2100 Connecticut Avenue - Washington DCLike many older buildings built before the 1940's, the apartments on 2100 Connecticut Avenue in Washington, D.C. were in need of renovation. As a result, the original glass block windows were to be replaced. For the Bernstein Management Corporation, that meant finding a suitable solution that would please both the tenants and the local historical society. However, unlike many exterior window projects, the apartments required a unique type of glass block. To help bring this renovation to life, the Bernstein Management Corporation contacted Glass Block of America, the largest installer of commercial glass block in the country. Together, several different options were provided to the historical society, but none were approved. After countless attempts and searches for additional manufacturers both domestic and international, a decision was made to use a custom made glass block that replicated the original 1930 pattern. This type of glass block had not been manufactured for decades. To develop the custom radial block, Pittsburgh Corning engineers examined a few samples carefully extracted from the building by Glass Block of America to develop product specifications. From there, a mold was made to create more than 3,000 pieces of glass block. Glass Block of America continued to work directly with Bernstein Management and was also responsible for the installation of the glass block windows. Once the glass block was manufactured, the directive was to install 3,000 pieces of glass block in a fully occupied upscale apartment complex in the shadows of the U.S. Capitol Building. There were more than 35 units that had glass block. The glass block walls were in bedrooms and living rooms of the occupied apartments. Glass Block of America had to protect against causing any impact on the residents living space or lifestyle. The installation crew arrived each day and could not enter the apartments until the residents went to work and had to be finished by the time the residents returned from work. In that time, installers had to move furniture and protect all furnishings, walls, and floors. Carefully, the Glass Block of America team removed the old glass block out of the wall and then disposed of the glass block in a recycling container while carefully protecting all pedestrians from demolition that was going on up to 80 feet above their heads. After each demolition, the installation crew had to clean up and then prepare and protect for the installation of the new glass block. At the end of the day, the only evidence that anyone was there was the shining new radius glass block window. "We were excited to provide our expertise on this project," said Steve Boesch, Vice President of Glass Block of America. "Our installers did an excellent job, and the residents were very appreciative of the results." "From start to finish the entire project was smooth and simple," said Daniel Porter of the Bernstein Management Corporation. "The results were fantastic and everyone, including the historical society, was pleased with the final product." Glass Block of America |