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Join the Skylight Geek Out at Top Glass

January 20, 2023 By Patrick Flannery

David Collins

Andrew Crosby

On April 19, Top Glass, Canada’s event for the architectural glass industry, will welcome David Collins of Zeidler Architecture and Andrew Crosby of RJC Engineers for a detailed look under the hood of the refurbishment of the Eaton Centre’s Galleria skylight.

The galleria skylight roof at the CF Toronto Eaton Centre is on of the most iconic and familiar pieces of structural glazing in Canada. Built in 1977, it now requires a complete replacement to address 50 years of wear-and-tear and bring it up to modern standards for energy performance and maintenance. The design and operational challenges of executing this high-profile project over an operating retail space are daunting, but Zeidler Architecture and RJC Engineers have tackled them with a number of truly remarkable technical innovations. Perhaps more remarkable is the level of detail and expertise our presenters, Andrew Crosby and David Collins, bring to this comprehensive study of every aspect of the skylight’s design and installation. Big panels to reduce the number of cross-members? Check. Thermally broken patch fittings? Check. New pressure caps to avoid wet glazing? Check. Invisible button system? Check. Heat sinks to prevent condensation? Check. Glass nerds, get ready for a level of glazing engineering discussion that will have you on the edge of your seats.

David is one of the Zeidler’s leading architects and project managers. With nearly 20 years of experience, David is skilled at all phases of project execution and is particularly adept at client and team management. His work in commercial, residential, and mixed-use developments extends across Canada, Asia, and the Middle East. David is recognized for his ability to lead complex projects in challenging conditions, exemplified by his asset renewal work such as the CF Toronto Eaton Centre Bridge and the Galleria Revitalization, the Allan Gardens historic Palm House Restoration, and Sherbourne Estates, a complete overclad and repositioning of two aging concrete rental towers.

Andrew has approached facade engineering with a passion. He has been involved with numerous projects engineering glass, steel, cable and aluminum structures throughout Canada and the U.S. With a speciality in structural glass design, Andrew strives to push the structural glass industry further. He has worked on a wide range of complex glass structures including glass bridges, skylights, stairs, fin walls, cable net wall and innovative feature elements. His portfolio includes the glass observation boxes (the Ledge) at the Sears Tower in Chicago; Calgary Eaton Centre’s barrel vault skylight and glass bridge; and Glacier Skywalk in Jasper National Park.

Top Glass returns April 19 to the International Centre in Mississauga, Ont.

Four exclusive education sessions for glazing contractors, glass fabricators, architects and building engineers
The Ontario Glass and Metal Association Awards of Excellence
Displays from dozens of Canada’s top industry suppliers

Registration and parking are free. SEE YOU AT TOP GLASS!

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