Masonry Magazine June 1971 Page. 22
Window To The World
Local 802 of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers is now a window to the world of Chester, Pa.-and vice versa. The local's new headquarters is constructed almost entirely of glass and masonry.
It began in 1969 when the management of Local 802 decided its old building should be replaced. Repair and maintenance costs were rising steadily and there were relatively few windows in the structure.
The architects hired by Local 802 sought to achieve five objectives: (a) improve natural lighting, (b) upgrade insulating effectiveness, (c) keep construction cost low and (d) insure minimum maintenance expenses, (e) achieve an attractive appearance. To meet these goals, they decided to construct two street-side walls entirely of Glass Blocks. The remaining two walls were to be brick.
Completed in June, 1970, the unique, $155,900 structure needs no neon lights to attract attention.
"The transparent glass walls make it possible to see the life of the building from without while, from within, they give us a feeling of spaciousness we never experienced with solid walls," said Phillip News, executive secretary. "There's also no maintenance to worry about," Mr. News added. "The blocks are practically indestructible, and nothing had to be plastered or painted. An occasional washing is all that's needed."
In addition, the high insulation value of the glass block contributes to more economical heating and air conditioning. A partial vacuum sealed into each block provides insulation equivalent to a 12-inch-thick masonry block wall, and almost double that of standard window glass.
The vacuum in the block virtually eliminates noise, as well as surface condensation. With a relative humidity of 44 percent and an interior temperature of 70°F, condensation will form on an ordinary window when the outside temperature reaches 33°F. Under the same conditions, condensation will not form on glass block until the outside temperatures drop to minus 24°F.