As the demand for incorporating beauty and performance in commercial buildings continues to grow, wood and clad-wood windows can provide superior craftsmanship at unbeatable commercial standards.
When working on the construction at the Salisbury School in Salisbury, CT, the design team incorporated old-school appeal with new technology and amenities to complement the school’s beauty and increase its architectural appeal. The windows of the Centennial Humanities Building and new Phinny Library had to be dignified enough to blend with the architecture of this venerable 19th-century institution - and generous enough to showcase the scenic views of the Berkshire Foothills.
The 4-story, Neo-Georgian-style Centennial Humanities building features unique dormer windows with 7/8-inch Simulated Divided Lites with spacer bars. The central cupola provides natural light that ties together the two upper floors, creating a sense of unity between distinctly different areas.
In the center of the Phinny Library, a stunning series of Marvin windows and doors flows along rounded walls filling an arched rotunda with sunlight and natural wood, and providing the durability to withstand the New England weather.
In commercial buildings like this one, new products, including Marvin’s Ultimate Double Hung Magnum, make it possible to bring in more natural light and create a historic look without sacrificing performance. “The Ultimate Double Hung Magnum is exciting because it’s the first wood window to offer incredibly large sizes that perform to commercial standard. This product gives building professionals the opportunity to use large, wood windows where they previously had to use an alternate material to meet performance requirements,” explains Thomas Goetz, product planner for Marvin.
A high-quality, spiral balance system allows the Ultimate Double Hung Magnum to achieve easy, smooth operation. The constant force of the spiral balance system, which meets AAMA 902-99 Class 5 specification, creates even pressure to provide minimal effort whether opening or closing the window. The spiral balance system will adjust up to 10 pounds for fine tuning and carries over 70 percent of the sash weight. Typical double-hung balance systems carry only 30 percent of the sash weight.
The Ultimate Double Hung Magnum has superior performance against air, water, and structural infiltration. The window meets a commercial design pressure rating of H-C50 for window openings nearly 5 feet wide and 9 feet tall, as certified by the Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA). Larger sizes are available at a commercial design pressure rating of H-C30.
The Ultimate Double Hung Magnum achieves its traditional look through several design features, including an interior stop system, which results in minimally exposed vinyl, weather-stripping, and interior fasteners. Beautifully designed shadow lines on the wood or clad exterior and a tall bottom rail provide further aesthetic appeal in creating a traditional, robust wood window appearance.
Designed to simplify installation and ensure top performance, the Ultimate Double Hung Magnum has pre-drilled installation holes, accessed through easily removable covers, to facilitate fastening through the jamb. A unique, patent-pending jamb carrier system provides fine horizontal adjustment every 12 inches along the jamb for optimal trim reveals and better performance.
As part of the Ultimate Double Hung product line, the Ultimate Double Hung Magnum has numerous options to provide design flexibility including several wood species, divided lite choices, 19 clad colors, and glazing options such as low-E II with argon gas. The Ultimate Double Hung Magnum has a rich, warm, wood interior and a durable, extruded aluminum clad exterior for an unbeatable combination of strength and beauty. Marvin’s extruded aluminum cladding resists chipping, chalking, and fading, with a commercial-grade finish that exceeds the industry’s highest, AAMA 2605-02 specification.
Additional options for the Ultimate Double Hung Magnum include extruded panning and casing accessories, custodial locks, and sash limiters for added safety, and thick subsills for a more distinct, traditional look.
With recent innovations in window sizes and technology, commercial buildings no longer have to compromise on the look and options available with wood and clad-wood windows to meet performance requirements.
