Morgantown, WV — National fenestration manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems has supplied nearly 3,500 new windows and doors for major new construction projects at two locations on the extensive campus of West Virginia University and over 400 windows for a third off-campus rehabilitation project. This is Crystal’s latest effort in the student housing fenestration market, one of many national market niches where the company is realizing significant growth.
Crystal was selected as the window and door supplier for the first project, University Place in the Downtown Campus, by the project construction manager D-M Products of Bethel Park, PA, a Crystal customer.
“Crystal not only provided a quality window at a competitive price, but also worked well within the logistical restrictions of the project,” said Papo Perez, branch manager for Crystal’s Cleveland area office. “Because this project is in the busy downtown area of Morgantown and on a hillside, material deliveries could only be made at off hours and in specified locations. Crystal successfully handled a lot of details and coordinated with many key construction players in order to expedite the window portion of the University Place project.”
Designed by Grimm & Parker Architects of Calverton, MD, and built by Turner Construction, this residential property covers an entire city block and features two 9-story apartment buildings with 960 beds, and a townhome section with a central green space and many other amenities.
Crystal’s “can-do” attitude led to a second new construction project on campus, University Park in the Evansdale Campus, under the direction of general contractor March-Westin Co. and project designer Paradigm Architecture, both of Morgantown, WV. This residential complex has five different mid-rise building structures, accommodating over 1,300 students in residence hall and 1, 2 and 4 bedroom apartment configurations.During the construction of University Park, the property management firm for the off-campus student housing complex across the street, Pierpont Place Apartments, reached out to Crystal Windows for replacement windows.
Crystal and its installation partner Window Systems of Pittsburgh, PA completed 404 aluminum windows for McKinney Properties, also of Pittsburgh.
“Crystal has established itself as a reliable supplier of quality fenestration with the University,” said Perez. “We have the manufacturing capacity to meet strict project deadlines and the breadth of product lines to cost effectively satisfy any and all project design and energy efficiency requirements.”For University Place and University Park, Crystal provided 3,460 aluminum Series 2000A double-hung and Series 2100 fixed windows. These strong and durable windows feature 3-½” jamb depth, and AAMA ratings of H-C60/CW-PG50 and FW-HC55/CW-PG-60 respectively. For enhanced energy efficiency, both window styles used ⅞” insulated glass units with PPG Solarban 60 low-E coated glass and argon gas filling. To aid installation, the windows were equipped with an optional nailing fin. All the University Place units were finished using durable AAMA 2604 powder coat paint in a custom ivory color and standard white color for University Park.Crystal also supplied 120 Series 1500 vinyl sliding patio doors for the University Park residential project. These doors feature 4-⅝” jambs, standard integral nailing fins and adjustable stainless steel tandem rollers for quiet, effortless operation. This energy efficient door uses a 1” IGU with tempered glass panels, PPG Solarban 60 low-E coating and argon gas. Furnished in standard extruded white color, the Crystal sliding patio doors provide access to the dormitory and apartment balconies.
For Pierpont Place Apartments, Crystal supplied 404 aluminum Series 2300 sliding windows. These feature 3-¼” frame depth, an AAMA rating of HS-C50, and two-wheel brass rollers for smooth operation. Insulated glass units with PPG Solarban 60 low-E coated glass and argon gas filling and custom AAMA 2604 powder coat paint in Sea Wolf Beige complete the package.Crystal has been the fenestration supplier for numerous new on-campus and off-campus housing projects in this fast-growing construction market, including Texas A&M, Wagner College in Staten Island, NY, and St. Louis University. Other university projects include historic renovations at New York City’s Rockefeller University, energy efficient windows for the expansive Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity House at Missouri University of Science & Technology (MS&T) and fenestration for a recent international Solar Decathlon Competition Finalist entry house from the MS&T team.