Structural glazing
Glass acts beyond infill, using point supports, bending, silicone, or spider fittings to minimize framing.
Pins and spider fittings support glass at points to create visually continuous walls in lobbies, museums, and airports.
Heat-strengthened, tempered, and laminated assemblies control failure. Even after one ply breaks, the system must resist falling and penetration.
The Louvre Pyramid, Apple Park, and contemporary atria demonstrate this language of structural transparency.
Thermal stress, wind deflection, sealant life, cleaning, and replacement are the operational costs of transparency.
