Colorado office center transforms with Luxwall Enthermal™ retrofit
With LuxWall Enthermal™, the building improved comfort, reduced energy costs, and preserved architectural character.
R-Value
temperature
Background
A Colorado office center is a prominent commercial building with panoramic views of the Front Range and the bustling downtown Boulder, CO area. Due to inclement weather and wear and tear, the nearly 50-year-old building’s aging window system had become a growing concern. Failing gaskets, weatherization failures, and storm- damaged glass led to rising energy costs, inconsistent indoor temperatures, and increasing maintenance costs. These issues impacted tenant comfort, lease value, occupancy rates, and overall operating efficiency. Recognizing the existing windows impact on tenant experience, energy efficiency, and operating costs, the building owner sought a solution that could address these issues in a fast and cost-effective way while preserving the building’s architectural integrity. The building owner considered full glazing replacement, framing and glass, but the investment payback period was too long to be considered. Their search led them to JRB Service and LuxWall for a cost-effective glass only retrofit solution for the vision and spandrel glass.
10mm
Enthermal Spandrel
Harmony Bronze OPACI-COAT
87%
Reduction in Heat Flux
9x
Center of Glass R-Value Improvement
Glass-only retrofit solution
Enthermal Transparent Insulation can be installed directly into a building’s existing non-thermally broken frames in less than one hour per window – from inside the building, without removing or rebuilding the original frame. Proven glazing components like glazing tape, dry gaskets, and silicone ensure a weather-tight seal. The result is a dramatic improvement in the windows’ thermal resistance, reducing heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer – key factors in lowering energy costs and improving tenant comfort. By retaining existing window frames, capital cost is reduced by up to 60%, tenant displacement is minimized, and costly full-scale facade renovations can be avoided.
Enthermal impact
LuxWall supplied 402 units of Enthermal 10-mm vision and spandrel glass, covering 7,941 square feet of the building’s exterior. JRB Service, an industry-leading glazier with expertise in the design, façade diagnostics, leak investigation, and re-glazing, developed the glass only retrofit solution and design to reduce air infiltration, ensure a weather tight seal, and maximize total window R-value performance.
JRB Service assessed the office center’s existing window system and engineered a custom solution for the building. Since the existing glazing contained a 1-inch (25- mm) double-pane with clear glass and ¼-inch monolithic spandrel glass, the original non-thermally broken frames needed modifiers to accommodate Enthermal’s 10- mm profile. To ensure a weather-tight seal, JRB Service installed Enthermal into the building’s existing frames as a glass-only retrofit solution with a combination of industry-proven components. After installation, testing revealed a 9X improvement in the thermal resistance (R-value) of Enthermal and an 87% decrease in heat flux.
LuxWall Enthermal’s product excellence combined with JRB Service’s expertise in precision installation ensured a seamless integration into the building’s existing framing, minimizing disruption to tenants while maximizing performance gains. The result: a revitalized, more energy efficient building with improved occupant comfort and long-term value, making Randolph Center a more competitive and attractive space for new and existing tenants
