Emerald Hills Executive Plaza One (now known as Ganot Plaza), located in Hollywood, Florida, was in desperate need of an overhaul. The 40-year-old building was encased with glass that used an inconsistent film, which struggled to keep sunlight out. In a highly competitive market, the property owner desired an upgrade to improve not only the building’s looks, but its comfort and performance, which resulted in faster leasing rates for the investment.
THE BUILDING: The Ganot Plaza is a 63,342-square-foot, six-story mid-rise office building. To give the building a sleek, modern, contemporary look and feel, the building received a major curtain wall retrofit.
SOLUTION: For this project, there was one clear choice -- energy-efficient VUE-30, one of Viracon’s highest performing coated glass. Working with a 28,000-square-foot curtain wall system, VUE-30 not only transformed the drab 40-year-old Emerald Hills office building into a modern marvel, but enhanced the energy efficiency of the building.
BENEFITS: In today’s tightening energy code environment, designers and developers have been demanding a low-emissivity coating with exceptional performance (a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of less than .20). To meet that need, Viracon developed the VUE line of glass coatings, which offers the opportunity to maximize window-to-wall ratio while maintaining performance that exceeds current domestic energy code requirements. Viracon VUE-30 provides natural daylight while reducing potential glare; balancing light with energy savings and low U-V transmittance. VUE-30 has superior solar performance with a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of .18 and Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 31% on clear glass resulting in an LSG of 1.72. VUE-30’s solar performance is complimented by a transparent appearance that designers have been asking for.
THE PLAYERS: Architect, Iraj S. Shojaie; General Contractor, Burke Construction; Curtain Wall Manufacturer and Contractor, Crawford-Tracey Corp.; Glass Fabricator, Viracon Inc.
To learn more, visit viracon.com
Related Stories
| Sep 13, 2010
Committed to the Core
How a forward-looking city government, a growth-minded university, a developer with vision, and a determined Building Team are breathing life into downtown Phoenix.
| Aug 11, 2010
New data shows low construction prices may soon be coming to an end
New federal data released recently shows sharp increases in the prices of key construction materials like diesel, copper and brass mill shapes likely foreshadow future increases in construction costs, the Associated General Contractors of America said. The new November producer price index (PPI) report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics provide the strongest indication yet that construction prices are heading up, the association noted.
| Aug 11, 2010
Using physical mockups to identify curtain wall design flaws
Part two of a five-part series on diagnosing and avoiding cladding, glazing, and roofing failures from building forensics expert IBA Consultants.
| Aug 11, 2010
Best AEC Firms of 2011/12
Later this year, we will launch Best AEC Firms 2012. We’re looking for firms that create truly positive workplaces for their AEC professionals and support staff. Keep an eye on this page for entry information. +
| Aug 11, 2010
AAMA leads development of BIM standard for fenestration products
The American Architectural Manufacturers Association’s newly formed BIM Task Group met during the AAMA National Fall Conference to discuss the need for an BIM standard for nonresidential fenestration products.
| Aug 11, 2010
NoricF4 custom metal ICF frames receive fire ratings, comply with antiterrorism standards for buildings
Reward Wall Systems' NoricF4 Custom Metal ICF Frames have received fire ratings of 1.5 hours to 3 hours and they have been evaluated to be in compliance with the prescriptive requirements of the Department of Defense Minimum Antiterrorism Standards for Buildings for blast/force protection.
| Aug 11, 2010
AIA Course: Enclosure strategies for better buildings
Sustainability and energy efficiency depend not only on the overall design but also on the building's enclosure system. Whether it's via better air-infiltration control, thermal insulation, and moisture control, or more advanced strategies such as active façades with automated shading and venting or novel enclosure types such as double walls, Building Teams are delivering more efficient, better performing, and healthier building enclosures.
| Aug 11, 2010
Glass Wall Systems Open Up Closed Spaces
Sectioning off large open spaces without making everything feel closed off was the challenge faced by two very different projects—one an upscale food market in Napa Valley, the other a corporate office in Southern California. Movable glass wall systems proved to be the solution in both projects.
