Last year VS1 was selected for the entire exterior facade scope of the O'Hare Terminal 5 Expansion. Construction is now underway. This VS1 installation will be one of the largest in the US at 40,000 square feet. 

Approximately 50% of the VS1 facades will include electrochromic (smart glass) technology, which will be supplied by View, Inc. The VS1 system is well suited to provide complete access to the electrical wiring at the smart glass edges, which greatly improves ease of installation and post-construction wire maintenance. 

By top-hanging the wall, a glass modulation of two panels above a large base panel was made possible. The horizontal element spanning 7' is a 1/2"-thick aluminum plate which serves to transfer the lateral loads of the upper intermediate mullion. A vertical mullion depth rhythm of 10 and 5 inches was established for the 20' main span and 10' intermediate span, respectively. The thin site-lines and superior thermal performance were not possible with conventional/unitized systems.