Dow Corning Silicones Allow Blend of Design and Function To Create Iconic Cultural Centers Around the World

Date: 15 July 2008

Adding to the joy that music and theater bring to cultural patrons —as well as to the cities in which they are located—is a new generation of striking architecture made possible by silicone glazing technology.

Architects, designers, and builders can now create venues with the elegance, drama, and sophistication that befit their imaginations,” said Mike Blaszkowski, Dow Corning Construction industry marketing manager.

Compared to other types of sealants, the chemical structure of silicone gives it superior adhesion and compatibility to a wide variety of building substrates, such as ceramic, glass, plastic and metal. This allows buildings to incorporate more artistic three-dimensional glass curtain wall designs without sacrificing the strength, stability, and longevity of traditional mechanical fasteners.

“Silicone glazing systems are able to flex, extend, and compress with the daily stress of thermal shear that allows them to maintain their strong adhesion, even under the most extreme of environmental conditions,” said Blaszkowski.

Examples of aesthetically innovative buildings that have benefited from silicone technology include:

Opryland Hotel Convention Center – Nestled in the heartland of Nashville, Tennessee, music echoes through the laminated glass covering the Delta atrium at the Opryland Resort and Convention Center, in which Dow Corning silicone sealants were used in the glazing and weathersealing of the approximately 5,000 panels of glass that encompasses the 4.5 acre skylight atrium. Currently the hub of activity at Opryland, the Delta is home to several retail stores and restaurants. The large and sophisticated project required effective teamwork between Dow Corning and the contractor, consultant, architect and other material suppliers involved in the project.

Shanghai Oriental Arts Center – China’s Shanghai Oriental Arts Center features a unique façade that resembles a butterfly orchid in bloom. Its complicated spider fixing system uses more than 40,000 square meters of laminated glass to house five separate performance halls. The Dow Corning weatherproofing sealant that was used to successfully assemble the curtain wall façade has been proven to avoid the problem of delamination of the glass. Dow Corning also recommended this product because its black color matches the specified glass, ensuring the aesthetic quality and bringing the architect’s idea and inspiration to life.

Złote Tarasy – In the heart of Warsaw, Poland, architects envisioned an imaginative and innovative space to house a cultural center that includes office space and shopping in addition to an entertainment complex. Złote Tarasy’s dramatic, curved ceiling designed required an equally innovative solution. Dow Corning silicone sealants were used to bond and seal more than 10,000 square meters of triangular glass panels, creating a complex curtain wall that protects the bustling space below.

To learn more about creative glazing and façade solutions with silicone sealants, download (PDF size = 1.66 MB) the brochure, “Creative glazing and façade construction with silicone sealants.”

About Dow Corning

Dow Corning provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicon-based technology and innovation, offering more than 7,000 products and services, Dow Corning is equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning’s annual sales are outside the United States.