Kimmel Center converts terrace into social space with SageGlass
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has converted a nearly underutilized rooftop garden terrace into a social space with the help of dynamic glass from SageGlass.
The $14 million project has created a vibrant ballroom-type space for weddings and events, which was formerly a near uninhabitable, barrel vaulted rooftop of Perelman Theater. The new all-glass Dorrance H. Hamilton Garden Terrace offers views of the cityscape and entire Kimmel Center complex. The garden terrace has been designed by BLT Architects.
The entire 2,100 square feet area of the rooftop has been covered with SageGlass, an electronically tintable dynamic glass for windows, skylights and curtain walls. The glass tints and clears to modulate light, heat gain and glare, and enhances occupants' comfort and enable unobstructed views of the outdoors.
When the glass is fully tinted, the space looks like a large square of clear cobalt blue when looked from plaza below or outside from the street, adding to the appeal of the entire Kimmel Center. The use of SageGlass also prevents the sound from the new event place to be carried downwards to interrupt the guests at the lower levels.
