Saint-Gobain’s SageGlass, the ‘world’s smartest electrochromic glass’, was installed in the skylight of the oval rotunda that covers the new grand entrance and event space at the iconic Mall of America, the nation’s largest retailer and entertainment destination.
The 3,500-square-foot rotunda skylight is comprised of more than 300 panes of electronically tintable SageGlass, a product of Saint-Gobain. The SageGlass skylight will provide solar control to enhance the comfort of millions of shoppers and guests attending programs, concerts and speaking engagements being held in the Mall’s new expansion.
“Guests of Mall of America will now have a better and brighter shopping experience, exemplifying why our dynamic glass is the supreme solution for solar control.”
SageGlass dynamically controls sunlight to optimize daylight and enhance comfort by preventing glare and solar heat. The dynamic glass skylight is controlled via light sensors, adjusting tint automatically as the sun intensifies throughout the day. Tinting can also be controlled manually as needed for special events at the Mall that require customized glare or heat management. By blocking sunlight on hot days, SageGlass dramatically reduces energy demand, while increasing guest comfort.
“With SageGlass, we’re able to maximize natural light, reduce heat gain and, most importantly, provide guests with a more comfortable experience when they come to the Mall for special events or a day of shopping,” said Rich Hoge, executive vice president of operations at Mall of America. “The SageGlass atrium is a stunning feature of the Mall’s expansion – catching the eye of every guest that walks through our doors. SageGlass was just the solution we were looking for to add a wow factor and yet solve the functional problem of adding so much sunlight in a retail environment.”
Mall of America commenced the $325 million expansion project in May 2014. It is the most significant construction project for the Mall since its opening more than 20 years ago. The expansion includes a 342-room JW Marriott hotel, an office tower, high-end retailers, new dining options, a tourist welcome center and a large event space. The Mall attracted over 42 million visitors last year, is the leading destination in the United States, and is set to grow even further with the new expansion.
“Mall of America is a household name not only in our home state of Minnesota but also for visitors from across the country. We’re thrilled SageGlass is part of the new grand entrance of this iconic retail space,” said Alan McLenaghan, CEO of SageGlass. “Guests of Mall of America will now have a better and brighter shopping experience, exemplifying why our dynamic glass is the supreme solution for solar control.”