Project: Inventive glass rainscreen for The Momentary

Location: 507 SE E St | Bentonville | AR 72712 |USA

The Momentary, a former Kraft Foods cheese factory, is a new contemporary art space in Betonville, Arkansas. The complex is a contemporary satellite to the local Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

This new adaptive-reuse project was designed by Wheeler Kearns Architects of Chicago, IL. Among its chief new architectural features is an 80-foot tall projectable glass rainscreen tower with our AL-WALL FLAT system installed. The concrete tower underneath houses concrete stairs and the elevator tower.

The glass rainscreen was tested as a projection surface – and stage – by BANDALOOP, the pioneer in vertical modern dance. The group choreographed and staged a performance on top of the glass, designed to “activate the public space.” A facade that doubles as a digital art canvas is remarkably relevant today, as outdoor venues are becoming a necessity by promoting culture in a safer and healthier environment. “This cutting-edge installation heralds a more positive and creative future,” said Robert Jayson, President of Bendheim.

The architects chose our glass-fastening system for its ease of use. The system fastens directly to the concrete to eliminate the need for a costly steel substructure and the shadow lines associated with it. Patented clip attachments allow each glass panel to be installed and replaced independently of its neighbors, speeding installation and facilitating maintenance. “This unique quality pushed the owner and us in that direction,” said Calli Verkamp, Project Architect at Wheeler Kearns Architects.

Facts:
Architect: Wheeler Kearns Architects of Chicago, IL.
Installation: Advantage Glass, Tulsa, OK
Product: AL-WALL FLAT
Surface: 6.000 sq. ft.
Completion: 2020

Photo courtesy: The Momentary, BANDALOOP