The first glass windows can be traced back to Roman times however they were expensive and rare for many centuries. Jump ahead to 1851 and the construction of the Crystal Palace. This massive structure was built to house the Great Exhibition and contained almost 1 million square feet of glass. This structure demonstrated to people the beauty of windows and started a wave of interest and consumer demand for glass windows. When steel and aluminum became material options for window manufacturing in the 20th century, insulated glass and curtain walls became possible. The 1950s then saw the invention of the double-paned window but since then innovation in the window industry had slowed. That was until the recent wave of dynamic glass that kicked off about 12 years ago. These new windows control solar gain via a transparent conductor placed between the glass panes that can be gradually darkened or lightened using an electric current. The glass blocks heat gain, but remains transparent and can be controlled manually or remotely.  

The Crystal Palace showcased nearly 1 million square feet of glass to visitors of the 1851 Great Exhibition.

Having completed over 450 projects across the US, View’s dynamic glass has already proven to be a game-changer for the window industry. This dynamic glass reduces glare, cuts energy costs, increases usable space, and increases natural light for better tenant health and productivity. Now View is taking innovation to the next step with SmartProtect, the industry’s first cloud-connected software-based glass break detection system. While traditional alarm sensors rely on detecting audio frequencies or vibrations, SmartProtect only sends alerts when the electrical signal running through the glass is actually interrupted. This new technology cuts down on headache-inducing, costly false alarms. Plus since no additional hardware is needed there is no upfront installation costs or additional maintenance needs. SmartProtect is also completely invisible, keeping your building beautiful and your views unhindered.

The American Savings Bank (ASB) Campus is the first new office building in downtown Honolulu in 25 years. The 373,000-square-foot campus utilizes View Dynamic Glass with SmartProtect.

As a leader in window technology View will continue to push the envelope and is currently working on several new technologies including working with AI, video projections onto glass, and different color window options. “I think it’s ripe for change,” said Chief Executive Rao Mulpuri, referring to the glass industry. “Our phones are the most advanced things we deal with in our day-to-day lives, our cars are somewhere in-between, and buildings are the dumbest.”