JOIN USBowie State University in Maryland, United States, is planning to install 25,000 sq ft of electronically tintable SageGlass, a product of Saint-Gobain, at its new Centre for Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Nursing. The world’s smartest electrochromic glass, SageGlass is designed to control sunlight and allow building occupants to choose the best level of natural light for their comfort, year round.
The glass will be installed in numerous exterior classroom laboratories as well as in a three-storey multipurpose space (called ‘The Icon’) belonging to the 150,000 sq ft centre. Apart from eliminating the need to use blinds or shades throughout the building, the glass will also control the sunlight that enters to optimise daylight, outdoor views and comfort while preventing glare, fading and overheating. The glass is capable of tinting automatically through light sensors, thereby allowing the faculty to customise solar control in each classroom.
SageGlass significantly reduces the amount of energy consumed for air-conditioning, heating and lighting. It also provides architects with an attractive and effective alternative to mechanical blinds and sunshades. The installation of SageGlass at the new university centre was announced at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo — the world’s largest conference dedicated to green building and sustainability — held in
Washington DC, in November.
Bowie State University’s administration and finance vice president, Dr Karl Brockenbrough said that building a state-of-the-art learning and research facility for their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and nursing programmes required the incorporation of the most innovative building materials available today. He also said that the SageGlass would provide students with a superior learning environment and help reduce energy costs for the university. The work at the University Centre for Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Nursing is expected to be completed in spring 2017.