St. Sylvester's Church / Medford, NY
Reclaimed glass for a new generation
In 1988, Our Lady of the Skies Chapel at John F. Kennedy International Airport was dismantled to make room for airport expansion. Its most popular feature, the soaring stained glass windows designed by master stained glass workers Pierre Osterrath and Jordi Bonet, were carefully removed and stored for future use. Weighing in at 8 pounds per square foot (almost twice that of normal stained glass), the vibrant windows were exceptionally thick in order to endure the vibrations caused by the nearby airplane takeoffs and landings.
Fast-forward twenty years, when the parish of St. Sylvester's Church in Medford, New York decided to expand their church. By chance, the church pastor heard about the windows, recalled their former glory, and purchased them to be reworked into the new structure. Master stained glass artists were commissioned to retool the windows into new sizes and shapes to fit the architect's vision. Marvin® Windows and Doors added insulated LoĒ2-272® with argon to the stained glass layer to ensure proper performance. In the end, Our Lady of the Skies windows were successfully installed and appear to be custom-made for St. Sylvester's, bringing inspiration to new generations.