The likelihood that your next favorite basketball game unfolds atop a customizable and interactive glass floor is relatively high. Even more so, the chances that this glass marvel is crafted by ASB GlassFloor are markedly greater. In the ever-evolving world of sports and corporate architecture, innovative design elements are increasingly capturing the spotlight. One such marvel making waves is the glass floor—a feature that, while seemingly a novelty, has become a staple in high-profile arenas across the globe. Beyond illuminating sports arenas, ASB GlassFloor has plenty of tricks up its sleeves to dazzle the world. Venturing into the corporate world is just one of those clever moves.
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Researchers Develop Smart Window Coating That Controls Light and Heat Transmission Independently
In an era when both environmental comfort and sustainability are key concerns in architecture, the tendency to cover buildings entirely in glass is among the most criticized and controversial traits of contemporary architecture, as all-glass buildings often guzzle energy thanks to their demanding cooling and heating requirements. Over the years, a number of fixes for this problem have been attempted, including smart glass solutions that allow users to modify the transparency of the window. The problem with this solution, however, is that smart glass is unable to block infrared (heat) transmission without ruining the very thing that makes glass attractive in the first place: its transparency to visible light. That conundrum may soon be a thing of the past, though. As reported by Phys.org, a team of researchers at the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a new smart window technology that allows users to selectively control the transmission of light and heat to suit their requirements.
View Dynamic Glass Raises $150 Million to Create Windows with Responsive Tint
View has raised $150 million to fund their specialized Dynamic Glass tints. The new technology automatically responds to outdoor conditions or from a mobile phone, resulting in a reactive tint that reduces heat and glare. This, as the company said in a press release, allows for "greater occupant comfort and energy savings without ever compromising the view." The tinted windows have been installed in more than 100 locations across North America. The funds will be used to accelerate product development.
SageGlass Unveils Latest Developments in Smart Glass Technology
With the demands of sustainability today placing tight restrictions on performance metrics such as how airtight a building is, one of the sacrifices that often has to be made is user control. Windows are often no longer openable; shades and blinds often replaced with non-openable louvers. In recent years new technology such as smart glass (sometimes called "switchable glass) has promised a modicum of compromise, allowing windows to be tinted on demand. But smart glass is limited - it's either on or off, clear or tinted.
Until now, that is. At the AIA convention in May, SageGlass revealed a range of innovations that greatly increase the options available to designers when specifying smart glass.