projects expertise insights about news contact about vision + leadership history contact careers LINEAGE OF PIONEERS The direct lineage of Enclos dates to the beginning of curtainwall as a building form in the mid-20th century. As one of the first companies active in this new marketplace, Enclos has played a leading role in developing this technology through the years into the refined, high-performance curtainwall systems of today. For decades we have built our reputation on professionalism, quality, honesty, integrity, and ingenuity. Operating under various brand names (Cupples, Harmon Ltd., Harmon Contract, Enclos Corp.), and mergers, one thing has remained constant: our team is committed to pioneering the course of advanced building enclosures. 1918 THE HALLIDIE BUILDING WHAT MADE CURTAINWALL POSSIBLE? William Jenney’s introduction of a steel framing for load-bearing components of structure spawned new possibilities for skyscrapers (late 19th c) The nation’s first glass curtain wall was built in San Francisco in 1918, the Hallidie Building. 1946 CUPPLES PRODUCTS IS FORMED 1952 Lever House in Midtown Manhattan is first building in New York to feature a curtainwall 1954 Cupples’ first curtainwall: Webb and Knapp Tower, New York Beginning of Cupple’s relationship with I.M. Pei SEMINAL CUPPLES PROJECTS 1963 | CADET CHAPEL – U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, COLORADO SPRINGS, ARCHITECT: SKIDMORE, OWINGS AND MERRILL U.S. NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK EMPIRE STATE BUILDING JOHN HANCOCK CENTER STANDARD OIL WORLD TRADE CENTER SEARS TOWER CUPPLES LAYS CLAIM TO ENCLOSURES ON 5 OUT OF 6 WORLDS’S TALLEST BUILDINGS 1976 Cupples joins forces with its parent, H.H. Robertson Company to carry single source responsibility to the world marketplace, solidifying its position as the largest most completely equipped source dedicated primarily to custom architectural wall systems in the world. CUPPLES + H.H. ROBERTSON COMPANY MANUFACTURING St. Louis manufacturing facility is now over 400,000 sf, producing some of the most ambitious curtainwall facades for projects across the globe! 1985 | HSBC BUILDING, HONG KONG (47-STORIES), ARCHITECT: SIR NORMAN FOSTER EXPOSED STRUCTURE AND INNOVATIVE DESIGN MADE THE HSBC BUILDING CONTROVERSIAL, AS WELL AS THE MOST EXPENSIVE BUILDING OF ITS TIME HARMON CONTRACT GLAZING IS FORMED Spawned from Harmon Glass Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota, originally founded in 1949 for windshields and television screens 1982 Harmon Contract Glazing completes Infomart in Dallas, Texas, a replica of Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace (1851) 1996 Harmon, Ltd. name is introduced for “new construction” 1997 | GETTY CENTER, LOS ANGELES, ARCHITECT: RICHARD MEIER & PARTNERS ARCHITECTS 12 BUILDING CAMPUS OF GLASS AND TRAVERTINE STONE FACADES ACROSS A 24-ACRE HILLTOP 1998 HARMON UNSEATS CUPPLES FOR TALLEST 1998 | PETRONAS TOWERS, KUALA LUMPUR (88-STORIES, 1483 FT), ARCHITECT: CESAR PELLI CUPPLES CLAIM OF REIGN TO ENCLOSING THE TALLEST BUILDING IS TAKEN OVER BY HARMON LTD. WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE PETRONAS TOWERS 2001 UNIFICATION OF INDUSTRY TITANS Harmon Ltd. is acquired and merged with Cupples to become Enclos Corp. ENCLOS: LEADERS IN FACADE SECURITY ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY Enclos was the first in the United States to undertake full-scale bomb-blast testing of curtainwall, even before the events of September 11th, 2001. This pioneering work in blast damage mitigation led to a series of federal courthouse projects for which Enclos was called upon to develop and provide blast-resistant facade systems. Enclos continues to play a leading role in the development and application of risk-mitigating facade technology with respect to security issues. 2007 ENCLOS BRINGS STRUCTURAL GLASS IN-HOUSE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY Seeking to offer the curtainwall products of high-rise towers along with the specialty structural glass facades of jewel-box feature lobbies, Enclos acquires Advanced Structures Inc. (ASI). 2016 NMAAHC WTC TRANSIT HUB JEROME GREENE SCIENCE BUILDING SFMOMA VIA 57 WEST PIONEERS OF YESTERDAY, TODAY + TOMORROW Seven decades after Cupples’ origins, and 15 years after merging with Harmon Ltd., Enclos produces a monumental line-up of facades for many of architecture’s most notable projects, including the first ‘courtscraper’ and the largest architectural application of fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) in the United States. RECENT ENCLOS PROJECTS 2018 | AMAZON SPHERES – SEATTLE, ARCHITECT: NBBJ | learn more projects expertise design build advanced technology safety insights facade technologies feature articles publications videos skintec about vision + leadership history contact careers news customer portal 1 888 234 2966 curtainwall@enclos.com © 2021 Enclos Corp. | Terms of Use & Privacy Policy | All Rights Reserved