Komar Stroy replaced 9 insulated glass units (IGUs) across multiple floors of the Sofitel Hotel at 45 West 44th Street, New York, NY. The new units were custom fabricated to match the existing glazing, so the replaced windows blend into the original facade instead of standing out from it.
On a building like the Sofitel, glass replacement is as much a matching job as an installation job. A unit that is even slightly off in tint, reflectivity or spacer color is visible from the street and from the surrounding towers. The goal was a repair that nobody would notice.
Each replacement unit was built to a best-match specification developed from the existing glass:
The blue and grey best-match lites reproduce the color and reflection of the original facade, the black spacer keeps the edge lines consistent with the neighboring units, and the low-E coating supports thermal performance. Tempered glass was specified for safety at height.
The replacement was carried out from the exterior by rope access, with technicians working from the roof and terrace levels. Rope access lets a crew reach individual units on different floors without scaffolding, a swing stage or a sidewalk shed on a busy Midtown block.
Each opening was cleaned and prepared, and the new units were set with vacuum lifters, then sealed and finished to match the surrounding glazing.
Komar Stroy works with general contractors, architects, property managers and building owners on commercial glazing, including IGU replacement and glass matching, storefronts and curtain walls, and custom glass. We install across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
Related projects: custom storefront and facade package at 88 Pine Street; custom IGU and spandrel glass replacement at Trump International Hotel & Tower.
To discuss a glass replacement or matching project, call (917) 907-1602 or email estimates@komarstroy.com.
Can you match the existing insulated glass on an older building?
Yes. We build replacement IGUs to a best-match specification covering tint, coating, air space and spacer color, so the new units blend with the original glazing. At the Sofitel Hotel we matched a blue outboard lite and a grey low-E inboard lite with a black spacer.
Can individual glass units be replaced without scaffolding?
In many cases, yes. Rope access gives a crew direct access to individual units on multiple floors of an occupied building without scaffolding or a swing stage.
Do you work with general contractors and architects?
Yes. We supply and install glazing for GCs, architects and building owners, from glass specification and fabrication through installation.
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