Glass House

A High–Rise With Steep Specifications

Denver's Glass House is a stunning 23–story curtain–walled condominium. Not only is it beautiful, it also performs — functionally, architecturally and financially.

Bringing moderately priced urban living to Denver was a risk, so the budget and schedule were tight. Thermal efficiency was also critical due to the humidity and temperature extremes common to Denver's diverse climate. Humidity from inside the building presented yet another challenge; residential interiors can have up to 10 times more humidity than commercial interiors from day–to–day activities of the inhabitants. Successfully integrating a commercial curtain wall on a residential high–rise condo required virtually flawless product performance and engineering.

In answer to these challenges, the Kawneer team developed a modified version of the 1600 Wall System® 4, known for excellent thermal performance and fast, economical fabrication. Because each unit featured a balcony, a thermal sliding door would also be needed. The solution came in the form of the stylish AA®3900 Thermal Sliding Door. The products served to control the elements without affecting the residents and at the same time, managed to be cost–effective.

As soon as it opened, Glass House became one of the fastest–selling condominiums in Denver history — and a striking addition to the Denver skyline.