The innovative skylight and the clerestory of the Albert Einstein learning and research center in São Paulo was realized by seele.

Albert Einstein Learning and Research Center, São Paulo, Brazil

3,800sqm

roof structure

1,854

glass elements

650sqm

clerestory façade

20sqm

visual mock-up

a special steel-and-glass roof for the albert einstein learning and research center

SBIBAE's inception resulted from the commitment of the Jewish community to offer Brazil a quality reference in the hospital segment. It started operating in the 1960s, with some health care departments and a volunteer team. In 1971, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein opened its doors. The vision of a health system integrated to social responsibility actions, teaching and research turned Einstein into one of the most important healthcare organizations in Latin America. The main activities of the building – auditorium, cafeteria, classrooms and labs – are focused around a stepped landscaped courtyard, which creates opportunities for collaboration and discovery. The atrium’s vaulting glass roof features an inventive shading system that evokes the feeling of gathering under a leafy tree. The 3,786sqm steel and glass skylight includes a sophisticated system of layered components which integrate structure, shading and acoustics.

seele was commissioned for the structural design, fabrication and installation supervision of the skylight as well as the 650sqm clerestory.

  • The roof structure itself consists of 1,854 geometrically different glass elements with a dotted frit pattern, as well as a solar protection coating. In order to provide a delicate filtering of light and optimal acoustic conditions, micro-perforated clear membrane panels also printed with a dotted pattern are mounted in a separate layer underneath the glazing.

    seele completed its installation work successfully in spring 2021.

    Header image: © Safdie Architects

  • seele realized a 3,786sqm steel and glass skylight for the Alber Einstein learning and research center in São Paulo.
  • seele realized a 3,786sqm steel and glass skylight for the Alber Einstein learning and research center in São Paulo.
  • The glass roof consists of 1,854 geometrically different glass elements with a dotted frit pattern.
  • The atrium vaulting glass roof of the AELRC features an inventive shading system that evokes the feeling of gathering under a leafy tree.
  • The atrium vaulting glass roof of the AELRC features an inventive shading system that evokes the feeling of gathering under a leafy tree.
  • To regulate sunlight and provide shading, a dotted frit was printed on the glass.
seele realized a 3,786sqm steel and glass skylight for the Alber Einstein learning and research center in São Paulo.
© Timothy Hursley
seele realized a 3,786sqm steel and glass skylight for the Alber Einstein learning and research center in São Paulo.
© Timothy Hursley
The glass roof consists of 1,854 geometrically different glass elements with a dotted frit pattern.
© Timothy Hursley
The atrium vaulting glass roof of the AELRC features an inventive shading system that evokes the feeling of gathering under a leafy tree.
© Timothy Hursley
The atrium vaulting glass roof of the AELRC features an inventive shading system that evokes the feeling of gathering under a leafy tree.
© Timothy Hursley
To regulate sunlight and provide shading, a dotted frit was printed on the glass.
© Timothy Hursley

An inventive shading system

The skylight design posed a special challenge to optimally balance three countervailing factors: to provide enough ample daylight for the vegetation to thrive, to regulate heat gain and glare for comfort, and to provide shading by delicately filtering bright sunlight. To maximize the daylight needs of the extensive vegetation, a clear neutral low-iron glass with high visual light transmittance is used. To regulate the solar heat gain, an efficient solar coating is included on the glass. In addition the glass has minimal reflectivity to avoid disturbing exterior reflections during the day towards the adjacent neighborhood.

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In October 2018, seele built a visual mock-up with 9 different panels with various permutations of frit densities and colors to test and simulate various effects across the skylight.
To regulate sunlight and provide shading, a dotted frit will be printed on the glass in a gradient pattern which becomes increasingly dense towards the edge and less dense towards the center directly above the main planted garden.

project diary

Assembly progress at the Albert Einstein Learning and Research Center

Since 2018 the design of the approx. 3,800 sqm steel-glass canopy for the Albert Einstein Learning and Research Center has been under development at seele. The double-shell roof elements, consisting of membrane and glass, play an important role. Both production and start of assembly are scheduled for 2019.

  • 07/2021
  • 06/2021
  • 03/2021
  • 03/2021
  • 02/2021
  • 12/2020
  • 09/2020
  • 07/2020
  • 07/2020
  • 04/2020
  • 03/2020
  • 06/2019
  • 10/2018
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07/2021

In July, seele achieved the practical completion of the 3,800sqm roof structure consisting of 1,854 glass elements and membrane panels with a steel substructure.
07/2021

06/2021

An important milestone was reached: All of the 1,854 roof glass panels are installed and the clerestory façade is completed, too. Within the next week, silicone works and the membrane panel installation will go ahead.
06/2021

03/2021

Also the membrane installation on the inside of the roof started already.
03/2021

03/2021

Glazing works are progressing well and the left dome is taking shape.
03/2021

02/2021

The first glass element for the roof structure is installed.
02/2021

12/2020

The first of the 140 glass panels of the clerestory façade is installed.
12/2020

09/2020

An initial measurement of the roof structure has already been carried out using 3D scanning. Meanwhile, the supports of the left dome are currently being installed.
09/2020

07/2020

The first components of the first so-called Valley Beam were assembled. These are a total of two 36m long cross beams between the domes of the roof construction, each consisting of 4 components.
07/2020

07/2020

Last week the first grid element of the approx. 3,800sqm skylight was installed.
07/2020

04/2020

The installation on the construction site has begun. In order to be able to assemble the Skylight, a deck is first erected on 8 steel columns. The necessary scaffolding is then build on top of the deck.
04/2020

03/2020

Production of the membrane panels has begun at seele in Gersthofen.
03/2020

06/2019

A condensation test has now also been successfully carried out on the mock-up.
06/2019

10/2018

A mock-up, consisting of nine different full-scale panels of the future roof structure, was examined at seele's testing area reagrding the different colours of the material.
10/2018

Credits

Client Sociedade Beneficente Israelita Brasileira Albert Einstein (SBIBAE)
Architect Safdie Associates
Engineer Thornton Tomasetti
Date of completion 2021
Scope of work by seele
  • 3,786sqm steel-and-glass structure, consisting of approx. 1,854 varying roof elements
    • IGU printed with dotted frit and heat and sun protective coating on level 2
    • acoustic panels made of micro-perforated, membranes printed with a dotted pattern, installed underneath the glazing
  • 650sqm clerestory-façade
    • 140 different clerestory elements
    • double laminated safety glass (VSG) made of 2 x 10mm annealed glass (TVG)
  • 20sqm visual mock-up in Gersthofen