Electronically tintable SageGlass will be used in expansion plans for the Mall of America, installed in the large oval rotunda that covers the new grand entrance to the mall. Groundbreaking for the project started in May 2014 and is expected to be completed in late summer 2015.
SAGE Electrochromics has announced that SageGlass, a product of Saint-Gobain, will be included in expansion plans for the Mall of America. The announcement was made at the annual American Institute of Architects (AIA) national convention in Chicago.
The electronically tintable glass will be installed in the large oval rotunda that covers the new grand entrance to the mall. Groundbreaking for the project started in May 2014 and is expected to be completed in late summer 2015.
“We’re really excited about it,” said SAGE Electrochromics Vice President of Marketing Derek Malmquist. “It’s a project that I think will get a lot of visibility and it will be a nice showcase.”
Mall of America, the nation’s largest retail and entertainment destination, has embarked on a USD 325 million expansion project with partners Mortenson Construction, Hotel Development LLC, the Mdewakanton Sioux Community, and the City of Bloomington, Minnesota. The expansion will include a 342-room JW Marriott hotel, office tower, more retailers, new dining options, a tourist welcome centre and a large event space. This is the most significant construction project for Mall of America since its opening more than 20 years ago.
The new entrance to the mall features a 3,500-square-foot rotunda skylight comprised of more than 300 panes of SageGlass. It will enable the mall to control the sun without resorting to shades, blinds or other devices that would have curtailed natural daylight.
“Our objective was to maximize natural light and comfort for our guests,” said Rich Hoge, vice president of operations for Mall of America in a press release. “With SageGlass, we can control the amount of sun so that it is cool and comfortable in the Mall whether it is 9° or 90° outside. We’ll also benefit from energy savings without having to block daylight with blinds or shades, which would have also been a challenge for us to clean and maintain in such a large, elevated skylight.”
The SageGlass installation at Mall of America will primarily operate automatically via light sensors, changing tint as the sun intensifies and moves west throughout the day. Tinting can also be controlled manually as needed for special events at the mall that would require customized glare or heat management.
In 2013, over 42 million guests visited Mall of America for shopping, dining, attractions and special events. The expansion project houses a new visitor centre and provides space for more than 50 additional retailers.
“Mall of America is an iconic facility and we are pleased to have been selected to participate in its exciting new expansion,” said Alan McLenaghan, CEO of SAGE Electrochromics.
SAGE employs more than 150 full-time employees in Faribault.