A bench out of glass that's as resistant as steel

A PhD student in civil engineering at EPFL and a recent architecture graduate joined forces to make a bench out of exceptionally resistant glass. Several companies broke new ground in support of this highly innovative project. By combining her know-how with that of EPFL architect Alexander Wolhoff, Jagoda Cupa', doctor in civil engineering, has proven that glass can be transformed into an ultra-resistant material. Their project? Creating a six-meter-long glass bench named ATLAS. Several companies contributed to the project's success using processes and materials that were new to them. The ATLAS bench is a true technology prototype and will be on display for a semester at the Rolex Learning Center. In contemporary architecture, glass has long been used for so much more than just windows.