First & Main / 2010

ArchitectGBD Architects

General ContractorHoffman Construction Company

Services EngineerPAE Consulting Engineers

Facing the Willamette River, this premium 19-story office tower by GBD Architects features a hanging structural glass fin system at the lobby curtain wall. Front collaborated on the design for the lobby glazing systems as well as the other curtain wall systems used throughout the project. Front was commissioned to conduct an analytical review, testing and design enhancements to the lobby facade system. Glass fins are cantilevered 29 ft (8.8 m) from the ceiling to support the point fixed glass wall. As there were no American standards directly applicable at the time, the building department required extensive analysis and verification by testing before allowing construction. Front assisted in developing consensus with the building department and developing testing regimes.

Front is now leading a team to write an ASTM guide specification to the design of structural glass so that building departments can review designs and architects can design confidently with glass.