Dynamic glass prevents glare to provide students with a comfortable multipurpose space and dining area with unobstructed views of the Boulder Flatirons

MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–SageGlass®, pioneer of the world’s smartest electrochromic glass, announced its completed dynamic glass installation at the new Village Center Dining and Community Commons at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder). The 113,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art building houses dining and residential programs, as well as healthcare and counseling services. SageGlass was installed on the exterior of the second-floor dining hall and first-floor conference room and pre-function lobby area to provide students and conference guests with a comfortable multipurpose space and dining area with unobstructed views of the Boulder Flatirons.

By controlling sunlight to optimize daylight, outdoor views and comfort while preventing glare, fading and overheating, SageGlass creates a more comfortable dining and collaborative space. Additionally, by providing students with a space featuring unobstructed views of the outdoors and access to natural daylighting, SageGlass helps create a collaborative environment where students can spend time studying, relaxing, working together on projects and dining.

Credit: SageGlass

Credit: SageGlass

“By incorporating innovative building materials like SageGlass, students will be able to dine, study and relax in an environment free from heat gain and glare,” said Tom Goodhew, assistant director of planning and design at CU Boulder. “The use of such materials also helps make the Village Center a model for sustainability, a goal CU Boulder strives to achieve with all of its building initiatives.”

The building, which was designed to LEED Platinum standards, also incorporates sustainability features like sensor-enabled HVAC systems that optimize performance, native plants to cut down the need for excessive irrigation and a biodigester that treats food waste to create an eco-friendly product that can be safely incorporated into the waste-water supply. This fall, construction will commence on the addition of an attached greenhouse with hydroponic tower gardens that will supply 100 percent of the leafy greens used in the dining facility.

“It’s clear the University of Colorado Boulder is committed to developing facilities that enhance its students’ campus experience and are also environmentally friendly,” said Alan McLenaghan, CEO of SageGlass. “By installing SageGlass at the new Village Center Dining and Community Commons to create a comfortable, glare-free multipurpose space, the university is furthering its commitment to developing state-of-the-art, sustainable spaces where students can collaborate.”

Credit: SageGlass

Credit: SageGlass

CU Boulder completed this project in partnership with GE Johnson Construction Company and KSQ Design.

 

About CU Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) is the flagship University of the four-campus CU System. Founded in 1876, CU Boulder is a comprehensive research university with more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students; and U.S. students of color make up 20.1 percent of its total enrollment. CU Boulder is the Rocky Mountain region’s only AAU Tier-1 research university. CU Boulder’s world-renowned faculty maintain a reputation for excellence in research, creative work and teaching across 150 academic fields. Five CU Boulder faculty have received the Nobel Prize since 1989.

About SageGlass®
SageGlass® is the pioneer of the world’s smartest electrochromic glass and is transforming the indoor experience for people by connecting the built and natural environments. Electronically tintable SageGlass, a product of Saint-Gobain, dynamically optimizes daylight and manages temperature – all while maintaining unobstructed views of the outdoors. With SageGlass, building occupants can comfortably experience the biophilic benefits of the outdoors, including stress reduction, enhanced creativity and an improved sense of well-being.

SageGlass allows architects to elegantly solve solar control challenges without sacrificing aesthetics and design. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, SageGlass is backed by 352 years of building science expertise that only the world leader in sustainable environments can provide. Visit www.sageglass.com@Sage_Glass and Facebook.com/SageGlass.

About Saint-Gobain in North America
Saint-Gobain, the world leader in sustainable environments, has designed and manufactured high-performance building materials that improve the lives of people all over the world. From the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles and the glass pyramid at the Louvre, to The Statue of Liberty and The World Trade Center, and even components that allow the Mars Rover Curiosity to seek out life on another planet, Saint-Gobain has been a part of the fabric of human history, advancement and improvement.

In North America, the company upholds this rich history of innovation by making a material difference in the spaces where people work, live, play, heal and learn. Along with its North American headquarters in Malvern, Pennsylvania, Saint-Gobain has approximately 150 locations in North America and more than 14,000 employees. In the United States and Canada, Saint-Gobain reported sales of approximately $5.8 billion in 2016. Experience our innovation, wonders and advancements by visiting www.saint-gobain-northamerica.com and connect with Saint-Gobain North America on Facebook and Twitter.

About Saint-Gobain
Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and solutions which are key ingredients in the wellbeing of each of us and the future of all. They can be found everywhere in our living places and our daily life: in buildings, transportation, infrastructure and in many industrial applications. They provide comfort, performance and safety while addressing the challenges of sustainable construction, resource efficiency and climate change.

€39.1 billion in sales in 2016
Operates in 68 countries
More than 170,000 employees
www.saint-gobain.com
@saintgobain