At the heart of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s expanding campus in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the newly completed Madera Cyber Innovation Center stands as a symbol of cutting-edge design, collaboration, and transparency. Designed to foster creativity and innovation, the building houses advanced laboratories, classrooms, and collaborative innovation spaces designed to foster next-generation cyber research and development.

Designed by Clark Nexsen, the Madera Cyber Innovation Center features a striking structural glass façade that was engineered, manufactured, and supplied by Sentech Architectural Systems. The façade is comprised of four structural glass walls – for the two 206-ft long facade walls and two 100-ft long front and rear façades, Sentech’s VetraFin-A Series system was chosen for its sleek, minimalist aesthetic and advanced performance capabilities. The use of high-performance, tinted insulated glass units and clerestory glazing throughout maximizes natural daylight penetration, reduces reliance on artificial lighting, and maintains strict solar control. These efforts support the project’s emphasis on sustainability and occupant comfort. Designed to meet LEED Silver certification; this project complies with USAF sustainability standards.

The high wind speeds in the area required using nearly 2” thick laminated-insulated glass and horizontal aluminum mullions with coped joints where they meet the vertical fins. This aluminum fin-supported glass façade system delivers a clean, uninterrupted appearance without visible exterior hardware, bolts, or plates. Its design accommodates a wide range of glass types including monolithic, laminated, and insulated glass, allowing for performance customization such as blast and ballistic resistance, overhead glazing, and floor or façade applications. The VetraFin-A Series system offers unparalleled flexibility in finish options and can be used with insulated units up to 60-feet tall. Additionally, 120 linear ft of laminated glass guardrail with cantilever aluminum fin support and a sharp-cornered top rail surrounds the balcony.

The Innovation Center enhances the U S. Air Force Academy’s cyber education and R&D capability, especially with rising demands in cyber and AI/ future conflict domains and advances USAFA’s long-term mission readiness. The Cyber Innovation Center not only strengthens the Academy’s position as a leader in cyber education but also sets a precedent for sustainable, resilient military facilities. By integrating energy-efficient systems, daylighting, flexible infrastructure, and water stewardship, the building reduces operational costs and environmental footprint.

“The Madera Cyber Innovation Center positions the Academy as an innovation hub, revolutionizing the employment of cyber and artificial intelligence technologies to ready cadet leaders for the future fight,” said Dressler. “The collaboration space will bring academia, industry and military operators together to educate and train the Air and Space Forces’ future officers as forward-thinking leaders in advanced technological warfare.”

–  Col. Judson Dressler, Academy permanent professor and head of the Department of Computer and Cyber Sciences.

The Hope Plaza Building at City of Hope in Duarte, California, stands as a bold symbol of progress in the fight against cancer. More than just a building, it represents a vision realized—a space designed to transform the patient experience while advancing the future of medical care. In 2018, the City of Duarte approved the City of Hope Specific Plan, a forward-looking, 20-year development roadmap to reimagine the 110-acre campus with over 1.4 million sq-ft of new facilities. At the heart of this transformation is Hope Plaza – the Signature Outpatient Tower, a 350,000 sq-ft, eight-story outpatient center that opened in May 2025. This milestone project replaces four aging facilities, consolidates services into one streamlined hub, and increases patient capacity by nearly 70%—all as part of a broader $1 billion master campus modernization initiative.

Designed by CO Architects (executive architect) and EwingCole (associate architect), Hope Plaza elevates the healthcare environment with thoughtful design and impactful architectural gestures. A 121-foot-long glass canopy welcomes patients and visitors with light and transparency, while two 80-ft long pedestrian bridges span busy campus streets, creating a dramatic gateway and vital connection within the reimagined campus. Sentech Architectural Systems engineered and delivered over 2,100 square feet of low-iron, laminated structural glass for the canopy and bridge guardrails. Featuring high-performance laminated glass supported by custom-engineered systems, the design balances clarity and strength—meeting strict seismic, safety, and durability requirements while maintaining an elegant, seamless aesthetic.

The pedestrian bridges embody more than infrastructure—they symbolize connection, healing, and hope. Their crystalline transparency floods the pathway with natural light, offers unobstructed views, and provides a calm, uplifting experience for patients, caregivers, and researchers alike. This design not only enhances safety and functionality but also reinforces City of Hope’s mission of innovation and compassionate care. Hope Plaza sets a new benchmark in healthcare design, uniting advanced medicine, visionary architecture, and cutting-edge engineering into a single environment that truly embodies its name: hope.

Located in a hilly, seaside community within San Diego, La Jolla Commons Tower Phase III (LCT3) is the third high-rise at the executive campus known as La Jolla Commons. Completed in 2023, this 11-story high-rise office tower features 213,000 square feet of Class A office space. The building offers an abundance of onsite amenities, including a state-of-the-art indoor/outdoor staffed fitness center, a farm-to-table restaurant with an outdoor patio, coffee bar, and modern conference and training facilities. Designed by Skidmore, Owings, Merrill, La Jolla Common III also boasts impressive technical specifications, include approximately 20,000 square-foot floor plates, nearly column-free spacing with side core construction, 13’-9” typical floor-to-floor heights, and floor-to-ceiling glass lines which offer ample natural light and striking panoramic views. With a core focus on sustainability, the structure has been designed for LEED Gold Certification; Phase I achieved LEED Gold Certification and Phase II was the largest net zero project in the country at the time of completion.

The entrance of the building is wrapped by 25-foot high-performance structural glass facades that use Sentech’s VetraSpan system to allow for abundant natural light and unobstructed views. The selection of a system with floor-to-ceiling glass panels with minimal hardware were core to the design mandate of both meeting green building requirements and enabling maximum transparency. The clear span glass spans 25-feet in height without fins or structural support. Triple laminated, low iron glass with an overall thickness of 1-1/2″ was used for this application.

The major challenges faced during the design and engineering phase of this project were the large panel deformation and seismic movement. The glass deformation was controlled through the use of clamped base connections and the seismic movement was accommodated by isolating the facade from the roof (in the direction parallel to the facade glass).

Open, welcoming and bright, this VetraSpan system brings to life the desire for connection and elegance that characterizes the next-generation workplace.

The award-winning Environmental Science Building (B12N) at Skyline College in San Bruno, California offers one of the most spectacular, expansive views of California’s Pacific Coast with its stunning, 22′ jumbo clear span glass façade. The first building at Skyline College with a view of the Pacific, the space creates a shared locus for educational activity and community events. The main gallery, with its expansive views of the California coastline is intended to support community and enterprise functions, along with student art displays.

Designed for complete transparency and clean lines, this façade was engineered to accommodate coastal California’s unique seismic loads, while ensuring interrupted views of the Pacific.

Designed for complete transparency and clean lines, this stunning façade was engineered to accommodate the seismic loads unique to coastal California, as well as California’s Title 24 stringent energy efficiency requirements….all while ensuring interrupted views of the vast, blue Pacific Ocean. Using Sentech’s VetraSpan clear span façade system and no additional support structure, the full-height glass spans freely between the upper and lower connections, using 22-foot tall insulated glass panels that are seismically isolated at the head to accommodate inter-story drift. This use of insulated glass units required unique perimeter connections that provide tight control of the glass deformation under wind loads.

The key challenge stemmed from the need to manufacture the glass to extremely tight bow tolerances, ensuring alignment between adjacent clear span façade panels. Optical quality was another critical factor in the glass manufacturing process that was imperative to the ultimate success of this 22-foot insulated jumbo glass façade.

The first building at Skyline College with a view of the Pacific Ocean, the B12 Environmental Science Building and its award-winning jumbo glass façade, allows students, faculty and visitors alike to look out onto the horizon and educate for a shared future.

Completed in 2020, Expedia Group’s new Seattle headquarters redefines campus architecture. The 40-acre Interbay campus integrates open workspaces, dynamic floor plans, wi-fi enabled outdoor spaces, walking trails, recreation facilities and more to connect employees with their immediate environment while embracing the Pacific Northwest coastal setting. Designed by architecture firm ZGF Architects, the project was an 850,000 square foot renovation and expansion of the existing Amgen waterfront campus on Elliot Bay. With room for up to 8,000 employees, the design was intended to provide an innovative approach to the workplace- the creation of an inclusive, enriching, and dynamic workplace and collaborative environment, where employees from the global travel platform could come together to learn, work, play and grow. The design also embraced the sustainable, energy-efficiency and eco-friendly goals of the tech company.

The design of Expedia Group’s Interbay Headquarters has been aptly labeled “biophilic”- a concept used in the building industry to denote spaces that increase our connectivity to the natural environment to improve health, well-being, and occupancy comfort in the built environment. Essentially, “biophilic” design is design that reconnects us with nature. There are several design patterns that biophilic design encompasses; these include a visual connection with nature, thermal comfort and airflow variability, dynamic natural light, and connection with natural systems. As the design of Expedia’s Headquarters progressed and material choices were made for the entrance and building envelope, structural glass became an obvious choice to meet biophilic design requirements. Material selection for the entrance façades ultimately came down to the use of insulated glass to maintain energy efficiency requirements and meet green building standards, while enabling maximum transparency with the minimal support of pre-tensioned cables.

A critical aspect in the design of these façades was the use of insulated glass units with a (pre-tensioned) cable supported structural glass wall system. Why is that important and novel? The insulated panels within these types of walls undergo large warping deformations that are difficult to accommodate, and there are few – if any – cable net walls that have been built taking advantage of insulated glass technology.

The main entrance to Expedia’s Corporate Headquarters thus features two soaring structural glass, insulated cable net walls, a structural glass vestibule and a structural glass canopy – all designed, engineered and supplied by Sentech. The entrance façades utilize Sentech’s VetraNet series system and span over 48′ in height and 148′ in width, totaling over 10,900 square feet of structural glass. The wall IGU panels utilize 1-5/8″ thick low-iron tempered insulated glass units with an SGP laminated inboard and outboard lite. Dynamic and minimalist, the use of pre-tensioned cables creates an optical “net” effect, and utilizes the cable arrangement for flexibility, durability, and resistance to high environmental loads.

A critical aspect in the design of these façades was the use of insulated glass units with a (pre-tensioned) cable supported structural glass wall system. Why is that important and novel? The insulated panels within these types of walls undergo large warping deformations that are difficult to accommodate, and there are few – if any – cable net walls that have been built taking advantage of insulated glass technology.

This presented a key challenge during the design and engineering phase, the innovative solutions to which enabled the ultimate success of this project. It was critical to balance the high amount of movement and flexibility inherent in pre-tensioned cable systems with the required deformation limits of the façade in order to maintain seals in the insulated glass. To address this, unique flexible edge conditions were designed and required to minimize panel warping to ensure the IGU seals were not overstressed.

The selection of insulated structural glass as the key design element for the main entrance seamlessly integrated with the biophilic design mandate and ensured energy efficiency and green building requirements were met. The façades also serve to connect occupants to the natural environment through maximized transparency and the deliberate selection of high-performance materials- ensuring efficient load transfer, energy savings, and long-term sustainability. Soaring and deliberately expansive, the entrance to Expedia Group’s sprawling, innovative headquarters welcomes its occupants with the open arms of the human-environment connection through unlimited natural light and stunning views of the surrounding Olympic mountains, the Seattle Skyline and Elliot Bay. Just a mile north of Seattle, Expedia’s new headquarters has brilliantly redefined what is essential in campus architecture.

The Denver Museum of Art’s new Sie Welcome Center is an unprecedented feat of engineering, and leverages the most innovative, state-of-the-art technology in the field of structural glass.

Approachable from all angles, the Welcome Center was designed as part of the revitalization of the original Gio Ponti designed North Building, which houses the museum’s education center and permanent collection. The building renovation was led by Fentress Architects and Machado Silvetti, and the transformational design envisioned as part of their collaboration serves to unify the overall campus while paying homage to the original intent of Ponti, a renowned Italian modernist. Located in the heart of Denver’s cultural district, it functions as a focal point in an eclectic mix of iconic buildings- the Gio Ponti designed North Building, the Daniel Libeskind designed Hamilton building, and the Michael Graves designed Central Public Library.

Denver Museum of Art’s Sie Welcome Center leverages the most innovative, state-of-the-art technology in the field of structural glass.

The 50,000 square foot Sie Welcome Center’s second-story façade is comprised of a series of 25-foot tall, 8-foot wide, curved insulated structural glass panels along an elliptical footprint- the first structure of its kind to use jumbo curved panels in a design of this complexity, coupled with seismic considerations. In an effort to craft a simple, unique and elegant building form, many façade design iterations were assessed and presented as part of the design-build process, with a core focus on openness, context, budget and innovative technology.

Collaboration was key to the overarching success of the façade design, engineering, material sourcing and installation. Early in the design process, the design team- led by Fentress Architects and Machado Silvetti, in collaboration with Harmon and Sentech- established key goals that drove the selection of the façade & support system. These goals were based on the principles of transparency and simplicity. This meant minimizing the use of visible metal components and connections, and utilizing glass as the primary structural element to support the façade and transfer loads to the support structure.

The resulting façade geometry follows the elliptical footprint of the building, using a scalloped glass panel design consisting of 52 8-foot wide panels with a curvature radius of 10 feet. The panels are identical in cross section with the dihedral angle between panels varying slightly at each joint. The height of the panels is consistent along the building perimeter- 36 panels soaring at 25-feet tall, with the 16 clerestory panels standing at 5-feet tall. The glass used throughout the façade is comprised of laminated, insulated, low-e glass, with all glass panels tempered to minimize the potential for breakage. For support, full height vertical structural glass fins were chosen to reduce glass thickness. The fins also helped to streamline installation by controlling the geometry during the construction phase.

The Denver Museum of Art’s Sie Welcome Center leverages the most innovative, state-of-the-art technology in the field of structural glass. Incorporating a unique connection system to isolate the façade from building lateral movement, this façade application is the first of its kind to utilize curved, jumbo panels with this tight of a radius in an elliptical footprint- combined with a building movement isolation scheme.

In short, this one-of-a-kind structural glass façade serves as a testament to the value of collaboration, communication,  teamwork and the innovative power that a collegial environment of respect and achieving common goal can create. Sentech is proud to be part of this project and team-driven effort to make this innovative structural glass façade a reality.

Sentech’s latest project feature a trailblazer for “mass timber” buildings combined with structural glass in Northern California. The building is paving the way for future buildings to be constructed along the same method, which utilizes wood in combination with insulated structural glass to result in fewer carbon emissions, decreased costs, and an improved user experience by combining the transparency of glass with the warmth of wood. Only the second mass timber structures in its locale, the structure is wrapped by a structural glass wood fin façade, utilizing our VetraFin-W Series System, that was designed, engineered, and manufactured by Sentech.

The mass timber construction method was originally pioneered in Europe, and in today’s built environment, architects, builders, and sustainability advocates are focused on this new way of using wood- which has the potential to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector, decrease pollution, waste and construction costs. Structural timber, or “mass timber”, encompasses various species and types of wood, and can include glulam (glue-laminated) beams, LVL (laminated veneer lumber), NLT (nail-laminated timber), DLT (dowel-laminated timber), and CLT (cross-laminated timber).

Exposed wood in combination with structural glass, as is on full display in this design, is still in its infancy in the United States. With modern manufacturing technology, the options for and combinations of wood and structural glass are endless. This two-story building in Northern California is characterized by its timber structure and an overall natural warm palette that creates a grand entrance experience and mass timber innovation at the pedestrian scale. The jumbo glass façades flood the building with light with its insulated glass and wood façades climbing over 38 feet in height.

LEED Platinum-certified and constructed with a sustainably sourced mass timber structure, the building will store more than four tons of CO2 in its timber and avoid almost another seven tons of CO2 through material efficiency and durability. Moreover, the climate responsive shading increases energy efficiency.

Transparent, organic, warm, connected and sustainable, this VetraFin-W structure proves that mass timber combined with structural glass will truly redefine the built environment as we know it.

Louis Vuitton’s newest location recently opened its doors at the Wynn Las Vegas, the brand’s 8th location in Las Vegas. Designed by Winick Architects, the magic begins at the store’s entrance, where visitors are welcomed into the expansive space via an entrance adorned by dazzling illumination and a soaring clear span structural glass façade that was designed, engineered and supplied by Sentech. Marking the eighth Las Vegas address for the Parisian brand, this store may be the most impressive yet with its 28’ long barrel ceiling leading to a glass structural wall overlooking The Strip. Soaring 26-feet wide and up to 28-feet in height, the roughly 700 square foot VetraSpan insulated façade is comprised of tempered, low iron insulated glass units that connects the interior space to the outdoors, welcoming visitors through the arch and into the House of Vuitton.

The whimsy, wonder and brilliant craftsmanship of Louis Vuitton has reached a new pinnacle at the Maison’s stunning retail store at Wynn Las Vegas.

In the heart of Westwood, 10866 Wilshire Boulevard is located at the corner of iconic Wilshire Boulevard and Glendon Avenue. Originally built in 1987, the 16-story tower went through an extensive lobby renovation designed by Gensler in 2023, complete with a striking marble and jumbo structural glass façade. Setting a modern tone that resonates throughout the property, the Class A office building is located directly across the street from the Hammer Museum, and within walking distance of an array of upscale dining, shopping, the renowned Westwood Village and UCLA’s campus. This Westwood office structure is Energy Star Certified by the EPA and has a fully integrated energy management system for optimal efficiency and comfort.

The lobby renovation and design was intended for a modern post-pandemic workforce that values transparency, natural light, access to culturally rich and dynamic environments, and sustainability. The selection of Sentech-supplied all-glass structural façades aligned with the design intent. In total, Sentech designed, engineered and supplied 12 exterior VetraFin-G insulated structural glass walls and 4 interior VetraSpan structural glass walls, totaling over 6,000 square feet of interior and exterior structural glass. Soaring more than 20 feet from sill to head without the use of any vertical support materials, the structural glass façades exude timeless elegance, serving as a connection point for visitors, tenants and the public alike.

Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Ent Credit Union Headquarters is a state-of-the-art, five-story facility that was designed by Davis Partnership Architects to consolidate Ent’s operations, which were previously spread across multiple locations. The new building sits on Ent’s master-planned campus that will be spread out across 27-acres and 5 buildings. Ent Credit Union is Colorado’s largest credit union and the new campus will house more than one million square feet of Class A office space. This first facility includes an expansive 28-foot tall, two-level cafeteria with stunning panoramic views of Pike’s Peak where Ent’s 800+ employees can share a meal and enjoy Colorado’s natural splendor.

As the first facility on campus, the design had to accommodate an amenitized entry with reception, cafes and a cafeteria, a fitness center, conference rooms and office space for more than 1,100 employees. The new facility aims to foster increased collaboration among departments, enhancing service delivery to its members. The design also included significant site infrastructure improvements and amenities for member-owners, employees and their families, reinforcing Ent’s commitment to serving the Colorado Springs community. Ent Credit Union was founded in 1957 after Major General Uzal Ent, a distinguished US Air Force Officer and Medal of Honor recipient, with the primary intent to serve the Air Force population of Colorado Springs.

One of the most impressive features of the new facility are the sweeping, panoramic views of the Front Range and incredible surrounding landscape. Colorado Springs, a vibrant city located at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains, sits near the base of Pikes Peak, a 14,115-foot summit that inspired the song “America the Beautiful”.

Sentech Architectural Systems designed, engineered and supplied all material for the soaring 2-story, 28-foot high structural glass façades that wrap the dining and lobby areas. In total, Sentech supplied 4 VetraFin-G Series structural glass walls and 2 structural glass vestibules at the South and West locations that total close to 8,000 square feet of structural glass applications. The system design features simple lines, minimal connections, and a unique look that was achieved without any exterior hardware, bolts or plates. This proprietary system can be used to design insulated glass façades with any type of soft low-e coating, a feature that enables the design of walls with the highest performance values available in the marketplace.

“Blurring of the division between interior and exterior is best showcased along the promenade where exterior grade falls and gives way to a world class corporate dining facility inside with protected views of Pikes Peak that are second-to-none. Here you can witness the interplay of form and material along the building’s envelope.”
– Jill Taylor, Acquilano

Soaring, open and welcoming, this VetraFin façade and vestibule system brings to life the desire for connection, amenitization and a sense of openness that characterizes next-generation workplaces.