Solarban 90 glass by Vitro Glass used in “transformational” arts facility

Solarban® 90 solar control, low-emissivity (low-e) glass by Vitro Architectural Glass (formerly PPG Glass) is a defining feature on the Ent Center for the Arts, the first purpose-built performing and visual arts center on the University of Colorado Colorado Springs’ (UCCS) 550-acre campus.



Designed by Semple Brown Design of Denver to encourage and support working relationships with community cultural organizations and to provide direct public access to performances, exhibits and classes, the 92,000-square-foot facility consolidates the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, which had previously been spread across six campus venues.



To maximize energy efficiency and preserve views of the surrounding Rocky Mountains, the firm specified high-performance Solarban 90 glass for the building’s curtain wall system.

“We placed a high priority on transparency and neutrality for glazing,” explained Bryan Schmidt of Semple Brown. “We wanted a product that would allow for views to the exterior without too much tint in the glass. Similarly, we wanted the activities within the building to be apparent from the exterior.”



Glazing the center with Solarban 90 glass was a key factor in enabling the building to achieve LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification at the Gold level in January 2018.

With visible light transmittance (VLT) of 51 percent and a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.23 in a standard 1-inch insulating glass unit (IGU), Solarban 90 glass can significantly limit the need for interior lighting and air-conditioning, two of the largest consumers of energy in commercial buildings such as the Ent Center.

Touted by UCCS as a transformational hub for the arts in southern Colorado, the facility is home to the professional arts programs of UCCS Presents and two academic programs of the Visual and Performing Arts Department.

The complex features a 750-seat lyric theatre (with orchestra shell and flying capability); a 225-seat recital hall, a 250-seat flexible format theatre; a new home for the Gallery of Contemporary Art; and a 75-seat black box for the campus drama program.

To learn more about Solarban 90 glass, visit www.vitroglazings.com.