Crystal Windows Supplies High-Performance Windows for Major Nashville Waterfront Development
QUEENS, NY, September 8, 2025 – Crystal Window & Door Systems is proud to announce its contribution to a transformative new development on Nashville’s waterfront. The multi-building mixed-use complex, designed to meet the demands of the city’s rapidly growing population, features hundreds of Crystal’s aluminum window systems that deliver superior performance, sleek aesthetics, and lasting durability. The seven-story residential and retail development includes over [X] apartments along with ground-floor commercial spaces, blending modern architectural design with the energy efficiency required for today’s urban living. With floor-to-ceiling glass features, clean sightlines, and expansive window walls, the project called for window products that could perform under demanding conditions while enhancing the building’s bold exterior design. Crystal Products Selected Crystal supplied more than [X,000] windows for the project, including: Series 2600 Aluminum Tilt Windows – offering superior ventilation, ease of maintenance, and enhanced energy efficiency. Series 5100 Fixed Windows – designed for expansive openings with high structural ratings, delivering unobstructed views and abundant natural daylight. Series 5600 Sliding Glass Doors – providing residents with seamless access to balconies and outdoor spaces while maximizing thermal performance. All products were finished with a durable [custom powder coat / anodized finish] to meet the architect’s design intent and withstand Nashville’s climate. The windows also feature advanced insulated glass units with Low-E coatings and argon gas fill, helping the development meet energy code requirements and improve long-term operating efficiency. Building Performance and Design Integration Crystal’s window systems were engineered to achieve: Thermal Performance: U-values as low as 0.[XX], contributing to reduced heating and cooling loads. Structural Integrity: Tested to withstand wind pressures exceeding [XX psf], critical for mid-rise urban construction. Acoustic Benefits: Multi-chambered profiles and double-glazed units help mitigate city noise, enhancing resident comfort. The project’s architect, [Firm Name], selected Crystal’s products for their ability to combine modern design flexibility with reliable performance. Installation was overseen by [Glazing Contractor Name], ensuring proper integration with the building envelope. Crystal’s Growing Urban Portfolio “This Nashville project is a testament to Crystal’s ability to deliver high-performance solutions for large-scale residential and mixed-use developments,” said [Executive Name, Title], Crystal Window & Door Systems. “Our products provide the durability, efficiency, and visual impact that today’s market demands, and we’re proud to be a trusted partner for projects shaping city skylines across the country.” The Nashville waterfront development adds to Crystal’s expanding portfolio of major urban projects nationwide, including multi-family residences, student housing, commercial towers, and institutional facilities. For more than three decades, Crystal Windows has partnered with architects, developers, and contractors to provide innovative, American-made window and door solutions that balance performance, sustainability, and design.
Crystal Window Wall “Crowns” Historic Manhattan Restoration
— Commercial to Residential Conversion Features Glass Enclosed 4-Story Rooftop Expansion — QUEENS, NY, August 14, 2025 – National manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems played a transformative role in the restoration and vertical expansion of an historic New York City building. Located at 650 First Avenue on Manhattan’s east side, the brick edifice built in 1894 now features a new four-story addition atop the original seven floors. Crystal’s Series W50i Window Wall System was used to completely encase the four new floors. In addition, Crystal supplied over 200 heavy-commercial replacement windows for the historic structure’s rehabilitation as the property was converted from a commercial building to a multifamily residential one. “Adding such a dramatic new aesthetic feature to this historic property demonstrates the flexibility, adaptability, and value of the Crystal W50i Window Wall System,” said Sabrina Leung, Crystal Architectural Sales/Engineering Manager. “The curved glass corners of the four-story window wall enclosure truly accent this architectural crown.” The 650 First Avenue vertical expansion portion of the project called for over 11,000 sq. ft. of glass façade. The window wall used for the building was Crystal’s new unitized Series W50i system. This state-of-the-art aluminum frame window wall system features a 5” deep European style frame with a polyamide insulating strut thermal break. The system is structurally rated at AW-PG55. With minimal 2-¼” sightlines, this fenestration product offers fabulous floor-to-ceiling views from the inside, fantastic aesthetics for the façade exterior, and truly replicates the look and function of curtain wall. However, unlike traditional curtain wall, the Crystal W50i is easier, faster, and safer to install from the building’s interior. The unitized window large wall panels for the 4-story vertical expansion were approximately 80-90” in width with heights up to 120” (10 feet), depending on the floor. The project also called for the window wall enclosure to use curved frame sections and glass on all four corners of each floor. The Crystal window wall system is dry glazed and offers glazing pocket options of 1”, 1-¼”, or 1-½” to accept double- or triple-pane IGUs or monolithic glass. With specific glass packages, U-values range from 0.419 to an outstanding 0.215, complying with the latest New York City energy code. Well suited for noise-prone urban settings, the system’s sound attenuation OITC ratings range from 26 to 37 and STC ratings range from 32 to 43. The Crystal Series W50i window wall system for this Manhattan project incorporated operable in-swing casements (with limit opening devices) and terrace doors, as well as fixed vision and spandrel panels. The building addition was specified with the integral floor slab bypass option, providing a continuous vertical exterior for the new glass façade. Installation is speeded by the system’s integrated snap-in panels. Triple gasketed male/female joints assure a durable, weatherproof seal. Other installation accessories included receptors, subsills, F-clips, and anchor plates. Capitalizing on the W50i’s polyamide strut thermal break feature, all frame members were finished in a two-tone paint scheme. Durable, sustainable AAMA 2604 powder coat paint was used to finish all window wall frame components, in Charcoal Grey for exterior sides and white for the interior. The renovation of the historic original building at 650 First Avenue also called for the installation of 238 high-end Crystal windows. The windows selected were in-swing casement and fixed picture styles of the architecturally rated aluminum Crystal Series 9200. The Crystal Series 9200 aluminum window has a 3-¼” jamb depth, polyamide strut thermal break, zero-sightline sash, European sleek design, and is rated AW-PG100. Operating styles of the Series 9200 feature concealed heavy-duty hinges, triple gasket seals, and for this project, optional limit opening devices. Compliant with the New York City 2020 Energy Code, the Series 9200 window U-values range from 0.35 to 0.23, depending on the glass package specified. Besides the fixed and in-swing casement styles, the Series 9200 is also available in a dual-action tilt-and-turn version. The Crystal Series 9200 windows used for the 650 First Avenue original building were finished in two-tone Charcoal Grey exterior and white interior AAMA 2604 powder coat paint. Installation accessories included external mullions for combining multiple window assemblies and Crystal custom extruded anchor clips. The Crystal Series W50i window wall system as well as the replacement windows on the original base building were specified with two basic glazing packages. Vision glass fixed, operable, and curved window wall panels used WHTB’s dual-pane tempered low-E SDF178 glass with argon gas in 1-¼” IGUs. The slab bypass panels and a handful of replacement windows were glazed with ¼” tempered monolithic spandrel glass using an Eisengrau Grey back paint. To meet new aspects of the New York City Building Code, replacement windows from the ground floor through the 6th floor were specified with bird-friendly glass, using an applied collision-deterring white frit. Ismael Leyva Architects, of New York, NY, provided the design services for the base building renovation and the glass enclosed 4-story rooftop vertical expansion. The developer is First and River, LLC, of Lake Success, NY, part of the Lalezerian Properties organization. Window wall installation and window replacements were handled by Façade Improvement of Brooklyn, NY. Built in 1894, the 131-year-old structure, along with its virtually identical building to the north, were originally the home to the Kips Bay Brewing Company. Seeing several commercial uses over the years, it most recently provided medical and veterinary offices. It is now part of the new urban real estate trend of converting and repurposing older under-utilized commercial and office buildings into multifamily residential apartments. The newly rehabilitated and expanded 650 First Avenue offers 100,000 sq. ft. of space with 111 luxury residential units. Amenities include on-site resident lounges, a fitness center, a furnished roof deck with spectacular views, and a 24-hour lobby attendant
Crystal Windows Add Style to New Nashville Development
QUEENS, NY, April 24, 2025 – National manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems recently completed supplying over 2,500 energy efficient windows and doors for a large modern new mixed use residential development in Nashville, TN. Crystal supplied state-of-the-art commercial uPVC vinyl tilt-and-turn and fixed windows as well as uPVC swing terrace and sliding patio doors. Located at 622 Merritt Avenue, The Finery totals 415,000-ft2 and consists of 3 distinct 5- and 6-story buildings plus an adjoining parking garage. The buildings are interconnected by upper floor crossover bridges and at ground level by an open-air pedestrian plaza. The buildings maintain their individual modern post-industrial characters through the use of three very different façade styles – colorful corrugated metal, diagonally seamed metal panels, and traditional dark brick. The buildings’ apartments offer numerous balconies extending from the facades. Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride or uPVC has been a common window and door frame material in Europe for decades. Now uPVC is growing in popularity in America since it offers strength similar to aluminum frames with the superior thermal efficiency and sound attenuation of traditional vinyl windows. “As one of the national leaders in uPVC window fabrication, Crystal is seeing increasing demand for our MAGNUS commercial uPVC windows in all types of mid- and high-rise projects, as they provide exceptional comfort for residents of multifamily properties,” said Papo Perez, Crystal Branch Manager and project leader for The Finery. “It is great to have owners, GCs, and architects in Nashville and in all major markets across the country embrace this superior fenestration material.” The Finery project relied heavily on the Crystal MAGNUS 4500 dual action tilt-and-turn and fixed picture windows. Over 2,100 of these operating and fixed window panels were used to fill 817 building openings, mostly in large floor-to-ceiling combinations. In a few openings, a large 9-panel fixed arrangement spanned an opening 132” wide by 96” tall. The Crystal MAGNUS 4500 dual action tilt-and-turn window offers both in-swing casement and tilt-in at the top operations. This uPVC window is rated CW-PG95/AW-PG70 and for this project was thermally rated at U=0.29. The MAGNUS 4500 features multi-point locks, top quality European-styled hardware, sash perimeter compression seal technology, and opening limit safety devices. The Crystal MAGNUS fixed window is also rated AW-PG70. Both styles were specified with the 3-¼” frame option. For access to balconies and terraces, the Nashville residential development used 344 Crystal MAGNUS 4500 uPVC swing doors and 44 Crystal MAGNUS 2150 uPVC sliding doors. The Crystal MAGNUS 4500 terrace door features a 3-¼” jamb depth, strong multi-chamber reinforced frame and sash, compression seals, multi-point locking and 3’ x 8’ custom sizing. A number of the Crystal swing doors were combined with large adjoining windows to create expansive multiple units, some up to 140” in width. Many of the Crystal MAGNUS 4500 out-swing terrace doors for ADA compliant apartments were specified with a low sill option. The out-swing door is rated LC-PG80. The Crystal MAGNUS 2150 uPVC 2-panel sliding doors have a 4-9∕16” jamb depth and feature a durable locking handle and dual steel rollers for easy operation. The custom sized sliding doors ranged in width from 72” to 96”. Some sliding doors were combined with adjoining side and transom windows to span even larger openings for grander views. All the Crystal windows and doors on The Finery buildings used 1” dual-pane insulated glass units (IGUs). To enhance thermal performance, Vitro Solarban 60 low-E glass with argon gas filling was specified. Where required by code or safety, tempered glass was used.
DC Development Showcases Vast Crystal Capabilities
QUEENS, NY, April 2, 2025 – Virtually the entire Crystal Window & Door Systems aluminum product line is on display at a recently opened Washington, DC, mixed-use multi-family development. The large upscale development used 14 models and styles of energy efficient windows and doors supplied by the award-winning manufacturer. Crystal provided 2,364 commercial and architectural windows and 433 commercial and architectural sliding and swing doors with sidelights for a total of 2,797 units. Located at 4000 Wisconsin Avenue, in the Northwest section of Washington, DC, the massive new development known as Upton Place fills an entire city block. The five-story structure is situated around the perimeter of the block, with two crossover connector wings, creating three interior courtyard spaces. The top four floors are apartments while the ground floor is reserved for retail. To maintain visually appealing aesthetics, numerous façade designs and materials were used. Complementing these façade designs are the array of Crystal windows and doors. Virtually all of Crystal windows for the project were combined into large horizontal and vertical arrangements, with operating and fixed units spanning extensive openings. Twin and triple window units were common, and in some cases, grand 4-, 6-, and 9-panel units were erected in openings up to 140” wide and 111” tall. The combinations of the windows in all instances provide Upton Place residents with outstanding views. It’s a glowing testament to Crystal Windows that the numerous fenestration needs of this large project were able to be fulfilled by one manufacturer,” said Kevin Lechwar, Crystal Mid-Atlantic Regional Sales Manager. “Crystal prides itself in having an extensive vinyl and aluminum product line suitable for nearly every type of building. The Upton Place project clearly demonstrates those capabilities.” For the project, Crystal supplied three window models from its popular 3-¼” frame depth aluminum commercial Series 2000 line. The Series 2000A double-hung window was specified in single, double, and triple unit styles. This tilting sash window is CW-PG50 rated. The Series 2100 fixed picture window with a CW-PG65 rating was furnished in 2- and 3-unit configurations and the Series 2300 sliding window with a CW-PG50 rating was furnished in 2- and 3-light styles. The Upton Place project also drew upon the Crystal aluminum heavy-commercial 3-¼” frame depth Series 5000 window line. Substantial numbers of Series 5600 2-light sliding windows and Series 5100 fixed picture windows were used individually or in large, combined assemblies. The Crystal Series 5600 sliding window has an AW-PG40 rating, and the Series 5100 fixed picture window has an AW-PG100 rating. The final heavy-commercial window line tapped for the new development was the high-end Crystal Series 8500 in several 2-⅝” jamb models: Series 8500 outswing casements, Series 8510 fixed picture windows and Series 8520 project-out awning windows. These windows are rated AW-PG70, AW-PG85, and AW-PG80, respectively. Also sourced from this line were the 3-¼” jamb companion Series 8610 fixed picture and Series 8630 project-in hopper windows. Upton Place featured just over 300 of the Crystal aluminum Series 1240 2-panel sliding patio door and matching transom/sidelight Series 1270. Used in large, combined arrangements, these sliding door, sidelight, and transom combinations were as wide as 91” and as tall as 139”. These 4-9∕16” jamb units are rated LC-PG45 and AW-PG75, respectively. Crystal also supplied heavy-commercial 3-¼” jamb Series 1450 outswing terrace doors and the award-winning counterpart Series 1450D, low-sill ADA-compliant terrace doors for Upton Place. Over 100 of the building’s apartments designated as specifically accommodating mobility challenged individuals utilized the Crystal Series 1450D door to provide access to terraces. The Series 1450 terrace door, rated AW-PG75, was frequently combined at this project with Series 5100 fixed picture windows as sidelights and transoms, with openings spanning up to a stunning 126” wide and 128” tall. Double insulated glass units (IGUs) were used throughout the project for all Crystal fenestration products. These units were specified with Vitro Solarban 60 low-E coated glass and argon gas filling for enhanced thermal efficiency. As required by code, sound attenuation, size, or safe practices, many of the IGUs also used tempered or laminated glass. STC requirements for the windows ranged from 28 to 35, depending on location in the building. All operating windows were fitted with sash limit opening devices. Two durable AAMA 2604 powder coat custom paint finishes were used for all windows and doors – Midnight Bronze and Velvet Gray. To facilitate installation and combining windows into large assemblies, Crystal offered a variety of options and accessories. Depending on specific products, Crystal supplied snap-on nailing fins, continuous master frames with imposts, H-mullions, 3-piece mullions, and subsills and receptors with nailing fins. With the Series 5600 and Series 5100 windows, a male/female self-mulling frame design aided installation. Upton Place was developed by Donohue Development of Bethesda, MD in partnership with AIMCO Investments of Washington, DC. The architect was SK+I Architecture, and the general contractor was Donohue Construction Company, both of Bethesda, MD. The fenestration installer, a long-time Crystal customer, was Caffes-Steele of Beltsville, MD. Crystal has worked with Caffes-Steele on many previous window projects, including Southern Towers Apartments of Alexandria, VA and the historic OMNI Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. Upton Place is a new luxury mixed-use development in the vibrant Cathedral Heights neighborhood of northwest Washington, DC. It features ground floor retail shops including a grocery store, interior courtyards with gathering spaces for outdoor dining, grilling, and socializing, a fitness and yoga studio, workspaces, a rooftop terrace and outdoor pool. The development offers 689 high-end residential units and over 800 on-site parking spaces. It is convenient for shopping, public transportation, beautiful parks, and walking trails.
Crystal Pacific Provides Great Views for San Diego Hotel
RIVERSIDE, CA, March 17, 2025 – Crystal Pacific Window & Door Systems, the west coast division of national manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems, recently supplied over 200 state-of-the art vinyl sliding glass patio doors for the San Diego Crowne Plaza Mission Valley Hotel. The new vinyl sliding doors replaced aging aluminum sliding doors and were part of a major renovation completed at the 8-story hotel. An interesting design feature of this hotel is that each guest room has no windows but rather a large 2- or 3-panel sliding patio door for light, ventilation, and access to individual balconies and terraces. “Crystal Pacific sliding patio doors offer great energy efficiency, durability, smooth operation, sound abatement, and easy installation frame and accessory options, perfect for this hotel and its busy location,” said Ed Watkins, Sales Manager. “Our MAGNUS commercial vinyl doors and our Buena Vista vinyl doors control the effects of the Southern California sun and keep guest rooms comfortable year-round. They are perfect for both renovation and new construction projects.” For the five upper floors of the hotel renovation, Crystal supplied 130 MAGNUS uPVC commercial vinyl Series 2150 2-panel sliding patio doors. The MAGNUS 2150 is a multi-chambered high-end product, offering superior strength, durability, and thermal efficiency. With the strength of aluminum and the energy efficiency of traditional vinyl, uPVC vinyl is a fenestration frame material widely used in Europe and rapidly being adopted in the USA. The Crystal MAGNUS Series 2150 sliding doors have a 4-9∕16” frame depth, internal sill drainage system, 1” insulated glass units (IGUs), and an LC-PG40 rating. For the San Diego hotel project, a retrofit frame with flush fin option was specified for a fast efficient installation that retained the original look of the building façade. All the MAGNUS doors were fabricated of standard white color extrusions and spanned large 94” wide by 78-½” high openings. For the first three floors, Crystal supplied 77 Buena Vista vinyl sliding doors. Four of these units were 3-panel sliding doors, for large 141” wide x 78” high openings. The remainder of the sliding doors were 2-panel models for 94” wide by 78-½” high openings. The ground floor doors permit access to the pool and sundeck areas. The Buena Vista sliding doors combine durability, functionality, and modern style, with a 5” frame depth, dual-point locking handles and internal multi-chambered design. Options for Crystal Buena Vista doors include a retrofit frame with flush fin and upgraded stainless steel quad roller assemblies. Like the MAGNUS doors, all the Buena Vista units were fabricated of standard white color extrusions. The Crystal sliding doors installed at the Crowne Plaza Mission Valley Hotel used 1” IGUs. For enhanced thermal performance and safety, the IGUs used dual-pane tempered Cardinal LoĒ3 366 glass with argon gas filling. Crystal Pacific has supplied several recent projects in San Diego including other hotels, medical institutions, and senior residences. The manufacturer is expanding throughout Arizona, Nevada, and northern California to supply those bustling new construction and renovation markets. The property manager for the Crowne Plaza Mission Valley Hotel is Brighton Management, located in Newport Beach, CA. A&C Windows and Doors, a long-term Crystal Pacific customer located in Murrieta, CA, was the dealer and fenestration installer for the project. The Crowne Plaza Mission Valley Hotel, built in 1959 and renovated several times since then, is located at 2270 Hotel Circle North just off the Mission Valley Freeway. It is adjacent to the Riverwalk Golf Club and convenient to many cultural and recreational sites in San Diego. The hotel has 419 guest rooms, on-site restaurants, conference and meeting rooms, pool and resort amenities, and a beautifully landscaped central courtyard.
Crystal Improves Housing for Seniors in Morristown NJ
Crystal Window & Door Systems provided over 600 new energy efficient aluminum windows for The Wetmore and The Petrone Buildings, with 200 units of senior affordable housing in Morristown, NJ. Crystal Series 2000A and Series 2100 windows are finished in a beautiful durable AAMA 2604 simulated anodized silver powder coat paint. -Crystal Supplies Morristown, NJ, Senior Housing Rehabilitation Project- QUEENS, NY, December 6, 2023 –The major rehabilitation of two Morristown (NJ) Housing Authority properties included 608 single, double, and triple unit windows supplied by national manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems. The renovation work for the 1960s-1970s era original brick façade buildings included extensive interior and exterior work, the complete resurfacing of the buildings’ façades and the replacement of all windows. The two 6-story buildings dedicated to senior housing are The Wetmore Building located at 31 Early Street and The Petrone Building located at 39 Early Street in Morristown, NJ. For the two buildings, Crystal supplied 459 Series 2000A aluminum double-hung windows in single and master frame double versions and 149 Series 2100 aluminum fixed windows in single and master frame triple units. A mainstay of the Crystal commercial line, the Series 2000A is a thermally-broken aluminum tilt-in sash double-hung window. The 3-¼” frame depth window features equal sightlines, a sloped sill, and a solid AAMA structural rating of CW-PG50. Other features include an ergonomic curved easy use sash lift rail and anti-drift head clip lock, which automatically locks the top sash in the closed position, assuring safety, security, and a weathertight seal. The Crystal 2000A is available as a single unit and, with a continuous master frame, double and triple units, some of which were used for the Morristown project. For the Morristown project, Crystal also supplied the Series 2100 thermally-broken aluminum fixed picture window. This 3-¼” frame depth window is AAMA rated CW-PG60. The Series 2100 is also available as a single unit, or double and triple units using a continuous master frame. To complement the building’s new modern façade, all the windows were finished in durable environmentally sustainable AAMA 2604 simulated anodized silver powder coat paint. In addition to the Series 2000A and 2100 windows, Crystal sourced, supplied and factory installed in window frames 248 insulated panels in lieu of window glass.With each of the Series 2100 triple window units for The Petrone Building, the center panel was left open to accept an HVAC unit and the two flankers were glazed with a ⅞” thermal insulated panel. All of The Petrone Building’s Series 2000A double-hung windows were mulled atop Series 2100 fixed windows glazed with a ⅞” thick insulated panel. The special insulated panels were supplied by A-Porcel of the Bronx, NY, and featured a stucco exterior finish in AAMA 2604 simulated anodized silver powder coat paint to match the window frames. For all the vision glass window units, ⅞” double-pane insulated glass units (IGUs) with Intercept warm-edge spacers were installed. For additional thermal efficiency and safety, Vitro Solarban SB60 tempered glass with Argon gas was specified. Crystal fabricated and provided installation accessories including window frame face flanges, stack mullions, and installation clips with snap trim. The Wetmore and The Petrone Buildings are owned by the Morristown Housing Authority, and the developer and new privatized property manager is Orbach Affordable Housing Solutions of Englewood Cliffs, NJ. The architect for the renovation work was Kramer & Marks of Ambler, PA, and ETC Companies of Ramsey, NJ, acted as general contractor and handled the window replacement work. Combined, The Wetmore and The Petrone Buildings offer 200 apartments set aside exclusively for area seniors. Financing for the extensive rehabilitation project was provided through a special public/private arrangement under the federal and New Jersey state Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, which also includes privatization of the buildings’ ongoing operation and management.
Crystal Supplies Southern Towers
QUEENS, NY, November 1, 2023 –The efforts of national manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems to supply 5,192 windows and doors for a large Washington, DC-area apartment complex are successfully drawing to closure. The multi-year window replacement project involved the five 16-story multifamily buildings of Southern Towers Apartments located at 4901 Seminary Road in Alexandria, VA, southwest of the nation’s capital. Crystal is currently making deliveries to the last two remaining buildings in the complex. Spanning several years, the window replacement project was phased by building, with several window contractors handling each phase of work, but Crystal supplying the entire project. Crystal Window & Door Systems is nearing the completion of the multi-year window replacement project at Southern Towers Apartments in Alexandria, VA. Crystal has supplied the five 16-story buildings with over 5,100 new energy-efficient windows and doors. “It is a testament to Crystal that the owners and managers of Southern Towers Apartments retained us as the window supplier for all five building phases,” said Steven Yu, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Crystal. “Crystal’s quality products, great service, and reliability continue to be recognized and appreciated in markets across the country.” A variety of Crystal’s heavy-commercial aluminum windows and doors were used on the project. By far the most prevalent window used for the Southern Towers project was the Crystal Series 5600 aluminum sliding window. Fabricated in both 2-lite and 3-lite (with fixed center-lite) versions, the window has a 3-¼” deep frame and is rated AW-PG40 and AW-PG50, respectively. The Crystal Series 5600 features continuous full-height sash clip lock pull rails, dual stainless steel sash rollers, and optional opening limit stops for safety, security, and ease of operation. Some of the buildings used large, 161” wide by 59” tall 3-lite versions of the Series 5600 to span wide building openings. Crystal provided its popular Series 5100 fixed and Series 5600 sliding aluminum windows for expansive views in many openings. Other buildings used the Crystal Series 5100 aluminum fixed picture window flanked by Series 5600 sliders to span large openings. The Series 5100 is also a 3-¼” window with an outstanding AW-PG100 rating. A handful of Crystal’s popular aluminum Series 1450 swing terrace doors were specified for the two early phase buildings. The Series 1450 terrace door is a 3-¼” in-swing door with an AAMA rating of AW-PG75. Also, the two buildings completed early in the project used some of the now discontinued Crystal heavy-commercial aluminum Series 6200 sliding windows. All the Crystal windows and doors for the replacement project called for 1” insulated glass units using Vitro Solarban 60 low-E glass and Argon gas filling. To facilitate the replacement installation, all the Crystal windows were specified with face flange frames, and snap trim and clip accessories. The latest windows for the project’s final phase were finished in a durable AAMA 2604 custom “silver shadow” powder coat paint. Windows for earlier project phases used similar shades of light gray. The Southern Towers Apartments complex is currently owned and operated by the CIM Group based in Los Angeles. Since the window replacement work began in 2015, three fenestration contracting firms have been awarded various phases of the work: Advanced Window, Inc. (AWI) of Frederick, MD; Caffes-Steele of Beltsville, MD; and most recently Hi-Rise Windows of Bethesda, MD. The five large buildings of Southern Towers Apartments constructed in 1960 total nearly 2 million square feet with 2,346 residential units. The buildings include studios, 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom predominantly market rate rental apartments and select affordable units. The 40.5 acre site also includes landscaped grounds, swimming pools, tennis courts, playgrounds, fitness centers, indoor community spaces, and some commercial businesses.
Crystal and Chen Family Endowment Offers Scholarships
The Thomas Chen Family/Crystal Windows Endowment for Queens College School of Art recently sponsored at a reception and art exhibit on campus for the first student scholarship awards for studies in contemporary Asian art. Above right, left to right: Queens College President Frank Wu, Wang, and Thomas Chen. Photos courtesy of Dominick Totino. QUEENS, NY, October 26, 2023 –Founder and Chairman of Crystal Window & Door Systems, Thomas Chen, was pleased to greet the winners of the very first scholarships awarded at Queens College under the Thomas Chen Family/Crystal Windows Endowment on October 18, 2023. The five scholarship recipients are students at Queens College’s School of Arts and were chosen through an artwork competition of many student submissions evaluated by a panel of outside jurors. The scholarships, totaling $21,000, were presented at a reception and student art exhibit at Klapper Hall Student Art Gallery on the Queens College main campus. Above left; Thomas Chen, on right, with the scholarship winners. Also at the reception, internationally acclaimed author and journalist Ting Chian Wang received a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2021, Thomas Chen and Crystal Windows established a $1.1 million endowment for Queens College to support contemporary Asian art at the 4-year college with ongoing exhibit sponsorship, art student scholarships, and artist-in-residence programs. Last year, the first art exhibit sponsored by the endowment was opened to great acclaim. Plans are underway for the first artist-in-residence program and master classes for next year. “I am so proud that the Chen Family/Crystal Windows endowment is supporting the Queens College art programs,” said Thomas Chen, speaking to the scholarship winners and guests at the reception. “Today we recognize these great endowment student scholarship winners, and it is very gratifying to be able to help them further their art education and future careers.” A total of $21,000 in scholarship awards were presented this year. Four of the five scholarship winners are undergraduate students and received $3,500 each. The fifth winner is a graduate student and received $7,000. The scholarships will assist their exploration of contemporary Asian art, traditional Asian art techniques, and developing their own unique art styles. On behalf of The Chen Family/Crystal Windows Endowment, Queens College President Frank Wu also presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to internationally noted author, journalist, and professor Ting Chian Wang, whose decades-long career began in Taiwan and continued later in New York. He is the author of many best-selling books, he worked extensively in newspaper and broadcast journalism, and taught at several universities in Taipei. Thomas Chen, who grew up in Taiwan, is an admirer of Wang’s work and was pleased to welcome the author to Queens College. Queens College is one of the premier institutions in the New York City University System (CUNY), offering nearly 80 undergraduate majors and over 100 graduate degrees and certifications. The public college serves over 19,000 undergraduate and graduate students and is highly ranked in terms of academics and value by several national college surveys such as Princeton Review and US News and World Report. Located at 65-30 Kissena Boulevard in the South Flushing neighborhood of Queens, the college sits on 84 landscaped acres with a park-like suburban feel.
Admirals Cove Hudson River Project Uses Crystal Windows
Crystal Window & Door Systems recently provided over 1,000 new energy efficient aluminum windows and sliding doors for the new luxury apartments at Admirals Cove in Haverstraw, NY, developed and managed by Ginsburg Development. -Over 1,000 Windows and Doors Provide Great Views and Energy Efficiency- QUEENS, NY, September 6, 2023 –Situated directly on the Hudson River in Rockland County, NY, the residents of the new Admirals Cove housing development will benefit from the great views and energy efficiency afforded by Crystal Window & Door products. The national manufacturer supplied the project with almost 1,100 double-hung windows, fixed/picture windows, and sliding glass doors. The four six-story buildings that make up the Admirals Cove development at 1100 Admirals Cove Boulevard in Haverstraw, NY, are located on a peninsula on the west bank of the Hudson River. “This project is one of the latest projects in the Hudson River Valley from the noted Ginsburg Development team,” said Blaise Benevenga, Crystal Regional Sales Manager. “Crystal has supplied several other important Ginsburg projects in New York, including River Tides at Greystone in Yonkers and Harbor Square in Ossining, and we were proud to be selected once again as their fenestration manufacturer of choice.” The Admirals Cove project was furnished with a total of 1,088 Crystal aluminum windows in several models and styles. With over 500 units supplied, the Crystal aluminum Series 2000A Double-Hung was the most prevalent window. Single units, twin units using a common master frame, and tripled mulled combinations of the Crystal double-hung windows, some up to 109” wide, provide residents with expansive views and fresh air as well as thermal efficiency. The Series 2000A is a thermally-broken 3-¼” frame depth mainstay of the Crystal product line. AAMA rated at CW-PG50, the window features a ⅞” glazing pocket, anti-drift head clip lock, fast-draining sloped sill, and tilt-in top and bottom sashes. The next most specified Crystal product, at just over 400 windows, was the aluminum Series 2100 Fixed/Picture window. Most were single or common frame horizontal twin units, although some expansive openings up to 138” wide utilized three- and four-window mulled combinations. Again, to provide magnificent views, in other instances 84” tall, virtually floor-to-ceiling Series 2100 windows were installed. To add a porthole-like nautical flair to the waterfront buildings, Crystal custom fabricated and supplied 34 full circle 36” diameter round versions of the aluminum Series 2100 fixed/picture window. The Series 2100 Crystal windows feature strong 3-¼” deep frames, ⅞” insulated glass units, and a CW-PG65 rating. Providing access to apartment balconies, Crystal supplied 172 two- and three-lite Series 1240 Sliding Glass Doors and 13 matching Series 1270 Sidelights. The Series 1240 doors feature 4-9⁄16” frame depths, 1” glazing pockets, heavy-duty adjustable quad tandem ball bearing rollers, and an LC-PG45 rating. The matching Series 1270 sidelight with the same frame depth and glazing pocket as the door has an outstanding AW-PG75 structural rating. The various Crystal windows, doors, and sidelights were factory supplied with either ⅞” or 1” double-pane insulated glass units (IGUs). For enhanced thermal performance, the IGUs were specified with Vitro low E Solarban 60 glass and Argon gas filling. Where required, tempered glass was used. As a decorative element, many of the windows included between-the-glass ⅝” colonial grids. Some of the double-hung upper sashes included a single vertical grid and the round windows a crossed horizontal and vertical pattern. To facilitate installation, all the Crystal window and door products were fitted with optional snap/slide on nailing fins. Other accessories included 3-¼” and 4-½” H-mullions for combining windows and sidelights. All Crystal windows, doors, sidelights, and exposed accessories were finished in an environmentally sustainable and durable AAMA 2604 medium gray powder coat paint. The developer as well as the builder for the Admirals Cove project was Ginsburg Development Companies of Valhalla, NY. The project architect was Appel Design Group of Livingston, NJ. Ginsburg framing crews installed the Crystal window and door products. Admirals Cove is comprised of 4 buildings with waterfront-inspired architecture and 245 studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. Premium units have balconies with river views. The buildings each have their own lobby, fitness center, lounges, and ground floor garages. Common amenities include an outdoor pool, sundeck, firepits, grills, playground, kayak launch, Zen garden, and waterfront promenade. The complex is adjacent to a commuter ferry to Ossining, NY across the Hudson River, and the Metro North Railroad station with service to Grand Central Station in New York City.
Crystal Windows Preserve Washington, DC History
Crystal Window & Door Systems supplied over 3,100 new energy-efficient replacement aluminum windows, sliding doors, and terrace doors for the renovation of the historic OMNI Shoreham Resort and Hotel in Washington, DC. The OMNI Shoreham Hotel renovation features Crystal aluminum fixed picture windows in grand openings and Crystal swing terrace doors to balconies. –Over 3,100 Windows and Doors Refurbish Historic Hotel– QUEENS, NY, August 21, 2023 –The site of 22 U.S. Presidential inaugural celebrations and much Washington, DC history, the iconic OMNI Shoreham Hotel recently was renovated with over 3,100 modern energy efficient Crystal Window & Door Systems products. The award-winning national manufacturer supplied the project with 3,016 replacement windows and 141 sliding glass and swing terrace doors. The OMNI Shoreham Hotel is a sprawling 8-story 92-year-old complex located just off Connecticut Avenue at 2500 Calvert Street NW, Washington, DC. The OMNI Shoreham Hotel is a member of the Historic Hotels of America and as such, the Crystal products used for the renovation underwent an historic approval process. “Bringing modern fenestration to an historic hotel like the OMNI Shoreham is a testament to Crystal’s robust energy efficient product line,” said Steve Chen, President of Crystal Windows. “We’ve helped restore many historic and landmark buildings around the nation, but the OMNI Shoreham is by far one of the largest and grandest. We are quite proud to have been part of the project.” The majority of the Crystal windows used on the project were the aluminum Series 2100 fixed picture windows. Most of these windows utilized an internal horizontal T-mullion within the window’s master frame and two insulated glass lites to replicate the appearance of the building’s original double-hung windows. In some instances, windows were horizontally combined using mullions. Also a small number of Crystal Series 2000A double-hung windows were installed in select locations. Mainstays of the Crystal product line, the Series 2100 and 2000A are 3-¼” frame depth windows with AAMA structural ratings of CW-PG65 and CW-PG50, respectively. The Crystal Series 2000A has tilt-in sashes, a sloped sill, an anti-drift head clip lock for added safety and a weather-tight seal, and sash opening limit stops. In some very large and tall (up to 91”) opening locations, the more robust Crystal Series 5100 aluminum fixed picture window was specified. This 3-¼” jamb window uses heavy-duty extrusions and achieves an AAMA AW-PG100 rating. Providing guest room and public area access to the OMNI Shoreham Hotel’s distinctive balconies and terraces, Crystal supplied 141 of its aluminum frame Series 1240 sliding glass doors and Series 1450 out-swing terrace doors. The 2-lite Series 1240 sliding door features a 4-9∕16” jamb thermally-broken aluminum frame, 1” insulated glass units, quad tandem ball bearing rollers, and heavy-duty handles. The door is rated LC-PG45/SGD-C40. The heavy-duty Crystal Series 1450 terrace doors were specified in both the standard version and ADA compliant versions. Also, many of the Crystal out-swing terrace doors were outfitted with compatible Series 2100 fixed glass sidelight windows. The aluminum Crystal Series 1450 terrace door has a 3-¼” frame, 1” glazing pocket, and an outstanding AW-PG75 structural rating. The Series 1450 also features a multi-point locking system and an advanced polyamide insulated strut thermal-break system for greater energy efficiency. For guest rooms set aside for those with disabilities and mobility challenges, the Crystal 1450D out-swing terrace door was specified. This door’s independently tested low ½” ADA-compliant threshold allows easy access, yet is weather-resistant and has a water-resistance rating of 10 psf. One of the few elite swing terrace doors offering a certified laboratory water-tested ADA low sill, the door also achieves an excellent AW-PG50 structural rating. Modern insulated glass units (IGUs) provided the Crystal windows and doors used for the OMNI Shoreham Hotel renovation project with superior energy efficiency. Depending on the specific product, either ⅞” or 1” IGUs were used, and all dual-pane IGUs were specified with Vitro Solarban 60 low-E coated glass and Argon gas filling for enhanced thermal performance. Where appropriate, or code required, obscured or tempered glass was used. All the Crystal window and door products were finished in a durable AAMA 2604 sustainable bronze powder coat paint. To facilitate installation, Crystal supplied a variety of H-mullions, head expanders, as well as anchor clip and snap trim accessories. The Shoreham Hotel since 1983 has been owned and operated by the high-end OMNI Hotel and Resorts Group headquartered in Dallas, TX. The fenestration contractor for the project was Caffes-Steel of Beltsville, MD. Originally titled the Shoreham Hotel, the magnificent facility opened in the fall of 1930. Using a combination of Renaissance Revival and Art Deco architectural design, the building has been termed DC’s “Grand Dame” hotel. The OMNI Shoreham Hotel is situated on 11 acres of well-manicured landscaped grounds in the upscale tree-lined Woodley Park neighborhood. Its numerous wings have 834 spacious guest rooms. In its early years, the Shoreham Hotel served as an ultra-luxurious residential hotel to both DC and international elites. During the 1950s, it transitioned into a high-end resort and convention hotel. The hotel has hosted every US Presidential inaugural ball since Franklin Delano Roosevelt (except for Donald Trump, whose inaugural balls were held elsewhere in Washington, DC). President Roosevelt had a special suite with enclosed balcony there and both Presidents Truman and Kennedy were considered hotel regulars. Spanning the decades, notable celebrities who have performed in the ballroom or stayed at the hotel include Rudy Vallée, Bob Hope, the Beatles, Aretha Franklin, and President Clinton, who played the saxophone at an event there.
