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Vermont's St. Johnsbury Athenaeum is using 21st-century glass technology in its historic 19th-century art gallery to protect its prized collections and furnishings, while improving the building’s energy efficiency.
For nearly 140 years, the Art Gallery at St. Johnsbury Athenaeum - the oldest art gallery still in its original form in the US - has been illuminated by Victorian-style skylights that crown the elegant French Second Empire style building.
However, when a recent architectural analysis revealed that the skylights were deteriorated beyond repair, the Athenaeum saw an opportunity to better control the sun's harmful UV rays.
Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker Architects recreated the skylight framework with a SageGlass triple-pane glazing system.
SageGlass is electronically controlled dynamic glass that tints and untints on demand to let optimal sun shine through while preventing fading, glare and heat gain.
The new SageGlass-enabled framework replicates the design and dimensions of the four Victorian-style skylights, incorporating a layer of textured glass that matches the existing historic glass.
Solar control was critical as this National Historic Landmark is home to more than 120 paintings, sculptures and other fine works of American and European artists.
Paintings by the Hudson River School artists, in particular, are on display, including one of the country’s most famous paintings: Albert Bierstadt’s Domes of Yosemite.
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