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Macy’s brick facade on Wabasha and 6th in St. Paul has been renovated into the new Treasure Island Center and TRIA Rink which features four-stories of glass curtainwall. The fifth floor open-air parking lot has been transformed into an ice arena for the Minnesota Wild to hold practices.

Empirehouse partnered with RJM Construction and Collaborative Design Group as the architectural glass and metal contractor setting approximately 20,000 square feet of glass on this high-profile project.

The TRIA Rink was glazed with approximately 6,500 square feet of state-of-the-art electrochromatic SageGlass. This programmable smart glass automatically tints as the sun moves across the sky so occupants can enjoy uninterrupted views of the city without glare. It provides a comfortable controlled climate without the sun’s heat gain, and it is a sustainability solution with LEED certification points.

Innovative design-assist solutions

The ice arena curtainwall posed another challenge: the structural engineers working the project required six inches of deflection in the steel roof trusses above the curtainwall system. RJM Construction tasked the architect and trades involved to develop ahead detail that could accommodate this deflection. Empirehouse team came up with an innovative solution and incorporated a Tremco silicone sheet to help accommodate the movement while keeping the building watertight. Then custom break metal was added to protect the silicone sheet and provide a finished product that met the architect’s design intent.

The other area Empirehouse provided design assist was at the 20’ x 7’ Solar Innovations operable glass window wall in the level 2 curtainwall system. Steel reinforcing within the verticals and mullions were engineered to support the full-width opening.

Scope of Work:

• Below the ice arena, Empirehouse installed three floors of 7-1/2″ deep Old Castle Reliance fully captured curtainwall system which was glazed with approximately 13,500 square feet of 1″ blue tinted insulating glass with a high performance low ’e‘ coating
• Approximately 200 lineal feet of custom post-mounted Trex guardrail system glazed with 5/16″ clear tempered laminated glass
• Approximately 500 square feet of standard 2″ x 4.5″ fully captured clear class I anodized Oldcastle FG3000T aluminum storefront framing assemblies glazed with 1″ blue Pacifica tinted glass with high performance low e coating at exterior assemblies and 1/4″ clear tempered glass at interior assemblies
• Aluminum swinging doors glazed with 1″ blue Pacifica tinted insulated glass with high-performance low ’e‘ coating
• Glazed sliding doors: Three fully automatic bi-parting sliding door assemblies glazed with 1″ clear insulated glass, 1″ blue Pacifica tinted insulated glass with high performance low ’e‘ coating, or 1/4″ clear tempered glass
• Approximately 50 lineal feet of plexiglass dividers set within 1″ x 1″ clear anodized aluminum sill channel at the General Manager’s observation booth
• Borrowed lites and fire-rated glass

Empirehouse provided pre-construction engineering services and cost studies to help shape the overall work scope for the glazing package. The main exterior glazing component includes approximately 23,400 total square feet of conventionally glazed aluminum pressure-wall system. This system was specifically engineered for the required high-span application, and a majority of the glazing is resting on an engineered carbon plate which provides the appearance of a suspended cantilevered wall system. The initial design required a +/- 5/8″ allowable movement at each attachment, which was only possible with the use of custom horizontal extrusions. The movement requirement also created the need for complicated independent loading connections for suspension of the wall system.  

The “back of house” glazing scope includes an additional 8,900 total square feet of applied veneer wall glazing, creating the appearance of a new glazing façade with a minor demolition of existing systems.

The secondary glazing systems for the building shell provide a striking aesthetic with a full structural glass wall assembly which makes a grand statement in the overall design. Incorporating approximately 3,400 total square feet of top-hung cantilevered structural glass fin supported wall system with stainless steel fittings supporting the glass panels, the architect created unobstructed views of the surrounding city skyline. A portion of this system at the “City Room” gathering space was installed after the installation of a custom precast sunshade device. This logistical issue required Empirehouse to commission the assembly of custom-engineered glass movement equipment for the installation of the oversized glass—some exceeding 76″ x 140.”

In addition to the glass fin supported wall systems, the plaza level façade includes approx. 4,500 total square feet of custom aluminum bar stock fin supported glazed wall system. This system was initially designed as an unsupported exterior structural glass wall assembly, set with top and bottom recessed glazing channels. While the unsupported wall system would have created additional unobstructed views to the exterior, deflection analysis dictated that the overall unit thickness required would have been a massive 2-1/4″ with multiple layers of laminated heavy tempered glass lites. The custom aluminum bar stock support system was proposed as a value engineering cost option shortly after award, allowing the owner to incorporate other desired glazing features without modification of contract value.

Scope:

• The main exterior glazing component includes approximately 23,400 total square feet of conventionally glazed aluminum pressure-wall system.
• Decorative Glass, back painted glass and custom laminated glass infill panels
• Glass handrail 1,100 total lineal feet
• 8,900 total square feet of applied veneer wall glazing
• 3,400 total square feet of top-hung cantilevered structural glass fin supported wall system with stainless steel fittings supporting the glass panels, the architect created unobstructed views of the surrounding city skyline.
• In addition to the glass fin supported wall systems, the plaza level façade includes approx. 4,500 total square feet of custom aluminum bar stock fin supported glazed wall system

Mystic Lake Center is a 70,000-square-foot event center and a 180-room hotel tower featuring 18 new suites with scenic views. Combining this expansion project with the existing Mystic Lake Casino Hotel makes it the second-largest in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Empirehouse entered into design-assist services with PCL Construction to assist with budgeting, pre-engineering, and the design layout anchoring of the saw-tooth curtainwall attachment.

Entering the project at the beginning of the design phase helped Empirehouse utilizes its Project Managers, Field Superintendents, and Glazing foreman to come up with an innovative on-site pre-glazing plan. It worked to doubled efficiency and reduced equipment costs and lift-related injuries for the nine-story hotel tower featured approx. 25,000 square feet of 6″ curtainwall assemblies glazed with high-performance glass. 

In all approx. 3,500 square feet of glass lites were safely installed by the Glazing Team in one day!

The “swoosh” curtainwall lining the event center of the Mystic Lake Center project offered challenges of another kind. Approx. 10,000 square feet of 10.5″ curtainwall assemblies were glazed with Sage electrochromatic smart glass. This state-of-the-art programmable glass automatically tints as the sun moves across the sky. Hotel and event guests can enjoy uninterrupted scenic views without the sun’s glare, while it provides a comfortable controlled climate by blocking heat-gain during the summer months which reduces cooling costs. To make this electrochromatic smart glass function properly, each unit needed to be carefully wired, tested, and glazed perfectly into a unique frame location. 

Architectural glass and metal scope:

• Approx. 25,000 square feet of Kawneer 1600UT champagne anodized 2.5″ x 6″ fully captured ultra-thermal curtainwall assemblies glazed with 1″ Viracon VS6-08 blue-green tinted high-performance low ‘e’ coated glass and ceramic frit at spandrel
• Approx. 10,000 square feet of Kawneer 1600UT champagne anodized 2.5″ x 10.5″ fully captured ultra-thermal curtainwall assemblies glazed with electrochromatic Sage glass
• Approx. 7,000 square feet of Kawneer 451UT champagne anodized center-pocketed, flush-glazed storefront framing assemblies including 1.75″ x 4.5″ non-thermal framing systems glazed with 1/4″ clear tempered glass and 2″ x 4.5″ ultra-thermal framing systems glazed with electrochromatic Sage glass
• 25 aluminum thermal and non-thermal entrances
• Approx. 128 lineal feet of structural glass balustrade railing at stairs, overlook, and exterior patio
• Shower doors and mirrors for 180 hotel rooms and suites
• Borrowed lites
• Suite glass shelves

Empirehouse teamed with Mortenson Construction and Alliiance Architects as the architectural glass and metal contractor and a collaborative partner on the Target Center renovation project to transform a closed-off concrete façade into a modern and inviting light-filled space for fans to enjoy for decades to come. The Target Center renovation project is an excellent example of transforming a 27-year-old structure into a modern and relevant facility that re-connect it with the look and feel of the neighboring warehouse district. This also meant replacing blocked views of concrete with windows of transparency where Target Center patrons can look out to see surrounding city life, while those passing by can sneak peeks of Target Center sports and concert life within. This “seeing in and seeing out” was part of the fan experience that the design team had intended.

Preplanning and Design-assist partnership included early design review, value engineering, design collaboration, and cost control.

Scope:

• A three-story, light-filled glass atrium featuring a monumental span curtainwall application at the corner of First Avenue and Sixth Street which serves as the new main entrance
• Remodeled Executive Suites with 25 all-glass entrances and approximately 500 linear feet of all-glass drink railings
• A new skyway lined with bird-safe glass and railings
• Level 3 bullet-resistant security glass ticket box office with decorative glass fins
• Twelve heavy-tempered folding and sliding glass wall systems with swinging doors
• Approximately 4,500 total lineal feet of aluminum cover replacement on an existing exterior curtainwall system
• Approximately 2,000 linear feet of LED lightboxes in the exterior metal panel façade
• Curtainwall replacement along Sixth Street
• Approximately 6,000 square feet of interior glass partition
• Interior glass hand railings leading to an upper-level glass floor with iconic artwork
• Lexus Club decorative back-lit onyx glass wall
• Lynx and Timberwolves decorative shower doors with custom white laminated frosted finish
• Hydro spa heavy glass walls
• Overall exterior glass scope of approximately 14,000 total square feet