DuPont and Viracon Present Award to GSA for Investment in Glass Safety Technology

The Protecting People First Foundation (PPFF), on behalf of DuPont and Viracon, Inc., presented its Safety Award to the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) for its investment in lifesaving protective glass technology in the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. United States Courthouse, in Miami, Fla., at a presentation on May 11.

The award recognizes projects that "raise awareness of the hazard of flying glass, most deadly in terrorist bombings and natural disasters." GSA was previously honored by PPFF in 2003 for its work on the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

"We take very seriously our responsibility to construct government buildings and facilities that provide a safe environment for employees, as well as the public," said Edwin E. Fielder, Jr., regional administrator of GSA's Southeast Sunbelt Regional Office. "We're extremely honored that the Protecting People First Foundation is acknowledging GSA with the Safety Award."

The Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. United States Courthouse is the largest federal courthouse in the United States, spanning two city blocks. It is also the first in the country with windows designed to withstand bomb blasts and hurricane-force winds, meeting Miami's stringent hurricane codes, as well as U.S. government security standards for blast mitigation. The courthouse is part of the GSA's Design Excellence Program, which commissions designers and artists to improve the design and quality of federal buildings.

DuPont Glass Laminating Solutions supplied DuPont™ Butacite® and SentryGlas® Plus laminated glass interlayers to glass fabricator Viracon, Inc. for the courthouse project.