A CAPITOL IDEA: GRAHAM OFFERS INGENIOUS SOLUTION

August 5, 2016

In 2007, the Office of Building Renovation was created to manage the Department of Commerce’s role in the Herbert C. Hoover Building (HCHB) Renovation Project — a one billion dollar project to renovate and modernize this historic building.

The HCHB Renovation Project is planned in eight phases and is scheduled to be completed by 2021. As part of this modernization effort, the goal is to attain a Gold LEED© certificate by incorporating the latest innovations in perimeter security, energy efficient building systems, and high performance workspace design.

Brought into the project during Phase 2, Graham was asked to provide windows that would provide blast protection to the building while allowing the existing exterior historic windows to stay in place. Additionally, since the project was to obtain a LEED Gold certificate, the window solution needed to be energy efficient. To overcome these challenges Graham provided Series IBG 6500 (Interior Blast Guard) inswing casement windows. According to Tom Haines, Graham regional sales manager, “This is a unique product using an in-swing blast window that was engineered to resist the required blast load using the hardware only. The blast requirements were also higher than typical, so a custom mullion had to be designed to support twin casement windows in the openings.” Due to the complexity of this product, very few manufacturers can build and certify this type of blast product but Graham succeeded.

Phase 3 is now underway and Graham was contacted again to provide another 800-plus windows. As this massive renovation continues through the next decade, Graham fully expects to be involved, providing energy efficiency and blast protection to one of Washington, DC’s icons.

To learn more about our blast mitigation products and services, visit our Security and Blast Resistant page