New York may be home to more architectural landmarks than any city in the U.S., so when renowned architect Bjarke Ingels was commissioned by Durst Fetner to design a new apartment building along the city’s Hudson River, he chose to make a splash.
The result is VIA 57 West, an audacious, shape-shifting structure that appears as a soaring 467-foot spire when seen from the city-side of the building and a glittering metal-clad pyramid when viewed from the river.
Featuring a hybrid design that unites the traditional looks of a courtyard-block-style apartment complex and a towering Manhattan high-rise, VIA 57 West creates a striking profile on the New York city skyline and satisfies Ingels’ desire to connect residents to the outside world. To achieve that objective, the architect incorporated a variety of components, including a generous courtyard that punctures the center of the façade, open terraces that perforate the glittering metal curtain wall and oversized bay windows strategically positioned to brighten each of the building’s 709 apartments.
Utilizing Solarban® 70XL glass by Vitro Glass, the floor-to-ceiling windows in VIA 57 West contribute to an integrated energy management program that incorporates a highly efficient mechanical system, occupancy sensors for lighting and a hybrid water source heat pump system.
Carlos Amin, vice president of sales for Tecnoglass, said his company fabricated 5,000 window units from Solarban® 70XL glass in an array of shapes and sizes for the project, which he called one of the most complex he had ever worked on.
“The building faces west, so the architect was intent on specifying a product with a high solar heat gain coefficient,” he explained. “He also wanted a glass with good transparency to preserve the views.”
Formulated with the industry’s first triple-silver coating, Solarban® 70XL glass has a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.27 and a visible light transmittance of 64 percent in a standard 1-inch insulating glass unit. That configuration, which was specified for VIA 57 West, enables window units to block more than 70 percent of the ambient solar energy from entering the building, reducing demand for air-conditioning in the spring and summer, and enhancing the comfort and views of building occupants throughout the year.
As a glass and metal fabricator, Tecnoglass served as part of an integrated team of high-end contractors involved in meeting the building’s complex design demands. Working together, Tecnoglass, ENCLOS, Techniform and Bunting Architectural Metals fabricated, assembled and installed more than 350,000 square-feet of curtain wall; a 110,000-square-foot stainless steel slope wall; 1,200 stainless steel cladding components and 50,000 square-feet of glass-fiber reinforced concrete to create a 515,200-square-foot building envelope.
Since opening in 2016, VIA 57 West has gained numerous accolades for both its design and environmental performance. Even more important, it has added a gleaming new inhabitant to New York’s register of famous architecture while providing an oasis of comfort and sustainability to more than 700 residents and their families.
To learn more about Solarban® 70XL glass and other high-performance glass products by Vitro Glass, visit www.vitroglazings.com.
Related Stories
Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Feb 8, 2016
The State of the Fire Rated Glass Industry
After a strong 2015, demand for fire resistive glass continues to grow
Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Jan 27, 2016
Saving Energy & Birds at the Boulevard Club
The Boulevard Club is a century old structure in Toronto which needed an expansion. The windows facing Lake Ontario needed to be bird friendly in order to reduce the number of window collisions. In this case, AviProtek E bird friendly low-e coated acid-etched glass was the right choice.
Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Dec 11, 2015
Glass industry gives back during the holidays
The holiday season is generally a time when individuals and companies ramp up their charitable giving. The glass industry is no different.
Curtain Wall | Nov 4, 2015
Curved glass curtains will give Washington, D.C., office building more views and floor space
Around 900 fluted glass panes will cover 2050 M Street, which will contain television studios for CBS.
Glass and Glazing | Oct 19, 2015
Safti First completes $6 million expansion in U.S. manufacturing operations
Being the first fully vertically-integrated fire rated glazing USA-manufacturer enables Safti First to provide the fastest lead times, most competitive prices and best coordination
Glass and Glazing | Sep 10, 2015
As commercial construction booms, glass supply is lagging demand
Manufacturers are frantically restarting plants they mothballed during the economic downturn.
BIM and Information Technology | Aug 28, 2015
MIT researchers develop 3D printer that produces intricate glass structures
The machine uses molten glass as its “ink,” contained in a “kiln cartridge” that heats up at 1,900 degrees until it is molten and pliable.
Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Aug 17, 2015
Specialty tempered glass??
Tempered glass is an excellent choice for large expanses of glass that maximize clear views while providing significant wind load and thermal stress resistance.
Codes and Standards | Aug 6, 2015
AAMA updates methods for testing of exterior walls
The standard specifies test methods, specifications, and field checks to evaluate structural adequacy of exterior wall systems composed of curtain walls, storefronts, and sloped glazing.
