Schuykill Avenue Research Building 1 at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Rendering Courtesy of Cannon Design
Installer: Harmon Inc
Americas
In Progress · 2026
Three-sided lobby facade
Interior & Exterior VS1 mullions
Rendering Courtesy of Cannon Design
This new pediatric research building at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) will feature a VS1 façade with both interior and exterior mullions. At street level, the façade wraps around the entire building in a curved, undulating geometry with varying heights creating a spectacular visual effect. The VS1 aluminum mullions are positioned at both the interior and exterior of the façade with the interior mullions employing toggle fittings which creating a flush exterior wall with no exterior metal. Mid way up the wall on three sides of the building the mullions flip to the façade’s exterior and patch fittings are used on the wall interior. The exterior mullions, which have a custom recess at the back that house LED fixtures, create a strong visual profile that resembles the prow of a ship. An all glass vestibule and adjourning revolving door are integrated into the façade.
Serpentine horizontal beams along the head and sill of the façade provide the structural support. This geometric variation resulted in each mullion having a unique height.