• • It supplied Tintex glass for the reconstruction efforts in Greensburg, Kansas after a devastating tornado in 2007 destroyed most of the county seat.
• • The building forms part of the Master Plan set up by Studio 804 for the sustainable reconstruction of the city, located 100 miles east of Wichita

The glass offers great protection From UV rays.

Vitro America, a subsidiary of Vitro in the USA, is proud to participate in the Studio 804 master plan for the construction of what will be the first “Green City” on the North American continent.

Greensburg is the county seat in the state of Kansas and a city that has made sustainable development as its main reconstruction goal after a devastating F5 tornado (maximum category) ripped through the city in May of 2007.

After the disaster, the idea quickly spread among the community that they had a really unique opportunity to rebuild a whole town embracing a green philosophy. 

The initiative was undertaken by city authorities who began the reconstruction of public buildings that fully comply with the system of environmental standards called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System, LEED® which was developed by the United States Ecological Construction Council.

Among all of the construction, the community arts center stands out as a structure that has being totally rebuilt using reclaimed wood and is surrounded by a glass wall Tintex (green) supplied by Vitro.
 
 “The Tintex glass provides much-needed UV protection and defers heat load on the building,” explains Boyd Johnson from Studio 804, Inc., designer of the community center.  “The precision of the glass juxtaposed next to the historical reclaimed wood also looks fabulous – the subtle green glass tint nicely mutes the sheathing for a more contemporary look”, he adds.

The installed glass next to the Wood exterior creates an amazing ensemble.

Alice Dickerson, Sales Director for Vitro America, points out that the three-eighths inch (10 mm) thick Tintex glass was donated by Vitro and Vitro America in Dallas fabricated all the glass for the Art Center.

“This type of construction glass allowed the designers the ability to create a unique and esthetic outer shell for the Arts Center that also gives excellent solar blockage by filtering out 67 per cent of the UV rays compared to conventional clear glass that only filters 31 per cent of harmful rays”, she explains.

She adds that Sudio 804 was very appreciative of the quick response from Vitro America in supplying the needed material in a very short timeframe, contributing to the timely Arts Center opening on May 4, 2008, precisely 1 year after the destructive tornado.

Studio 804, is a design and construction program from the University of Kansas that is made up of graduate architectural students and Dan Rockhill, JL Constant Distinguished Professor of Architecture, who completed the overall building design.

“Our goal was to utilize and protect the reclaimed lumber,” says Rockhill.  “It provides energy savings and represents an important part of the community history and a visual reminder of hope and renewed spirit for a town reshaping its future.”

Once again Vitro America, one of the most important producers, processors and distributors of architectural and automotive glass in the United States, confirms its commitment to provide sustainable architecture solutions in today’s world to leave a cleaner and friendlier world to future generations.

 

 

 

 

Links of interest:

• Vitro América: www.vitroamerica.com
• Greensburg, Kanasas: http://www.greensburgks.org
• Consejo de la Construcción Ecológica de EUA: http://www.usgbc.org
• U.S. Green Building Council’s Greenbuild International Conference and Expo http://www.greenbuildexpo.org

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