National manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems has furnished 3,428 of its energy efficient windows and doors for a major window replacement project in the Washington, DC area. The three high-rise multifamily buildings with over 1,000 apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland, are part of The Blairs District mixed-use development and range in height from 12 to 17 stories. Crystal’s heavy-commercial aluminum sliding and fixed windows and swing terrace doors were installed at Blair House (8201 16th Street), Blair Plaza (1401 Blair Mill Road) and Blair East (1220 East-West Highway).
“New Crystal windows and doors not only update the look of these buildings at The Blairs Apartments complex, but they also improve functionality and resident comfort,” says Kevin Lechwar, MidAtlantic Regional Sales Manager. “The Series 5600 sliding window and Series 5100 fixed window are great choices to save energy, reduce outside noise, and provide generous daylighting for multifamily properties.”
Crystal products used
While the three Blair District buildings varied somewhat in the number of windows and doors, all used large size Crystal Series 5600 2-lite and 3-lite sliding windows. For two of the buildings, a large number of sliding windows were combined on-site into expansive horizontal window configurations, and one of the two buildings also combined Series 1450 terrace doors with the sliding window combinations. In total, Crystal provided 339 of these unique configurations, some spanning 40feet wide, for these two properties. For the third building, some façade openings used a combination of a large Crystal sliding window mulled atop a Crystal fixed window equal in width to create a floor-to-ceiling window wall. Sixty-two of these special 94 inch wide by 96 inch tall combinations were used for this building.
The main Crystal product used on The Blairs Apartments window replacement project was the heavy-commercial aluminum Series 5600 2-lite and 3-lite sliding window. This 3-¼-inch jamb depth window uses heavy-duty extrusion material, has a 1-inch glazing pocket, and is architecturally rated as AW-PG40/AW-PG50. To facilitate easy replacement, all these windows were ordered with the optional face flange frame. Features of the Crystal Series 5600 sliding window include a full height sash clip lock pull rail, double meeting rail interlock, stainless steel sash rollers, and reinforced roller track. All the operating sliding windows were fitted with sash opening limit devices.
For one of The Blairs buildings, Crystal also supplied its heavy-commercial aluminum Series 5100 fixed window. This 3-¼-inch jamb window has a 1-inch glazing pocket, and with an architectural rating of AW-PG100, it is capable of spanning very large openings.
The final Crystal fenestration product selected for the Silver Spring, Maryland, project was the heavy-commercial aluminum Series 1450 swing terrace door. This 3-¼-inch jamb door features a polyamide insulating thermal strut design for enhanced energy efficiency, and it is architecturally rated AW-PG75. It is available in either in-swing or out-swing operation and a glazing pocket up to 1-¼-inch. For this project, the out-swing operation and 1-inch insulated glass unit options were specified.
All the Crystal replacement windows and terrace doors were specified with 1-inch insulated glass units (IGUs) with low-E coated Vitro Solarban 60 glass and argon fill. Glass for the terrace doors and select window configurations was tempered for strength and safety.
Crystal supplied a variety of factory produced installation accessories. Depending on product type, accessories included 3-piece mullions, H-mullions, receptors, subsills, anchor clips, and snap trim.
In keeping with each building’s original window appearance, all the new Crystal windows, doors, and exposed accessories were finished with a durable, environmentally sustainable Simulated Anodized Silver AAMA 2605 powder coat paint.
Project details
The Blair District mixed-use complex is named for the historic Blair Family dynasty that established the Silver Spring, Maryland area. The complex, started in 1958 and completed 10 years later, was built and is owned and managed by The Tower Companies of Rockville, Maryland. The architect and engineering firm for the major renovations at the multifamily buildings is WJE Associates of Falls Church, Virginia, outside Washington, DC. The renovations are part of a 20-year master plan to modernize the apartment buildings, add new multifamily buildings, office and retail space, and a new hotel.
A key partner for the window replacement project was longtime Crystal customer Hi-Rise Windows of Bethesda, Maryland, which acted as general contractor and fenestration installer. Hi-Rise and Crystal have completed several projects in the Washington, DC area, including phases of window replacement at Southern Towers in Alexandria, Virginia, and the new luxury property 4909 Auburn in Bethesda, Maryland.
The Blair District is a 27-acre mixed-use development with nearly 1,400 residential units in four apartment buildings and individual townhouses, as well as a major grocery store, retail shops, and restaurants. The complex offers onsite management and security services 24/7, on-site parking, park spaces, walking paths, outdoor play areas, dog parks, outdoor gas grills and fire pits, as well as fitness centers and lounges in each building. The Blair District is adjacent to the Silver Spring Metro rail system, is walking distance to downtown Silver Spring, and is on the border with northern Washington, DC.
