Profiled Glass at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art | Lamberts

Lamberts manufactures profiled glass solutions designed for durable, high-performance architectural applications across façades and exterior building envelopes. LINIT® U Glass, specifically the LINIT® EcoGlass P 40/60/7 low-iron solar TSH variant (toughened, sandblasted, heat-soak-tested), from Lamberts was used in the Bloch Building, the extension of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, USA.

Designed by Steven Holl Architects, the Bloch Building reimagines the museum experience by merging architecture with the surrounding landscape. The extension unfolds along the eastern edge of the site and is composed of five distinct glass structures referred to by the architect as “glass lenses.” These volumes emerge from the terrain as sculptural forms, guiding visitors through the museum grounds and across the adjacent sculpture park. Beginning at the historic original building, the sequence of glass lenses creates new circulation paths, spatial experiences, and visual connections, establishing a contemporary architectural identity that complements the museum’s classical core.

The facade of each glass lens incorporates LINIT® EcoGlass P 40/60/7 low-iron solar TSH panels. The toughened, sandblasted, heat-soak-tested glass provides durability, high load-bearing capacity, and a refined diffused-light effect that supports the building’s luminous character. The low-iron composition enhances clarity and brilliance, while the solar surface contributes to the building’s energy performance. Customizable in thickness, web width, and flange height, the profiled glass system allowed the architects to achieve the precise structural and visual qualities required for the museum’s sculptural, landscape-integrated design.