Guardian Glass North America honored the glaziers and fabricators whose essential work brings a wide range of commercial facilities to life during its 9th annual Commercial Project Awards celebration March 2 in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Guardian’s Kentucky Derby-inspired event adjacent to the annual Building Envelope Contractors Conference celebrated the shared effort behind every project “in the running” and recognized several strong finishes: There are six regional winners, three new categories and the popular People’s Choice Award.  

“Our fabricator and glazier partners set the pace for our industry,” says Amy Post, Commercial Sector Director, Guardian Glass North America. “Our 2026 winners demonstrate talent, skill and innovation in delivering buildings featuring Guardian SunGuard™ high-performance coatings. Guardian Glass is honored to be part of the team that is bringing the vision of so many architects to life to serve the building needs of the commercial industry.” 

The winners were selected by these glass industry leaders: 

• Tom Culp – Energy Code Consultant (Birch Point Consulting), National Glass Association 

• Deb Levy – CEO, Key Media & Research 

• Sara Neiswanger – Associate Director, Industry Engagement, National Glass Association 

• Max Perilstein – Communication Strategist, Sales Source Consultants  

• Ellen Rogers – Vice President of Editorial Content, Key Media & Research 

Guardian Glass thanks these influencers for their expertise, insights and continued advocacy for our industry. 

The judges selected the following projects as the 2026 Guardian Glass Commercial Project Award Winners:  

Western United States 

Hope Plaza 

Products:           Guardian SunGuard SN 68 and SN 54 on UltraClear 

Glazier:              Walters & Wolf 

Fabricator:        VITRUM™ Glass Group 

Architect:          CO Architects 

From the judges:  

This project stood out with a striking aesthetic that places occupant wellness at the center of the design. Hope Plaza showcases glass blending biophilic elements, ample daylight, expansive views and calming reflectance. Also noteworthy: Thoughtful orientation, use of multiple glazing solutions and sculptural fins and angles that add visual impact. 

Midwestern United States 

Michigan Department of Natural Resources Newberry Customer Service Center 

Products:           Guardian SunGuard SN 68 with Bird1st™ Etch on clear glass 

Glazier:              Calvin & Company, Inc. 

Fabricator:        Thompson Innovative Glass 

Architect:          Lord Aeck Sargent 

From the judges:  

The design shows thoughtful integration of environmental stewardship and high-performance glass in this government facility. The project demonstrates how advanced glazing can help deliver daylight, expansive views and a good connection to the outdoors, all while incorporating bird-friendly solutions and performing under extreme weather conditions. 

Northeastern United States 

Yale Divinity School Living Village 

Products:           Guardian SunGuard SN 68 with Bird1st™ Etch on clear glass 

Glaziers:            Massey’s Plate Glass & Aluminum, Inc. and Cascadia Windows & Doors 

Fabricators:      Press Glass and Garibaldi Glass Industries, Inc. 

Lead architect:           Bruner/Cott Architects 

Design  architect:           Hweler + Yoon Architecture 

From the judges: 

This winner stood out for pairing a bold vision with measurable performance. As one of the first regenerative housing communities of its kind, the project positions glass in a leading role – not just as an aesthetic feature, but also as a key contributor to energy goals and comfort. 

Southeastern United States 

Commonwealth Plaza Midwood Office Building  

Product:             Guardian SunGuard SNX 51/23 on clear glass 

Glazier:              Cabarrus Glass Company 

Fabricator:        Press Glass 

Architect:          BB+M Architecture 

Photo credit:     Kevin Young, The 5 and 2 Project 

From the judges: 

This project design harnesses the inherent qualities of glass to express strong movement toward the sky, giving the building an uplifting presence. At the same time, its expansive glazing immerses occupants in daylight and delivers surrounding neighborhood views, reinforcing the project’s commitment to connection, comfort and contemporary design. 

Southwestern United States 

Heartland Whole Health Institute  

Products:           Guardian SunGuard SN 68 on UltraClear™ glass 

Glazier:              ACE Glass 

Fabricator:        AGNORA 

Architect:          Marlon Blackwell Architects 

Photo credit:     Kevin Branch 

From the judges: 

The project uses oversized glass units and a neutral, low-iron aesthetic to create clarity and openness. Rather than competing with the interior, the glazing recedes – allowing the interior’s warm materials, artwork and the human experience to take center stage. The result is a calm, purpose-driven environment where glass helps to elevate what matters most inside. 

Canada 
The Hive 

Products:           Guardian SunGuard SN 68 on clear glass 

Glazier:              Bothwell-Accurate 

Fabricator:        Garibaldi Glass Industries, Inc. 

Architect:          DIALOG 

From the judges:
High-performance glazing meets mass timber design. Featuring triple-glazing with two low-E coatings, the fa?ade demanded precision across varying IGU sizes and shapes – a technical achievement in its own right. Glass plays a central role in helping a building of this scale to feel colossal, well-proportioned and timeless all at once. 

Early Adopter Award 

Austin Peay State University Health Professions Building  

Product:             Guardian SunGuard SNX 70+ on clear glass 

Glazier:              Alexander Metals Inc. 

Fabricator:         Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope? – Atlanta 

Architect:          HASTINGS Architecture 

This new category honors a project team that recognized the potential of a next-generation SunGuard™ coating and applied it to help shape a new campus facility dedicated to health and STEM education. 

The project features cantilevered forms and transparent ground-level fa?ades, connecting students to their surroundings while supporting collaboration and learning. It is one of the first major projects to feature SunGuard™ SNX 70+ coated glass, delivering neutral clarity with low solar heat gain.  

Craftsmanship Award 
Kilroy Oyster Point (Phase Two) 

Products:           Guardian SunGuard SNR 50 on UltraClear glass 

Glazier:              Benson Industries (Permasteelisa Group) 

Fabricator:         Cristacurva 

Architect:          DGA 

This award recognizes a project where technical precision and design ambition meet: The details matter and execution is critical. Inspired by neighborhood history, the institution’s architectural legacy, and the woven strength of traditional Ethiopian baskets, the fa?ade expresses a sense of unity and connection. 

This five-story healthcare facility uses curved, laminated, insulated glass units to create a fa?ade that is both highly transparent and memorable. Achieving this level of curvature, performance, and visual precision while targeting LEED? Silver certification required technical expertise.  
 

Bird1st Top Flight Award
Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building (pictured) 

Product:             Guardian SunGuard SNX 51/23 with Bird1st™ Etch Dx22 on clear glass 

Glazier:              G&S Glass and Supply 

Fabricator:         Trulite 

Architect:          Williams Blackstock Architects 

Photo credit:     The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama for The University of Alabama at Birmingham 

This award recognizes a project that demonstrates the effective application of Bird1st glass to help improve bird safety while maintaining clear views for occupants. 

This six-story building includes a nearly 50,000-square-foot curtain wall and uses Guardian Bird1st Etch in pattern Dx22 – a 2x2 inch diagonal grid of translucent, acid-etched dots across the outside surface of the glazing. As Alabama’s first bird-friendly project, it earned recognition from the Audubon Society.  

People’s Choice Award 

Guardian also offers the public the chance to vote for a People’s Choice winner. This year’s winner:  

Hickory Aviation Museum  

Product:             Guardian SunGuard SNX 62/27 on UltraClear and clear glass 

Glazier:              A-1 Glass and Aluminum 

Fabricator:        Press Glass 

Architect:          McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture 

North Carolina’s Hickory Aviation Museum houses a collection of historic military aircraft. The exterior was designed to protect valuable aircraft from environmental exposure within the hangar while maintaining clear views. The high-performance coating helps manage heat gain without compromising the visual connection to landscape, supporting the building’s role as both preservation space and educational destination where the past and future meet. 

To view more Guardian SunGuard™ coated glass projects, visit the Guardian Glass project gallery.