Pedricktown, N.J., June 30, 2017 – J.E. Berkowitz (JEB) announced the completion of the Museum of the American Revolution, located in the heart of historic Philadelphia. JEB fabricated 8,700 square feet of glass for the 118,000-square-foot building, which houses a monumental collection from an important era in American history.
New York City–based Robert A.M. Stern Architects designed the state-of-the-art facility in a contemporary interpretation of the Georgian style—paying homage to the rich history of the surrounding neighborhood. While most areas of the building house exhibit spaces that demand artificial lighting and controlled conditions, meeting, event, and other public spaces feature abundant natural daylighting provided by large glass windows.
For the project, JEB fabricated one-inch Winduo™ insulating glass units incorporating quarter-inch lites of low-e Solarban® 70XL glass and Starphire Ultra-Clear™ glass by Vitro Architectural Glass (formerly PPG Glass), separated by argon gas. The high-performance, energy-efficient glass configuration provides visible light transmittance of 66 percent, with a solar heat gain coefficient of .27, and a winter nighttime U-value of .24.
Arthur Berkowitz, executive vice president of JEB, said the glass specification will aid the building in earning points towards LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
“I’m proud to say that the glass was sustainably sourced, manufactured, and fabricated well within 500 miles of the Museum,” he said. ”The glass will play an integral role as the Museum pursues LEED certification at the Gold level.”
Michael Quinn, president and CEO of the Museum of the American Revolution, said, “Thanks to the brilliance of Robert A.M. Stern Architects and the craftsmanship of companies like J.E. Berkowitz, the Museum not only seamlessly blends into our historic neighborhood, but also meets the demands of a 21st century, immersive educational Museum, as well as LEED standards for energy conservation.
Courtesy of the Museum of the American Revolution
“As the Wall Street Journal put it, the Museum ‘slips neatly into a pivotal site in Philadelphia’s historic center as if it were already part and parcel of the country’s great founding story.’ We couldn’t be happier with how it has served the thousands of guests we have welcomed during our first two months of operation.”
The Museum, which opened on April 19, 2017—the anniversary of the opening battles of the Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775—features 32,000 square feet of art galleries and interpretive theaters, as well as event spaces, offices, a museum shop, and a café. In addition to Revolutionary-era weapons, personal items, letters, diaries, and art, the Museum’s most iconic artifact is General George Washington’s War Tent—which served as his office and sleeping quarters throughout most of the war.
“It’s an honor to have been part of this project, which stands steps away from Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was conceived and signed on July 4, 1776,” Berkowitz added. “This Museum will educate people on our nation’s history for generations to come.”
To learn more about JEB’s glass fabrication capabilities, architectural design services, and LEED certification assistance, please visit www.JEBerkowitz.com.
About JEB
J.E. Berkowitz (JEB), a Consolidated Glass Holdings, Inc. (CGH) company (www.cghinc.com), is a leading architectural glass fabricator that is based in Pedricktown, New Jersey, and operates out of a 253,000-square-foot plant. Founded in 1920, the ISO 9001:2015 certified company is committed to excellence and quality in the processing and distribution of architectural glass products, technical support, and LEED® certification assistance. For more information, visit www.JEBerkowitz.com.
About the Museum of the American Revolution
The Museum of the American Revolution explores the dynamic story of the American Revolution using its rich collection of Revolutionary-era weapons, personal items, letters, diaries, and works of art. Immersive galleries, theater experiences, and recreated historical environments bring to life the events, people, and ideals of our nation’s founding and engage people in the history and continuing relevance of the American Revolution. Located in the heart of historic Philadelphia – the headquarters of the Revolution — the Museum is just steps away from Independence Hall, Carpenters’ Hall, and Franklin Court. It serves as a portal to the region’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context, and encouraging exploration. The Museum is a private, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877-740-1776.
Winduo is a trademark of J.E. Berkowitz.
Solarban is a registered trademark and Starphire Ultra-Clear is a trademark owned by Vitro.
LEED—an acronym for the phrase “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design”—is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council.
