Crystal Window & Door Systems has completed a significant contribution to the modernization of The Blairs District in Silver Spring, Maryland, supplying 3,428 energy-efficient windows and doors for a large-scale replacement project across three high-rise residential buildings. The properties, Blair House, Blair Plaza, and Blair East, together include more than 1,000 apartments and rise between 12 and 17 stories, forming a key part of the historic mixed-use community bordering Washington, DC.
According to Kevin Lechwar, Crystal’s MidAtlantic Regional Sales Manager, the upgrade brings both aesthetic and functional improvements. He noted that the newly installed Series 5600 sliding windows and Series 5100 fixed windows enhance energy savings, reduce exterior noise, and increase natural daylight for residents.
All three buildings utilized Crystal’s heavy-commercial Series 5600 sliding windows in 2-lite and 3-lite configurations, with many units on two of the properties combined on-site into expansive horizontal assemblies, some stretching up to 40 feet wide. One of the buildings incorporated Crystal’s Series 1450 terrace doors into these large configurations, creating seamless connections between indoor spaces and private balconies. The third building received custom floor-to-ceiling window walls through a combination of large sliding units mulled over equally wide fixed windows, totaling 62 oversized assemblies measuring 94 by 96 inches.
Additional products include the Series 5100 fixed window, engineered for large openings with an architectural rating of AW-PG100, and the Series 1450 swing terrace door, selected with a thermally efficient polyamide strut, out-swing operation, and 1-inch insulated glass units. All fenestration elements were supplied with low-E coated Solarban 60 glass and argon-filled IGUs for optimal performance, along with tempered glass where required. 
Crystal also delivered a full suite of installation accessories such as mullions, receptors, anchor clips, and subsills. To preserve each building’s original aesthetic, every component received a durable AAMA 2605 Simulated Anodized Silver powder-coat finish.
The Blairs District, a prominent 27-acre residential and commercial community developed by The Tower Companies, is undergoing a long-term modernization plan guided by WJE Associates. Crystal partnered with Hi-Rise Windows of Bethesda, a long-standing collaborator, to execute the installation. The project marks another milestone in the ongoing revitalization of one of Silver Spring’s most well-known mixed-use neighborhoods, situated steps from the Metro and the vibrant downtown area.
Source: crystalwindows.com with additional information added by Glass Balkan
