WASHINGTON – Officials at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in the nation’s capital have retained Commercial Window Shield for a blackout film installation project.

The project involves installing permanent blackout film on a number of windows behind information signs located inside the convention center’s south and north buildings. The issue is that the back of the signs is visible from outside the building where there are two entranceways, one to each building, beneath the L Street corridor. The corridor connects the convention center’s south and north buildings. The film will effectively block the unsightly view of the signs’ back panels by turning the glass into a wall making the glass 100% opaque.

Commercial Window Shield installers will begin and complete their work this weekend.

The blackout film installation project is the latest in Commercial Window Shield’s relationship with the convention center that began in 2016, when they installed 42,000 sq. ft. of solar control window film to correct heat, glare and fading issues with furniture, carpet and artwork. The project also included installing 7,500 sq. ft. anti-bird strike film on the L Street bridge corridor, a regular fly-through zone for birds.

In 2019, Commercial Window Shield installed switchable smart window film on the convention center’s interior office and conference room windows. The film has an electrical component that is wired to a light switch. When the switch is on, the film remains clear allowing passersby to see inside. When the switch is off a decorative pattern emerges in the film, blocking views of the interior and turning the glass into a privacy wall.

Also in 2019, Commercial Window Shield installed decorative privacy film in two new office areas for employees.

The initial projects were part of a multi-year window films installation contract in which the convention center would retain Commercial Window Shield on an as-needed basis. The contract was renewed after expiring last year.

The blackout film installation project is the second task completed under the new agreement. In May, Commercial Window Shield installed removeable blackout film in an area of the convention center where there was ongoing construction that was visible from outside the building.

Convention centers are a growing segment of the window film installation market as building owners realize they need to secure windows in buildings that often contain a considerable amount of glass.  Energy efficiency is a reason convention centers are interested in the installation of solar control window film on their glass. A combined security/solar control window film often is the best solution for building owners interested in security and energy efficiency.

Previously, Commercial Window Shield installed security window film on 2,500 windows at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, where hurricanes are a constant threat.

With more than 40 years of experience, Commercial Window Shield is among the nation’s leading security window film, solar reflective window film and privacy/decorative window film installers.  Among its many projects in the Washington area, the company has protected windows at the U.S. Capitol, FBI headquarters, Pentagon, and all House of Representative and Library of Congress buildings. Nationwide, the company has completed projects at O’Hare International Airport, the Willis Tower [former Sears Tower], Grand Central Terminal, Merrill Lynch headquarters, and the Denver and Philadelphia mints.