- Architect: GNF Architects and Engineers, Lexington, Kentucky
- Glazing Contractor: Pal’s Glass Service, Wichita, Kansas
- General Contractor: Gray Construction, Lexington, Kentucky
- Project Completion Date: December 2010
Siemens Wind Turbine Facility
Hutchinson, Kansas
SageGlass covers the west facade of this new manufacturing facility, providing heat and glare control in several open office spaces, private offices, and the company’s cafeteria. SageGlass is integrated into the building’s automation system so that as sunlight or temperature increases, sensors control how much light and heat enter the building. The facility saves energy from reduced artificial lighting and HVAC loads. Natural light and an unobstructed view of the outdoors bring unparalleled comfort to the people inside the building. The building earned LEED gold status.
The Challenge
Beginning at the earliest stages of design, glass was always a central component of the design team’s vision for the new 300,000-square-foot Siemens wind turbine facility. However, function threatened to undermine form.
Architects discovered that the aesthetic of the glass wall planned for the building’s front facade would be compromised once conventional systems were added to reduce glare and control solar heat gain. Such measures are mandatory with low-e glass in this southernmost region of the U.S. heartland, known for its abundant sunshine and long, hot summers.
The facility’s original rendering included the addition of automatically controlled horizontal louvers on the façade exterior, which would rotate to block the sunlight during the peak hours of solar gain and glare. However, this approach did not mesh well with the architects’ desire for daylight and unobstructed views through the glass.
The Solution
After researching alternative options for managing sunlight, the architect, GNF Architects and Engineers, ultimately chose to specify dynamic SageGlass glazing for the Siemens facility front facade.The team was pleased to learn that this advanced glazing technology had a lower initial cost than conventional static solutions. It would also involve minimal ongoing maintenance costs.
The 4,900-square-foot curtain wall features automatic variable tinting in 30 zones, which are integrated into the Siemens building management system. A manual override capability allows authorized personnel to make additional adjustments by zone as necessary.
Benefits
By specifying SageGlass glazing instead of conventional low-e glass and automated external louvers, the design team has seen its architectural vision transformed into beautiful reality, with no aesthetic compromises required to manage incoming sunlight.
The unobstructed curtain wall creates a clean, contemporary look to the building facade. Inside, employees and visitors enjoy abundant natural light with minimal glare, along with comfortable room temperatures and clear views of the surrounding grounds — throughout the year and in all lighting conditions. The dynamic glass also reduces dependence on artificial lighting and HVAC systems, resulting in a highly energy-efficient building that has been certified LEED Gold.
GNF is extremely satisfied with the results of the Siemens Wind Turbine Assembly Facility, and is considering the use of SageGlass glazing for other projects.