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Advertising supplement provided by
Pittsburgh Corning
"From nearly every point in the building, one can see
and connect with the park and the water," she said. The
solid glass block transmits 80 percent of available light
in both directions, conveying a sense of safety and security
to patrons, while also brightening the interior with natural
light. Ripples from the nearby Schuylkill are transmitted
by the glass block and appear as calm, shimmering waves on
the gym's wooden truss ceiling and solid maple floor.
Inversely, "providing 'openness'" in the gym also
meant that it could become a space that would be totally exposed
to vandalism," Armstrong explained. A variety of traditional
glazing options were ruled out because of vandalism concerns.
"If we didn't use glass block, we would be looking at
a rec center without windows, which would not be appropriate
for the park setting," she said.
Because the block is solid glass without a hollow center,
it is a durable material. The product resists penetration
from high-impact ballistics, including 9 mm, 30.06 magnum
and .357 magnum bullets. When installed according to guidelines
provided by the manufacturer, the glass block is impervious
to natural weather elements, such as rain or snow, and breakage
from earthquake tremors and flying objects in high winds.
The glass block also is low-maintenance. In fact, its hard,
glass surface is designed to be resistant to harsh chemicals
and cleaning compounds, and provides a "non-stick"
surface for paint that aids in the quick removal of graffiti.
The New Landmark
Since opening in the fall of 1998, Lloyd Hall has quickly
become a Philadelphia favorite. "It's become THE meeting
place," said Craighead. Lloyd Hall now serves as the
"starting line" for major events, such as marathons,
fundraising walk-a-thons and bicycling events. Or, for everyday
events, "People will say, 'Let's ride to Lloyd Hall and
have lunch,'" said Craighead. "And there are people
who are Lloyd Hall regulars - they'll come in for breakfast
and stay and read the newspaper. It's amazing.
"I think people are astounded by its appearance, by
the size of the gymnasium, and by the amount of light coming
through the glass block," Craighead added. "They
like the clock tower area, and they love the balcony. They
like that the building is close to the river and feel that
it is important that the building and the site remain in the
public domain."
While Craighead said the five-year mark is an appropriate
time to evaluate the success of a project, Lloyd Hall so far
is "managing well." Through its ability to capture
the surrounding scenic vistas and serve multiple public functions,
Lloyd Hall has emerged as the new, visible landmark at one
of the city's fabled attractions.
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