by Christy Heitger-Ewing | photos by Nolan Calisch
An Indiana University botany professor had a clear vision in mind when he elected to build a private home nestled in a serene, wooded area on his family farm located on the outskirts of Monroe County. He envisioned a bright, airy retreat with strong connections to the natural surroundings; magnificent views of both the gorgeous countryside and Bloomington’s stunning skyline; a vaulted, two-story integrated greenhouse at the heart of the home. To achieve this dream, he contacted Loren Wood Builders, a premier design-build firm with a reputation for creating high-end, detail-oriented projects. The professor tasked LWB with designing a home that would maximize natural light, provide modern comfort, and offer seamless indoor outdoor living. The LWB design team welcomed the opportunity.
“We embrace projects that are challenging and architecturally unique,” says Wood. “This job checked all of those boxes.”
Partnering with McComb Pella played a critical role in bringing the homeowner’s vision to life. LWB was faced with balancing modern aesthetics with the natural setting, and selecting materials that blended harmoniously with the environment. Pella’s standard high-end line of windows operate at such a high level that LWB was able to create the right greenhouse environment while also creating passive and active lighting necessary in the main house.
“Greenhouses have wild temperature swings throughout the day, making them either too hot or too cold,” says Wood. “The task here was figuring out how to not just make a greenhouse climate that was functional for the plants but also comfortable for the homeowners.”
McComb helped make this lofty vision a reality by strategically placing large, energy efficient Pella windows around the home to maximize natural light, create expansive views, and enhance the home’s energy efficiency. The glass elements and design details create a unique, light-filled space for relaxation and gardening year-round.
Window design and construction has come a long way in the past 30 years in terms of the efficiency, size, coatings, and materials.
“With these bigger, more sophisticated window packages, we have an opportunity to invite the outdoors in,” says Wood. “We also can capitalize on how the home sits on the land, how we access the views, and the natural light without compromising the energy efficiency or comfort level of the home.”
LWB, who has partnered with McComb Pella for the past 15 years, says they are a trusted, next-level service provider who offers product recommendations, logistical support and expert installation guidance. When there is a complex installation, McComb ensures that everything looks good and functions well.
“McComb does quality control to support us in making sure we don’t miss something that has the potential to cause warranty or maintenance issues down the road,” says Wood. “They are proactive on that front.”
In addition, McComb Pella installs multi-slide, large format, or multi-panel windows to make sure that the install meets factory specs.
Finally, there’s the service that McComb Pella provides to homeowners once they move in.
“That’s the piece most people don’t look at when picking a window supplier, but McComb will be there anytime anything comes up, including maintenance and warranty issues,” says Wood, noting that this partnership sets a standard for future projects.
“The benefits of working with dedicated, skilled collaborators like McComb Pella make us a better team so that we can deliver a quality experience to our clients, day in and day out,” says Wood. “McComb came in on this project and really helped us knock it out of the park.”
If you would like to learn more about how Loren Wood Builders and McComb Windows & Doors can bring your dream project to life, contact them today.
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825 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite C
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
900 S Walnut Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47401
