One Museum Square presented an array of logistical challenges because of its expansive scale coupled with its location in the bustling Miracle Mile area of Los Angeles. The glazing contractor, Rountree Glass, wanted to minimize installation time and labor costs. The CRL design team partnered with them to create a custom prefabricated glass railing solution. Because this was a new innovation in glass railings, field testing was conducted and Rountree worked with the Department of Building and Safety to obtain approval for an alternate material which is now published in the Los Angeles Research Reports (LARR).

The CRL Unitized Glass Railing System presents a new and more efficient way of fabricating and installing glass railings – in this case, eight floors at a time. Base shoe units were dry-glazed in CRL manufacturing facilities and shipped to the jobsite, ready to install. The installation was as easy as setting the prefabricated glass railing panels into core-drilled holes and securing the cap rail to the glass, which made for a safe and clean jobsite with fewer hazards.

Rountree Glass saved over $400K in labor costs and installed the system approximately 40% faster than standard glass railings. The end result is a railing system that has longer spans of glass with no splices, minimal vertical lines, and a precision fit. Additionally, the prefabrication process of unitized glass railings resulted in:

• Fast delivery speed
• Aesthetic consistency
• Improved on-the-job safety
• No onsite material waste from the railings

Rountree Glass also called on CRL for additional product solutions for other aspects of the building, including glass entrances, Blumcraft panic devices, shower door hardware, sliding door systems, and glass windscreen systems for the rooftop area.

The project highlights the value of integrated project delivery (IPD) between the manufacturer, developer, and glazing contractor. The teams collaborated at the onset to produce a highly efficient unitized railing system. Working in conjunction and with regular jobsite visits, the parties landed on a prefabricated system that saved time, money, and material. Despite initial hesitation from installers regarding logistics, CRL designed and implemented what is now the company’s Unitized Glass Railing System to meet One Museum Square’s specific needs.

Gene Foreman, Project Supervisor at Rountree Glass noted: “The way the unitized railings are packaged and transported on A-frames simplifies unloading and installation. They’re easy to set, which saves us a ton of time. I hope I never have to install glass railings the old way again.” The project was honored at the 2021 Los Angeles Business Journal Commercial Real Estate Awards as a silver winner in the Multifamily category for its design excellence.

Testimonials

“Speed was of the essence to keep with our construction schedule and the Unitized Railing System delivered. It moved things along quickly and also looks great.”

“Because of the careful coordination between parties, the railings scope was on budget. I look forward to using the unitized railing formula in future projects.”

Mark Davidson, Site Architect
J.H. Snyder Co.

“The Unitized Glass Railing System offers precision lines and clean spans of glass that improve the overall aesthetics of the building.”

“Glass railing prefabrication produces longer glass spans with no splices or vertical lines. This monolithic look really enhances views.”