Crystal Window’s Series 1450/1460 Aluminum Swing Terrace Door has been structurally and thermally enhanced and offers new hardware (hydraulic closer shown below), glazing, and a laboratory water-tested ADA low sill option. -Features Include ADA Compliant Sill, Enhanced Structural Performance, New Hardware – QUEENS, NY, August 30, 2022 –National manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems is pleased to announce its significantly improved Aluminum Series 1450 Out-Swing and Series 1460 In-Swing Terrace Doors are now available.  This best-selling architectural product line has been reengineered and redesigned for elevated structural and thermal performance, with new features, options, and enhanced ADA compliance. Crystal’s Series 1450/1460 Terrace Dooris constructed with heavy-duty 0.093” wall thickness extrusion and a redesigned strong multi-chamber 3-¼” jamb frame, making it well-suited for high-rise and wind-prone installations. Superior thermal performance of the Series 1450/1460 door is achieved with polyamide strut thermal break and heavy-duty gasketing to achieve U-values as low as 0.32. This thermal performance far surpassesNew York City’s latest energy code specifications, one of the most stringent state or municipal energy codes in the country. The Series 1450/1460 door offers glazing of either 1” or 1-¼” dual- or triple-pane tempered insulated glass units, with low-E coatings and gas-filling options for further energy efficiency and sound attenuation. Crystal upgraded all the hardware selections for the Series 1450/1460to give the terrace door a sleeker look with even easier operation. The multi-point locking door features a new no-backplate door handle option which matches handles on Crystal’s high-end casement window products for continuity of appearance, and a separate cylinder keylock can be placed above or below this door handle.  Slim heavy-duty barrel hinges provide years of perfectly aligned operation. A powerful adjustable hydraulic closer from leading German hardware manufacturer G-U (Gretsch-Unitas) features a concealed mounting plate and slide arm assembly designed for outswing door operation, which allows effortless operation of the door while maintaining the door’s sleek look on the interior.  A bottom stile 10” kick plate is also available for the ADA-compliant Series 1450D door. The aluminum frame of Crystal’s Series 1450/1460Aluminum Swing Terrace Door is finished in durable environmentally sustainable powder coat paint, to either AAMA 2604 or 2605 performance standards. Architects and property owners can choose from a broad palette of standard and stock colors, two-tone (different interior and exterior) frame colors, and any custom color desired. Left: The Crystal Series 1450/1460Swing Terrace Door 3-¼” jamb frame features polyamide strut thermal break, 0.093” wall thickness extrusion, and heavy-duty weatherstripping.  Right: The new contemporary no-backplate handle comes with a separate keylock option.

Crystal Windows recently supplied 1,554 energy efficient MAGNUS commercial uPVC vinyl windows for three new construction multifamily buildings in Forest Hills, Queens, New York on a beautiful campus. -Manufacturer Supplies Over 1,500 High-Performance uPVC Windows for Project- QUEENS, NY, August 17, 2022 – Crystal Window & Door Systems, the award-winning national manufacturer, is proud to have furnished the recently completed multi-year Apex Place Apartments project with 1,554 high-performance commercial vinyl uPVC windows.  The three affordable housing high-rise towers, each between 13 and 17 stories tall, were specified with Crystal’s premier extremely energy efficient MAGNUS Series 4500 window line.  The three multi-family buildings, known as Apex One, Apex Two, and Apex Three, are located on the same residential campus near the Long Island Expressway (I-495) and 108th Street in the Forest Hills section of New York City’s Borough of Queens. Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride or uPVC has been in common use as a commercial window frame material in Europe for decades.  Now uPVC is growing in popularity in America since it offers strength similar to aluminum with the superior thermal efficiency of traditional vinyl windows.  Added benefits of the new material include low maintenance and inherent sound reduction properties. “We are seeing increasing demand for our MAGNUS commercial uPVC vinyl windows in all types of mid- and high-rise projects, especially because it provides exceptional comfortfor residents in multifamily properties,” said Sabrina Leung, Architectural Sales and Engineering Manager for Crystal.  “Architects are embracing this material, specifying it here in New York and in all the major markets across the country.” Crystal’s uPVC MAGNUS 4500 In-Swing and Fixed windows were exclusively used throughout the three buildings at Apex Place.  Virtually all the windows were very large in size and used combinations of 2 or 3 casement, fixed, and HVAC louver panels combined in expansive master frames.  Most of the building’s window openings were nearly floor-to-ceiling, with window combinations commonly spanning 65-¾” x 88-⅝” or 65-¾” x 97-¾,” while some were exceptionally large at 81” x 104”.  The Crystal MAGNUS 4500 window systems were a natural choice for such a project. The Crystal MAGNUS 4500 Series windows feature a strong cadmium- and lead-free multi-chamber 2-⅜” depth uPVC frame.  Adding to the windows’ strength and ability to span large openings, frames and sashes have internal steel channel reinforcement.  Both the MAGNUS 4500 In-Swing Casement and Fixed windows for this project were AW-PG70 rated.  All the MAGNUS windows had standard white interiors and durable Grey or Medium Brown RenolitFX exterior foils. A standout feature of the Crystal MAGNUS 4500 In-Swing window is its compression dual-seal weather-tight technology.  Other features include a multi-point locking system operated by a stylish high-quality handle.  Project specifications also called for the inclusion of a New York City code approved limit opening device. For all the MAGNUS windows, thermal performance was enhanced by using Vitro SB60 glass and Argon gas for the 1-5∕16” dual pane insulated glass units (IGUs).  The insulated glass package played a key role in the windows’ ability to surpass U-value 0.29 and SHGC 0.29 project specifications. The use of dissimilar thickness glass in the IGU, combined with the large overall IGU size and inherent sound attenuation properties of uPVC, delivered excellent OITC ratings of 30.  Reduction of sound transmittance was an important specification requirement because the project is situated near a major highway. The 1,214aluminum model AEL-42 PTAC louvers for the project were manufactured by Reliable of Geneva, AL.  Crystal sourced and factory fitted the louvers with the other vision glass windows into the MAGNUS master frames. The three new towers of the Apex Place Apartments provide 442 units of much-needed affordable housing.  The project is particularly interesting in that the three new construction buildings and a new 4-story parking garage structure were nestled in amongst three existing NYC Housing Authority multi-family buildings. Along with the existing community center and expansive central green spaces, the new buildings create an integrated cohesive campus. The new towers are all equipped with rooftop solar panels and offer expanded community spaces, fitness rooms, children’s playrooms, and on-site laundry facilities. The owner/developer for Apex One, Two, and Three is Apex Place Association and Phipps Houses, both of New York, NY.  Architectural services were provided by a partnership between Curtis & Ginsberg Architects of New York, NY, and FX Collaborative of Brooklyn, NY.  Monadnock Construction of Brooklyn, NY was the general contractor for the three-building new construction project.