Guardian Glass Projects Win AIA Design Excellence Awards

Guardian SunGuard® glass is the product ofchoice for three projects that are setting the standard in design and sustainability, according to the AIA and the Committee on the Environment (COTE):

• Bristol Community College John J. Sbrega Health and Science Building in Fall River, Massachusetts
• Brock Environmental Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia
• Discovery Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia

“These COTE winners are a real testament to the science of glass and its ability to help projects achieve incredible efficiency and aesthetics,” says Brian Schulz, product manager, Guardian Glass North America.

“Three very different projects using three very different, high performance SunGuard glass products that allow abundant daylight while managing solar heat gain.

“Glass is a critical and complicated material,” Schulz adds. “The building team has to manage daylight, aesthetics, glare and energy savings while considering climate, elevation and other performance and environmental considerations. We’re thrilled these architects recognize the superior performance of Guardian SunGuard® glass.”

Products at a glance:

Bristol Community College John J.Sbrega Health and Science Building – Guardian SunGuard® SuperNeutral® 54 glass

The John J. Sbrega Health and Science Building at Bristol Community College sets the standard as the first zero net energy academic science building in the Northeast. It boasts operational savings of $103,000 per year.

Designed by Sasaki Associates, the building was carefully oriented and windows located so daylight enters where needed, including the south and north ends of the building through a two-story tall curtain wall and on the east side through a clerestory.

SunGuard® SuperNeutral® 54 glass allows a high degree of visible light transmission and has less glare transmitted to the interior compared to other leading products while maintaining a neutral appearance.

Brock Environmental Center – Guardian SunGuard® SuperNeutral® 70/41 glass

The Brock Environmental Center is a hub for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. SmithGroup JJR designed the center to surpass LEED® Platinum requirements, achieving zero-net-CO₂ emissions, zero waste, and Living Building Challenge certification from the International Living Future Institute.

The Center’s form and orientation maximize opportunities for daylighting. Carefully placed windows provide optimal daylight, views, and ventilation, without excessive heat gain.

Guardian Glass Europe’s SunGuard® SuperNeutral® 70/41 glass helps minimize heat gain while reducing the need for artificial light and offers excellent solar protection combined with outstanding thermal insulation.

Discovery Elementary School – Guardian SunGuard® SNX 62/27 glass

Discovery Elementary School is the first net zero energy school in the Mid-Atlantic, the largest in the U.S., and the second-largest fully conditioned zero energy building of any type in North America.

VMDO Architects designed the school with a 38 percent glazing percentage to allow for abundant natural light and views deep into the building. It’s well documented that students with access to outdoor views perform better than those without access to windows.

Triple silver Guardian SunGuard® SNX 62/27 glass offers a high visible light transmission of 62 percent while maintaining a low solar heat gain coefficient of 0.27 to help with the building’s energy management.

The COTE Top Ten Awards is the industry’s premier program celebrating sustainable design excellence. Now in their 21st year, the Top Ten Awards highlight projects that exemplify the integration of great design and great performance.

The Guardian SunGuard® glass product line for commercial applications offers excellent solar control and a wide variety of colors and performance levels.

SunGuard® glass products provide innovative, leading solutions for appearance, economics and energy efficiency, and are available through an international network of independent Guardian Select® fabricators.