Tulsa Central Library Begins New Chapter With Fire-Rated Glass And Frames

When the original Tulsa City-County Library was unveiled in 1965, it featured a state-of-the-art design and cutting-edge technology. However, after almost 50 years of serving the community, the building was showing its age. Seeking a much-needed facelift for the building, the library hired MSR to transform the aging facility into a library for the 21st century that will provide exceptional service to the community for years to come.

A key design goal was to create an open layout that maintains visual connectivity and allows ample natural light to pass through, while still retaining separations and meeting fire rating standards. The design solution pairs Fireframes^® Aluminum Series frames with Pilkington Pyrostop^® fire-resistant glass, both supplied by Technical Glass Products (TGP). The renovation incorporates a fire-rated framing system in the areas surrounding the grand staircase and the stair entrance to the public areas located on the lower level.

TGP’s Fireframes Aluminum Series frames offer narrow profiles and crisp sightlines, which help preserve the building’s open layout by providing transparent compartmentalization around the central staircase. Custom aluminum face caps help create a unique look and maintain visual consistency with surrounding windows and curtain walls. In this application, the design team selected box-shaped aluminum cover caps, creating a framing system with sleek, linear profiles. For a complete entrance solution, the system can be combined with fire-rated doors from TGP. Design professionals can use Fireframes Aluminum Series frames in applications requiring a two-hour barrier to radiant and conductive heat transfer.

Pilkington Pyrostop is fire-tested as a wall assembly, allowing unrestricted amounts of transparent glazing. The fire-rated system includes surrounding the staircase with a barrier to radiant and conductive heat transfer, while maintaining visual connectivity and allowing plenty of natural light to pass between areas. Pilkington Pyrostop also meets the impact-resistance requirements of CPSC 16 CFR 1201 Category I and/or Category II—an important performance benefit for glass used around busy stairways. As an added benefit, the fire-rated glass provides extra noise protection for the library’s third floor, creating a quiet space for visitors to work in the nonfiction and business areas.

Fireframes Designer Series fire-rated doors are compatible with Fireframes Aluminum Series and feature narrow steel profiles that provide a sleek, modern alternative to traditional hollow metal steel frames. The frames can be powder coated to match desired project color schemes, and are available in stainless steel.

Learn more about Fireframes Aluminum Series frames, Pilkington Pyrostop fire-rated glass and Fireframes Designer Series fire-rated doors.