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Empire State Building Gets A Green Makeover

Empire State Building photoManhattan's signature skyscraper will be running a lot more efficiently after its 6,500 windows are re-engineered at an on-site workshop, a project that involves several alumni.

For an 80-year-old grande dame, the Empire State Building is looking pretty good. And once a $20 million energy overhaul is completed, project managers say New York’s tallest building will consume approximately 38% less power annually. One component of the renovation is to retrofit the skyscraper’s existing 6,500 double-pane windows on site.

“Glass technology has improved to where the cost of re-engineering the double-pane windows will pay for itself within three years,” said Robert Clarke, MBA ’72, marketing director at Serious Materials, the company chosen to upgrade the windows.

If all goes according to plan, by December crews will have removed all of the windows — 50 a night — and taken them to a workshop in the building. The windows are disassembled and cleaned, and a thin layer of film is suspended between the two panes before inert gases are added. The sealed window sashes are returned to their frames the same night.

empire state building window install photoDifferent grades of film are used depending on the window’s orientation. For example, north-facing windows need to absorb the sun’s rays while other sides need to reflect it. The film, which is virtually transparent, is being supplied by Southwall Technologies, a company founded by
Melville Hodge, Sloan ’61.

“Having the shop on site eliminates transportation costs, and using the glass from the existing 18-year-old windows keeps it out of landfills,” said Michelle Proehl, MBA ’09, business development manager at Serious Materials.

Another unique aspect of the project, which included the efforts of Serious Materials SVP Mark Mitchell, Sloan '04, is that the prime contractor of the energy overhaul, Johnson Controls, is guaranteeing that the building will see a 38% energy savings. Otherwise, it will pay the building owners the difference. Recently, Serious Materials has been asked to quote on replacing glass for some other high-profile buildings -- Chicago's Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) and San Francisco's Transamerica Pyramid.