McGlothlin Wing II at VMFA
Rendering courtesy of SmithGroup
Installer: Pioneer
In Progress · 2027
Custom VS1-A220 direct glaze facade with fluted design
VS1 was selected for the facades of an expansion to the existing Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, VA. The scope is a 31,000 sq. ft. (2880 sq. m.) curtain wall with a “fluted” aesthetic, which is the appearance of narrow vertical grooves. The curtain wall modules alternate between 3’ (0.9m) and 6’ (1.8m) in width; the 3’ bays create the fluted style with curved lites of a 3” (76mm) concave radius. The facade is stepped in height, reaching a maximum vertical span of 24’ (7.3m). The RS10 mullion is used throughout the project.
The standard A220 kit of parts is a direct-glaze assembly, which removes the typical offset between the mullion and face glass with a continuous aluminum cassette along the vertical glass joint. (Toggle clips are placed within the cassette channel so that standard IGUs can be used.)
Key to this project, however, was a customized VS1-A220 system. First, a new cassette die was created to accommodate the curved nature of the 3’ lites. Second, in lieu of the traditional toggle fitting inside the cassette channel, our team introduced a new hook fitting that allowed pre-glazed units to be easily set in the field with no mechanical fastening needed. The result was a semi-unitized curtain wall that satisfied a quality control requirement from the State of Virginia and eased the installation process for our Pioneer, our glazing partners.
Innovation Glass is working closely with SmithGroup through a Design Assist partnership. This project is a showcase in how VS1 can achieve complex geometries, as designed by the architect, with a simple kit of parts.
VS1-A220
200 N Arthur Ashe Blvd, Richmond, VA 23220
