
The newly completed Inova Schar Cancer Institute glows in its 117-acre site in Fairfax, Virginia.
Previously serving as Exxon Mobil’s corporate HQ, the 40-year-old campus has been reimagined by Wilmot Sanz Architecture into a modern, patient-focused research and treatment center. The main building uses the Glass Rainscreen System, a glass over-cladding product from Bendheim.

Bendheim’s Glass Rainscreen System has been used all over the world, but there are only three buildings that have used it to create a shingle glow effect – one in Switzerland, one in Germany, and now the Inova Schar project in Fairfax, Virginia. The building’s luminous exterior is striking, and we wanted to learn more. We spoke to Said Elieh, VP of Systems and Development at Bendheim, about the glass rainscreen system and Bendheim’s design process working with clients.
From project notes: “The architects revamped the existing structures and added a new two-story proton therapy facility on the north-east end. The new addition houses highly sensitive imaging and diagnostic equipment, shielded behind 16-ft-thick reinforced concrete walls.”

“Bendheim engineered the glass with a structural SGP interlayer in order to use relatively lightweight 3/8” (10 mm) glass for the large, 5 fit. by 6 ft., cladding panels. The interlayer reinforces the glass so it can span under the imposed wind loads. The vertically- and horizontally-shingled panels are held in patented compression fittings, independent of each other, for ease and speed of installation. The cladding’s continuous horizontal steel substructure sits atop a layer of rigid insulation, and doubles as an anchor for the cable LED lighting.”
In addition to its many functional benefits, the rainscreen creates a sculptural feature wall on the exterior of the structure.
“There are so many opaque material options that architects are drawn to, and most architects want a flat look, rather than a shingled effect.” said Elieh. “But, the architects on this project wanted the protection the glass rainscreen offered, and they also wanted the building to glow, like a lightbox.”

“The way the glass is shingled in two directions, vertically and horizontally, is what gives it its glowing effect. There are many custom pieces, in many different sizes, to create this weird glowing effect.”
Elieh noted that the solution is often applied to parking garages and stadiums.
“However, now we’re seeing more and more of this shingling design being used to achieve that specific aesthetic.”
The team at Bendheim was involved in the Inova Schar project from its beginning, working with the architect to custom design the glass façade – how the system would fit together and how it would attach to the building. And once approaching construction, Bendheim invited the project installers to its facility to get a better idea of how to best install it.
“This system is very complex on the manufacturing side,” said Elieh. “Everything must fit together perfectly, and so during the design and manufacturing phases everything must go perfectly. On the flip side, the installation process for this system is so simple. As long as we make sure our drawings are accurate from the beginning, the entire project will go smoothly.”

Once the architect came to Bendheim with the lighting quality they wanted, Bendheim created a full-size mock-up of two levels of glass to make sure the desired effect was achieved.
“We wanted to make sure the lighting they chose would create the exact glow effect they wanted. We wanted to make the glass perform the way it should perform, but also give the correct visual. Working with the architect from day one on the glass samples, the lighting quality, and the entire design, was a very cool experience.”
Beyond its glowing aesthetic, the glass rainscreen packs a lot of functional punch.
In the Inova Schar project, the architects were looking for a solution that would protect the long-term performance and durability of the proton facility within. Because the medical equipment it houses required a completely watertight building envelope, the designers chose the Bendheim Wall-VH shingled glass system for its permanent moisture shield.

Because the glass system is installed directly onto an opaque wall construction, for example brick or concrete, it completely protects the building from 90% of the wind-driven rain it will be hit with. The other 10% of moisture that moves past the ventilated glass cladding dissipates quickly through drainage and evaporation.
Elieh notes the system is less expensive than a finished curtain wall, as it uses less aluminum and relies on the glass for support strength. And beyond having a very simply install process, it is also easily adjustable; each glass panel is fitted with four small aluminum clips to attach to each other, and each panel can be removed separately if it needs to be replaced. The panels are durable and non-porous, making them maintenance-friendly
The system is also bird-friendly! According to Elieh, one billion birds die every year from collision with building exteriors, and the biggest offenders in architecture are the high-rise glass buildings fitted with highly reflective coatings for the visual aesthetic. Bendheim’s glass rainscreen system uses a textured solar glass that prevents collisions. This textured solar glass backlights the glass from the bottom and top. The combination of the glass texture and a white translucent interlayer helps diffuse the light.
The glass rainscreen system is a product that must find the right client; when it partners with a beautifully designed structure, its visual outcome is an eye-catching delight with functional dexterity. To learn more about the system, head to Bendheim.com.