350 reasons to believe in the future

Celebrating 350 years of sustainable building innovation in 2015, Saint-Gobain is hosting a four-city global tour to highlight the past and showcase what’s ahead.Titled “Future Sensations,” the tour started in Shanghai, China this winter before moving on to Sao Paulo, Brazil in April. The next destination – and the only stop in the United States – is in Philadelphia in June before ending up in Paris, France near the Saint-Gobain global headquarters.

There are four pavilions on display at every stop, representing the following themes: A Reflection of Progress, A New Sensation, The Stuff of Dreams, and The Art of the Matter. The North American stop in Philadelphia, home to Saint-Gobain’s domestic headquarters, includes the addition of a fifth pavilion titled History and Future which takes place from May 30^th through June 6^th. This special fifth pavilion is “an impressive 70-foot dome offering an immersive 360 degree visual experience.” Visitors will gain insight about the Saint-Gobain products made here in the United States including SageGlass® dynamic glass technology. Viewers will be both challenged and delighted in understanding how these new building technologies work and help customers realize the benefits of sustainable buildings.  

Saint-Gobain got its start in the glass business in 1665 when it was commissioned to make the glass for the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles in Paris. With its acquisition of SAGE in 2012 Saint-Gobain added architectural electrochromic glass to its portfolio, bringing dynamic glass at an affordable price to the commercial building market. Electrochromic glass is electronically tintable dynamic glass that darkens or clears automatically in response to the sun’s movements throughout the day while preserving the outdoor views. It is a smarter, more elegant solution than conventional sun controls such as mechanical window shades, blinds and louvers. With SageGlass users can control sunlight and glare without shades or blinds while maintaining the view and connection to the outdoors. Buildings across the country ranging from hospitals and museums to casinos and libraries have already installed SageGlass.

While the Future Sensations exhibit is sure to generate excitement for visitors regarding innovation at Saint-Gobain, we are excited to showcase SageGlass at the 5^th pavilion. Through the interactive exhibit, visitors will be able to get a feel for how the glass works and why it is important to the future of architectural designs.

As visitors enter the Future Sensations dome and experience building technology in a way they may have never imagined, we hope they will see the true benefits of all of Saint-Gobain’s many innovations. After 350 years in the business, Saint-Gobain believes there truly are “350 Reasons to Believe in the Future,” especially for the growing dynamic glass market. Visit here to register for the event. See you through the glass soon in Philly!