Education
Manko’s portfolio of high-performance glazing systems and glass fabrication abilities respond to the evolving and demand-
ing needs of educational architecture. Through products that maximize daylighting, improve occupant comfort, and seek to
create flexible and secure environments. Manko can assist in fostering spaces that are conducive to student engagement,
learning, and staff productivity
Natural daylighting has proven to have a significant and invaluable impact on academic performance and mental and physical well-being. Exposure to daylighting has been linked to regulating a better circadian rhythm, reduced stress levels, and overall better academic performance. In a 1999 study by Heschong Mahone Group, students showed significant progress in math and reading scores in classrooms with the most daylighting over those with less. Students showed similar progress in classrooms with the most windows over those with the least.
Similar to daylighting and views outdoors, natural ventilation can effectively enhance student performance and well- being. Natural ventilation reduces CO2 concentrations and can help in removing airborne pathogens and VOC’s, resulting in better indoor air quality which is associated with improved cognitive function. Incorporating natural venti- lation can allow for better environmental control in classrooms and help reduce energy consumption associated with mechanical ventilation.
Excess noise pollution can have detrimental effects in educational settings, with many students reporting difficulty in hearing teachers and majority of teachers reporting hoarse or strained voices. This noise pollution can cause distractions and discomfort, resulting in reduced concentration, comprehension, and motivation.
Learning spaces that are versatile and flexible can create engaging and dynamic educational settings. This may be manifested through different types of spatial connectivity, blurring the boundaries between the interior and exterior, or connected spaces that transform to offer flexible spaces that can meet a multitude of pedagogical needs.
While occupant comfort and efficiency had commonly been a priority in educational design, events over the past few decades have brought safety and security to the forefront. Strategies to resist forced entry and protect vulnerable access points have become pivotal. Marrying occupant comfort and security is critical to offering students and families peace of mind whilst promoting environments that foster learning and collaboration.
High-Performance Storefronts
2450xpt & 2600xpt | Storefront systems allow for an abundance of daylighting and views outside without sacrificing thermal comfort. When used in conjunction with the selection of glazing options and shading systems offered, daylighting and thermal comfort can be controlled or harnessed.
High-Performance Curtain Walls
200x & 250x | Curtain wall systems allow for larger spans of daylighting and views outside without having to sacrifice thermal comfort. When used with job appropriate glazing options and shading systems offered, daylighting and thermal comfort can be achieved as desired.
High-Performance Projected Windows
i & xpt series | Projected window systems are ideal for punched openings to allow for natural air ventilation while providing an abundance of daylighting and views outside without having to sacrifice thermal comfort. As a “wet” glazed system, the potential for condensation build-up is drastically lowered compared to a conventional “dry” glazed system.
Sunshades
Outrigger & VersaShade | Sunshades provide shade to the vision glass areas of the building envelope, effectively reducing cooling costs while still allowing for natural sunlight to fill the interior of the building, ultimately resulting in increased occupant comfort.
Specialty Doors
175 & 2400i | The ability to open up walls and subdivide rooms can create versatile and flexible spaces by utilizing Manko’s 175 series mall sliders and 2400i bi-fold doors. Interior mall sliders can function as room dividers or allow rooms to open up. Exterior bi-fold doors can transform indoor spaces into outdoor classrooms, libraries, or cafeteria spaces.
Insulated Glass
Each education project requires specific glazing to balance aesthetics and performance. By specifying glass based on climate and building orientation, designers can increase natural daylight while insulating against the cold or block solar heat from transmitting to the inside. This strategic choice creates a more comfortable learning environment while reducing energy costs.
Laminated Glass
There are multiple benefits of laminated glass on education projects, including security and acoustic considerations. Laminated glass offers improved forced entry resistance, increasing student and staff safety. It also offers acoustic control allowing for a more comfortable and less distracting learning environment from outside noise.
EntryGuard®
Manko’s EntryGuard® security glazing product line offers a level of added security for buildings. Designed to better withstand attacks more effectively than conventional glass, this laminated glass product remains intact upon impact longer, buying valuable response time for first responders.
Digital Designs
Whether it’s solar control or enhancing aesthetics, Manko’s Digital Designs can be a custom printed solution to your project. Common applications include both interior and exterior signage adding a unique design element, along with dots/lines for solar control, resulting in glare reduction.
LCG® Switchable Glass
Manko’s LCG® Switchable Glass provides the luxury of on-demand dynamic privacy glass when desired. Perfect for break-out learning rooms or public learning spaces where natural daylight is the primary use, however a whiteboard or projection screen could be utilized when in use providing a flexible learning zone.
Junction City High School | Junction City, Kansas
2450 Series Storefront
150 Series Doors
250 Series Curtain Wall
VersaShade Sunshades
Guardian SN68
Sun Prairie West High School | Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
2600xpt Series Storefront
150xpt Series Doors
250xpt Series Curtain Wall
Fort Hays State - Schmidt Art & Design | Hays, Kansas
250xpt Series Curtain Wall
150H Series Doors
2727i Series Windows
VersaShade Sunshades
Vitro Bronze Solarban 60
Carnegie-Schadd Library | Baraboo, Wisconsin
250xpt Series Curtain Wall
200xpt Series Curtain Wall
Vitro Clear Solarban 60 with Digital Designs
4527i Series Windows
135 Series Doors
Mitchell High School | Mitchell, South Dakota
2600xpt Series Storefront
450-2 Series Storefront
150xpt Series Doors
Guardian Clear SNX 62/27
Denver University - Administrative Office Bldg. | Denver, Colorado
250xpt Series Curtain Wall
2450xpt Series Storefront
150i Series Doors
3527i Series Windows
Guardian Clear SNX 62/27
Guardian Clear SN68
While commercial clear float glass is often described as colorless, it naturally exhibits a slight green or blue-green tint. For applications requiring maximum color neutrality, low-iron glass should be considered. Many laminated interlayers block ultraviolet light and may also slightly reduce visible light transmission, which can result in a subtle yellow appearance—particularly in thicker laminates or multi-ply constructions. When low-emissivity (low-e) or reflective coatings are incorporated into laminated glass, placing the coating in contact with the interlayer can alter its refractive index, potentially causing a perceived color shift. As a result, a coating may appear differently in a laminated assembly than in an insulated glass unit.
Optical distortion—both reflected and transmitted—may result from heat treatment, glass thickness variability, framing system stresses, and changes in exterior wind or interior building pressures. Laminated glass assemblies often incorporate multiple plies of heat-treated glass to meet performance requirements. Inherent characteristics of heat-treated glass include bow, roll wave, and picture-frame distortion. While fabricators take steps to minimize these effects, they cannot be eliminated. Distortion is further accentuated when reflective coatings or tinted substrates are used. Manko strongly recommends evaluating a full-size mock-up under actual project conditions.
Under certain lighting or viewing conditions, laminated glass may exhibit iridescent patterns or dark shadowing, commonly referred to as strain patterns or anisotropy. These patterns are caused by stresses introduced during the heat-treatment process and are inherent to heat-treated glass. While typically not visible, strain patterns may become more pronounced at extreme viewing angles or under polarized light. Thicker laminated assemblies may increase the visibility of these patterns. This phenomenon is not indicative of discoloration or material inconsistency.
Due to the technical complexity of laminated glazing systems, early collaboration between design professionals, fabricators, and suppliers is essential. Understanding the construction and inherent characteristics of laminated glass is critical to achieving optimal performance in safety, security, hazard resistance, and acoustic applications. As laminate thickness and ply count increases, the potential for optical distortion also increases. Full-size mock-ups are strongly recommended to evaluate appearance under project-specific lighting, environmental, and viewing conditions, particularly in applications involving visual movement behind the glass.
