Owner
Grove City College
Architect
Ballinger

The Challenge

STEM Hall, the new 60,000-square-foot science, technology, engineering and mathematics building at Grove City College is a state-of-the-art facility that gives students more classroom and laboratory space, adding to the school’s thriving sciences and mathematics programs. 

The building’s premier space is an east-facing, two-story atrium. Its windows overlook the remarkable campus grounds, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed New York’s Central Park. A primary objective in planning the atrium was to preserve the view of the grounds and let in natural light, while minimizing the glare and heat of the morning sun. 

“We needed to make it a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing environment for the people inside,” said Thomas Gregg, the vice president of operations at the college. “And we needed to do that in an energy-efficient way.”

We needed to make it both a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing environment for the people inside, and we needed to do that in an energy-efficient way. SageGlass helped us control thermal and lighting issues without obstructing outdoor views.
Thomas Gregg, Vice President of Operations
Grove City College

The Solution

At first, Ballinger and building officials considered using motorized blinds. While the blinds would help alleviate the effects of the morning sun, they would also obstruct outdoor views and require ongoing operational maintenance.

“Considering the atrium’s unique challenges, the STEM Hall facilities manager specifically requested that we use SageGlass,” said Gregg. “The glass is electronically tintable, so we could control glare and heat gain while maximizing views of the grounds, and we wouldn’t have to worry about any unexpected mechanical issues.” Building officials can set the window’s sensors so that the glass darkens and clears automatically in response to lighting and temperature, or they can manually adjust light flow with the touch of a button. 

Glazing contractor Specified Systems found SageGlass® surprisingly easy to work with and completed 95 percent of window fabrication in-house, saving a great deal of time and effort.

The Benefits

SageGlass is now installed in STEM Hall’s two-story eastern atrium wall, creating a welcoming and comfortable space for more than 2,500 students and faculty. Here, they can collaborate and study overlooking the campus grounds, unbothered by the sun’s effects yet still able to enjoy natural light and picturesque views.

The dynamic capabilities and flexibility of SageGlass give STEM Hall building officials all of the hands-on (or hands-off) control they need, so they can easily keep occupants comfortable all year. Energy-efficient SageGlass also helped STEM Hall achieve LEED® Silver accreditation, complementing other sustainable technologies Ballinger incorporated into the building’s design.

“SageGlass helps us save energy without blocking the view and natural daylight,” Gregg said. “It’s exactly what we needed.”