Denver Railway Co. Horse Barn Revitalized
Built in 1872, the Denver Railway Company used the building to house and care for the horses that pulled their street cars. Located at 33rd and Arapahoe, the building had three sections: a two-story stable and hayloft, office and storage space, and a two-track car barn.
The building was purchased by the Denver Housing Authority with the intention of demolition and building a low income apartment building on the lot. The neighborhood rallied for preservation of the historical building however, so plans were changed to revitalize and renovated the structure.
The building finished a makeover and refurbishment to become a hub for 25+ international-development nonprofits, a farmers market and the Denver Urban Gardens.
Skylight Problems Begin
Skylight Specialists initially did an onsite project estimate on the property long before the tenant renovations took place and bid the skylight work. Unfortunately Skylight Specialists wasn’t the low bidder and another company completed the renovations.
After a few months went by, St. Charlestown Management Company, the property managers, called Skylight Specialists back asking us to come and take a look at the unit skylights that were installed. Upon arrival, we discovered that the skylights had been installed incorrectly and were suffering from many large issues:
- Advanced Cracking
- Dome Collapse
- Leaking
- Uncontrollable Heat Gain
The first problem was the installation of clear over clear skylights in an office setting. The clear skylights let in too much direct light, causing glare and hot spots and making the employees uncomfortable.
The next issue was the contractor had incorrectly installed the skylights and not allowed for any movement of the domes. As the acrylic glazing heats and cools through the day night cycle, it expands and contracts a small amount. If the glazing is secured to not allow for this movement, then the acrylic weakens quickly and fails, causing cracks and leaks.
Finally, a cheap product had been installed, and the inner domes had heated and failed, collapsing inward.
Our Solution
We removed all the curb unit skylights and replaced them with clear over white domes. The white inner lenses diffuse and scatter the light, so while they provide similar light levels, it’s a nice soft evenly spread light that does not create hot spots or glare.
We always use the highest quality products that have been thoroughly tested to perform above standard. These skylights will not overly heat and fall in.
Finally, we have over 30 years of experience in installation, so we were able to install the product according to spec, allowing for the natural expansion and contractions of the domes. These skylights will not crack or leak.
Our company does not strive to be the cheapest at any cost, but we always do it right, the first time around. We help with daylighting design so the building owner gets the best results. Coupled with our 30 years of experience and knowledge, we provide the best value and savings over the lifetime of the skylights and building.
Read the full case study here: