Architects of the Terminal 5 renovation at Chicago O’Hare International Airport looked to decorative glass for nearly 4,000 square feet of interior walls and partitions. Fabricated by Goldray Industries, the glass is comprised of PPG Starphire 9/16-inch laminated glass fabricated with Dip-Tech’s digital printing technology, www.dip-tech.com.

“We were looking for durability ...without going over budget,” says Tim Ozog, architectural designer for Epstein Architects, www.epsteinglobal.com. Goldray Industries introduced the designers to digital ceramic printing on glass as a potential solution. “The full range of colors, high resolution, flexibility of application, and durability of digital ceramic printing made this technology the only solution for this project.”

Upon entering the terminal, travelers are greeted by a two-story interior curtain wall that blocks entry to private areas and directs foot traffic to the security checkpoint. Goldray Industries printed the color bands and geometric shapes of the designed glass in a gradient to ensure the flow of natural light without diminishing its privacy function. The wall was installed using clips instead of silicone to maintain the aesthetic quality of the design, which seamlessly continues onto the printed glass wall cladding. This provides an appealing backing to retail shops and demarcates the restrooms, according to officials from Dip-Tech.

The digital ceramic printed glass guard rail on the upper level, which is seen by both arriving and departing passengers, creates a separation between these two groups while the highly detailed graphics convey a story of the traveler’s experience.

The glass manufacturer was PPG Industries, www.ppg.com/corporate/ideascapes, and the general contractor was James McHugh Construction, www.mchughconstruction.com. The glazier was Architectural Glass Works, www.archglassworks.com, and the graphic designer, Thirst Communication Design, www.3st.com.

Source: Dip-Tech/dip-tech.com