Windows, Dichroic Glass Fins and GFRC Cladding: The Structural Skin of the New Hospital Complex

The steel gives the building its shape as well as its strength. The GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete) cladding panels, the windows, and the dichroic glass fins give the structure its aesthetic, architectural, and reflective appeal. This phase gives life to the project for it is at this stage that the artist rendering becomes a reality.

A Close Look at the Dichroic Glass Fins, Which Can Be Seen on the Curtain Walls of the East and West Elevations of the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital

The Dichroic Glass fins fitted to the windows on the Loma Linda University Children’s hospital tower are a unique decorative feature that have captured the attention of the campus community. Each and every day will be a Dichroic color day for no day or season will be the same because of the kaleidoscopic array of colors reflected on the windows of the Children’s Hospital tower.

As the curtain wall extends higher on the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital tower, one begins to notice that the color of the glass panels seem to shift as the light changes. This phenomena is projected on the glass panels by what is called the Dichroic gold-blue laminated crystal etch glass fins. These fins reflects and diffuses the light in the sky as it projects the ever changing colors onto the glass panels that make up the curtain wall. On the Loma Linda project the fins are being installed on the east and west elevations, which are the areas that will reflect the most light. It is also interesting to note that as one walks around the building the Dichroic glass will shift colors vertically. This phenomena will be illustrated in this section. According to the Tower Glass Company foreman, the Children’s Hospital tower “gets the fancy windows with the patterns (non-functional) and the Dichroic glass fins. The Adult Hospital tower gets the regular windows (with no patterns) and the aluminum fins.”

The Home page of the GOLDRAY GLASS COMPANY (the manufacturer of the fins) describes their Dichroic fins thusly:

“The Dichroic fins animate the exterior [of the structure] using sunlight, and are used as a means of recording the time of day and seasons. The dynamic expression changes as the observer’s perspective shifts.”

— GOLDRAY Glass Website Home Page

According to the companies website their Dichroic laminated glass . . .

“. . . is the result of the ingenuity of Goldray’s research and development team and 3M’s premium grade polymeric film. Partnering with 3M’s innovative team, we were able to create a product that exhibits brilliant color shifts through transmitted and reflected light. The result is a film laminated between two or more lites of glass, then viewed at various angles producing a striking color shift.

Available in cool and warm tones, Dichroic Laminated Glass can be integrated into any design concept as an accent or focal piece. The dazzling dichroic colors can be enhanced with other design processes such as using textured lites, or muting the effect with an acid-etched glass. Goldray’s selections of Dichroic Laminated Glass are suitable for both interior and exterior applications.

Features & Benefits

The product creates brilliant color shifts and the effect of color movement within a single lite of glass. The color and movement effects can be enhanced by using textured glass as one or more of the glass lites, or muted by using acid-etched glass.
Goldray’s Dichroic Laminated Glass is available in both translucent and opaque options. Goldray uses a 3M dichroic film, which is non-metallic, non-conductive, non-corrosive and non-oxidizing, suitable for both interior and exterior applications.”

For information regarding Goldray’s Dichroic Laminated Glass, visit their website at:

https://www.goldrayglass.com/

The two types of fins used in this project are illustrated in this photo.

Dichroic Glass Color Changes

As the Fins Rotate

The window panel with fins is lifted from the staging yard and will swing over to the southeast corner of the structure.

A View From Within

As viewed from the 7th floor: Five frames of the same Dichroic glass panel as it is swung closer into position on the eastern side of the Children’s Hospital. As the panel slowly rotates the color of the fins change.

An interior view of the southeast corner of the 6th floor Children Hospital tower: The Dichroic glass fins as seen from the interior.

Simple Illustrations

Image number one (above) is a section of a Dichroic glass fin that will be installed on a glass panel. In this section, one can see a hint of color is visible. When “auto tone” is activated, in photoshop, the colors and color shifting in image number 2 becomes more pronounced as ot gives off a kaleidoscopic array of color.

The sections of a piece of laminated Dichroic Glass.

**Side View:** A simple illustration detailing how the Dichroic Glass is laminated. Once laminated, the Dichroic glass is heated fully tempered.

The South Staging Yard Where the Prep Work is Done

The Dichroic glass is delivered to the site in a wooden box, which is sequentially numbered to match the glass panels. In this image two tower glass workers carefully lift a fin out of the box.

From the wooden box the Dichroic section of glass is placed on this cart where it will be prepared to be slid into the window panel channel.

Matt prepares shim to attach to the edge of the Dichroic glass edge, which will keep the glass from rubbing against the aluminum channel.

After the shims are attached the Dichroic glass is moved to the unitized panel where it will be installed. Note the color of the glass. As they moved the color changed.

The color of the Dichroic glass has changed as it is being seated into the channel. Notice the color of the glass in the upper section of the image. Note the two fins, that are within inches of each other, reflect different colors.

After taking about six steps to my left, the color of the Dichroic glass shifted.

Just to the left of where I was standing to take the previous photograph two men from the Tower Glass crew were discussing the sequence of the next panel lift. Note that by changing position approximately 45 degrees, the Dichroic glass changed color because of the light reflections.

After the Dichroic glass is set it the channel, a laborer will insert a plastic shim, the length of the glass, between the glass and the inside of the channel. The plastic shims serve two purposes: 1) strengthens the connection, and 2) prevents the glass from touching the aluminum channel frame.

The south staging yard as viewed from the seventh (7th) floor.

The Children’s Hospital Tower East Step Out

**Exterior View:** The Dichroic fins were installed on the east facing windows and even though it is a cloudy day color still emanates from the Dichroic fins.

The east step out tower rising from the podium roof (fifth floor) to the seventh floor.

A view of the fins from the seventh (7th) floor step out.

The Dichroic Glass Fins on the West Tower

The Dichroic Glass makes its way up the west side of the Children’s Hospital tower.

A view of the fins of the west tower as viewed from the seventh floor looking north.

A view of the fins of the west tower as viewed from the seventh floor looking south.

The Dichroic fins on the east facade of the Children’s Hospital tower reflect the cloud cover hovering over the region.

Although there were clouds in the sky, the azure skies and sun brought out the colors in the Dichroic glass.

Dennis E. Park, MA

After graduate school Dennis accepted a position at Loma Linda University. He worked there for 42 years in the areas of administration and financial management, also teaching accounting and management to dietetic students at the School of Public Health. Through the years Dennis has chronicled the growth of the campus, including the construction of the Drayson Center and the Centennial Complex and the razing of Gentry Gym. He is the author of "The Mound City Chronicles: A Pictorial History of Loma Linda University, A Health Sciences Institution 1905 - 2005." dEp 09.30.2016 🔨

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2 Comments

kime wesley
Is it true that the round platform on top is going to be a revolving restaurant?
- Dennis E. Park, MA
  
  Sorry Wes: I responded to your inquiry on my laptop while winging my way over the flyover states. Somehow, it doesn’t appear the message went through. Unfortunately, the round platform on top of the Adult Hospital tower will not be a revolving restaurant. Nice Try!!!!! Thanks for checking in!!!!! I hope all is well with you and yours.