Breakthrough smart glass technology combined with world-class glass fabrication opens the door for unprecedented mainstream adoption for the architectural glass industry

Viracon, the nation’s leading single-source architectural glass fabricator, is introducing Viracon PLUS™ Smart Glass powered by Halio, a breakthrough self-tinting smart glass solution that incorporates Halio, Inc.’s proprietary electrochromic technology into Viracon's industry leading insulated glass units. Viracon PLUS Smart Glass powered by Halio sets a completely new performance bar for electrochromic glass, optimizing occupant comfort through autonomously adjusting tint levels such that energy consumption is reduced while natural light is maximized.

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Viracon Introduces Smart Glass Powered by Halio® (Photo: Business Wire)

Viracon PLUS Smart Glass powered by Halio represents a long awaited evolution in smart glass offerings. Halio technology enables a crystal clear view of the world when untinted, and a cool neutral gray when tinted. Proprietary, cloud-based control combined with IoT sensors, the most advanced rooftop skycam and a large internet pipe enable rapid, incremental response to changing conditions outside, inside or even via automated demand response from the utility company. Halio maximizes healthy, natural light while restricting excessive heat and glare at the building’s facade.

“As the technological leader in electrochromic glass, with years of development underlying these breakthroughs, Halio is committed to producing the most advanced solution that excels in both form and function, delivering the world’s most beautiful smart glass,” said Halio CEO Bruce Sohn. “With Viracon PLUS Smart Glass powered by Halio, we are arming architects and developers to meet the challenges of climate change without compromising beauty or window-to-wall ratios.”

Building managers can harmonize lighting, HVAC and the building façade systems, reducing the need for exterior shades and interior blinds. Buildings glazed with Viracon PLUS Smart Glass powered by Halio have the intelligence and sophistication to operate autonomously and to be future proofed against tighter codes.

Environmentally Sound; Healthier Buildings

Viracon PLUS Smart Glass powered by Halio sets a new standard for electrochromic glass and ushers in the future of environmentally sound architecture.

“Our customers have anticipated a product that allows building owners more control of their building’s interior environment while delivering unparalleled exterior tint uniformity to meet the new realities of climate change and energy codes,” said Garret Henson, Viracon’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, “Viracon PLUS Smart Glass powered by Halio is the first product to meet Viracon’s standards and marks a turning point for smart glass in the industry. We are redefining tinting glass technology.”

Strategic Partnership through Viracon PLUS

This new glass technology is the first innovative product to emerge from Viracon’s new Viracon PLUS strategic partnership program, which is designed to fuel state-of-the-art architectural glass technology and bring those technologies to market faster.

Through this new program, Viracon has formed a partnership with Halio, Inc. – combining Viracon’s expertise and scalability of glass fabrication with Halio’s market-leading smart-tinting technology – that will change the architectural glass community’s view of smart-tinting glass. Viracon’s world-class fabrication capabilities and wide range of coatings allow Halio’s electrochromic technology to seamlessly integrate into an insulated glass unit without compromising quality or performance, and empowers architects to select the glass and coatings that match the vision and personality of their building’s design.

“At Gensler, we strive to make the places people live, work, and play more inspiring, more resilient, and more impactful, and have long sought a smart glass offering that enriches the experiences of building occupants while furthering our efforts to design eco-friendly environments,” said Tim Taylor, Principal at Gensler. “Viracon PLUS Smart Glass powered by Halio is the first electrochromic glass solution to satisfy the standards of Gensler’s most discerning clients, and I expect the offering to unleash an unprecedented wave of adoption.”

Through its Viracon PLUS program, Viracon partners with leading technology companies to introduce game-changing new products that will shatter the status quo of high performing architectural glass. With its industry-leading glass fabrication expertise, trusted supply chain, and an unrivaled industry network, Viracon provides the platform to deliver state-of-the-art glass technology at unprecedented scale.

“We’re proud to combine forces with Viracon,” said Sohn, “We believe the combination of our industry-leading smart glass technology with Viracon’s world-class glass fabrication capabilities redefines this category.”

To learn more about Viracon PLUS Smart Glass powered by Halio, visit viracon.com/smart-glass.

About Viracon

Viracon, the nation’s only single-source, single-warranty architectural glass fabricator, is based in Owatonna, Minnesota, and has facilities in Statesboro, Georgia and Nazaré Paulista, Brazil. Viracon produces high-performance glass products, including tempered, laminated, insulating, silk-screened, digital printed, hurricane-resistant, acoustical, blast-mitigating, electronic eavesdropping mitigating and a broad selection of proprietary coatings for North American and international markets. The company is a subsidiary of Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: APOG). Apogee, headquartered in Minneapolis, is a leader in technologies involving the design and development of value-added glass products and services. For more information, visit www.viracon.com or call 800-533-2080. Follow Viracon on Facebook: www.facebook/viraconglass and Twitter: @viraconglass

About Halio, Inc.

Halio, Inc., formerly Kinestral Technologies, Inc., delivers the world’s most responsive, intelligent platform for daylight management. Halio's Smart Glass for commercial and residential facades and interiors is the world leader in electrochromic (EC) technology integrated into windows, maximizing daylight while optimizing energy savings, reducing solar heat gain, and minimizing glare. Powered by Halio windows are available from both Halio and third-party fabricators in a variety of window coatings and configurations. For more information, visit www.halioinc.com. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

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