Ryan Center
Architect: Goettsch Partners
Installer: Harmon Inc
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Certification: LEED Gold
The Ryan Center for Musical arts is an excellent example of a highly custom facade project using the VS1 system.
First the mullion depth was minimized for 3 tall walls by the use of pre-tensioned, stainless steel twin cables stretched horizontally to break up the total vertical span. Secondly, a dual wall in the concert hall achieved total acoustic isolation from the exterior and transparency was maximized by achieving a 30’-high wall with a 5”-deep mullion. The tensioned cable was aligned with the horizontal glass joint to minimize its visual presence. The main entry wall has a varying glass bay that incrementally transitions from a vertical to an angled orientation. At the top of this wall an all-glass corner detail is achieved between the facade and the glass skylight, which creates a near-flat glass spine for the building.
