Great Glazing: University of Minnesota's Folwell Hall

The basics: In August 2011, the University of Minnesota's historic Folwell Hall completed three years of extensive renovation that included installation of nearly 500 traditionally styled, high performance, low-maintenance windows. The renovation, which included a $15 million exterior renovation and a $34.5 million interior renovation, allows the building to exceed state energy code by 30 percent, and provides an energy efficient interior without sacrificing the exterior's classically collegiate character, according to a Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co. press release.

A fixture on the National Register of Historic Places, Folwell Hall's Jacobethan architecture was inspired by the English Renaissance Revival style. Clarence H. Johnston, Sr., served as the architect-of-record on the 1907 building and on many other iconic Minnesota structures. "For the prestigious Folwell Hall renovation, we helped emulate the original windows. The building's century-old wood windows had been replaced in the 1980s with a basic aluminum system, which had hidden some of the historic, architectural details. The replacement system we recommended integrated Kolbe's aluminum-clad wood windows with custom, aluminum panning to replicate the original, architectural vision," says Jim Christiansen, sales manager, National Window Associates.

The players: Architect, Miller Dunwiddie; construction manager, McGough; window distributor, National Window Associates Inc.; window manufacturer, Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co.

The glass and systems: Ultra Series Sterling double-hung units with standard LoE²-270 double-pane insulating glass. The building features 16 different window sizes, the largest of which is 38 3/4-inches by 92 1/4-inches. To retain the historical nature of the window openings, the interior trim was left in place, except for cracked, removed or damaged trim that was replaced. The existing trim was stripped, re-stained and finished. Kolbe created custom "Folwell" finishes for the project: the interior trim mimicked both color and grain with white oak stained to a deep, dark brown. The exterior's recycled aluminum was painted in a custom gray 70 percent fluoropolymer, tested to meet AAMA 2605-05.