CELEBRATING 50 YEARS: Achieving Savings at Scale for Thyssenkrupp 2010
When German steel manufacturer ThyssenKrupp broke ground on its new U.S. mill in Calvert, Alabama, the development stood out for its massive scale, spanning 150 acres and representing a $3.7 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing. But early in the design phase, the cost of the original exterior cladding, channel glass, put the project over budget. […]
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS: Transforming a Times Square Facade
One of the world’s largest retailers opened a new flagship store in Times Square in October 2017. To create a striking branded entrance in this globally recognized, visually saturated environment, the owner selected EXTECH’s LIGHTWALL 3440 translucent wall system in a custom blue hue, engineered for backlighting and high performance. Construction began in 2016 and […]
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS: The Patent That Launched MATRIXWALL
In 2009, EXTECH was awarded a patent that laid the groundwork for what has become one of its most versatile and recognizable systems: MATRIXWALL. This early innovation introduced a glass block screen wall system that set a new standard for flexibility, performance, and aesthetics in industrial and commercial envelope systems. These are standards the system […]
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS: 2019 Modernizing 10 Buildings for Norfolk Southern
As part of a multi-year effort completed in 2019, EXTECH partnered with Norfolk Southern to upgrade aging window systems at the Juniata Locomotive Shop. This historic facility in Altoona, Pennsylvania, has supported rail operations since 1850 and remains a vital part of the company’s locomotive maintenance program. The project improved energy performance, daylighting, and interior […]
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS: A Legacy of Innovation and Integrity
Today marks an extraordinary milestone for EXTECH: 50 years of innovation, perseverance, and passion for transforming the built environment through daylighting systems. Since its founding in 1975, EXTECH has grown from a small entrepreneurial venture into a nationally recognized leader in architectural daylighting solutions. Along the way, our journey has been defined by creativity, resilience, […]
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS: 1994 EXTECH Earns First Dade County Approval for Hurricane Resistant Window System
In 1994, EXTECH became the first U.S.-based company to receive Dade County (now Miami-Dade County) product approval for a hurricane resistant window system. This milestone came at a pivotal time, shortly after Dade County implemented new hurricane mitigation standards in response to Hurricane Andrew. The updated codes introduced some of the most rigorous testing protocols […]
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS: Pittsburgh Children’s Museum
In 2005, EXTECH delivered a custom operable facade system for the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. The multi-surface installation introduced movement, light, and atmosphere to the building’s exterior, setting the tone for a new kind of interactive architecture. The concept began with a bold idea: a building that could react to its surroundings and make air […]
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS: Boathouse Vertical Lift Wood Panel System
Set directly on the Charles River, the Harry Parker Boathouse and Ruth W. Somerville Sculling Pavilion was designed to do more than house rowing shells. It was meant to open fully to its environment, welcoming air, light, and activity from the river’s edge. EXTECH designed and engineered the operable façade system for a building that opened in […]
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS: Tech Company Data Center
In 2014, EXTECH played a key role in upgrading a 132,000-square-foot data center for a global technology company. The project expanded the facility to 155,000 square feet while targeting dramatic improvements in energy performance. To achieve this, the project’s architects, O’Brien/Atkins Associates, proposed replacing mechanical louvers with operable glazing. EXTECH brought that strategy to life […]
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS: Skylight Solutions
EXTECH’s 2005 patent introduces a slidable clip assembly that solves a long-standing challenge in panel system design: how to manage thermal movement in skylight and roof assemblies without sacrificing performance or durability. This innovation allows translucent panel systems to flex naturally with temperature changes, reducing wear at connection points and improving system longevity. It is […]