What's New: Week of 01/05/2025

Professionals around the world use Gallery System Art Displays art gallery hanging systems because they're an efficient, cost-effective way to create better displays. Anyone on your staff can hang and re-position artworks in seconds, without nails or wall damage, using our quick-adjusting hooks and sturdy hangers that sit securely in the discreet wall-mounted gallery track hanging system. 

Galleries and Businesses appreciate the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and new hanging options; check out our Gallery Spotlight to see how the right equipment helps galleries large and small achieve their goals.

Every gallery has a unique mission and goals, and we love spotlighting their stories and accomplishments. Whatever your art display ambitions, Gallery System art hanging systems can help make them more achievable.

Want your gallery to shine in the spotlight? Let us know at social@gallerysystem.com

Art's power can be expressed in countless ways, and we're proud to highlight diverse approaches from Gallery System community members across the USA and Canada. To add your display, tag us on social media (@GallerySystem), or email social@gallerysystem.com. Thanks to everyone who shares their creative spirit here!

Gallery System picture hanging and lighting systems are on the job in over 250,000 installations worldwide — from museums and galleries to studios, homes, schools, offices, and libraries. See how our systems for art hanging and art lighting make it easy to create professional displays:

Galleries and Businesses appreciate the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and new hanging options; check out our Gallery Spotlight to see how the right equipment helps galleries large and small achieve their goals.

Homeowners and Artists love being able to quickly put art on the wall with precise placement and no hammers, nails, or wall damage.

You can also view our Community Gallery for a look at gallery walls, stairway installations, and other displays in venues ranging from museums to New York City apartment

Want more information about choosing and using picture hanging systems? Learn About Art Hanging Systems

Ready to order your own Gallery System? Shop Our Art Hanging and Lighting Products

THE CHALLENGE
School officials at a private charter school in Scottsdale, Arizona, were looking for a way to make classroom entryways more secure and provide privacy for students inside the classrooms. Since each classroom was visible from the main hallway, there were many distractions from other students in the halls and learning was often disrupted. Security was a big concern because glass can easily be broken and classrooms could be breached in case of a break-in or other violent activity. Clear glass also allowed anyone out in the hall to see who was inside the classrooms. Instead of removing the glass and installing drywall around each classroom entrance, it was decided that security window film could be used to solve both problems.

THE SOLUTION
The expert installation team at Amarok Defense recommended Madico's 12 Mil Frost Matte safety & security film for this application because it solved the concerns of security, privacy and provides the added bonus of natural light passing through the entryways. This specialized window film not only enhances student privacy, but also enables students to concentrate on their studies without external disruptions. Security film establishes a formidable barrier that effectively deters unauthorized access. Wet glaze sealant was applied to further enhance the strength of the film installation and hold the glass in place in case of breakage. Security film installation contributed to the charter school's overall strategy of providing a safer and more conducive learning environment, benefiting both students and educators alike.

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THE CHALLENGE
As energy prices continue to rise and communities across the globe face prolonged power outages due to unprecedented natural disasters, zero net energy (ZNE) buildings offer resilient spaces that are resistant to volatile energy markets and remain operational in the face of emergencies. In recent years, South Tampa, Florida residents Dan and Christine Fisher have been working towards the goal of creating their own zero net energy home. Their now 20 year old, 3,000-square-foot house was not originally built with energy efficiency in mind but the couple always knew they wanted to move the home in that direction. Dan Fisher, utilizing his experience as an information technology scientist, researched every aspect of the home's energy use and put a comprehensive plan into place. ZNE buildings must produce an equal or greater amount of energy than their actual power usage, which requires both renewable on-site power generation and energy efficiency measures.

THE SOLUTION
The couple chose to start with small improvements on their road to a zero net energy house. They began by adding new attic insulation and then moved on to bigger projects such as finding a solution to keep the house cooler during the hot summer months. The Fishers, being Florida residents and having experienced hurricane season, knew they wanted Energy Star double-paned, hurricane-rated windows. Knowing he needed to even further increase the energy efficiency of the new windows, Fisher called Florida Energy Conservation Advisors for help. After an evaluation of the home and its windows, Florida Energy Conservation Advisors suggested adding Madico's Exterior 20 film to the glass. Applied on the exterior of the glass, the film would be able to block heat without the risk of any glass breakage to the double-paned windows.

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The Challenge:
A school in Scotland was searching for a way to meet the outdoor needs of a student who suffered from EPP, a rare photosensitivity condition affecting one in 300,000 people. Individuals with EPP must avoid all forms of strong light including sunlight and even operating room lights. In conjunction with the local government, the school erected a special outdoor shelter to allow the student to study and play outside without suffering any ill effects. The shelter featured a covered roof and large windows on all sides. The windows were added to preserve the outdoor views for the student. Understanding that the untreated windows offered little to no protection against the sun's harmful rays, the school began to research solutions to increase the protection on the glazing. It is essential for those with EPP to avoid sunlight in the form of both ultraviolet and visible light. Therefore, standard UV blocking window films would offer little to no protection to the student.

The Solution:
The school contacted ARC Window Films in search of a film that could provide the results they required. Neil Brabbs of ARC Window Films suggested a film from the Solution Series by Madico, Amber 81. Brabbs explained, “Sensitivity with EPP continues well above 400nm, so standard UV window films do not offer adequate protection. Amber 81 offers protection up to 550nm, filtering out the dangerous wavelengths, yet still letting a safe range of visible light pass though. The unique, amber color of the film is what gives it this extra blocking capability."

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THE CHALLENGE
Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center in Houston, Texas is committed to exceptional patient care. As part of that commitment, the medical center embarked on a comprehensive project to increase the safety and security of the building through the help of a FEMA grant. The management needed to find a way to offer its patients protection from flying glass in the case of a natural or man-made disaster as well as protect its millions of dollars' worth of state of the art medical equipment from damage.

THE SOLUTION
Building management selected The Enpro Group to secure all of the windows and doors in the facility. After an in-depth evaluation, The Enpro Group determined that Madico's SafetyShield 1500 and 8 Mil Clear along with various attachment systems would best meet the medical center's varying requirements. Madico's SafetyShield film is designed to hold broken shards of glass together and along with the attachment systems, provide 24-hour protection against vandalism, severe weather, acts of terrorism and industrial accidents. The installation began in 2012 and was set up in a series of phases with the final phase being completed in April of 2014. The building featured a mix of new and old construction, creating some challenges since not every window frame was the same. Medical facilities are unique environments to work in and The Enpro Group had to carefully coordinate the film installs in each room by working closely with the staff on each floor. Installation crews were kept on call so that if a room opened up they could react immediately before the room was once again occupied by a patient. By breaking the installation down into three separate phases and working closely with the staff, the installation was completed with minimal interruption to the day-today operations of the facility and patient comfort.

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THE CHALLENGE
A long-standing commercial building in St. Petersburg, Florida was undergoing a complete renovation to bring it up to date for potential new tenants. During the renovation process the walls of floor-to-ceiling glass windows were found to not be up to current building code. In fact, the original glazing system consisted of clear glass with most of the glass composition being ¼" heat-treated or annealed glass. Heat-treated glass is weaker than tempered glass and when impacted does not meet the Impact-Safety Glazing standards (ANSI Z97.1 / CPSC 1201.4 CAT 1 & 2 / EN 12600 1A).


THE SOLUTION
The building engineers understood the importance of bringing the large glass windows up to current building codes. They reached out to the experts at Film Solutions, LLC, also in St. Petersburg, Florida, for a solution to the heat-treated glass in the building. Film Solutions, a certified Madico SafetyShield Premier Partner, evaluated both the glass and the window frames and determined that the application of Madico® SafetyShield® 800 Reflective Silver 20 safety and security film would bring the current glazing system up to the Impact Safety Glazing Standards. SafetyShield film is an impact-resistant laminate that improves the safety of glass by holding shattered glass in place in the event of breakage, reducing the risk of personal injury from flying glass shards.

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THE CHALLENGE
The LYNX Operations Center (LOC) building, an iconic building built in 2007, was designed with dark blue tinted windows, yet J. Marsh McLawhorn, Chief Government Affairs Officer, used to say, “It gets so hot on some days during the summer that I have to leave at about 3:30 pm. They can't get my office below 82º F, no matter how much air they divert from other parts of the building." This, along with glare issues from the hot Florida sun, rising energy costs and the location's vulnerability to hurricanes were opportunities for improvement. LYNX turned to Madico for a solution.


THE SOLUTION
LYNX was seeking the installation of a clear film but after consulting with Madico and Glass Protection Services Inc., they realized they could receive more benefits with Madico's 8 mil Silver 40 film. This film is a high performance safety film that provides energy control, heat reduction, carbon emission reduction, glare reduction, storm mitigation, and increased productivity from improved comfort levels. To realize all of these benefits, LYNX called on Glass Protection Services, who has been improving homes and commercial buildings in the state of Florida for over 20 years. The local business installed the Safety Silver 40 film – which boasts a 57% total solar energy rejection statistic while transmitting 42% visible light. The 8mil thick design and wet glaze attachment system will help contain flying glass shards should the windows shatter under the load of a blast or high wind storm. Prior to installation, Madico added additional value by helping LYNX prepare the submittals required for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding.

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THE CHALLENGE
The impressive John Hancock Tower was completed in 1978 and forever changed the Boston skyline. A design marvel created by one of the world's most famous architects, Henry N. Cobb, it immediately became one of the city's most recognizable buildings. Unfortunately, the Hancock Tower's innovative design had a flaw; the glass kept falling out of the windows! The building came to be known by locals as “The Plywood Palace" due to the 3,500 plus pieces of plywood used to replace the fallen glass. Numerous steps were taken to correct the flaw; counterweights were installed at both ends of the building to minimize sway, every window was replaced with thermally tempered glass, and the entire structure was stiffened with the installation of additional steel bracing throughout. These efforts alleviated many of the issues but did not completely eliminate the glass breakage. Finally, a window film manufacturer, Madico, Inc., was brought in to help solve the glass breakage problem.

THE SOLUTION
Working in conjunction with the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Madico developed a safety film that when applied to glass with a pressure-sensitive adhesive and attached to the window frames using a decorative mullion, would hold the broken glass in place and prevent dangerous shards from injuring the pedestrians walking below the 600 ft. tower.

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THE CHALLENGE
Marriott International Hotel in Ikeja, Nigeria is committed to exceptional hospitality for its patrons and guests. As part of that commitment, the international chain embarked on a comprehensive project to increase the safety and security of the building. Securing the building's vast amount of glass windows and doors became a top priority. Management needed to find a way to offer its guest and visitors protection from flying glass in the case of a natural or man-made disaster as well as protect its millions of dollars' worth of state-of-the art decor and equipment from damage. The hotel management began searching for a professional window film installation company to evaluate the building's unique needs and offer a solution. Marriott Hotel Ikeja is a six-floor building with basement Level 1, basement Level 2, upper ground level and lower ground level.

THE SOLUTION
Building management selected Solar Scape Nigeria Ltd to secure all of the windows and doors in the facility. After an in-depth evaluation, it was determined that Madico's 8 Mil Clear safety film along with Wet Glaze attachment system would best meet the hotel's varying requirements. Madico's 8 Mil Clear film is designed to hold broken shards of glass together and along with an attachment system, provide 24-hour protection against vandalism, severe weather, acts of terrorism and industrial accidents. The installation began in October 2020 and was set up while the building was still in the finishing stages. There were some challenges since not every window frame was the same. The skilled installers were able to customize solutions to fit each different section of panes. Solar Scape Nigeria had to carefully coordinate the film installs in each location of the building, working closely with the management staff on the site. By breaking the installation down into phases, the installation was completed with minimal interruption.

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The Ply Gem Pro Academy offers customized vinyl siding training opportunities, bootcamp-style installation intensives, video tutorials, continuous product support and valuable resources to support exterior contractors in all phases of their careers. Learn more here.