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The Dallas House with That Glass:
Distinctive Oversized Windows in Texas
Location: Dallas, Texas | Builder: Allgood/Pfannenstiel General Contractors
Leaving it to the Builder
There is a house being built just north of Dallas that features a unique piece of glass. In terms of its size and weight, the glass has posed a huge challenge to source, transport, and install. In fact, there is only one supplier in the world that produces such a piece of glass, and maybe only one fenestration service provider that would take on the challenge of having it put into a house.
So, this is the story of the house with that glass.
The homeowner envisioned it, and the architect designed it. But there were some strong lingering questions about how to make this dream a reality, how to make it all happen practically and logistically.
Those questions were left for the builder.
A Marquee Project with Daring Design
The house was situated in an exclusive lakefront community where every aspect of the neighborhood was designed to impress. In particular, this house was intended to fully embrace not only the best of the development’s lavish features and breathtaking terrain but also the most daring elements of architectural design.
The builder of this marquee project was Allgood/Pfannenstiel General Contractors, made up of Sam Allgood and Duane Pfannenstiel. Although the two men were both experienced as building contractors, they had only launched their new company together in 2020.
“This house was a really unique opportunity for us,” said Allgood, “because it was such a large project for a relatively new company.”
As well, Allgood acknowledged that it was a special project because of the architect who was behind it. “He’s not only the architect, but he’s also the interior designer and the landscape architect,” said Allgood, “and he lives in the type of luxury home that he designs for his top clients.”
The architect’s luxury home was built by none other than Pfannenstiel before he became Allgood’s partner and while he was serving as Vice President of Operations at another firm. The relationship of confidence and trust between architect and builder provided a firm foundation for the newest project. However, this house posed new challenges for the builder, especially in terms of executing on its brave design.
The vision that captured both the homeowner and the architect was to create a home that was exceptional, even for its distinctive address.
Elaborate Entryway with Oversized Glass
According to Allgood, the entryway into the home is where the elaborate drama begins. The cavernous structure features an oversized pivot door and an intricate backlit onyx ceiling that opens to a two-storey view and allows ample light into the vast space. As someone enters the three-sided expanse, their eyes are immediately drawn to the exterior veranda area with an infinity pool in the foreground and a sprawling lake surrounded by a forest in the background. The view is awe-inspiring and begs for unobstructed sightlines.
“The owner was trying to frame that view,” said Allgood, “and so that was precisely where that massive piece of glass was required.”
That glass was approximately 15’ x 14’ (about 4.5 meters squared) and weighed about 4500 pounds (over 2000 kilograms).
“When you’re talking about working with a single pane of glass, anything more than 12’ x 12’ is crazy,” said Allgood. “So, we knew we were in for a huge challenge.”
That glass was the pinnacle of the project, in terms of unique fenestration, but there were also more than seventy other custom windows and doors that were required for this house, including several oversized windows, putting just the fenestration package at a premium cost. In addition, as they continued to work with the homeowner and architect, the builders realized that there were so many design elements on this project that were so bold that they needed significantly more detailing and planning than usual. Allgood and Pfannenstiel knew that they needed specialized help.
Challenges Increase
After researching and consulting with numerous local window and door suppliers, the builders came to realize that the project required an experienced fenestration service provider that could see the bigger picture and take responsibility for everything from sourcing to manufacturing to installation and beyond.
“We found out that there was only one supplier in the world that could produce that glass for the opening in the entryway,” said Allgood.
It was a company in Germany called Sedak, the world’s leading glass fabricator, and it wasn’t simply a single pane of thick glass, it was a high-performance, dual pane sealed unit, which made it all the more daunting and difficult to work with. It would be no small undertaking to make the logistical arrangements for getting that glass from Munich, Germany, to Dallas, Texas, especially in light of what was just around the corner.
As the project was just taking shape, another giant of an obstacle reared its head—a global pandemic, which obviously wreaked havoc for scheduling and budgeting. No one could have fully predicted the colossal effects of COVID-19, especially for projects like this that depended on international sourcing of products.
“We lost about a year on the project,” said Allgood, “due to all of the delays and difficulties of COVID. Everything changed, for everyone.”
However, as the challenges increased, so did the builder’s resolve to overcome them.
Forging A Partnership
At that point, Allgood contacted a friend named Jason Smith, an architect in Dallas who had valuable experience in contemporary design and luxury residential architecture. His company, Smitharc, had recently been involved with several high-profile building projects in the Dallas area that had demanded specialized fenestration services. With the challenges of this project in mind, Smith did not hesitate on his recommendation to Allgood: “Take a look at Dynamic.”
Allgood himself needed no convincing. He was well aware of Dynamic Fenestration and their reputation. He had been following their work for years on social media and taken note of their collaboration with prominent architects like Olson Kundig and Lake|Flato. Finally, Allgood’s visit to the Smitharc project in Dallas put him face to face with Dynamic’s products. “I walked through that house with Jason Smith, and I was blown away by the windows,” said Allgood, “And I heard the story of Jason’s collaboration with Martin Ross of Dynamic and with their installation partners in Dallas. After that, I said to myself, ‘This is the kind of team we need on this project.’”
So, Sam called Martin Ross, the Director of Business Development at Dynamic Fenestration.
Ross remembers getting the call from Allgood. “It was out of the blue, the request for a quote,” Ross said, “and honestly, it didn’t seem like a good fit for us. Excavation was already under way, and that was already late in the game for us to enter a project of that magnitude.”
For good reason, Ross was cautious. After looking at the drawings from Allgood, and seeing how big the project was, he thought that maybe the builders had bitten off more than they could chew, so to speak, especially as a new construction company.
“The only reason I agreed to provide a quote,” said Ross, “was because Sam mentioned Jason Smith, an architect that I had not only a lot of respect for, but also a great working relationship.”
For Ross, that reference changed everything. It was a strong vote of confidence for Allgood’s work and opened the door toward Dynamic’s involvement in the project.
So, Allgood received a quote from Dynamic and, although it was higher than expected and much more than any other supplier or fabricator, Allgood and Pfannenstiel were eager to make it work, because of the expertise that Dynamic was able to offer.
When they took the quote back to the homeowner and architect, the builders were aware that the quote was well over budget, but they expressed their willingness to waive any fees on that overage, in order to secure Dynamic as a partner.
“We were such firm believers not only in the quality of Dynamic’s product, but also their expertise,” said Allgood, “that we were willing take a hit on our own fees. For us, that’s how important it was to have the opportunity to work with Dynamic.”
The homeowner and architect viewed samples from Dynamic’s Bronze Arte series of windows and loved what they saw. After briefly considering their options, they decided to go with Dynamic, in spite of the extra costs. Allgood and Pfannenstiel were pleased.
Collaboration Delivers Satisfaction
From then on, the builders worked closely with Dynamic and took it step by step. “This house has demanded incredible precision,” said Pfannenstiel, “so that puts a lot of responsibility on us. But we just coordinated everything with Dynamic, in terms of walking through the shop drawings and measuring everything five or six times to make sure that every piece was ordered correctly.”
Not only was every piece of fenestration ordered and manufactured, but it was also delivered and installed at the house in Dallas. After months and months of waiting and coordinating, the satisfaction of seeing it come together was significant for Allgood and Pfannenstiel.
“It’s hard to explain how stressful that is to be dealing with that amount of glass before it’s put into place,” said Pfannenstiel. “You make one mistake, and it’s a lot of money.”
In the case of that glass, the massive piece that came all the way from Germany, Pfannenstiel said that they felt the weight of the responsibility throughout the entire journey. “It was shipped to Houston, and trucked to Dallas,” he explained, “and then we had to meet it on site with all kinds of specialized equipment to offload it and then crane it over the house to put it in place.”
Brett Horvath of Renovare’ Door and Window, Dynamic’s installation partners in Dallas, mobilized a team of experts and equipment to help the builders install the fenestration. “We worked hand in hand with Brett to get everything installed correctly,” said Pfannenstiel. “And it was just so unbelievable especially to see that piece of glass in its place—the relief that it was to see that glass finally reach its destination was awesome!”
According to Pfannenstiel, to see that view through that glass is an architectural experience: “You walk through the front door, and it’s a Wow.”
Yet the builder insists that the experience continues throughout the house: “Honestly, you walk down the hallway and there’s another large door, thirteen feet tall, that leads you out to the back veranda, or you continue to the dining room where there are more oversized windows, or to the living room where there’s a huge slider, and there are just views from everywhere in the house with all this big glass. Every door and window in the home is from Dynamic.”
In terms of the installation process, with as many as seventy-two windows and doors throughout the residence, Allgood said, “There have been thousands of details that needed to be figured out, but it’s been an incredibly smooth process. We were in constant communication with Dynamic and Renovare’, and when there was ever a question or a problem, we were able to find a remedy quickly. Open dialogue was essential.”
“Partnering with Dynamic has been phenomenal,” confirmed Pfannenstiel. “Together, we carried the responsibility and stress of this job. For our team, it was a huge accomplishment.”
An Unfinished Job
The house, however, is not yet finished, with a completion date looming in late 2024. So, the journey is not over and the job to protect all of that glass during the remainder of the construction phase is a critical one. “Until we hand over the keys to the owner later this year,” said Allgood, “we’ll still feel that weight of responsibility.”
For Dynamic, the thrill of this project has been the teamwork. “And to think that we were very close to declining this project,” said Ross frankly, “but we are so proud of what Allgood and Pfannenstiel have accomplished. Although the house is yet to be finished, they have already delivered something of incredible value to the homeowner.”
Every project is unique, but Ross commented that Dynamic’s close working relationship directly with the builders on this project has been special. “Allgood and Pfannenstiel have proven themselves on this house,” said Ross. “They’ve excelled because they rose to the challenge. Logistically, this job was rife with risk, but they didn’t back down.”
Still months away from completion, the builders look forward to the day when their work on this house is done, and the awe-inspiring experience of the home belongs to the owners.
