The Vitro Chair (Cátedra Vitro)

In conjunction with the Monterrey Technological Institute we give courses to architectural students so they can deepen their knowledge in the best practices and uses of glass as a solution for the requirements of the sustainable construction industry.

This past year 25 students attended the Vitro Chair program and the well known architects Gonzalo Byrne from Portugal and Manabu Chiba from Japan were both asked to give the magisterial conference each semester.

Among the most outstanding works “Corporativo Vitro” stands out, submitted by the student David Potes who ended up winning the International Design Prize 2008 (IDA). His design took second place in the student category for New Commercial Building.

Architectural Design Center

For the purpose of offering specialized consulting services, in 2008 we opened an Architectural Design Center (CDA) located in México City for architectural projects and sustainable state of the art solutions to clients, engineers, architects, designers and any professional who is dedicated to the design of facades or interior spaces. For more information: vpatlanm@vitro.com

Greensburg: first green city in USA

After a category F5 tornado devastated Greensburg, Kansas the city began the rebuilding process using sustainable concepts for which reason it has been named the First Green City in America in which Vitro’s participation stands out.

Among all the buildings, the City Center stands out, designed by Studio 804, as it has been totally reconstructed utilizing recovered wood from the debris and a glass wall made of Tintex (green) that surrounds the structure, supplied by Vitro America in the USA.

For this Project the National Glass Association awarded Vitro America the 2008 Crystal Achievement Award for presenting the most innovative application of glass certified by LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Plan Renove for windows

Through Vitro Cristalglass we support the Government Council of Madrid, Spain which has authorized the start up of the Plan Renove for glass windows that consists in the substitution of single pane glass windows with double pane reinforced thermal insulation windows.

Under this Plan estimates show that between 11 thousand and 14 thousand houses could benefit from the program which affects 50 thousand Madrid residents. The reduction in energy consumption in the region would be 3,350 equivalent tons of oil per year, which translates into savings to the owners of 1.95 million Euros per year.

With this plan Madrid becomes the first community in Spain to start up Renove Windows which will contribute to energy savings in the region, bring savings to consumers and reactivate to some degree construction which has been hit by the current economic crisis.

Expo Zaragoza 2008

For the purpose of promoting sustainable solutions, Vitro Cristalglass participated in the International Water and Sustainable Development Exposition that took place in Spain by supplying 400 square meters of glass used in the Bridge Pavilion (El Pabellón Puente) the most emblematic and complex work in the whole enclosure designed by the prestigious architect Zaha Hadid