Journal Squared Tower 3

Journal Squared is a three-tower retail and residential complex at Journal Square in Jersey City, New Jersey. Journal Squared Tower 3 represents the final phase of one of Jersey City’s most prominent high-rise developments. Designed by Handel Architects in collaboration with Hollwich Kushner, the Journal Squared complex includes three towers offering a total of 2,000 residential, office, and retail units. Tower 3, which officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in November 2024, rises 60 stories and includes 600 residential units, making it one of the tallest buildings in the city.

GGI played a key role in bringing a refined, modern aesthetic to the building’s interior by supplying 5,300 square feet of custom-fabricated, white back-painted glass. Installed throughout the main floor—including ceilings and wall cladding in each building—the 1/4” low iron tempered and laminated glass delivers a bright, seamless finish. This high-quality glass enhances the clean architectural lines and reflects the elevated material standard that defines the overall design intent.

FEATURED PRODUCT

Back Painted
Laminated
Tempered Glass

Developer

Kushner Real Estate Group

architect

Handel Architects

General Contractor

Kre Group

Glazing Contractor

K2 Millwork

Location

Jersey City, NJ

Photography

Jeff Heckman

Learn More

The Journal Squared project spans a six-year timeline and includes two sustainable initiatives, one of which is achieving LEED® certification. As a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), GGI is committed to environmentally responsible manufacturing practices. For this project, GGI provided ceiling and wall cladding fabricated using low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) coatings. These coatings contain a reduced concentration of VOCs—carbon-based substances that can easily become vapors or gases—often linked to environmental and health concerns. In addition to using low-emission materials, the cladding is made of solid surface glass, which can be frequently cleaned and disinfected without compromising its finish. Together, these attributes contribute to a cleaner and healthier indoor environment.

"Working with GGI on the Journal Squared Tower 3 project was a seamless experience. Their labeling system was clear and precise, perfectly aligning with K2’s spreadsheet. The additional details GGI included on their standard product labels made the field installation of the 380 panels incredibly smooth. We were also assigned an in-house project manager who was always available and responsive, answering every call. GGI’s attention to detail and commitment to handling our instructions quickly—often by the end of the day—made the entire process efficient and hassle-free." — Gary Teyhen, K2 Millwork.

To meet safety glazing requirements for the ceiling panels, GGI utilized 1/4" [6mm] low-iron laminated glass with a .030" polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer back-painted with a custom white finish.

Developed by KRE Group and National Real Estate Advisors, the 2.3 million-square-foot Journal Squared complex features 53-, 60-, and 68-story towers—three of the five tallest buildings in Jersey City—rising above the Journal Square Transportation Center.

“The fabrication involved in this project was incredibly intricate. Every single piece of glass had either holes, multiple miters, internal cut-outs, corner notches—or some combination of all of these on one panel. It was a real challenge for our production floor and required alternate processes and creative problem-solving to complete each piece with the precision needed to bring every section of wall cladding and ceiling together with exacting detail.”— Maggie O’Connell, Project Management Supervisor, GGI

The white back-painted glass wall cladding and ceiling panels at Journal Squared Tower 3 create a stunning, modern backdrop—amplifying the warmth of natural wood finishes, the vibrancy of plant life, and the bold pop of bright blue accents. Beyond aesthetics, the glass delivers long-lasting durability and easy-to-clean, low-maintenance surfaces that will perform beautifully for years to come.

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