James O’Callaghan
Since March 2019, James O'Callaghan (1971) has held the new part-time chair of Architectural Glass at the Faculty of Architecture. A successful continuation to his visiting professorship in 2016-2017 as part of the Visiting Professor-program. In a specially developed GlassLab, he conducts research on innovative glass products and constructions for the built environment.
O'Callaghan is the founder/owner of the British design firm Eckersley O'Callaghan. Additionally, he serves as the lead designer at Apple and engineer behind, for example, the groundbreaking glass structures of Apple's flagship stores and the Atlassian Tower in Sydney (read here). His wide recognition in the field has led to numerous awards, including the Milne Medal for Excellence in Structural Design from the International Association of Bridges and Structures (2016), the Phoenix Award (2017), and the Gold Medal from the Institute of Architectural Engineers (2019). In 2018 he became Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Furthermore, he is part of the Board of Directors of the British Design Council, the HS2 Design Panel, and the South East Design Panel.
James O'Callaghan came to Delft as a highly respected designer to further explore the possibilities of glass as a construction material in an academic environment. The GlassLab plays a crucial role in this endeavour.
GlassLab
The GlassLab became operational in 2023. Thanks in part to the Excellence Fund, two unique devices have been purchased: a 5-axis waterjet for working on glass and a 3D Keyence vhx-7000 high-resolution digital microscope for studying the edges and meso-structure of glass. The microscope is also crucial for assessing the properties of recycled glass products, for which prototypes are being developed at TU Delft. In a specially set-up workshop, the various aspects of prototyping can now be carried out on-site. The microscope is unique to TU Delft, the waterjet cutter is even unique to the Netherlands. In 2025, the glass experiments in the GlassLab led to a new discovery: flat glass cut with a water jet is, on average, just as strong as conventionally processed glass. This is a relevant finding, because cutting with a water jet enables more complex shapes, simplifies production and thus opens the way to new applications in construction.
Sustainable construction
The lab facilities have facilitated the attraction of NWO funding totalling €1 million for two glass research projects. The ‘ReSolve’ project investigates new glass connection typologies, such as soldering non-glass elements to glass.
This could allow thinner glass (and thus less material, making it more sustainable) to be used for similar purposes. The UPCAST Glass project looks at optimising cast glass as a new building material using recycled glass.
Practical versus academic
‘My position at TU Delft provides me with a mechanism to address the issues I see emerging in the professional arena,’ says O'Callaghan. ‘In a way, it allows me to take the trends and issues I see offline and study them in more detail through targeted research. My own design firm takes pride in research being the core of our innovative power. However, that is not the same as having access to an academic landscape like that of TU Delft, with an extensive internal network of experts in particular areas. As an ecosystem, they provide a powerful environment with which we can address the challenges of sustainable building with glass.'
‘We can develop even more beautiful glass connections that enable us to create even more elegant and ambitious glass buildings, but ultimately, we fall short with that,’ says O'Callaghan about the desired impact of his research. ‘I feel the responsibility to focus on how glass can contribute to intelligent buildings in a world where energy consumption and CO₂ emissions need to be significantly reduced.’
Recycled glass in the construction chain
The built environment is one of the major contributors to climate change and therefore a key lever to make a difference for the future. Despite the fact that the professional practice also feels this responsibility, significant research investments are needed to develop more sustainable (CO₂ neutral) materials. Like research into glass as a sustainable and circular building material. The material itself is indeed 100% recyclable. Yet, in the built environment, less than 10% is recycled or reused. There are several technical barriers to this. Therefore, this research also seeks ways to incorporate more used or existing glass into the construction supply chain. This reduces the need to produce more glass, including the energy required for it.
Control of light and energy
In addition, it is important to control glass not only structurally but also energetically and thermally. Ultimately, glass must be able to keep energy out of a building and also absorb energy, becoming adaptive. Under O'Callaghan's leadership, research is being conducted on how glass can be enhanced with intelligent support systems to moderate the energy passing through it while maximising visible light.
For a growing ecosystem
The ecosystem in which this research can take place is growing. There is not only exchange with other universities but also with the construction and design practice. For example, students from TU Delft gain practical experience through internships at Eckersley O'Callaghan. Requests for help from the industry also provide stimulants for research. Ultimately, the research results can benefit numerous stakeholders outside the university, such as in the design, engineering, planning, and manufacturing industries. Therefore, it is expected that the research group will continue to grow over the next 2 years with an increasing amount of research and broader industry support.
O'Callaghan’s Personal Passion Pride
‘The success of both research and education is a combination of decisiveness, courage, and curiosity about the behaviour of materials. Don't force projects into the mould of established theoretical knowledge and practical methods. But keep asking questions with the curiosity of a 5-year-old. Always remain thorough, fearless, and curious. You get better results when you view all projects from those three perspectives.’
‘Best glass experts are at TU Delft’
With the investment from the Excellence Fund, the GlassLab has been developed, a facility that TU Delft did not have before. ‘This has definitely contributed to obtaining new funds,’ says O'Callaghan. ‘In the design practice, you rush from project to project and use existing techniques to design solutions. There is no money and time for developing new ones. But practical problems should be solved in a research environment. From that point of view, TU Delft is a very interesting place. Thanks to a broad spectrum of knowledge areas and a track record in materials research that exists nowhere else in the world. I was immediately attracted to the energy TU Delft invests in glass technology. However, we must remain fresh and relevant; after all, we aspire to the second place in the QS ranking for Architectural & Built Environment. The best experts in the world for this ambition are here at TU Delft!’
World's largest and most sustainable tower
Atlassian, an Australian-American software company, is building a new global headquarters in Sydney: almost 200 metres high, with 41 floors. Upon completion (in 2026-2027), it will be the tallest hybrid tower in the world, built from solid wood, steel, concrete and glass. This will achieve ambitious sustainability goals, including a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to traditional construction methods. O'Callaghan played a crucial role in the design of the tower, which embodies his vision of sustainable construction. O'Callaghan: 'This project was only possible thanks to a visionary client, with whom we were able to collaborate at an early stage. Had we been brought in later, we would not have been able to achieve the same goals. From procurement choices, such as sourcing steel from low-carbon regions, to fire regulations and construction logistics – every decision in such a situation must be made with sustainability in mind.'