(845) 366-8466

 

 

 

 

 

 

Franz Safford

CEO of Innovation Glass

CEO of VS1 Home Inc

 

 

Franz Safford brings a unique level of expertise to the table in the implementation of innovative building solutions based on a deep understanding of metals, glass, structural engineering, design, production, installation, management and product development. Franz earned a Bachelor’s in Architectural Engineering at University of Colorado at Boulder. Franz was a senior executive and owner in the launch and growth of three major corporations prior to inventing VS1, a new kit of parts for building curtain walls, in 2006. VS1 is a hybrid curtain wall system that eliminates horizontals, offers an

unprecedented level of design flexibility, and supports long spans, jumbo glass sizes, and exterior accessories. Since then VS1 has been patented and implemented in over 60 projects worldwide. The company now has four major subsidiary offices spanning the globe and additional distributors in specific regions.

 

Curriculum Vitae

• 1980 Structural Engineer, Skidmore Owings and Merrill, Denver, CO, Engineer

• 1981 to 1985 – Space Structures International, Inc. New York; Engineer, Technical Director

• 1986 to 1990 – Mero Structures, Inc. Milwaukee, WI; Technical Director, VP Business Development

• 1990 to 1991 – Pearce Structures Inc., Los Angeles, CA; VP Business Development

• 1991 to 2007 – Founding partner of ASI Advanced Structures Incorporated, Marina del Rey, CA; owner and VP Business Development and Technical Support; ASI became a world leader in specialty structures Milestones for Franz Safford as Principal in Charge:

• 1981 - 85 development of aluminum lattice structures (space frames) in the USA

• 1986 to 1990 development of steel lattice structure in the USA using the German system Mero

• 1989 first hybrid space frame tension lattice grid developed for the Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal

• 1991 first integrated steel and aluminum tension truss glass wall system in US at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

• 1992 developed steel ball node space frame system for ASI

• 1993 developed glass point supported cable truss system improving transparency

• 1995 First stressed shell glass wall structure in US for the Boston Federal Court House, Boston

• 1998 Early generation dual glass wall, Michigan

• 2000 First cable net glass wall in US: 1 North Wacker UBS tower, Chicago; ultimate transparency achieved; conducted first laboratory test in the world of a cable net glass wall

• 2001 World record cable net span: Time Warner Center, NYC.

• 2004 First hyperbolic shaped cable net glass wall/roof enclosure in the world for Security and Exchange Commission HQ, Washington DC

• 2006 invention of VS1, point supported, glass wall system (patented) for storefront, window wall and curtain wall applications; system offers superior performance, is competitively priced

• 2006 Founded Innovation Glass LLC, sole owner

• 2006 mock up test for VS1: large missile impact glazing system to ASTM 1886/ASTM 1996

• 2006/08: six VS1 beta projects completed to develop the system

• 2007 first standard system VS1 mock up test: 30 psf, air, water.

• 2007 1st commercial VS1 project: Spertus Institute, Chicago

• 2007 2nd commercial VS1 project: Information Commons, Loyola University, Chicgao; Zero Energy LEEDs Gold building

• 2008 TKTS "red stairs" in Times Square, NYC; first all-glass structural operational building in the world

• 2009 Simons Center for Geometry and Physics, Stony Brook, NY: first major mulit-story VS1 exterior wall application

• 2010 Macnamara Building, Detroit, MI: point supported wall using custom aluminum fittings with stainless steel finish

• 2011 Adobe Corporate Building, Salt Lake City, UT: first application of jumbo spanning VS-1 system to 42 ft. clear span; world record clear span for an unreinforced aluminum curtain wall.

• 2012 University of Chicago Early Childhood Center, Chicago, IL: largest exterior glass wall application to-date of VS1 system; integration of exterior metal perforated fins and panels into system

• 2013 City Point, Brooklyn, NY; multiple VS1 walls on the podium of a large multi-purpose development including the first application of VS1G using glass mullions; project featured two 80ft high spanning walls using an asymmetric tension cable system, the first of its kind in the world.

• 2014 Ryan Center, Chicago for Northwestern University; three hybrid VS1 tension glass walls including a concert hall wall that is acoustically isolated from the exterior

• 2015 Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University, Chicago; 10 story dual glass VS1 wall with building system integrated venting; wall solution used tension rods to stabilize a high transparent wall system.

• 2016 Central Bank of Ireland, Dublin; two large atrium VS1 glass walls using a triangulated wall geometry and jumbo glass panels.

• 2017 CTC Technology Center, Pune, India; largest faceted glass wall in the world at 110,000 sq ft using VS1 system; specialty terra cotta glass panels developed for project.

• 2017 McCormick Marriott HQ Hotel, Chicago; large podium VS1 wall project with large horizontal glass panels using armature supports to reduce glass structural spans

• 2018 New Statue of Liberty Museum, Liberty Island, NY; large spanning VS1 glass walls creating dramatic viewing experience at the most iconic monument in the US

• 2018 Launched VS1 Home Inc. to introduce all-glass houses to the market place Specialties: concept design, engineering, project management for specialty projects, product development, customer support, management