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Glass architecture contributes to redensification in New York’s Manhattan borough

Energy-efficient Warm Edge system enhances living spaces with a view

Large-scale structural glazing façades not only distinguish commercial buildings but are also used increasingly for residential properties.
Glass residential architecture is extremely popular in major US cities. A special project has now been completed in the New York borough of Manhattan. In Hudson Square, a glass tower directly on top of a historic building has created a new and very distinctive living space. In the insulating glass, the highly efficient Warm Edge system from manufacturer H.B. Fuller | KÖMMERLING ensures low energy costs and a comfortable living environment.

Living space is in short supply everywhere. And American cities like New York are in urgent need of housing. Redensification is a viable option for gaining space – not only at ground level but above all in terms of height. At 102 Charlton Street, in Hudson Square on the south side of the block between Greenwich and Hudson Streets, New York real estate company Lalezarian Properties completed a new project in the winter of 2021/2022. A modern residential building with 22 floors was erected on top of an existing five-storey building. Thanks to its unique design, the new building cleverly closes a narrow gap between buildings, blending in visually with the surrounding high rises, while leaving the historic structure of the old building, including its ornate façade, untouched.

 

Combining historic and modern architecture

Ismael Leyva Architects, based in New York, were responsible for the design. The mid-sized architectural firm undertakes many projects in residential construction as well as in the field of renovation and redesign of historic and heritage-protected buildings. Their design philosophy is based on a combination of functional, aesthetically pleasing and ecologically responsible contemporary design: a portfolio that comes together very elegantly in the new building on Hudson Square.

Apart from its western façade, the 64-metre-high building is entirely glazed. The staggered upper third of the tower jumps back over a sloping line and opens up a distinctive silhouette when viewed from the street. The new building comprises a total of 61 residential units. Of these, the five top floors are designed as full-storey flats. A roof terrace accessible to all residents completes the tower at the top. The common amenities of the residential building also include a lift, a recreation room, lockers for parcels and a bicycle room in the basement. With air conditioning, hardwood floors, energy-efficient electrical appliances and convenient details such as USB charging sockets, the flats are equipped to highest standard. The large, glazed areas let plenty of natural daylight into the spaces while offering unobstructed views of bustling Manhattan.

 

Elastic edge seal for high energy efficiency

To achieve maximum energy efficiency in the building and to make optimum use of air conditioning in the units, the glazing in the façade is fitted with the Ködispace 4SG Warm Edge system from H.B. Fuller | KÖMMERLING, the adhesives and sealants manufacturer. The reactive thermoplastic spacer for insulating glass ensures the highest possible energy efficiency and maximum service life, combined with a truly unique appearance. Insulating glass with Ködispace 4SG has proven to be exceptionally robust, resilient and durable, as the chemical and elastic bond between sealant and glass creates a tight yet extremely flexible edge seal. As a result, the thermoplastic spacer withstands the temperature extremes between summer and winter common on the American East Coast and reliably keeps moisture from entering the unit.  The thermal insulating properties of the glass remain permanently intact. This not only ensures a feel-good atmosphere in the new flats, it also saves the residents heating and air-conditioning costs over the long term.

 

A unique aesthetic thanks to fully automatic application

 The Warm Edge solution not only meets the most stringent requirements for a permanently tight edge seal while maximising living comfort, it also stands out in terms of design. The spacer system is applied to the insulating glass using a fully automated robot. This enables extremely precise production down to a tenth of a millimetre, even with multiple panes – without any disturbing offset of the spacer profiles. Robot-assisted production also enables the creation of unusual window shapes such as the angled glass elements in the new Charlton Street building, or even rounded glazing. The black Ködispace 4SG also eliminates unpleasant light reflections and makes the space between the panes practically invisible – for an unobstructed view to the outside.

For the new development, the glass elements were manufactured by Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope® at its plant in Perrysburg, Ohio. Together with the Warm Edge system from H.B. Fuller | KÖMMERLING, they make a decisive contribution to a comfortable indoor environment, high-quality design and energy efficiency in the new residential building at 102 Charlton Street in New York.

In New York’s Manhattan borough, a large, glazed tower directly on top of a historic building creates new living space.
Image credit: H.B. Fuller | KÖMMERLING

In the insulating glass panes made with the highly efficient Warm Edge system from H.B. Fuller | KÖMMERLING ensures low energy costs and a pleasant living environment.
Image credit: H.B. Fuller | KÖMMERLING

 

Site plan

Project: 102 Charlton Street, New York, USA

Client: Lalezarian Properties, New York, USA

Architect: Ismael Leyva Architects, New York, USA

Completion date: 2022

Insulating glass manufacturer: Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope®, Perrysburg, USA

Warm Edge: Ködispace 4SG by
H.B. Fuller | KÖMMERLING

About H.B. Fuller | KÖMMERLING

Since 2017, Kömmerling Chemische Fabrik GmbH, as H.B. Fuller | KÖMMERLING, has been part of the US H.B. Fuller adhesives group. With its three business units – Engineering Adhesives, Construction Adhesives and Hygiene, Health and Consumable Adhesives – the world’s largest supplier of adhesives and sealants covers a wide range of demanding adhesive and sealant applications used in a number of industries such as electronics, hygiene, medicine, transport, construction and renewable energies. The international group generates sales of some 3 billion US dollars and has 6,500 employees serving customers in more than 125 countries. The Pirmasens site has become the “Technology Center of Excellence” for insulating glass applications and is therefore responsible for research and development of new products and fields of application as well as for advancing existing expertise.