There was extensive research prior to the construction of the facility’s grand entrance and pool-side façade by Designer Paul Widlarz of HGA Architects, an organization based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Widlarz chose to utilize 6,710 sq. ft. of CPI Daylighting’s UniQuad system in clear and clear matte glazing to achieve the vision Virtua was looking for without glare and visibility from the outside. “The UniQuad lets in a ton of natural light, and didn’t have some of the thermal performance issues we would have had with any other material,” said Widlarz. “It fit the bill from a number of different perspectives, from getting the light in but maintaining the privacy the client wanted and also a high performing glazing system in a harsh, humid environment.”

The UniQuad system is constructed of two independent translucent insulated panels that are joined by a mechanically interlocking structure, which eliminates the need for vulnerable wet seal and adhesives. It is the only daylight system that can span as long as twelve feet between structural supports and can provide indefinite building envelope protection. The system features Removable Skin Technology that allows the exterior panel to be replaced as needed. UniQuad is scalable and can be configured with various features while maintaining its integrity, including: additional insulation, sound reduction, dynamic shading, additional structural performance, and even military forced entry resistance.

Virtua combined daylighting and viewing zones, as can be seen on the twenty-five foot long poolside façade, where Kingspan Light + Air incorporated vision glass in addition to the UniQuad panels. Together, the two zones create a level of transparency that is controlled where desired while satisfying a LEED requirement as well. “Comparing it to curtainwall and other materials, we found that with Kingspan Light + Air we were able to get a much more dynamic material at a smaller cost,” said Widlarz. “It gave us the best of both worlds and was very well received.”

In addition to the “look” of the facility, keeping the extreme heat and glare of the Texas sun out while still maintaining the desired daylighting views and ambient interior was a priority for designers. “Kingspan Light + Airs’s installation characteristics were very impressive,” said Connor. “During construction, when the panels were installed in the lobby but the AC was not yet running, the room was comfortable even in Texas in August, with 100 degree-plus temperatures and a directly west-facing wall.”

Featuring a 1,200-seat auditorium, a 250-seat black box theatre, a 4,690 sq. ft. dance studio and a 2,600 sq. ft. multipurpose room, the PAC continues to draw rave reviews for its shows and the ability of its UniQuad translucent wall to effectively daylight the facility. “It still looks brand new,” said Connor. “Everyone’s happy and there’s no complaints about glare.”

Compared to a baseline case study, the PAC achieves 23% less overall energy use.

The Kingspan Light + Air Solution
Kingspan Light + Air designers engineered and built a 3,180-sq.-ft. translucent wall panel system, with a 7-ft.-tall cavity and roof hatch allowing city maintenance personnel easy access inside. The red matte and ice white matte translucent panels are held together by a concealed aluminum support system, without the need for a large structural joint. Apart from the panel perimeter, there is no exposed aluminum. Made up of small internal cells that help improve the quality and balance distrubiton of glare-free light with a special UV inhibitor, the panels feature superior durability and prolonged resistance to impact. Designed with a mechanically interlocking double-tooth connection, the panels are also removable for maintenance and replacement as necessary.

In addition to the panel features, Kingspan Light + Air designers knew that when  red and white panels are joined and backlit without creating separation between the two, light could easily bounce through the red and tint the white panels pink – something the owners didn’t want.

To prevent this, Kingspan Light + Air designers created an angle inside of the cavity, placing the light fixtures and back-end support structure a few feet away from the glazing. This allowed the Chicago Fire Club red and white to remain bold, vibrant and seperate.

“Another concern we had was insects crawling into the panels,” said Jose Espejo, Project Manager, Studio ARQ, Chicago. “When I saw the panels delivered to the site, I saw that Kingspan had put an aluminum screen guard on the edges that allows the panels to breathe, but also prevents unwanted creatures from crawling in there and creating black spots.”

With a clear balance of color throughout the floating structure, the new SeatGeek Stadium Transit Center is a focal point for area visitors and soccer fans alike, providing an additional means of transportation, illuminated with a splash of Chicago Fire pride.

NewStudio met the challenge with 2,680 square feet of Quadwall skylight system in the two main indoor/outdoor spaces at the heart of the lifestyle center. The system provides a welcoming and airy atmosphere to offset the areas with a standing seam metal roof, while significantly reducing glare and added heat, and diffusing natural daylight indoors.

Kingspan’s ice-white glazed, two-panel Quadwall translucent skylight system is constructed so that panels are independent of one another, but also mechanically connected to the system’s internal support structure. This removeable skin technology (RST) feature ensures that if there is a future need to update the exterior, those panels can be changed without interrupting ongoing business operations while maintaining the integrity of the system. The flexibility to replace individual panels as needed, rather than the entire system, makes Quadwall extremely versatile and significantly increases its lifespan.