Saint-Gobain, the parent company of CertainTeed, Sage Glass, Vetrotech, Sheerfil, and others, is celebrating its 350th anniversary, and marking the milestone with a global exhibition called “Future Sensations.”
On display at the Oval on Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway from May 30 to June 6, the exhibition is an immersive experience with five distinct ephemeral pavilions that take visitors on a sensory journey of science, storytelling, and art that celebrates the past three and a half centuries while offering a glimpse into future innovations. Each of the five pavilions weighs between 20 and 50 metric tons and stands between 13 and 32 feet high A total of 26 products from the Saint-Gobain family of companies are used in their construction.
“Philadelphia is honored to serve as the flagship city in North America to help Saint-Gobain commemorate its historic milestone and the 15 generations of innovators responsible for the anniversary,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “There is no mistaking the architectural influence Paris has had on Philadelphia, and now our city has the distinct privilege of hosting the ‘Future Sensations’ exhibition on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, which was modeled on Paris’ own Avenue des Champs-Élysées. The latter is a remarkable nod to Saint-Gobain’s heritage given it was founded in 1665 to manufacture glass for the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles.”
From the glass pyramid at the Louvre to the Statue of Liberty, Saint-Gobain high-performance building materials have brought unique features to many of the world’s most iconic structures.
“This exhibition will remind people of the strength that is acquired through 350 years of enduring, relevant innovations,” said John Crowe, president and CEO of Saint-Gobain. “Pushing boundaries and rising to the challenges of the technological world has shaped our history and given us the conviction to believe in the future.”
After the exhibition’s stay in Philadelphia, it makes stops around the globe, including Shanghai, China; São Paulo, Brazil; and Paris, France.