Noise exposure can negatively affect a person’s physical and mental health. While sound-absorbing surfaces and interior partitions can make an environment comfortable, it is also important to consider the type of glass and fenestration used on a building.
Security glass has mainly been used by the military and other government entities, such as prisons and jails, police stations, and healthcare facilities. The scope has now expanded to markets and industries where security, particularly glass, used to be an afterthought.
For architects and building teams working in historic contexts, structural glass systems can offer compelling design solutions that can improve functionality while simultaneously highlighting and contrasting with the spaces’ original fabric and character.
Miami’s design district is home to showrooms, art galleries, restaurants, and luxury retailers, such as Burberry, Cartier, Dior, Fendi, Givenchy, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Hermes, and Piaget. Three of the retail storefronts in the district—Tory Burch, Tom Ford, and Prada—showcase high-performance glazing systems.
The use of special coiling smoke doors as hoistway enclosures has quietly become mainstream in the design community. However, standards are still evolving to include new opportunities with regard to smoke and fire infiltration in commercial buildings.
