Compagnie de Saint Gobain : Historic renovation in Washington

Photo Credit: ©Roger Watson

Saint-Gobain Glass was a key player in the renovation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Library in Washington, D.C., which was named American Renovation Project of the Year 2021 by World Architects, the platform for American architects. Designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969), the building was built in 1972 and renovated by Mecanoo and OTJ Architects. Initially threatened with demolition, it was finally considered "structurally sound and easily adaptable" and therefore suitable for renovation.

Given the sensitive nature of its architecture, it was necessary to retain the original framework. To renovate it, a high performance glass solution had to be found that was both light and thin so as not to compromise, or even enhance, the aesthetics of the building.

The architecture of the upper floors had to be preserved by using a dark glass. After a lengthy process, multiple trials with different grades of bronze tints, neutral low-emissivity coatings and high solar control performance, the design team opted for a laminated safety glass combining Cool-Lite KNT164 and Parsol Bronze.

In addition to this performance, it was imperative to retain the beautiful flatness of the original glazing, without compromising on strength despite the very large panes.

The transparency of the ground floor was therefore achieved by using the clearest glass on the market: Saint-Gobain Glass Diamant.

The highest floor (new elevation) allowed for the use of a new type of glass that is even more efficient in terms of energy conservation and transparency: Xtreme 70/33 glass with a triple silver coating.

In total, more than 4,000 m² of glass solutions were supplied by Saint-Gobain Glass and manufactured by Saint-Gobain Glassolutions Eckelt Glas for this iconic building in the American capital, whose renovation is giving it a new, more efficient life.

Click for more details about the Martin Luther King Jr. Library.