Bullitt Center, world’s ‘greenest’ office building, constructed with PPG glass

Date: 6 December 2013

SOLARBAN 60, STARPHIRE glasses help draw 82 percent of lighting needs from sun. PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG) announced that the Bullitt Center, a six-story Seattle office building widely regarded as the “greenest” structure of its kind in the world, was constructed with SOLARBAN(R) 60 solar control, low-emissivity (low-e) glass and STARPHIRE(R) ultra-clear glass. The Bullitt Center was designed by the Miller Hull Partnership, Seattle, to be completely self-sustaining, with integrated building management systems that enable 100 percent of its energy and water harvesting, water treatment and waste processing to be conducted on-site.

Architect Jim Hanford and design architect Brian Court, working with glazing contractor Goldfinch Brothers, Everett, Wash., said they specified Solarban 60 glass for most of the building because it provided the best balance of thermal, solar control and daylighting performance to meet the needs of the project.

“To allow daylighting deep into the floor plate, we knew we would need large glass areas with high visible light transmittance,” Hanford explained. “To offset the heating load penalty of the large glass areas, we wanted to get the lowest possible heat loss rate,” he said, and that meant using a product such as Solarban 60 glass with argon fill in the insulating glass units (IGUs).

Solarban 60 glass is part of a high-performance curtain wall system designed by Schuco USA, Newington, Conn., and fabricated by Northwestern Industries, Seattle. The system integrates triple-glazed IGUs with a maximum fenestration U-value of 0.25, along with manual and motor-controlled openings that facilitate passive cooling and natural ventilation. The system also has retractable external blinds to help block solar heat. The large windows, together with high ceilings, enable the Bullitt Center to draw 82 percent of its lighting needs from the sun.

In addition, Solarban 60 glass was used to fabricate the entrance and terrace doors, operable windows and skylights, which were reinforced with a translucent laminated interior lite.

The building’s signature design element, the “irresistible stairwell” that entices occupants to climb steps instead of riding the elevator by providing panoramic external views, is encased in Starphire glass by PPG – the most transparent architectural glass available.

The Bullitt Center is seeking to become the first office building to earn certification through the Living Building Challenge, the world’s most difficult and advanced sustainability standard for buildings.

For more information about Solarban 60 and Starphire glasses, visit www.ppgideascapes.com or call 1-888-PPG-IDEA (774-4332).

About the Bullitt Foundation

Established in 1952, the Bullitt Foundation is dedicated to safeguarding the natural environment by promoting responsible human activities and sustainable communities in the Pacific Northwest, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana (including the Rocky Mountain range), coastal Alaska from Cook Inlet to the Canadian border, and British Columbia. For more information, visit www.bullittcenter.org.

About The Miller Hull Partnership

Founded in 1977, The Miller Hull Partnership specializes in award-winning, performance-based design for public and private buildings that actively engage their communities through simple, innovative and authentic designs. Capabilities include architecture, master planning, interior design and space planning. The firm, which is widely recognized for timeless designs that elevate the ordinary and provide lasting value for public buildings, educational environments and private residences, is a recipient of the National Firm Award from the American Institute of Architects. For more information, visit www.millerhull.com.

PPG: BRINGING INNOVATION TO THE SURFACE.(TM)

PPG Industries' vision is to continue to be the world’s leading coatings and specialty products company. Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and color, PPG helps customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. Founded in 1883, PPG has global headquarters in Pittsburgh and operates in nearly 70 countries around the world. Sales in 2012 were $15.2 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol:PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com and follow @PPGIndustries on Twitter.

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Bringing innovation to the surface is a trademark and Solarban and Starphire are registered trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

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The Bullitt Center, regarded as the “greenest” structure of its kind in the world, was constructed with SOLARBAN(R) 60 solar control, low-emissivity (low-e glass) and STARPHIRE(R) ultra-clear glass by PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG). The signature design element of the six-story office building in Seattle is the “irresistible stairwell,” featuring Starphire glass by PPG, providing panoramic views of Seattle and Puget Sound.

For more information about Solarban 60 and Starphire glasses, visit www.ppgideascapes.com or call 1-888-PPG-IDEA (774-4332).

Contact:

Robert J. Struble

PPG Flat Glass

412-820-8138

rstruble@ppg.com

www.ppgideascapes.com