Burns & McDonnell selected Solarban 70 Optiblue glass by Vitro for the 14-story Reverb Alton Collection apartment building in Kansas City to align with the surrounding historic neighborhood and meet specific daylighting and thermal performance targets.
"Because glazing plays such a significant role in the resident experience, and is central to the architectural expression, selecting the right glass was essential," says Justin Rogers, associate design architect at Burns & McDonnell's Kansas City office.
The project team evaluated multiple glazing options before choosing Solarban 70 Optiblue glass, manufactured by Vitro Architectural Glass. The product has a visible light transmittance (VLT) of 46% and a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.23.
"Solarban glass provided the performance we were looking for while maintaining a clean, neutral appearance that complemented the building's charcoal and platinum exterior materials. The subtle blue-gray tint of Optiblue glass reinforced the project's contemporary aesthetic without appearing overly reflective," says Rogers.
The façade combines the glass with dark aluminum framing, insulated metal panels, exposed concrete and prefinished metal trim — materials intended to reference the neighborhood's industrial history, which includes brick warehouses and exposed concrete structures.
The design uses a window wall system rather than a curtain wall, though the floor-to-ceiling glass gives a similar visual effect, providing views of downtown Kansas City. Exposed concrete floors, minimal interior partitions and steel room dividers are also part of the interior design.
The 197,000-square-foot building houses 132 apartments and features top floor amenity spaces with a bar lounge and variety of rooms for socializing, work meetings and views. On the street level, there’s space for food truck parking and a 40-foot harvest table where residents and visitors can get together.
