When multinational energy company Utilicorp United decided to renovate the former New York Life building in Kansas City, Missouri, for its headquarters, the challenge was to create a workplace that embodied a commitment to energy conservation and to the environment.
Pella® wood double-hung and fixed windows windows were selected because they enabled the architects to stay true to the Neo-Romanesque design of the building — maintaining its listing on the National Register of Historic Places — while effectively addressing energy efficiency through fenestration. Not only do wood window frames have excellent insulating properties, wood is a renewable resource. The use of this natural material underscored the company's commitment to sustainability.
The new operable double-hung units with Low-E insulating glass allow natural ventilation, a rare luxury for modern high-rise buildings. The design team made the most of the structure’s strengths — like the alignment and shape of the window openings and skylights, which allow abundant daylight to penetrate deep into interior spaces. The building’s use of windows makes natural illumination one of its more important energy-saving features.
Today the building is the perfect blend of past and present — honoring the elegance of the original structure while making use of today's innovative products.
The architects specified clear, Low-E glass that looked like the original clear plate glass and minimized solar heat gain and ultraviolet light.
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