In the high-density cities of the US, building upwards is usually the best solution for expanding the city. The Salesforce Tower in Chicago proves that climate protection and sustainability are not neglected in new glass skyscrapers.
At the bend between the northern arm and the main arm of the Chicago River, a vibrant centre for work, living and leisure has been created, right on the waterfront. The Salesforce Tower Chicago, which will be completed in 2023, is the central building in the area.
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The slender profile of the Salesforce Tower rises 260 metres above the ground over 57 floors. With the new tower, Salesforce has achieved a gold certification according to the LEED standard. The US LEED system not only assesses one aspect of sustainability, such as energy, water or health, but the interaction of all important elements in the overall picture. For example, the choice of building materials for the Salesforce Tower saved 19 per cent CO2. During operation, the building only uses electricity, so the energy demand can be met completely CO2-neutrally from renewable sources.
Pelli Clarke & Partners
Glass facade with Ködispace warm edge insulating glass
The highly efficient glass facade of the Tower is just one of the building's many assets. It allows maximum daylight into the interior while simultaneously blocking 15 per cent of UV light, which minimises the heating of the rooms. All insulating glass elements are equipped with the extremely robust and durable warm edge system Ködispace 4SG from H.B. Fuller | Kömmerling.
This reactive thermoplastic spacer system is characterised by its unique appearance, maximum energy efficiency and maximum service life. The basis for this is the special structure: the warm edge consists of only one sealant, which is applied fully automatically by a robot and chemically bonds with both the glass surface and the silicone secondary seal.
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This means that the entire edge seal ‘melts’ into a flexible and highly resilient unit with excellent gas tightness and maximum durability. This means that the insulating glass remains permanently energy-efficient even under high thermal loads and protects the building against heat gain or heat loss.
Warm edge system for sustainable glass architecture
Christian Scherer, Head of Business Development Glass, explains: ‘With insulating glass units with an edge seal made of Ködispace 4SG, the glass facade of the Salesforce Tower will still have excellent energy efficiency even after many years. We can now prove this gas-tightness metrologically in multiple ways, on specific buildings and in extreme long-term tests.’
This makes the warm edge system from H.B. Fuller | Kömmerling ideally suited for use in sustainable glass architecture worldwide that meets the most exacting requirements.
