Pitt BioForge

Sep 2

WHO

Architect: HOK
Installer: DM Products

  
WHERE & WHEN

Pittsburgh, PA ·
Americas

Completed · 2025

WHAT & HOW

Healthcare · New Build
VS1-A110 with custom fittings and AESS horizontals

FROM THE ARCHITECT HOK

❝ Our design for Pitt BioForge will establish an inspiring hub for science and innovation in Pittsburgh’s historic Hazelwood neighborhood. The building will provide an optimal environment to drive biomanufacturing breakthroughs that improve human health. The sustainable design targets LEED Gold certification. ❞

Visitors to this new gene and cell therapy facility in Pittsburgh will be welcomed by a prismatic VS1 facade composed of a sloping wall seamlessly colliding with a curved wall. The glass features a ceramic pattern to deter bird collisions. The bird-safe frit gradates to an opaque coating at the top of the facade.

The wall is supported by the RS8 mullion, an 8” (20.3cm) deep T-shaped rectangular profile, and a custom 1” (2.5cm) toggle fitting system which was developed for the project. To minimize system depth, the design team opted to integrate architecturally exposed structural steel (AESS) to augment support for the curtain wall. This project is a great example of an optimized VS1 facade solution that met the architect’s design intent and contributed to the resulting excellent architecture.

Innovation Glass is grateful for another opportunity to collaborate with our friends at HOK and DM Products.