Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music

In Progress

Sep 13

Written By COOKFOX

*Building exterior, rendering by COOKFOX*

WHO

Architect: COOKFOX
Installer: National Glass & Metal

WHERE & WHEN

West Long Branch, NJ
Americas
In Progress · 2026

WHAT & HOW

Education · New Build
26' theater facade
VS1-A100 supporting 2 ⅜” thick IGU

VS1 was selected for the theater façade at the exciting new Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music (BSACAM) at Monmouth University in New Jersey.

FROM PROJECT ARCHITECT COOKFOX

❝ The Monmouth University campus is anchored by two architecturally significant gilded age mansions, the Great Hall at Shadow Lawn and the Guggenheim Memorial Library, which serve as the administrative and academic centers for the institution. BSACAM is balanced between these buildings to become a third anchor and will serve as a gateway for the engagement between visitors and the university. To reinforce this concept, the building’s theater aperture is oriented to frame a view of the monumental gateway to the university.❞

That aperture is made possible by VS1. The façade is at the back wall of the stage and clear spans 26 feet with no horizontal mullions. Like the Mary Galvin Recital Hall at Northwestern University, this VS1 installation achieves acoustic isolation from the outdoors while still providing a highly transparent view of the historic campus. The façade accomplishes this acoustic isolation with a 2 ⅜” thick IGU. VS1 is an ideal curtain wall system for such an application, as it can accommodate very thick glass and its point-supported nature further reduces acoustic transfer.

❝
IN THE PRESS DEZEEN MAGAZINE

Renderings show a rectangular building with a large glass curtain wall at one end, and other, smaller windows distributed along its length. The theatre will be located at the anterior glass facade, which will point inwards towards the university campus.