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Museums

Museums and art galleries present complex design challenges given the tight environmental demands and numerous design parameters which need to be met.  Consideration must be given to thermal performance, solar control, lighting levels, the quality of light, UV transmittance, condensation resistance, and what can at first seem to be conflicting design needs.

"Natural" daylighting presents the art at its best, but excessive UV radiation and heat may damage valuable art and artifacts.  In addition, curators are increasingly seeking to maintain the interior environment in a narrow band at 70 deg F and 50% RH, conditions which require very high performing glass to control both heat gain and heat loss year round. While curators seek high humidity levels in the ambient environment, they typically must avoid condensation on interior glass as well. The challenge of meeting the "no condensation" requirement is heightened because tilting glass for sloped applications may decrease thermal performance by as much as 40% through increased convection inside the unit's airspace.  As condensation is closely tied to thermal performance, less thermal insulation can mean moisture dripping off of the glass.

Because of these demanding requirements, Heat Mirror® insulating glass is increasingly being employed to solve these design challenges.

Project: Guggenheim Museum Location: The Venetian – Las Vegas Architects: Rem Koolhaas – Structure                  Frank Gehry – “Art of the Motorcycle” Exhibit Solution: Heat Mirror 33/Clear

Heat Mirror units are constructed with a coated film suspended in the center of the unit, creating two insulating air cavities.  Like the PVB in laminated glass, this film absorbs 99% or more of the sun's damaging UV radiation.  Southwall's products are spectrally selective, providing solar control while allowing different levels of natural light into a building environment depending on the film-type selected.  Because a Heat Mirror unit has multiple insulating cavities and can utilize both gas filling and coated glass in its structure, it is possible to reach U-factors of 0.12 or lower.  This superior insulation performance can increase glass temperature over 60 deg F to meet demanding condensation resistance requirements.  In addition, since the suspended film breaks up convective loops, Heat Mirror maintains thermal performance in sloped applications, providing maximum condensation resistance in demanding overhead conditions.

Whether it's maintaining environmental temperatures year round, eliminating condensation, or blocking damaging UV radiation, Heat Mirror uniquely meets the challenge, while at the same time expanding the designers options in one of the projects most demanding areas- glazing and daylighting.

For examples of Museum glazing solutions, the Museum glazing PDF provides performance data for a number of Heat Mirror units with and without laminated glass, and in both vertical and sloped applications.