ChromoGenics Launches North American Expansion

What do Sweden and Canada have in common beyond a passion for ice hockey and vast forests? Both countries navigate a climate that places extreme demands on modern architecture. Olivier Corbeil, an expert who has quite literally grown up in the architectural glass sector, understands these challenges well. With over 15 years of experience spanning manufacturing, installation, and business development for global giants like Saint-Gobain, he has seen the industry's limitations first-hand.

“I’ve believed in the potential of electrochromic glass for a long time, but many systems have been difficult to scale in practice. Fixed dimensions and highly centralised production models have often limited what architects and façade engineers could actually achieve with the technology", says Corbeil.

ChromoGenics takes a different approach to solving these scalability issues. Rather than managing the entire product chain inhouse, the company supplies its ConverLight® dynamic film to regional glass processors, who then laminate and assemble the final units locally. This decentralised model allows processors to work within established workflows while giving project teams more control over lead times and dimensions.

“This flexibility changes things quite a bit, as local processors can continue working within their established systems while project teams gain much more freedom regarding suppliers and customisation,” explains Corbeil.

The timing of the expansion reflects a broader shift in the Canadian construction sector. As cities like Vancouver tighten environmental regulations, rising summer temperatures are increasing the cooling loads on both residential and commercial buildings. Architects continue to design with larger glazed areas to maximise daylight, creating a dilemma that technology must now solve.

"Modern designs create fantastic spaces, but they also introduce challenges around solar heat gain that traditional glazing struggles to manage without forcing a compromise on transparency", says Corbeil.

Because Canada shares many climatic similarities with Scandinavia, Corbeil sees a natural fit for technology originally developed for Sweden’s demanding conditions. ConverLight offers a way to manage intense summer sun without losing the benefits of daylight and high-performance insulation during the freezing winter months.

"With freezing winters and intense summer sun, we share the same extremes as the Nordic countries. ConverLight offers an elegant solution that dramatically reduces heat gain while using minimal energy, making it highly relevant for the future of sustainable Canadian construction", he notes.

Historically, highly glazed buildings required property owners to prioritise one factor over another – usually choosing between energy efficiency, comfort, or unobstructed views. Traditional shading often blocked the view to save on energy, while clear glass led to overheating. Corbeil believes that the industry is no longer willing to accept these trade-offs.

"Expectations are higher today; people want façades that contribute to energy performance and comfort without making indoor environments feel closed off from the outside world", says Corbeil.

Over the coming year, ChromoGenics and Olivier Corbeil will focus on building partnerships with façade consultants, architects, and developers across North America. Corbeil expects the strongest interest to come from the healthcare, education, and commercial office sectors, where the quality of the indoor environment directly impacts operational performance and property value.

"People are starting to look at façades not just as static envelopes, but as active smart systems that influence comfort, energy use, and the overall quality of a building, concludes Corbeil.