Glass is one of the bigger decisions in a commercial build or remodel, and one of the easier ones to get wrong. It's the first thing customers see. It's where a real share of your heating bill goes. And in some spots, building code decides what you can install, whether you've thought about it or not.
East Side Glass has supplied and installed glass, windows, and storefronts across St. Cloud and Central Minnesota since 1953. Here's how we walk business owners through the choices before a single pane gets ordered.
The wrong glass costs you twice: once when it goes in, and again when it has to be replaced, upgraded, or explained to an inspector. A conference room everyone can see into, a storefront that runs up the heating bill every January, or a door panel that doesn't meet safety requirements usually traces back to a decision made early in the project.
The fix isn't complicated. It's asking a few good questions up front, before plans are locked and materials are on order.
Start with how the space actually gets used. Glass that works in a quiet office can be the wrong call for a busy retail entry or a warehouse with forklift traffic.
Each type of building puts different demands on its glass:
Lobbies, entry vestibules, and hallways take a beating. Glass there gets bumped by carts, leaned on, and pushed open with whatever someone's carrying. A private office or a secured back area sees far less abuse, so you can weigh appearance and light more heavily.
If your glass is at ground level, your building sits empty after hours, or you handle cash or valuable inventory, security belongs in the conversation. Laminated glass holds together in its frame when broken, which slows down forced entry. Tell your glass partner what's in the building and when it's unoccupied, and they can match the glass to the risk.
In certain locations, commercial glass has to be safety glazing by code. Minnesota’s building code, which is based on the International Building Code, lists these hazardous locations. They include glass in swinging doors and glass near a door, within 24 inches of its edge and less than 60 inches off the floor.
Both tempered and laminated glass count as safety glazing, but they work differently:
Some walls, doors, and stairwell openings require fire-rated glazing. The rating depends on where the glass sits and how your building is classified, and it's usually spelled out in the architect's plans. Bring it up early, since fire-rated products can carry different lead times and costs than standard glass.
Glass entries have to work for everyone who walks up to them. Door hardware, opening force, and clear width all factor into accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ADA-compliant automatic door openers are one of the most common ways businesses solve this at the front door, especially on heavy aluminum storefront entries.
Windows have an outsized effect on what it costs to heat and cool a building. A 2025 study from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that window upgrades typically cut a commercial building’s site energy use by 4% to 6%, and by as much as 26% in the buildings with the most room to improve. Through a Central Minnesota winter, that adds up.
An insulated glass unit (IGU) pairs two or more panes with a sealed space between them. That space slows heat transfer far better than a single pane can, which is why IGUs are the standard for exterior commercial glazing in cold climates. When the seal fails, you'll see fog or moisture between the panes, which is a sign the unit needs replacing.
Low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings are microscopically thin layers that reflect heat while letting light through. In winter they help keep heat inside, and in summer they cut down on solar heat coming in through south- and west-facing glass. Different coatings are tuned for different conditions, so the best fit depends on your building's orientation and how much sun it gets.
Higher-performing glass costs more up front. Whether it pays off depends on how much glass your building has, which way it faces, and how long you plan to own it. Ask for pricing at a couple of performance levels so you can compare the upfront cost against what you'll spend heating and cooling the space.
Good commercial glass, installed right, lasts a long time.
Entrances, lower panels, and anywhere near carts, dollies, or equipment need glass and framing built for contact. Tempered or laminated glass and heavier-duty storefront framing are the usual answers in these spots.
Some coated glass needs specific cleaning products, so ask about care before you choose. Our maintenance tips for commercial glass cover the rest.
The glass itself is rarely the first thing to wear out. Door closers, hinges, weatherstripping, and IGU seals usually need attention long before the glass does. Planning for routine commercial service and repair keeps small problems from turning into full replacements.
Your glass is part of how people see your business, from the parking lot and from inside.
For retail and restaurants, clear storefront glass lets people see what you offer before they walk in. Aluminum storefront systems frame that view cleanly and give you room for signage and window graphics.
Daylight makes a space feel bigger and more comfortable for employees and customers. The tradeoff is glare and heat gain, which a well-chosen Low-E coating and smart placement can keep in check.
Interior glass partitions keep an office open and bright without putting every meeting on display. Frosted, patterned, or textured glass gives you privacy where you need it while still letting light through.
Want to see glass options side by side? Stop by our St. Cloud showroom, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The glass matters, but so does who designs, orders, and installs it. A good partner catches problems on paper instead of on the job site.
A company that's been doing this a long time has already seen the mistakes, from glass ordered to the wrong spec to storefronts that weren't built for Minnesota winters. East Side Glass has 70+ years and three generations of family ownership behind it. Our project managers and installers have worked on many of the buildings around St. Cloud. That history is how we spot issues before they cost you.
Bring your glass company in early, ideally while plans are still being drawn. Product lead times, code requirements, and coordination with your general contractor all go smoother when they're sorted out before the schedule is set. At East Side Glass, one project manager sees each commercial job through from bid to install, so you're not repeating yourself to a new person at every stage. See how that works for new construction and remodel projects.
Come to your first conversation ready to cover these points:
The right commercial glass solutions balance performance, safety, and design. Those trade-offs are a lot easier to sort out on paper than on a lift, so call us while your plans can still change.
East Side Glass has helped Central Minnesota businesses get their glass right since 1953. Tell us about your project, and we'll give you an honest, free estimate. You can also browse completed projects in our commercial gallery or learn more about our commercial glass services.