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A zero lot line house is a piece of residential property where the house comes up or very near to the edge of the property line. A variety of properties can be considered zero lot lines, including town homes, garden homes, patio homes, and row houses. These homes can have one or two side yards and can be attached or detached. Typically, Zero lot line properties typically contain one side yard.
So many of the buildings we drive past have a history explaining why they were built and what they came to be. Knapp’s Centre is one of those historic buildings, built in 1937 as a home for the main department store J.W. Knapp Company in Lansing, Michigan. The 190,000 square foot building was constructed using alternating bands of yellow macotta and prismatic glass block. At the time Knapp’s was built, it was known to be one of the most modern building’s in the Midwest.
Architect: Antunovich Associates
General Contractor: McCullough Construction, LLC.
Owner: Douglas Development
Hecht’s was one of Washington D.C.’s oldest and most successful large-scale, locally-owned retail store. The department store itself was located on the corner of 7th Street in an “American Gothic” building. Hecht’s offered an assortment of goods for their customers. In 1934, Hecht’s department store installed the first escalators in Washington. As Hecht’s department store continued to grow, taking over most of the block, they sought to move most of its service operations to a new Art Deco building in 1937. This new building became the central warehouse for Hecht’s department stores.
GBA Architectural Products + Services had a very exciting 2019 as we worked on many exciting architectural projects, bringing new life to buildings with the addition of glass block and structural glass. We had the privilege of working with some of the best architects and contractors in the world. All of the projects we participated in were exciting and complex challenges that left us with a rewarding feeling when completed.
Pioneer Tower
We see a wide variety of glass block projects. We’ll often have projects where we install sets of glass block windows that not only enhance the fashion of a building, but also the safety. We renovate sidewalk vault panels to install LED lighting underneath, providing pedestrians with a beautiful lighting to walk on. We’ve made structures almost entirely built from 4x8x3 Seves Vistabrik, enclosed with glass roofing. There are many different ways to use glass to enhance your facilities.
Our latest project is another example. In their ambitious efforts to transform their structure from great to gorgeous, we’re renovating the Pioneer Tower in Fort Worth, Texas, adding 15 flights of exterior glass block to be used on all four sides of the historic building. Behind it will be LED lighting, ready to light the Texas sky.
They do it big in Texas.
As summertime quickly approaches, home and building owners are beginning to tackle the outdoor projects that they have been planning throughout the colder winter months. Finding the right outdoor design to elevate your living space can be a difficult task, especially when restrained by limited space. There is no need to be hesitant about closing off natural light sources though when incorporating glass into your outdoor design. Whether it's a small balcony or a large backyard, enhanced outdoor spaces encourage time spent outdoors can provide a number of personal and health benefits for occupants.
A study from the American Public Transportation Association reports that public transportation ridership has increased by 30% in recent years. Whether on a train, bus or ferry, Americans took 2.5 billion trips on public transportation in the third quarter of 2018 alone.
As the demands of business change, so do office building designs. Decades ago, companies virtually “corralled” their office workers into cubicles and offices with opaque walls to deter interruption and distraction. Many have started to move away from standard cubicle designs to allow for a more open concept work environment. Natural light and open environments have proven to be more productive environments that promote productivity and creativity in the office. With the adaptations of glass block over through the decades, offices can create "private" offices by utilizing a contemporary glass block wall design.
Modern materials that once seemed unfeasible for particular purposes are commonplace now. Modern airplanes like the Boeing 787 are built mainly of carbon fiber rather than metals. Automobiles consist of a high percentage of plastics and glass fibers due to their strength and structural rigidity.
Windows are an essential part of any structure where people live or work. Natural light gives occupants a view of the outside while protecting them from the wind, rain, and other undesirable elements.
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