Choosing glass block for a commercial architectural project offers multiple benefits.  Architects and designers worldwide have successfully made glass block the centerpiece of their designs for many years. One need look any further than the stunning Maison Hermès, designed by famed Italian architect Renzo Piano.

It stands tall in the center of the Ginza District of Tokyo with a surface area comprised of glass block of over 65,000 square feet distributed through its 15 floors. The 13,000 self-supporting glass block utilized in building the Maison Hermès reflect the sunlight during the day and illuminate the internal light at night.   

The architectural and design community in North America are starting to incorporate glass block and glass brick more and more in a multitude of unique and diverse projects. This is due to the beauty, privacy, security, and energy efficiency of these highly versatile building materials. 

Today, we’d like to explore some of the benefits of these amazing glass products when it comes to commercial architectural design.

Glass Block for Beauty and Visual Interest

By using glass block as a glazing material, designers and architects can infuse their projects with beauty and light. These multipurpose products are suitable for both exterior and interior applications. The combination of patterns, sizes, and colors provides unlimited design possibilities while providing varying degrees of light transmission and daylighting.

Glass Block as Privacy Glass

Glass block products are also known for privacy and obscurity for a reason. Unlike plate glass, where someone outside can see in, glass block, with their numerous patterns, colors, and frosted option can prevent someone from looking in on the occupants of a building or room. This makes these products ideal for windows, exterior walls, as well as interior walls and partitions where privacy is a concern.

Security and Impact Resistant Glass Block

Seves Glass Block has an array of products to fit your level of security needs.  With varied thicknesses of glass, including our 3” solid glass Vistabrik®, we can attain the protection level you need, including some ballistic requirements. Glass block requires minimal maintenance, and its reduced replacement costs, makes it an exceptional choice.

Glass block is ideal for any facility subject to ballistic requirements, vandalism, high noise levels, graffiti, fire, and other security concerns. Seves is widely used in institutional environments, commercial settings, schools, transportation terminals, and numerous other public spaces and buildings, including courthouses, embassies, and police stations.

Our LightWise Architectural Systems also offers Ballistic Resistant, Blast Resistant, and Security and Detention Window options.

Glass Block can be Energy Efficient

Glass block are naturally energy-efficient, with a thermally insulating or U-value of around 0.50.  The Seves ‘Energy Savings’ Glass Block, with a U-Value of .19, beats the industry standard by more than 60%. We achieve these excellent values by inserting a low-emissive insulated glass insert and pressure-controlled Argon gas inside the hollow block. This Energy Savings option helps you keep your commercial building cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, without increasing your utility bills.

Additional Benefits of Glass Block

In addition to providing beauty, privacy, security, and energy efficiency to your commercial architecture project, glass brick and block provide several additional benefits, including:

High-Performance Capabilities

Hurricane Resistant: Seves offers both glass block and prefabricated glass block windows, through our LightWise Architectural Systems, to combat all forces generated from hurricanes.  Our products meet the large missile impact tests referenced in the IBC, Miami/Dade County, Florida State and TDI codes.

Tornado Resistant: Seves LightWise Tornado Resistant Windows meets and exceeds the high standards of performance for FEMA 361/320 requirements.

Other High-Performance options from Seves:

• Blast Resistant Windows
• Security & Detention Windows
• Precast Concrete & Glass Paver Panels

Fire Rated Glass Block and Glass Brick

Specially manufactured fire-rated glass block and glass brick is an ideal solution for commercial buildings. Seves offers a fire-rated window assembly for 45, 60 or 90 minutes.  These glass products provide added protection for a building’s employees, tenants, customers and more.

Seves Glass Block and brick fire-rated products have undergone extensive testing and meet the strict standards for UL-9, NFPA 257 and NAMI when installed to proper specifications.

 

Choose Seves Glass Block for Your Next Commercial Project

Seves Glass Block Inc. is North America’s leading manufacturer of glass block and glass brick.  We are committed to continuing innovation to produce the highest quality product that today’s architects and designers’ demand. Our products come in a wide array of patterns, sizes, colors, high-tech options, and installation alternatives.