Project: Oakland Airport Connector - Doolittle BART Station in Oakland, Calif.
Architect: ED2 International
Glazing Contractor: Bagatelos Glass
Products: SuperLite II-XL 60 IGU in GPX Framing with Sunshade Connection
Why it’s unique: Sunshade connections are not typical with fire rated assemblies
For the Doolittle Maintenance Facility, SAFTI FIRST provided 60 minute, fire resistive wall openings in the exterior using SuperLite II-XL 60 insulated with low-e glazing in GPX Framing with a clear anodized finish. SAFTI FIRST engineered a connection that allows the structural elements of the GPX Framing System to support an integral sunshade system, instead of being hung in front of it.
The framing covers were notched around the brackets to create a seamless connection. The connection was also kept in front of the waterline to avoid a potential breach, keeping the system air and water tight. Other manufacturers would have to go through and behind the glazing pocket to get to the structure, creating a challenge during the fabrication and installation phases.
The potential for water penetration increases significantly once you punch a hole in your framing and glazing pocket. By using the SuperLite II-XL 60 IGU in GPX Framing, the architect was able to achieve the aesthetic and code requirements of the application while keeping the whole system air and water tight.
The Doolittle Bart Station is one of the first installations of the GPX System with sunshade connections, which also include SLCC New Instruction and Administrative Building in Salt Lake City, UT. While it is a fairly new offering, it is quickly gaining attention and interest in the building community. Sunshades are commonly used in building to control the amount of direct sunlight through exterior windows.
When the location of the exterior windows also need to meet fire rated requirements due to property lines, etc., it is good for designers to know that they have an option that combines both.
Related Stories
Building Team | Mar 6, 2017
AEC firms: Your website is one of the most important things you'll build
Don’t believe it? You’d better take a look at the research.
Architects | Mar 3, 2017
Hoffmann Architects’ Leadership Elected President of Three Industry Organizations
Maureen Dobbins, Lawrence Keenan, and Arthur Sanders to lead chapters of BOMA, AIA, and ICRI.
Office Buildings | Mar 2, 2017
White paper from Perkins Eastman and Three H examines how design can inform employee productivity and wellbeing
This paper is the first in a planned three-part series of studies on the evolution of diverse office environments and how the contemporary activity-based workplace (ABW) can be uniquely tailored to support a range of employee personalities, tasks and work modes.
Building Team | Mar 1, 2017
Intuitive wayfinding: An alternate approach to signage
Intuitive wayfinding is much like navigating via waypoints—moving from point to point to point.
Architects | Mar 1, 2017
Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta receive the 2017 Pritzker Architecture Prize
2017 marks the first time that three architects together are honored with the prize.
Architects | Feb 27, 2017
AIA selects four individuals to receive the 2017 Associates Award
The AIA Associates Award is given to individual Associate AIA members to recognize outstanding leaders and creative thinkers for significant contributions to their communities and the architecture profession.
Architects | Feb 24, 2017
14 architects selected to receive the 2017 Young Architects Award
Young Architects are defined as professionals who have been licensed 10 years or fewer regardless of their age.
Architects | Feb 20, 2017
Take an architecture class taught by Frank Gehry
The starchitect will be teaching a course for MasterClass, an online education platform.
Architects | Feb 16, 2017
16 design trends from Gensler’s 2017 Design Forecast
Gensler examines how design will shape the human experience in the next year and beyond.
Architects | Feb 14, 2017
NCARB streamlines path to certification for architects
Architects without a degree from an accredited program can pursue NCARB certification through a new path.
