This alliance combines Viracon’s market-leading fabrication expertise with LuxWall’s transparent insulation technology, which allows glass to achieve superior energy efficiency and insulating values similar to that of wall insulation. Paired with Viracon’s extensive portfolio of high-performance solar control coatings, the collaboration plans to offer a next-generation façade solution that meets ambitious sustainability targets without compromising design.

“We are excited to partner with LuxWall in developing energy-efficient, innovative glass solutions for commercial facades,” said Garret Henson, Viracon Sales and Marketing Vice President. “By combining our fabrication capability with LuxWall’s advanced technology, we will provide architects and building owners with a sustainable solution that marries exceptional thermal performance with striking design possibilities.”

Both companies share a commitment to quality, performance and sustainability, and are excited to bring forth a solution to architects, glazing contractors and building owners that offers superior energy efficiency and enhanced aesthetics.

“Our partnership with Viracon represents a major step forward for high-efficiency commercial facades,” said Scott Thomsen, CEO of LuxWall. “By pairing Viracon’s market reach and fabrication expertise with LuxWall’s Enthermal transparent insulation technology, we are delivering an unmatched level of thermal performance, occupant comfort, energy savings, and sustainability to the commercial building market.”

About Viracon

Viracon, an architectural glass fabricator based in Owatonna, Minnesota produces high-performance glass products, including tempered, laminated, insulating, silkscreened, digital printed, hurricane-resistant, acoustical, blast-mitigating, electronic eavesdropping mitigating, and a broad selection of proprietary solar control coatings for North American and international markets. The company is a subsidiary of Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: APOG). Apogee is a leader in technologies involving the design and development of value-added glass products and services. For more information, visit viracon.com.

Viracon Media Contact:

Amber Schramm, Senior Marketing Manager
507-481-4080 / [email protected]

About LuxWall

Located in Ypsilanti, MI, USA, LuxWall is focused on product development, scaling, and commercialization of innovative energy-efficient products and solutions for the built environment. LuxWall’s transparent insulation technology, Enthermal, provides a step change in energy performance by significantly reducing convective, conductive, and radiative heat gain and heat loss in buildings. LuxWall manufactures its Enthermal product line at its Litchfield, Michigan manufacturing plant, and is constructing its second manufacturing plant in Detroit, Michigan. Learn more at www.luxwall.com.

LuxWall Media Contact:
Amy Hennes
(248) 961-0644 / [email protected]

The post Viracon® and LuxWall™ Partner to Set New Benchmark for High-Performance Commercial Facades appeared first on Viracon.

SoarSafe first-surface, laser-etch glass, is a bird- and architect-friendly product designed specifically to meet commercial architectural glass applications.

SoarSafe combines the trusted thermal performance of Viracon solar control coatings with subtle and highly effective dot patterns that lower bird collisions and meet evolving building codes — all while delivering an aesthetically pleasing appearance for building owners.

According to All About Birds, the website published by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, to birds, glass windows reflect foliage and sky, which look like inviting places for birds to fly to. And because of the widespread use of glass on buildings of all types, an estimated 1 billion birds die from window strikes in the U.S. each year, according to a 2014 study.

SoarSafe glass helps to reduce this problem, offering first-surface, laser-etched patterns that break up the reflectivity of the glass to make it more visible to birds, but very subtle to the human eye. SoarSafe is available in three popular dot patterns that follow the 2-inch x 2-inch and 2-inch x 4-inch design rules in which research has shown that birds will not fly through spaces less than two inches high and 4 inches wide. And SoarSafe patterns achieve the American Bird Conservatory (ABC) Threat Factor of 20 or 25, which according to product testing, may reduce bird collisions by up to 75 percent. While SoarSafe glass reduces bird collisions, at less than 1% etch coverage, thermal and optical performance remain unaffected.

SoarSafe glass is ideal for buildings that are legally required to meet bird-friendly criteria, as well as for buildings located in bird migratory routes (near water or high vegetation areas), and for owners/developers who desire to reduce bird collisions.

“This is an exciting addition to our current bird-friendly product offering,” said Sara Theis, Viracon product manager. “By combining laser-etched dots on the exterior surface with Viracon’s solar control coatings on the second surface, we’re able to provide an attractive solution that architects will love and that will help keep birds safe.”

To learn more about Viracon’s new SoarSafe bird-friendly glass and review our entire bird-friendly product offering, visit viracon.com/bird-friendly.

The post Viracon Helps Birds See Buildings Better with New SoarSafe™ Glass appeared first on Viracon.