagethink.com\/","target","_blank"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.terrapinbrightgreen.com\/reports\/the-economics-of-biophilia\/","target","_blank"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/hbr.org\/2018\/09\/the-1-office-perk-natural-light","target","_blank"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.guardianglass.com\/us\/en\/our-glass\/sunguard-snx-70","target","_blank"]],["em"],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.guardianglass.com\/us\/en\/tools-and-resources\/resources\/resource-hub","target","_blank"]]],"sections":[[1,"h2",[[0,[],0,"When searching for a neutral glass aesthetic, architects and designers must be practical about solar and thermal performance. AIA partner Guardian explores the opportunities of low-E, triple-silver coated glass products."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Take a look at the commercial buildings that surround you right now. More often than not, we see a variety of structures: From retrofits to new construction, super-tall to single story. While those facades may seem to have little in common, those of us in the building design and construction world are familiar with a common request from owner to operator to architect: They are looking for a neutral glass aesthetic. "]]],[1,"h3",[[0,[],0,"Neutrality"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Why is this? Perhaps historic retrofits need it to be consistent with the building\u2019s original appearance. Owners of new builds or contemporary buildings requiring a facelift may be looking for glass that will complement the rest of the fa\u00e7ade while offering clear views for occupants and low reflectivity to passersby. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\u201c\u2026 It is equally important for glass to be as invisible as it is visible,\u201d explained Matthew Z. Leach, AIA, principal and senior designer for "],[0,[0],1,"Page"],[0,[],0,". \u201cThe end user should not be overwhelmed by particular qualities of something as ubiquitous as glass; it should appear as natural as expected.\u201d"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Numerous studies demonstrate that \u201cnatural\u201d is an important factor in how we live and work in proximity to glass, as well: "],[0,[1],1,"According to a University of Oregon study"],[0,[],0,", 10% of employee absences can be attributed to architecture with no connection to nature. And "],[0,[2],1,"a 2018 poll"],[0,[],0," of North American employees revealed that access to natural light and views was the highest-ranked attribute of the workplace environment. "]]],[1,"h3",[[0,[],0,"Performance"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Because energy codes and standards have become critical considerations, but vary widely from city to state, architects and their clients must be practical about solar and thermal performance when searching for that neutral aesthetic. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"One family of glazing that helps to maximize performance while staying attuned to aesthetics is low-E, triple-silver coated glass:"]]],[3,"ul",[[[0,[],0,"Low-E describes a coating that helps minimize ultraviolet and infrared light while maximizing transmitted visible light. "]],[[0,[],0,"Triple silver describes a low-E coating application that uses three microscopic layers of silver to reduce solar heat."]]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Low-E, triple-silver coated glass products deliver a higher ratio of natural light transmission and solar energy control compared to double- and single-silver coating solutions. This ratio is referred to as light-to-solar gain, which provides a gauge to compare how different glass types will allow for the transmission of visible light while simultaneously reducing heat gain. Many triple-silver coatings look to maximize light transmission and offer low reflection to help make views between the exterior and interior more vivid. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"When viewed at an angle, however, some low-E coatings could illustrate a variation in the angular reflected color compared to the reflected color at normal angle of incidence. The design for this newest "],[0,[3],1,"low-E, triple-silver coated glass"],[0,[],0," took this into consideration, with a focus on developing a coating that provides a neutral reflected aesthetic that is more consistent whatever the viewing angle. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\u201cOur projects strive for a sense of belonging and strong contextual relevance,\u201d Leach added. \u201cGlass should contribute to the vibrance of the project while highlighting the adjacent materials as well as the reflected context. It is important that the color rendition of reflection be as bright but also as neutral as possible.\u201d"]]],[1,"h3",[[0,[],0,"Extra aesthetic oomph"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Architects can add more clarity to their fa\u00e7ade design by pairing a low-E, triple-silver coated product with a low-iron substrate, which has a high light transmission level of over 91% and average iron content of just 0.01%. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Bringing a low-iron substrate into the insulating glass unit adds a crisp, clear appearance for attractive exteriors and bright, comfortable interiors preferred by the design and architect community. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[4],0,"Register at the "],[0,[5],1,"Resource Hub at Guardian Glass"],[0,[],1," for access to technical resources and analytics tools to see how the new SunGuard SNX 70+ coating, and the rest of Guardian\u2019s full line of high performance, low-E coatings can help exterior facades meet elevated requirements for performance and aesthetics."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[4],1,"SunGuard and Guardian are trademarks of Guardian Industries, LLC and\/or Guardian Glass, LLC. All other trademarks not owned by Guardian are the property of their respective owners. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[4],1,"AIA does not sponsor or endorse any enterprise, whether \npublic or private, operated for profit. Further, no AIA officer, \ndirector, committee member, or employee, or any of its component \norganizations in his or her official capacity, is permitted to approve, \nsponsor, endorse, or do anything that may be deemed or construed to be \nan approval, sponsorship, or endorsement of any material of construction\n or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in\n any material or product."]]]]}