Balenciaga Showcases First Photovoltaic Glass Façade in Miami Design District

Crawford-Tracey Corporation recently completed the first photovoltaic (PV) glass façade in Miami Design District for Balenciaga’s flagship store. The unique façade design was spearheaded by Balenciaga’s artistic director Demna Gvasalia who brought in Onyx, a Spanish PV glass manufacturer who worked with New York-based architectural firm Atmosphere Design Group. The design team brought in Crawford-Tracey to incorporate the PV glass into their Pro-Tech 7SG, a 7” structurally glazed curtain wall system, designed to meet Florida’s tough hurricane code requirements.

The photovoltaic glass is made of crystalline silicon cells embedded in between heat treated, laminated safety glass in a pale blue color; it also includes an Argon Spacer for additional thermal insulation. Each glass unit spans almost 10 feet by 5 feet and offers 340 Watts per unit. It also controls light transmittance inside the store and protects its interiors against aging.

“We enjoyed working on this project and incorporating the PV glass, a first for us,” says Ray Crawford, President of Crawford-Tracey Corporation. “This project is a great example of where technology is going with glass and glazing systems, offering the client a great look while contributing to sustainable design, all while meeting some of the toughest hurricane building codes in the world.”