Project location：
Shanghai
Glass Configuration:
12mm + 2.28SGP + 12mm + 2.28SGP + 12mm + 2.28SGP + 12mm + 2.28SGP + 12mm Ultra-clear tempered laminated glass 10mm + 2.28SGP + 10mm + 20A + 10mm + 2.28SGP + 10mm Ultra-clear Low-E tempered laminated insulated glass 15mm + 12A + 15mm + 12A + 15mm ultra-clear LoW-E tempered hollow glass
Maximum Glass Size:
6000mm*2400mm Glass rib: 12,400mm (L) × 700mm (H)
Panel: 7,890mm (L) × 2,580mm (H)
At Zhongbo Glass, we believe that the world’s finest cultural institutions deserve glass that matches their ambition. The East Hall of Shanghai Museum is an architectural masterpiece designed to display priceless artifacts under the most carefully controlled conditions. Its soaring glass facade required a fully transparent structural system that provides unobstructed views, museum-grade environmental stability, and absolute safety. We were selected as the exclusive glass manufacturer to deliver this complex, multi-configuration glazing package.
The project’s centerpiece is a series of massive glass ribs that act as transparent structural mullions, supporting the facade without metal framing. These ribs, fabricated as five-ply SentryGlas® Plus (SGP) laminated glass, stretch an astonishing 12,400mm in length — over 12 meters. In addition, we supplied jumbo laminated Low-E insulated glass units for the main vision areas and triple-glazed units for superior thermal insulation. All panels, reaching widths of up to 2,580mm and heights up to 7,890mm, were crafted to meet the museum’s stringent optical and environmental standards. The East Hall of Shanghai Museum now stands as a beacon of transparent design, made possible by the most advanced structural glass manufacturing in the world — all under one roof at Zhongbo Glass.
To serve the distinct functional zones — structural support, primary vision glazing, and high-insulation areas — we engineered and delivered three specialized glass configurations, all utilizing ultra-clear low-iron glass for perfect color neutrality.
12mm Ultra-Clear Tempered + 2.28mm SGP + 12mm Ultra-Clear Tempered + 2.28mm SGP + 12mm Ultra-Clear Tempered + 2.28mm SGP + 12mm Ultra-Clear Tempered + 2.28mm SGP + 12mm Ultra-Clear Tempered — Fully Laminated
This is structural glass at its most extreme. Five plies of 12mm tempered low-iron glass are bonded with four layers of 2.28mm SGP, creating a monolithic glass rib exceeding 69mm in total thickness. These ribs bear the entire weight and wind load of the adjacent glass panels, functioning as invisible vertical beams. The SGP interlayers ensure that even in a worst-case scenario, the rib remains intact and load-bearing, with zero risk of catastrophic failure.
10mm Ultra-Clear Tempered + 2.28mm SGP + 10mm Ultra-Clear Low-E Tempered / 20mm Air Cavity / 10mm Ultra-Clear Tempered + 2.28mm SGP + 10mm Ultra-Clear Tempered — Laminated Insulating Glass
For the expansive vision facade between the ribs, we supplied a symmetrical IGU with a generous 20mm air cavity. The outer laminate features a Low-E coating on the #3 surface to reflect solar heat while maintaining high daylight transmission. The inner laminate provides a secondary safety barrier and excellent acoustic insulation — critical for protecting the museum’s tranquil interior from Shanghai’s urban bustle. The 2.28mm SGP interlayers in both laminates ensure post-breakage integrity and enhanced edge stability.
15mm Ultra-Clear Low-E Tempered / 12mm Air Cavity / 15mm Ultra-Clear Low-E Tempered / 12mm Air Cavity / 15mm Ultra-Clear Tempered — Triple Insulating Glass
In zones where maximum thermal performance was required — such as near artifact display areas sensitive to temperature fluctuation — we supplied a robust triple-glazed unit. Three 15mm panes of tempered low-iron glass, two 12mm air cavities, and dual Low-E coatings achieve an exceptionally low U-value, maintaining precise interior climate control with minimal energy consumption.
The East Hall of Shanghai Museum pushed every dimension to the extreme:
Glass Ribs: The five-ply SGP structural fins reached an extraordinary 12,400mm in length by 700mm in height — a 12.4-meter glass beam that is completely transparent and over 69mm thick. This scale places them among the largest structural glass ribs ever manufactured.
Vision Panels (IGUs): The laminated insulating glass units measured up to 7,890mm in length by 2,580mm in height, covering over 20 square meters each. A single IGU of this size with 20mm cavity and SGP laminates weighs several tonnes.
Triple-Glazed Panels: The triple-glazed units reached 6,000mm in length by 2,400mm in height, providing museum-grade insulation across massive openings.
At Zhongbo Glass, these dimensions are not theoretical — they are what we produce, test, and deliver. The East Hall stands as proof that our jumbo glass manufacturing capability is unmatched.
Laminating five 12mm tempered plies with four SGP interlayers at a length of 12,400mm is an apex manufacturing challenge. The glass stack, over 69mm thick, must be perfectly straight, bubble-free, and structurally homogeneous. Our process included:
Flawless tempering of every 12mm ply at 12.4 meters on our super-jumbo flat tempering furnace, achieving uniform surface compression and minimal roller wave.
Class 1 cleanroom layup with precision alignment jigs to position all five plies and four interlayers without a single particle of contamination.
Multi-stage vacuum bag de-airing with extended cycles to extract air from the thick, stiff stack.
A custom high-pressure autoclave cycle in our massive autoclave, capable of processing over 13 meters, to achieve complete edge-to-edge SGP adhesion. The resulting ribs are crystal-clear, monolithic, and structurally certified.
Configuration B required coupling two 10mm SGP laminates across a 20mm cavity, with a Low-E coating on the #3 surface. The 20mm cavity, wider than standard, improves thermal insulation but demands greater structural rigidity from the perimeter seal. Our automated IGU line used laser alignment and robotic dual-seal application to create a perfectly hermetic unit, tested for argon-capable performance and condensation resistance.
Assembling three 15mm glass sheets, each weighing hundreds of kilograms, into a single sealed unit with two 12mm cavities requires absolute precision. We used synchronized vacuum lifters and multi-stage assembly fixtures to maintain parallel alignment, then applied a dual-seal edge system that guarantees long-term durability. Every panel was individually tested for dew point and seal integrity.
Museums demand glass that does not distort the view or introduce color shifts. All our glass is ultra-clear low-iron, and our heat-treatment processes are optimized to eliminate roller-wave distortion. The SGP interlayers provide superior optical clarity compared to PVB, ensuring that the East Hall’s visitors experience the artifacts and the surrounding cityscape in true color.
Transporting 12.4-meter glass ribs — delicate, heavy, and irreplaceable — from our factory to downtown Shanghai required bespoke logistics. We designed custom 13-meter transport stillages with continuous support cradles, vibration-dampened air-ride trailers, and police-escorted night convoys. Every rib and panel arrived on site dimensionally perfect, with zero defects, ready for precision installation into the building’s steelwork.
The East Hall of Shanghai Museum project underscores the core strengths that make Zhongbo Glass the world’s premier choice for super-jumbo structural and museum-grade glass:
World-Leading Multi-Ply SGP Rib Capability: We are one of the only manufacturers globally that can produce five-ply SGP laminated glass ribs exceeding 12,000mm in length. Our autoclave and cleanroom infrastructure is purpose-built for this scale.
Complete Facade System Supply: We provided the structural ribs, the vision IGUs, and the triple-glazed panels — all from a single factory. This ensures perfect material matching, consistent ultra-clear aesthetics, and streamlined project management.
Jumbo Insulating Glass Mastery: Whether it’s a 20mm cavity IGU or a triple-glazed unit, we routinely produce panels up to 13 meters with perfect hermetic seals and integrated Low-E performance.
Optical and Structural Precision for Museums: We understand that a museum requires glass that is optically flawless, thermally stable, and absolutely safe. Our quality systems meet the most demanding international standards.
Proven Landmark Portfolio: The East Hall joins our peerless collection of iconic projects, including the Sui Tang Grand Canal Museum (9.2m heat-strengthened IGU), Xi’an Silk Road Convention Center (five-ply fins), Banyan Tree Nanjing (seven-ply structural fins), and the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge (structural floor panels). Our track record of engineering the impossible for the world’s most prestigious addresses is undeniable.
The East Hall of Shanghai Museum now presents its treasures within a transparent envelope of unprecedented scale and precision — made possible by Zhongbo Glass. We delivered 12,400mm × 700mm five-ply SGP structural glass ribs, 7,890mm × 2,580mm laminated Low-E IGUs, and 6,000mm × 2,400mm triple-glazed units, each engineered to the highest standards of safety, thermal performance, and optical clarity. This project is a definitive statement: when the world’s most esteemed cultural institutions demand glass that transcends conventional limits, Zhongbo Glass is the partner they trust.
Contact Zhongbo Glass today to explore how our structural glass ribs, jumbo insulating units, and custom glazing solutions can bring your next landmark project to life. From museums to convention centers to super-tall towers, our engineering team is ready to collaborate with you from concept to completion.
