VISION Issue 7 | Page 18

Vision Magazine Any contact with Viridian to specify the right glass for this? We have to be very compliant with energy ratings and we work closely with our engineers and Viridian offers excellent technical resources. We call them up whenever we have the need. Glass specification is at least as important, if not more so, than wall specification. The better practices really know what constitutes their buildings, yet many don’t know what materials have finally ended up in use. Lesser practices appear to treat glass as a generic material that forms a transparent glaze on a wall and that’s about it. What’s more they specify one thing and are surprised to learn that a different glass has been used from what was ordered. Does that surprise you? You’re absolutely correct. Our builder wanted to change the glass on this project and we said ‘no way’ because we had worked out all of the energy ratings and we know how well Viridian’s product works. We didn’t want to go back and repeat the exercise for another product. Glass has its own performance characteristics, but these are in some ways invisible and easy to disguise or change and often the inexperienced eye will be none the wiser. That’s true but there is such a big difference now that we tint glass for performance. It makes a big difference to the building’s appearance if you have blue, grey or green tint to say nothing of not getting the right performance glass installed. Overlaying that are opportunities with colorback, fritting, seraphic for such beautiful effects. What do you hope the project says of the campus and to students? That this is a great place to meet my buddies. It’s being used as a function centre and it’s been very well received. Above Black Beauty. Charcoal finish and green tinted glazing contribute to gateway building’s elegant understatement. High Distinction