Our Top 5 Favorite Polycarbonate Designs from Around the World

It isn’t hard to find beautiful architecture built with polycarbonate. At EXTECH, we follow the latest in polycarbonate design and are consistently impressed by the ideas architects are able to bring to life with polycarbonate glazing. Polycarbonate in architecture is becoming a global phenomenon, so we thought we’d pay homage to all the stellar architecture leading the trend – here are our top 5 favorite polycarbonate designs from around the world.

Eleanor Boathouse at Chicago’s Park 571

Project: Eleanor Boathouse at Chicago’s Park 571

Location: Chicago, IL

Architect: Studio Gang

We love all the projects that involved EXTECH’s polycarbonate systems over the past 40+ years, but there are some that really stand out because of their innovation in design and aesthetic achievements. The Eleanor Boathouse in Chicago is a prime example of those projects of which we are especially proud.

Designed by Studio Gang and opened in 2016, the Eleanor Boathouse was key to creating a connection between the shores of the Chicago River and Chicago residents. In an effort to reach LEED Silver certification, EXTECH’s LIGHTWALL 3440 was used for the boathouse’s translucent transoms given that the LIGHTWALL possesses 100% recyclability. The system’s daylighting capabilities provided further opportunities to capture LEED credits, and the diffusing properties of the polycarbonate glazing reduce solar heat gain and light pollution. Since the translucent wall system does not require framing members, it delivers a clean, streamlined aesthetic.