Glass Inc. - Reflections 1999-2019

using View’s electrochromatic product. “It added about $1.5 million to our contract,” Smith said. “The project ended up being View’s primary sales tool, and the project couldn't have been more successful.” At the time of completion, the Century Link building was the largest dynamic glazing project in the world. And it all started be- cause we were willing to install a prototype window in a building in Scooba, Mississippi. Calculated Risks; Future Possibilities Glass, Inc. has never shied away from a challenging project that shows potential advantages for clients. Robert Smith and his team take calculated risks in order to accomplish extraordinary tasks. “There have been times when it’s bitten us,” Smith said, “but that’s part of the learning curve. And once we learn about it — especially something no one else knows about — it gives us an advantage.” “That’s what we’re always striving for,” Smith said. “A com- petitive advantage.” “We even ordered new face caps, but the manufacturer war- ranties wouldn’t last long enough to cover the peeling paint being exposed to the salty climate,” Smith said. Turquoise, Turquoise, Turquoise When Glass, Inc. received a contract to provide the glass and windows for Turquoise, the developer asked what could be done to solve the problem with exposure to the brutal gulf climate. “EFCO had a system called E-Wall,” Smith said, “and I had an idea.” The beauty of EFCO E-Wall Silicone Gasket curtain wall sys- tem is its simplicity. There are no internal joint seals, mullion plugs, pressure plates, or snap-on covers that increase the labor hours for installation time. The molded-corner silicone gasket taps into place quickly and stays flexible permanently, even under extreme weather conditions, and the system’s efficient compres- sion gasket won’t leak. “No one else had this system,” Smith said, “so we pitched it to the developer, and they bought in. We even managed to have the silicone created in a turquoise color.” No other company had ever completed such a large, cus- tomized silicone gasket curtain wall system. “It has virually made the windows maintenance free,” Smith said. “We installed the first system in 2007, and to this day you can go out with a wet paper towel and simply wipe down the rub- ber gasket, and it looks like it is brand new.” Glass, Inc.’s innovative approach elimated the problem of re- placing exterior aluminum. It is still the largest E-Wall project complete in the United States. Electrochromatic Glass Another innovative project came Glass, Inc.’s way because of Robert Smith’s willingness to venture into the unknown. “We were working on a small job at East Mississippi Commu- nity College,” Smith said, “and a company approached the client with an invention called electrochomatic glass.” Electrochomatic glass changes tint throughout the day by run- ning an electrical current through the glass. The company that in- vented the glass had a manufacturing plant in Desoto County, Mississippi, and they wanted a sample of the glass installed in some building somewhere in the United States. “They started calling us,” Smith said. “They said they would furnish all the wiring. We just had to figure out how to get it in the frame and get it connected.” Smith said it took only a few days to learn about the products and what they were trying to offer. Glass, Inc. successfully in- stalled a prototype window at the small community college in Scooba, Mississippi. A few months later, when Smith and Glass, Inc. were negotiating with Yates Construction and Century Link in Monroe, Louisiana, it oc- curred to Smith that the project of- fered an opportunity to do something remarkable. The little company that had con- tacted Glass, Inc. about the small electrochomatic project in Scooba was now known as View, Inc. The California-based company was look- ing for a signature project some- where in the United States. They told Smith that they would make an offer a client couldn’t refuse. So Smith set up a meeting with the client, Yates, the architect, and the top executives in View. The meeting took place in the boardroom of the manufacturing facility in Desoto County, and by the end of the day, everyone agreed to build the project Glass, Inc.’s expertise in hurricane-impact- rated curtian wall systems helped them land the coveted Four Seasons Hotel contract in New Orleans FOURSEASONSHOTEL NEWORLEANS, LOUISIANA 128