Guardian Glass North America honored the glaziers and fabricators of seven commercial projects at its 6th annual Commercial Project Awards event March 6 in Las Vegas. More than 40 recently completed projects were nominated. 

“Guardian Glass glazier and fabricator partners have delivered an amazing variety of commercial projects featuring Guardian SunGuard™ high-performance glazing over the years,” said Rick Zoulek, Executive Vice President, Guardian Glass. “It’s our pleasure to highlight their hard work, which is critical in bringing the architect’s glass vision to reality. We’re grateful to partner with glaziers and fabricators on all the projects we’ve worked on in the last year, and to put the spotlight on this year’s Commercial Project Award winners.

“We’re excited about and committed to the collaboration that will deliver the next round of innovative, new projects.” 

The nominees were grouped based on location, and the six winners were selected by judges who represent the glass industry as leaders of trade publications, conferences and associations:

• Katy Devlin, Content Director, Editor in Chief, National Glass Association
• Patrick Flannery, Editor, Annex Business Media’s Light Construction Group (Glass Canada, Fenestration Review and Canadian Rental Service); Producer, Top Glass Conference and Glass Talk Podcast
• Andrew Haring, Vice President of Business Development, National Glass Association
• Ellen Rogers, Editorial/Content Director, USGlass and Architects’ Guide to Glass & Metal

Guardian Glass thanks the judges for again lending their expertise to the awards process and for their tireless work as advocates for the glass industry.

The judges selected the following projects to be honored as this year’s Guardian Glass Commercial Project Award Winners: 

Western U.S.

Synapse

Culver City, California

Size: Medium (10-49,999 square feet)

Product: SunGuard SNX 62/27 glazing on clear glass

Architect: Abramson Architects

Glazier: Hale Glass, Inc.

Fabricator: GlassWerks

Photo Credit: Guardian Glass

The judges were drawn to the visual interest and detail of Synapse.  

Midwestern U.S.

Grand Valley State University Pew Library 

Location: Allendale, Michigan

Size: Large (50-99,999 square feet)

Product: SunGuard SuperNeutral™ 68 glazing on clear glass

Architect: Fishbeck

Glazier: Vos Glass LLC

Fabricator: Thompson I.G.

Photo Credit: James Haefner

One of the judges commented the Grand Valley State University Pew Library “… demonstrates the amazing ability of glass to provide connection. No other building material occupants to foster such a powerful, valuable and necessary connection with the outdoor environment, all while allowing passersby to view and connect with the activities inside the space, where learning, innovation and growth are all on display.”

Northeastern U.S.

Amaris at The Wharf

Location: Washington, D.C.

Size: Large (50-99,999 square feet)

Products: SunGuard SNR 43 glazing and SNX 62/27 glazing on clear glass

Architect: Rafael Viñoly Architects

Glazier: TSI Exterior Wall Systems

Fabricator: Press Glass

Photo Credit: Guardian Glass

According to one of the judges, “The sweeping curtain wall of Amaris at the Wharf highlights what glass can do to create such stunning architectural effects on a building. Not only does the glass offer a sleek building material for the twisting facade, the material's transparency allows you to see the incredible structure of the building inside.”

Southeastern U.S.

Hotel ELEO at the University of Florida 

Location: Gainesville, Florida

Size: Large (50-99,999 square feet)

Product: SunGuard SNX 51/23 glazing on clear glass

Architect: Alfonso Architects

Glazier: West Tampa Glass Company

Fabricator: Tristar Glass

Photo Credit: Kevin Ruck Photography. Hotel ELEO at the University of Florida

The serpentine glass façade on Hotel ELEO at the University of Florida was a standout for the judges.

Canada

BCIT Health Sciences Centre

Location: Burnaby, British Columbia

Size: Medium (10-49,999 square feet)

Products: SunGuard SNR 43 glazing and SN 68 glazing on clear glass

Architect: Stantec

Glazier: Dekor Glass Ltd.

Fabricator: Garibaldi Glass

Photo Credit: Guardian Glass

One judge commented about BCIT Health Sciences Centre: “The WELL building certification demonstrates what's possible with next-level thermal and energy performance. And glass helps bring the design to life with the beautiful decorative pattern that extends across the impressive all-glass lobby façade.”

Mexico

Hospital Ángeles Querétaro

Location: Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico

Size: Large (50-99,999 square feet)

Product: SunGuard AG 43 glazing on clear glass

Architect: Balcazar Arquitectos

Glazier & Fabricator: Grupo Tecnovidrio

Photo Credit: Guardian Glass

“The glass makes the Hospital Angeles Queretaro shimmer like a diamond,” said one of the judges.

People’s Choice Award

Guardian also offered the public the chance to vote for a People’s Choice winner, and participants selected:

Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV 

Las Vegas, Nevada

Size: Medium (10-49,999 square feet)

Product: SunGuard SNX 62/27 coating on clear glass

Architect: TSK Architects

Glazier: Walters & Wolf

Fabricator: Glassfab

Photo Credit: © Tom Bonner 2022

Large expanses of curtain wall provide powerful insulation against the sizzling Vegas sun in a region dominated by more solid, opaque architecture. SunGuard 62/27 on clear glass helps make it happen, with a low reflectivity that shows off innovative interiors.