VITRO ARCHITECTURAL GLASS CHAMPIONS PITTSBURGH GLASS CENTER EXPANSION WITH SOLARBAN® 72 STAPHIRE® GLASS, VACUMAX™ VIG, AND HEAVY STAPHIRE® GLASS
Pittsburgh Glass Center (PGC), a leading nonprofit glass education center, is set to undergo a landmark expansion to be completed by summer 2024. Vitro Architectural Glass, a long-standing partner of PGC, has announced its contribution to the expansion by donating Solarban® 72 Starphire® glass, VacuMax™ Vacuum Insulating Glass (VIG), and heavy Starphire® glass for both the interior and exterior.
To provide superior aesthetics, clarity, solar control, and insulation for the renovation, Vitro’s donation includes Solarban® 72 Starphire® glass, which provides high visible light transmittance (VLT), exceptional clarity, and superior solar control performance. The combination delivers a VLT of 68% and a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.28 in a standard one-inch insulating glass unit (IGU).
VacuMax™ VIG units will also be included in the expansion, marking the first Pittsburgh-area project to incorporate them. VacuMax™ VIG units deliver exceptional insulating performance with extraordinary R-values, slim construction, and light weight, making them ideal for use in virtually any traditional or advanced glazing system. Heavy Starphire® glass will be used for interior renovations, providing superior clarity and concealing the actual thickness of the glass.
Vitro Architectural Glass President Ricardo Maiz expressed his excitement to be a part of the expansion project and praised PGC’s efforts to enhance its existing programs and create new programs that will have a monumental impact in the community and the region.
Additional partners on the project include United Plate Glass, the glass fabricator, and Southwest Aluminum & Glass Co., Inc., the glazier, both located in Western Pennsylvania.
PGC’s expansion will nearly double its existing space, enabling it to increase visitors and grow its student base. The expansion will also include a second building two blocks away from the existing facility to create additional housing for technical apprentices and visiting artists and add a gallery space for emerging artists and community programming.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the project took place on March 23, 2023.
To learn more about the Solarban® 72 Starphire® glass, VacuMax™ Vacuum Insulating Glass (VIG), and heavy Starphire® glass from Vitro Architectural Glass, visit www.vitroglazings.com.
Source:Vitro Architectural Glass with additional information added by GlassBalkan
