Nominating company: Skyline Glass
Location: Santa Cruz, CaliforniaWinning team
- Contract glazier: Wausau Window & Wall Systems
- Glass fabricator (insulating glass units): Thompson IG
- Glass fabricator (decorative glass): Skyline Design
- Designer: Studio Gang
- Photo credit: Jason O'Rear
For this woodland campus project, Skyline Design applied an etched pattern to the externally-facing insulating glass units using its Eco-etch process. Studio Gang designed the custom pattern featuring native wildlife silhouettes and laid it out in the 2-by-2 grid, which the American Bird Conservancy says birds will best perceive. Removing the glass reflection via etching is a highly effective way to make glass perceptible to birds, say Skyline Design officials.
“Kresge College uses an elegant blend of bird-safe glass technology and custom design of the native animal silhouettes, pushing bird-safe glass beyond standard motifs into expressive, region-specific architectural art,” says Glass Magazine Awards judge Austin Zajichek, marketing manager, Linetec.
Skyline worked with Studio Gang to create a graphic featuring native California animal silhouettes. With this technology, Skyline can etch a unique pattern onto the surface of each prefabricated insulating glass unit. The resulting product is proven to lower the material threat factor rating with the American Bird Conservancy and carries a lifetime warranty, say officials, while also being unique and decorative to the specific area.
