20 VS1 Projects that Pushed the Envelope

Jan 8

Celebrating 20 Years of Innovation Glass

by Franz Safford, CEO and Founder of Innovation Glass

In celebration of 20 Years of Innovation Glass, we are kicking off 2026 by remembering 20 times our team pushed the envelope with the VS1 technology. From New York Harbor to Bangalore, subway stations to airports, world record spans to shattered glass allegories, VS1 has changed the architectural landscape and pushed the envelope of what is possible in curtain wall design.

1. SPERTUS INSTITUTE OF JEWISH LEADERSHIP

726 pieces of glass together form the most iconic building skin in an already architecturally iconic city.

Krueck Sexton Partners · Chicago, IL
Project Gallery→

*Radial adapter extrusion allows for extreme angular variations in glazing.*

2. ST REGIS CHICAGO

Using the bones of the building skin to add a powerful geometric expression that matches the tower’s tessellating geometry.

Studio Gang · Chicago, IL
Project Gallery→

Franz Safford has been proven to be a wonderful collaborator with Studio Gang. He works candidly, generously and with an open mind, never failing to arrive at innovative solutions that are both powerful and respectful of the original design intent.

Mauricio Sanchez Technical Design Director
STUDIO GANG

3. CUMMINS TECHNOLOGY CENTER INDIA

Largest faceted facade in the world at 120,000 sq. ft. with both glass and terra cotta seamlessly integrated.

Venkatraman Associates · Pune, India
Project Gallery→

A facade of glass and terra cotta panels.

4. STATUE OF LIBERTY MUSEUM

This facade maximizes transparency to give museum-goers the clearest possible view of America’s greatest monument.

FXCOLLABORATIVE · Liberty Island, NY
Project Gallery→

55° all-glass corner with
standard VS1 detailing.

5. DAMEN GREEN LINE STATION

A VS1 tour-de-force: five unique facade expressions achieved with our patented technology.

Perkins&Will · Chicago, IL
Project Gallery→

A shingle-like design on the main
facade creates an open-air effect.

6. SCHREIBER CENTER AT LOYOLA U.

Pushing the limits of engineering to use the absolute least amount of metal for a 10-story dual wall that achieves acoustic isolation and a new level of thermal performance.

SCB · Chicago, IL
Project Gallery→

Awning-style vents at the sides of the VS1 dual wall help to manage the cavity’s temperature, thus contributing to the efficient handling of the building’s environment. A sliding window was integrated for maintenance.

7. RESORTS WORLD CASINO

Omnidirectional conical facade, exterior framing, and staggered glass joints—all with our standard kit of parts.

Perkins Eastman · Queens, NY
Project Gallery→

“Franz never shies away from a challenge, he has an intuitive sense of design and engineering, and like all great collaborators, gets excited when you start asking the “what if” questions. I have never heard no from Franz; he is always positive and delivers quality through and through.”

Nicholas Leahy Co-CEO & Executive Director
PERKINS EASTMAN

Interior view of staggered glass joints with 13”-deep
mullions at the facade exterior.

8. ADOBE UTAH CAMPUS

A free-span of 42’ (world record at time of construction) that withstands ± 6” of in-plane seismic movement.

WRNS · Lehi, UT
Project Gallery→

“The IG team always steps up to the plate. I can heartily recommend Innovation Glass and the VS1 system for any project seeking a high value glazing solution.”

Moses Vaughn Senior Associate; Director of Architectural Technology
WRNS

*High transparency and significant seismic drift adaptations*

9. BOEING INDIA HQ

46’ free-span (world record at time of construction) with exterior mullions; 96’ all-glass corner.

Venkatraman Associates Bangalore, India
Project Gallery→

10. COSTAR RICHMOND CAMPUS

Current world record free-spanning aluminum curtain wall at 54’ high, with 8’-wide modules and jumbo 20’-tall glass panels.

Pickard Chilton · Richmond, VA
Project Gallery→

2 concealed splice joints connect three mullion lengths to achieve the 54’ free-span facade.

*Rendering by project architect Pickard Chilton.*

11. HISCOX BUILDING

A serpentine facade that transitions seamlessly from wall to rooftop parapet. Hot-bent curved glass, a flush exterior, and aesthetic handrails—all with VS1.

Made Architects · York, UK
Project Gallery→

*VS1 segues smoothly from straight to curved, and from facade to parapet.*

*Serpentine rooftop handrail follows the curve of the facade.*

12. RED BULLS TRAINING FACILITY

A slanted wall, a segmented wall, a tilted all-glass corner, and a sloping head condition together create a one-of-a-kind new space for the Red Bulls organization.

Gensler · Morristown, NJ
Project Gallery→

13. QA TOWER

A twisting tower wrapped in a stick-built curtain wall system. Keeping costs low with cold-bending the glass in the field.

Mrinmoy Consultants · Dhaka, Bangladesh
Project Gallery→

14. ST. LOUIS HOLOCAUST MUSEUM

Folds. Slanted joints. Bulletproof panels. Shattered glass allegory: achieved.

TRi Architects · St. Louis, MO
Project Gallery→

*No horizontal metal and mitered mullions make fold lines easy with VS1*

15. 155 NORTH WACKER

Pushing the limits of equipment in glass production with 32”-deep, 50’-tall continuous quadruple-laminated structural glass fins.

HED · Chicago, IL
Project Gallery→

32”-deep VS1-g structural fin in recessed floor shoe.

16. O’HARE AIRPORT TERMINAL 5 EXPANSION

Three aesthetically unique VS1 scopes, with staggered panel configurations and “smart glass” integration.

Muller2 & HOK · Chicago, IL
Project Gallery→

Assisting with schematic design until the curtain wall was installed, Franz was always quick to offer design assistance. He brought with him not only his expertise, but also his positive attitude and a collaborative mindset. He is the kind of person that makes you excited to work through the tough details and I enjoyed our in-person work sessions.

Nicholas Micheels Project Architect
MULLER2

*Staggered glass concourse facade; exterior*

17. IAH TERMINAL B

The first castellated aluminum curtain wall offered on the market. Modernizing a long-used structural steel style with extruded aluminum to dramatically bring down the cost of the facade.

HOK, Grimshaw, WPM · Houston, TX
Project Gallery→

18. GORDON PARKS ART HALL

A faceted facade that blends complex geometry—multiple fold lines, planar transitions, and angular variations—with rigorous acoustic requirements.

Valerio Dewalt Train · Chicago, IL
Project Gallery→

VS1 is a very versatile kit of parts that allows designers to create geometrically complex facades, including seamless transitions from facade to overhanging eaves.

19. RYAN CENTER AT NORTHWESTERN U.

Merging tension cable technology with standard stick-built methods to create a cavity facade that provides perfect sound isolation and an unimpaired view of the Chicago skyline.

Goettsch Partners · Chicago, IL
Project Gallery→

*Structure jamb detail of pre-tension cables that break up span to support a typical curtain wall.*

*Dual wall with view of Chicago skyline*

*Installers pre-stress jacking operation to achieve 40,000 pounds of tension.*

20. RICHMOND MAIN STREET STATION

This renovation preserved a landmark with a free-moving glass curtain wall.

SMBW · Richmond, VA
Project Gallery→

Three-sided VS1 curtain wall diaphragm accommodates huge building drift: 3” north-south and 5” east-west.

Explore Our PROJECT Galleries for More UNIQUE INNOVATIONS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
FRanz Safford, FACADE ENGINEER
CEO OF INNOVATION GLASS

Franz is an expert in all aspects of curtain wall construction process, from initial conception/design development, engineering, material selection, fabrication, project management and installation. He follows a process that strives for simplicity in the design solution, embracing a philosophy of integrating components to achieve a higher level of efficiency for the end-product. Read Full Bio →

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