-New University of Florida Housing Sports Crystal Windows and Doors-
QUEENS, NY, July 15, 2021 –Award-winning national manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems recently expanded its project portfolio with two new of state-of-the-art student housing properties in Florida. These projects are the first Crystal has completed in the state, extending the company’s Eastern US sales along the entire East Coast from Maine to Florida. Located just a few blocks from the University of Florida main campus in Gainesville, The Hub on Third and The Hub on Campus Gainesville each used a variety of Crystal window and door products.
“ARCO National Construction, which we have worked with on prior projects, reached out to Crystal to provide windows and doors for these two new projects, and the Crystal team sprang into action for the opportunity to expand into Florida,” said Frank Ganninger, regional sales manager. “A lot of coordination and planning by Crystal engineering and production staff came together to bring these projects to fruition.”
Due to the location of the new Hub buildings in Central Florida, which is subject to high winds, all façade materials including windows must meet stringent state building codes. Crystal’s Engineering Department submitted product structural and energy performance test results and drawings to the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR), which approves construction materials for compliance with the state building code. All the Crystal windows and doors submitted attained approval for use across much of Florida and are included in the DBPR online directory.
Crystal supplied over 2,100 new energy-efficient aluminum windows and doors for The Hub on Third (above) and The Hub on Campus Gainesville (below), the manufacturer’s first Florida projects.
“ARCO National Construction, which we have worked with on prior projects, reached out to Crystal to provide windows and doors for these two new projects, and the Crystal team sprang into action for the opportunity to expand into Florida,” said Frank Ganninger, regional sales manager. “A lot of coordination and planning by Crystal engineering and production staff came together to bring these projects to fruition.”
Due to the location of the new Hub buildings in Central Florida, which is subject to high winds, all façade materials including windows must meet stringent state building codes. Crystal’s Engineering Department submitted product structural and energy performance test results and drawings to the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR), which approves construction materials for compliance with the state building code. All the Crystal windows and doors submitted attained approval for use across much of Florida and are included in the DBPR online directory.
“Once our products were fully approved, our engineering team coordinated closely with ARCO during the design phase to optimize the placement of eight different Crystal aluminum commercial window and door products for the two Hub properties,” said Ganninger.
The Hub on Campus Gainesville uses dramatic projected façade framing elements, most prominent on the building’s main northeast corner, to add three-dimensional interest to the structure. The building also provides some expansive views with nearly floor-to-ceiling window combinations over 80” tall. The Hub on Third uses an eclectic mix of façade materials and colors to add architectural interest and meld with the campus and neighborhood’s building character. The use of vertically stacked and horizontally ganged window combinations is common with the two Hub properties, along with fixed window sidelights and transoms for sliding glass doors on the private balconies.
The Hub on Campus Gainesville used 814 Crystal energy-efficient windows and doors and The Hub on Third used 1,323 windows and doors for a combined total of 2,137. A wide variety of quality Crystal aluminum products were used for the buildings, including Series 2000A double-hung, 2100 fixed picture, Series 2300 and Series 5600 sliders, Series 8500 project-out awning, and Series 8500 fixed windows. The projects also included the Crystal Series 1240 2-lite sliding patio doors with accompanying transoms and sidelights, and the Series 1450 swing terrace doors.
The Crystal Series 8500 and the Series 2100 were the most extensively used windows for The Hub projects, with 949 units and 473 units, respectively. The Series 8500 project-out awning (AW-PG80) and fixed (AW-PG85) were in many cases combined using the continuous master frame option. The Series 8500 features 2-⅝” depth frame, bulb double-weatherstripping, 1” insulated glass units (IGUs), and satin chrome locking handles. The Series 2100 is rated CW-PG65/PG90 and features 3-¼” frame depth, ⅞” IGUs, double-strength glass and continuous head/sill and T-jamb mullion options.
All the Crystal products used ⅞” or 1” dual-pane IGUs specified with Vitro Solarban 70 coated glass and Argon gas filling for enhanced energy efficiency in the Florida sun. Where required, glass was tempered. Durable AAMA 2604 black powder coat paint finished all the Crystal windows, doors, and exposed mullions and installation accessories for both new buildings.
The Hub on Third and The Hub on Campus Gainesville are part of the extensive portfolio of ARCO National Construction. Headquartered in St. Louis, MO, ARCO is one of the largest design/build general contractors in North America. The projects’ developer is Core Spaces, headquartered in Austin, TX, which specializes in off-campus state-of-the-art student housing.
With nearly 350,000 overall square feet of living and ground-floor retail space, The Hub on Thirdfeatures 201 apartments in multiple student configurations. The Hub on Campus Gainesville has 109 apartments and 193,000 overall square feet of living and ground-floor retail space. Both properties boast sustainable design, fully-furnished apartments, group study and gathering spaces, rooftop pools, fire pits, and recreation spaces, fitness centers, high-tech security, and telecommunications throughout the buildings, and parking.
