Viracon glass, Tubelite aluminum framing and Linetec finishing – all brands of Apogee Enterprises – achieve cohesive, modern design and performance for Shamrock Trading Corp.'s new global headquarters in Kansas
Posted on July 16th, 2025 by Heather
Opened in Dec. 2024, Shamrock Tower II also showcases the first completed project example with the Tubelite 400SS SG Curtain Wall shop-glazed, fully unitized, thermally broken system. The aluminum framing features dual finishes by Linetec with architectural painted exteriors and anodized interiors. The curtain wall’s insulating glass units (IGUs) on Tower II are composed of Viracon VRE insulating glass products and its high-performance Viracon Thermal Spacer.
Cohesive Corporate Campus
At start of the East Campus project’s development, the architectural team at Bell/Knott & Associates contacted Doug Urich, president of ARCHON Fenestration Technologies, who is a manufacturers’ representative for Viracon and Tubelite products. In addition to his relationship with Bell/Knott, Urich has worked on several high-profile projects with JE Dunn Construction, which served as the general contractor for Shamrock’s global headquarters.
Bell/Knott & Associates initially contacted Urich for glass assistance in creating a cohesive campus design. “They were seeking an aesthetically driven, clean, modern look,” he explained. “I listened to their needs and took the opportunity to discuss the building skin, offering an approach that combined both Viracon glass and Tubelite curtain wall to achieve their intended appearance and performance, on schedule and within budget.”
During the workday, Shamrock’s associates can enjoy natural light and outdoor views of its Overland Park East Campus. At night, the curtain wall’s integrated LED light blades distinctively illuminate the exterior. In 2024, Shamrock was ranked as one of America’s Most Loved Workplaces by Newsweek and was honored in multiple categories.
“It’s a homerun in my book,” agreed Urich. He added, “Shamrock Tower II was extremely successful in proving Tubelite 400SS SG Curtain Wall offers a shop-glazed, fully unitized, thermal system that can save glaziers time and labor, and meet the aesthetic and performance requirements of high-profile projects.”
Glass-Forward, First Phase
Multiple Viracon glass products with low-e coatings were selected for Shamrock’s East Campus buildings: VRE1-38 “clear,” VRE26-38 “blue,” VRE19-63 “gray” and VRE1-65 “clear” glass. VRE high-performance coated glass balances natural daylight with energy performance, allows two-way vision under varying light conditions and aids in controlling glare while presenting aesthetic appeal. Viracon’s glass was fabricated into IGUs and glazed into the Tubelite aluminum framing system, meeting the necessary climate conditions and building codes for Shamrock Tower I and II.
The first phase of Shamrock’s corporate campus, completed in 2020, included the eight-story, 265,000-square-foot Tower I plus a one-story building with 30,000 square feet of enclosed, connecting space. “For Tower I, Viracon VRE1-38 glass lites were specified for the majority of the building and its segmented walls. VRE1-65 glass was used at the center core and on the 8th floor,” said Urich. “Adding visual interest to the exterior, VRE26-38 ‘blue’ glass was used at the corners.”
Architectural Systems, Inc. (ASI) supplied the shop drawings and third-party fabrication Shamrock Tower I’s Tubelite framing systems. Glazing contractor Structural Glass Systems installed Tubelite’s pre-glazed curtain wall and terrace doors. The terrace doors open onto an exterior patio in the southwest corner of the eighth floor.
On the north and south facades of each tower, LED light blades are vertically integrated with the curtain wall and offer programmable light effects. Tubelite’s team worked with ASI on the details and commissioned custom dies to create the desired blade profile for these decorative metal elements.
Behind Shamrock Tower I and II, Tubelite framing, finished by Linetec, with glass by Viracon, also was chosen for the parking garages’ enclosed staircases and installed by Structural Glass Systems.
Modern Look, Modern Performance
Contributing to the building’s energy efficiency and occupants’ comfort, Viracon Thermal Spacer (VTS®) are part of the IGUs on Tower II. VTS is Viracon’s newest and most superior warm edge spacer. Its propriety formulation consists of black thermoplastic with integrated desiccant and primary seal that is chemically bonded directly to the glass and secondary sealant. VTS replaces the traditional spacer, desiccant and primary sealant with a single, better-performing component. Argon fill is included and a secondary sealant is applied. VTS carries a special limited 12-year insulating warranty.
The IGUs with Viracon glass and VTS were incorporated into Tubelite’s thermally broken framing systems, optimizing thermal performance with low U-values and achieving high condensation resistance. Glazing contractor AGP fabricated and installed the unitized Tubelite 400SS SG Curtain Wall and Therml=Block® Medium Stile Entrance doors throughout Tower II.
“Both glaziers wanted a pre-glazed, unitized approach,” noted Urich. “Shamrock Tower I features a first-generation of the curtain wall design as a hybrid, partially unitized system with exterior face caps. Tower II is the jewel; it’s a fully unitized, thermally broken system.”
Both curtain wall systems were shop-glazed and have a concealed, screw-spline construction emphasizing the buildings’ smooth, monolithic style.
Dependable, Unitized Curtain Wall
As confirmed on Shamrock Tower II, Tubelite 400SS SG Curtain Wall allows for faster installation by pre-glazing it as a unitized system in the shop. Pressure plates and face caps also can be pre-installed when shop-glazing, saving additional time on the jobsite. This Tubelite curtain wall also has an outside-glazed pressure-plate system, available in captured and structural-glazed configurations. The horizontal member minimizes splice requirements, while accommodating expansion/contraction clearances.
Tubelite 400SS SG Curtain Wall’s aluminum framing members have a 2-1/2-inch face and 7-1/2-inch depth. Its glass bite securely grips the 1-inch-thick IGUs on Shamrock’s global headquarters. The glass is positioned to the system exterior improving resistance to rainwater. The curtain wall also meets ASTM and AAMA industry standards for air, water, structural, acoustical and seismic performance. For Shamrock’s buildings, the framing also was steel-reinforced with consideration for the strong wind load.
Complementing the curtain wall, Tubelite entrances are engineered for compatibility, further supporting their ease of installation. The doors’ steel tie-rod frame construction enhances their future serviceability and is backed with a lifetime warranty. The durability and adaptability of these tie-rod doors mean that worn or damaged components can be repaired and replaced without having to install an entire new door.
Durable, Dual-Finished Framing
Accentuating Shamrock’s East Campus modern aesthetic and an enduring positive impression, the Bell/Knot architectural team selected high-performance architectural finishes in a Silver Gray color. Linetec finished all the aluminum framing members, face caps, vertical fins and doors for Tubelite in 70% PVDF resin-based, architectural coating.
Projects that choose thermally broken aluminum framing systems manufactured using polyamide thermal strips can benefit from Linetec’s dual finishing capabilities. This offers design flexibility and economic advantages to specify different finishes on the exterior and interior.
For Shamrock Tower II, the Tubelite curtain wall on floors 2 through 12 are finished on the exterior in Silver Gray and the interiors are finished in a Class I clear anodize. Both industry-leading finishes meet the highest performance standards – AAMA 2605 for painted coatings and AAMA 611 for anodized coatings. After their long lifespan on the building, the aluminum framing and components can be recycled.
Within its new, modern corporate campus, up to 1,000 employees support Shamrock’s transportation services, finance and technology brands including Ryan Transportation, RTS Financial, RTS International, RTS Carrier Services and ProTransport. The company continues to expand its employee base to serve its customers’ growing needs.
Shamrock Trading Office Towers I and II, 9300 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS 66212
• Owner: Shamrock Trading Corporation; Overland Park, Kansas; https://shamrocktradingcorp.com
• Architect: Bell/Knott & Associates Corporate Architects, P.C.; Leawood, Kansas; https://www.bellknott.com
• General contractor: JE Dunn Construction; Kansas City, Missouri; https://jedunn.com
• Shamrock Tower I – glazing contractor: Structural Glass Systems, Inc.; Kansas City, Missouri; https://structural-glass-systems.com
• Shamrock Tower I – framing systems’ shop drawings and fabrication: Architectural Systems, Inc. (ASI); Monett, Missouri; https://asi-mo.com
• Shamrock Tower II – glazing contractor: AGP, Inc.; Grandview, Missouri; https://agpglassinc.com
• Manufacturers’ representative: ARCHON Fenestration Technologies; Overland Park, Kansas; https://www.archonfentech.com
• Curtain wall, storefront and entrance systems – manufacturer: Tubelite, a brand of Apogee Architectural Metals; Wausau, Wisconsin; https://tubeliteusa.com
• Curtain wall - glass: Viracon; Owatonna, Minnesota; https://www.viracon.com
• Curtain wall - finishing and thermal improvement services: Linetec; Wausau, Wisconsin; https://linetec.com
• Photos by: Abstract Photography, Inc.; Terry Wieckert – courtesy of Apogee Architectural Metals
• Video – AGP, Inc. glazing installation timelapse, Aug. 1, 2023: video one, video two
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Filed under: Projects, Linetec, Tubelite