Purple Line Transit System – Art in Motion
Glass as Canvas: Art in Motion
The Purple Line is a 16-mile light rail project connecting New Carrollton to Bethesda, Maryland, with 21 architecturally distinct stations. More than just transportation infrastructure, the project also serves as a canvas for local artists to showcase their work in a vibrant public setting.
Press Glass Inc., in partnership with glazier Glass Projects Resource (GPR), played a critical role in bringing these artistic visions to life. Founded in 2005, GPR is one of the premier glass and glazing subcontractors in the Washington, DC metro area. Together, we would like to highlight custom fabricated elements for three unique stations that stand out from the rest: Campus Center, Piney Branch, and Chevy Chase Lake aka Connecticut Avenue.
This project stands out as one of the most collaborative and customized jobs in Press Glass Inc.’s domestic fabrication history, highlighting not only our technical capabilities but also our willingness to engage early in the design process and adapt to evolving artistic requirements.
“From the very beginning, we knew this would be a different kind of job. Our team was excited to be part of something that blended functionality and art in such a bold way”, stated Josh Agee, Press Glass Estimator.
Designs on the Fast Track
Challenges emerged in trying to match artist-desired hues—especially pinks and purples—which couldn’t be produced domestically due to material restrictions. Press Glass worked closely with the artist to sample alternatives and shift the color palette toward approved options like oranges and reds, without compromising the design intent.
“We sampled and the pinks and purples were so light that they did not show well in comparison to the other colors, we had to meet often about the colors and explain that the minerals needed to make the pinks and purples are not approved for production in the USA,” We brought in the DipTech operator during the meetings to also have him explain the capabilities as the expert on the machine.”, noted Brooke Earles, Press Glass Senior Project Manager.
Opacities added another layer of complexity. “Each lite often required variable opacities—sometimes even within a single pane—which meant adjusting processes within the DipTech digital printing line to achieve the right level of transparency.” “That also highlights the complexities that we can offer using the DipTech machine and we are fairly expert on DipTech work.”, stated Agee.
Glass as Canvas: Art in Motion
Piney Branch used Vanceva interlayers with each lite in a different translucent color. Fabrication of these lites was especially intricate due to each custom color requiring up to four different colored PVB interlayers. The original artist concept called for colorful digitally printed lites with arrows, but after consultation with the Press Glass team, they pivoted to Vanceva interlayers to achieve the various colors, which allowed light to shine through the glass and cast vibrant colors on the ground.
The primary challenge was the integration of custom art glass into structural transit station canopies, a feat requiring deep collaboration between GPR, Maryland Transit Solutions, local artists, and Press Glass Inc. Each station had its own vision and colors — no two lites were the same.
According to Jared Smith, Vice President of Glass Projects Resource, “For Piney Branch, originally, it was not Vanceva. The artists (Jessie and Katey) requested 100% ink from Pantone colors they provided which they changed to Vanceva colors just prior to the sampling process.”
Canopy of Innovation
Solving the puzzle of each station required close and continuous collaboration. Our team held multiple rounds of meetings with GPR and the artists to understand their goals and then offer realistic, high-quality solutions.
Estimator Josh Agee played a pivotal role, re-quoting each station three to four times to reflect ongoing design changes, color updates, and material clarifications. The back-and-forth helped artists explore viable alternatives using real-time samples.
“Every time we were asked, ‘Can we do this?’—We said, ‘Let’s work together to arrive at the best product to meet the project needs.’ That kind of dialogue is what made this project so rewarding, says Earles.
Building America, Buy American
Additionally, compliance with Buy America requirements limited material choices. Not every glass fabricator could meet these challenges, especially with such specific aesthetic and technical demands. But Press Glass’s expertise in digital printing and color matching enabled us to provide viable solutions that met artistic and federal guidelines.
Light, Color, Locomotion
The Purple Line transit system showcases not only public infrastructure but public art—and Press Glass was honored to play a role in that vision. Through persistence, technical insight, and a true spirit of partnership, we delivered custom glass solutions that enhance both the utility and the beauty of these stations.
As commuters travel through Campus Center, Piney Branch, and Chevy Chase Lake, they’ll experience more than just a ride—they’ll witness art in motion.
To inquire about our products, please contact: northamerica@pressglass.us
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