Translucent Walls Transform Spaces

by Christopher Brinckerhoff | 17 April 2025 6:00 am

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Dancers are showcased in what was once a booming citrus industry landmark within bright, open spaces. To allow ample light into spaces, Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA) incorporated translucent wall panel systems in its adaptive reuse design for Sandi Simon Center for Dance at Chapman University in Orange, Calif. The center was constructed in Santiago Orange Growers Association’s former 5,356 m² (57,650 sf) orange packing house, built in 1918.

LOHA designed the center with three levels featuring openings at the centers to allow overhead views to lower levels. Also, spaces are partitioned with translucent wall systems. Artisan Glass and Design Inc. installed a translucent panel wall system at the center’s atrium with clear anodized aluminum framing and opal polycarbonate glazing panels. Three of the four elevations have dual wall systems, which provide insulation and soundproofing and are attached to metal stud framing with glazing clips. A single wall system is nestled in a sawtooth ceiling at the west wall and extends from the basement level to the ceiling’s peaks.

Robert King, owner of Artisan Glass and Design, says, “The installation went smoothly. To prevent unwanted shadow lines when installing a dual wall system, panel joints were aligned during installation for a seamless appearance.”

Owner: Chapman University, Orange, Calif.
General contractor: R.D. Olson Construction Inc., Irvine, Calif., rdolson.com[2]
Architect: Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA), Los Angeles, loharchitects.com[3]
Installer: Artisan Glass and Design Inc., Anaheim, Calif., artisanglassdesign.com[4]
Translucent wall panels: Exterior Technologies Inc. (EXTECH), Pittsburgh, extechinc.com[5]

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Source URL: https://www.metalconstructionnews.com/articles/features/translucent-walls-spaces/

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