Project Description
Technoform Bautec North America, Inc., contributes to the updated appearance and enhanced performance of historic Houghton Academy in Buffalo, N.Y. Along with refreshed façade, the elementary school’s modern windows feature Technoform Bautec’s polyamide thermal barrier for energy efficiency, structural performance and long-term durability.
Glazing contractor T.G.R. Enterprises replaced 125 of the building’s outdated windows with Wausau Window and Wall Systems’ high-performance units. These windows were finished by Linetec and customized to match the elementary school’s architectural aesthetic using a Sandstone color paint on the exterior and a Dark Bronze anodize on the interior.
Constructed in 1924, Buffalo Public School #69 Houghton Academy was designed by the Associated Buffalo Architects Inc. The U-shaped floor plan surrounds a courtyard in the rear and a Classic Revival style entrance in the front. The brick and stone structure is punctuated with large window bays. As time passed, the windows were replaced without preserving the architectural integrity. This resulted in inconsistent window types, trim and colors.
“Choosing different color schemes and finish types for the interior and exterior of a high-performance aluminum window system can be achieved within budget and on accelerated timelines,” says Chad Ricker with Technoform Bautec’s market team. “Because two different finishing types were used on Houghton Academy windows — paint and anodize, any other thermal barrier method would not have been an option for this project.”
To ensure a successful result, the glazing team relied on Wausau’s 310i Series single-hung and 4250i-XLT INvent™ Series project-out windows. Both are manufactured using Technoform Bautec’s polyamide thermal barriers, known generically as “thermal strip.”