GreatGlazing: UC Berkeley’s Energy Biosciences Building

Photos by Bruce Damonte Photography, courtesy of Wausau Window and Wall Systems.

The basics: The University of California at Berkeley’s Energy Biosciences Building, also known as the Helios Building, features a modern wedge-shaped design achieved by differing ceiling heights and a tapering south end. A unitized curtain wall and 40 high-performance casement windows highlight the eye-catching design and allow light to penetrate into the deepest parts of the interior space, according to a release from Wausau Window and Wall Systems. The curtain wall provides ample natural light and panoramic views to south-facing offices, meeting rooms, and the front lobby.

UC Berkeley’s Energy Biosciences Building was designed and constructed to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver criteria or higher. The project has already received the Overall Sustainable Design Award by the Higher Education Energy Partnership Program of California, according to the release.

The players: Architect, SmithGroupJJR; general contractor, Rudolph and Sletten; glazing contractor, Royal Glass; glazing systems manufacturer, Wausau Window and Wall Systems; glass fabricator, Viracon Inc.; glazing systems finisher, Linetec.

The glass and systems: The 29,000-square-foot curtain wall—Wausau’s 7250i-UW and 7250—features an aluminum frame with polyamide nylon structural barrier for enhanced thermal performance and energy efficiency. The 4250 high-performance casement windows achieve good condensation resistance and U-factors as low as 0.35. The windows address the building’s interior environment as well with Sound Transmission Class ratings of 34 to 43. The frames contain recycled content averaging 70 percent or greater and feature a three-coated painted finish.

The wall systems feature several types of glass: insulating VNE15-63 UltraWhite; insulating VNE15-63 UltraWhite with Opaque White spandrel; and insulating VNE15-63 UltraWhite with full coverage simulated sandblast silk-screen.

The project also features 2,500 square feet of laminated Starphire glass with a Vanceva color interlayer.