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Mural of Chromafusion™ in Baltimore subway station expands horizons for laminated glass

The subway mural, in connecting panels of Chromafusion™ architectural graphic glass with DuPont CCI PVB, shows the expanding possibilities for using laminated glass in today's world.

Baltimore's new 183m (600 ft) long Metro Shot Tower subway station has become the architectural and artistic highlight of a recent $350 million downtown extension of the city's rapid transit system due to a striking mural wall system in laminated glass by artist Ellen Burchenal, installed at the station's platform level.

Burchenal's artwork was executed in over 400 connecting panels of 1168 x 1321mm (46" x 52") Chromafusion™ architectural graphic glass with DuPont's CCI PVB, a permanent, color-fast laminated graphic architectural glass based on state-of-the art technology developed jointly by Cesar Color Inc. of Burlingame, California and DuPont.

The design motif in laminated glass, consisting of richly-colored, ovular shapes, is carried forward in a rhythmic, repeated format on both sides of the full, 137m (450 feet) length of the station and is on view to the Baltimore subway's 60,000 daily passengers. As well as being stunningly attractive, the two glass wall systems also function to cover the bare concrete slurry wall construction of the station. These walls provide the basic water barrier for the station which was built largely below the surrounding water table.

Detail of Burchenal's artwork

The project design team considered several materials for the decorative wall system, including pre-cast concrete paneling, stainless steel and porcelain enamel in various configurations.

According to chief architect Ken Griffith of Daniel, Mann, Johnson and Mendenhall: "It had to be corrosive-resistant, lightweight and easily removable for periodic maintenance of the slurry wall. Ultimately, we chose glass because it met these requirements and gave us more interesting options to integrate art with the architecture – an important part of the project. Importantly, it also cost less than the other alternatives considered!"

According to architect Griffith: "We worked closely together to come up with a panel format that would be economical in terms of production cost and size. The panels are 1168 x 1321mm (46"x52") and are designed to be installed with a 5.08cm (2 inch) separation between panels. The clear gaps between panels are positioned to coincide with the spacing of the 2.4m (8 feet) reinforcements of the station walls, allowing for easy inspection and maintenance. If wall maintenance or repair is required, the panels are not too large for one or two workers to lift off without mechanical equipment. For routine cleaning, glass was again the best option as it can be simply sprayed and then wiped down."

Chromafusion™ ensures exact color reproduction, clarity of line, photo imaging consistency, uniformity and color-fast permanence. All these factors were important considerations in Burchenal's determination to see her artwork produced with exact fidelity.

The 13.7mm (9/16 inch) Chromafusion™ product used consists of two lites of clear, 6mm(1/4 inch) heat-strengthened float glass and a 1.7mm (1/16 inch) layer of DuPont's CCI PVB with two images, each with three custom colors backed by a white flood coat, and sealed edges.

Cesar Color Inc. provided the subway station's project team of artists, architects and engineers with fully-integrated design and engineering services, including color coordination, mock-ups and prototype development, as well as controlled in-house manufacturing and installation engineering.