This year marks the 50th anniversary of Dow’s four-sided silicone structural glazing (SSG) application, which was pioneered in 1971. In the years since, Dow has developed many SSG products that are used to create visually stunning glass façades and helps allow architects and builders to redefine the built environment of tomorrow.
Prior to the 1960s, mechanical fasteners and gaskets were required to attach glass to a building’s framework. Then, two-sided SSG was introduced in the ’60s, followed by Dow’s four-sided SSG in the ’70s, which allowed architects and builders the option to create uninterrupted walls of glass—for much greater creativity and design freedom in the building and construction industry.
“For over 50 years, we have worked alongside professionals in the building and construction industries to help bring innovative and ambitious designs to life with our silicone structural glazing technologies” says Jean-Paul Hautekeer, global marketing director for Building & Infrastructure at Dow. “As architects and builders today continue the journey toward safer and more sustainable structures, we’re proud to work alongside them to make our mark in the cities of tomorrow. We look forward to the next 50 years of pushing the envelope forward with our silicone structural glazing products.”
Along with the four-sided SSG materials, Dow continues to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for building and infrastructure.