ASB GlassFloor transforms the hall of Microsoft headquarters in Ireland with a one-of-a-kind art installation and innovative technology

An eyecatcher of a different kind welcomes colleagues and visitors at the new Microsoft Campus in Ireland. A digital lake with a digital waterfall gives the spacious atrium a futuristic touch. The ASB GlassFloor was adjusted in order to meet the particular requirements. The result: an impressive visual experience that can also be used for customer events and presentations.

Microsofts’ new 34.000 square meter Campus lies in Leopardstown. Different teams work from the Dublin suburb, and also the technology moguls’ first datacentre outside the United States has its seat there. The modern building, which is shaped like a star, welcomes more than 2.000 colleagues and visitors with this digital lake and digital waterfall. The high-tech company assigned ASB GlassFloor with the realisation.

“With our GlassFloors for sports applications we have a patented solution, which, with its’ integrated LEDs, is individually controllable and easy to configure.” says Christof Babinsky, Managing Director of ASB GlassFloor.“Microsoft approached us, asking us to design a complying artificial lake - a very exciting task, with which we were able to show new facets of our product.”

ASB GlassFloor designed a special construction for this flooring with a pixel pitch of 25 mm, which not only ensures a homogeneous surface, but matches the architecture of the building and gives it a futuristic touchat the same time. The entire flooring surface of 80 square meters was equipped with LED video elements and covered with patented glass that reduces reflection to a minimum. ASB GlassFloor collaborated with the responsible architects from RKD Architects and the lighting experts from ARUP in order to achieve the homogeneous interior of the building.

Innovation from Bavaria for the Digital Waterfall

“While developing the floor we were asked whether we could chip in our know-how also for a digital waterfall“, says Christof Babinsky. The waterfall was supposed to give the impression of falling down over four storeys into the digital lake. Just like the lake, the waterfall consists of LED and glass elements. “For the waterfall, we provided a real cutting-edge service: a special laser technique ensures that the glass hardly reflects and that the glass surface can be used as a transparent balustrade with a height of 440 centimeters. This is the first solution of this kind worldwide.“

The finished installation gives the impression of water flowing down, while the floor appears like a water surface.

“Both elements can be controlled individually per Plug&Play via HDMI interface - with a single video file, which makes operation extremely easy” says Christof Babinsky. “This way we achieve a unique effect on anyone who enters the building - and Microsoft has numerous new possible uses ofthe atrium. For instance, floor and waterfall can welcome visitors individually, which makes it more personal. Orthey could be used to transform the spacious atrium into a monumental presentation surface.“

Not only Microsoft, their customers and employees are delighted with the result - Christof Babinsky is enthusiastic about the new possibilities as well: “This is a new and absolutely revolutionary appliance of our GlassFloor. We are glad to have realised this impressive project together with Microsoft.” On 22 February 2018, the new Dublin Microsoft Campus and hence Europe's highest interior glass balustrade was inaugurated.

Source: ASB GlassFloor
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