Kinestral Technologies recently unveiled the first installation of its new Halio smart-tinting glass at Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.’s San Francisco office. Halio is the most responsive smart-tinting glass on the market, transitioning from clear to dark within seconds and achieving its darkest, neutral gray tint in less than three minutes.
Halio reduces the sun’s glare while preserving a view and gives users unprecedented control over their indoor environments while reducing a building’s energy needs. At Alexandria’s San Francisco office, Halio replaced the conventional glass in a large central skylight over the employee lounge to reduce the intensified heat caused by the sun’s beams. Halio was also installed in two of the meeting rooms, creating glass walls that when darkened, become ultra-modern partitions that deliver privacy on demand, enhance LCD screen viewability, and minimize unwanted attention from passersby.
“We see applications for Kinestral’s Halio smart-tinting glass in both interior and exterior glazing locations,” said Greg Gehlen, senior vice president of construction and development at Alexandria. “In exterior locations, the glass can limit glare in the dark state without blinds while allowing clear vision in the clear state. In interior locations, we are using this for variable privacy in conference rooms.”
“Alexandria builds and manages cutting-edge workspaces for leading life science and technology entities,” said Craig Henricksen, vice president of marketing at Kinestral. “The fact that Alexandria employees are experiencing the benefits of Halio is an affirmation that Halio glass creates superior work environments.”
The First Smart-Tinting Glass for Interior & Exterior Use
Halio smart-tinting glass is indistinguishable from conventional glass in its clear state, tinting to neutral gray colors. Halio begins transitioning within 20 seconds, delivering shade or glare relief each tint of the way. With Halio blocking up to 99.9% of visible light, it can provide a level of privacy while giving users complete control of their ambient environments. Exterior applications include windows, doors, and skylights. Halio is also ideal for creating flexible, interior spaces that provide privacy on command. At Alexandria’s San Francisco office, Halio is controlled by voice commands and a manual switch. Halio can also be programmed to automatically clear and tint based on the weather and user lifestyles or preferences. It’s also designed to get “smarter” over time, adapting and responding to users’ needs.
