To accommodate its growth, Constellation Brands built a new world headquarters -- allowing the company to consolidate its employees in one location and permit for future expansion. Large-format tiles from the Extreme series from the American-made Modono Glass Tile Collection were incorporated into the room design.

Large-format glass tile from the Extreme series of the Modono Glass Tile Collection brings a shimmering effect to the company dining room at Constellation Brands world headquarters in Victor, NY.


Due to the size of the large-format glass tile as well as the coating that is on the glass, much consideration had to be taken before the start of the installation. Each cut-to-fit panel was butted to each other for a seamless installation that did not require grout.

Founded in 1945 by Marvin Sands, Constellation Brands was started as a small family owned wine company based in Canandaigua, NY. In more than 60 years, the business has exploded, and today, it is ranked as a S&P 500 Index and Fortune 1000 company with approximately 4,300 employees, sales in about 125 countries and operations at approximately 30 facilities. To accommodate its growth, Constellation Brands built a new world headquarters -- allowing the company to consolidate its employees in one location and permit for future expansion. A key component to the facility’s design is the company dining room, which is also utilized for hospitality events. Large-format tiles from the Extreme series from the American-made Modono Glass Tile Collection were incorporated into the room design -- contributing to the overall warm and chic ambience of the space.

To assist with the tile selection process, Constellation Brands sought the advice of Carrie Fazio, who designed the Modono Glass Tile Collection -- produced by Applied Coatings Group of Rochester, NY. “Constellation asked me to come in and take a look at the plans,” explained Fazio. “They wanted me to determine a pattern and color that might work in their employee dining space. They also do a lot of events there as well.”

Based in Victor, NY -- just outside Rochester near the Finger Lakes region of Central New York State -- the new world headquarters is situated in a picturesque setting, according to the designer. “Their whole plan in designing this particular building was to try to harness the beauty of the natural surroundings,” she said. “They have amazing views from almost every office space throughout the building.”

With its reflective qualities, the large-format glass tile brings character and some sparkle to the dining room. “This particular space is interesting because it has a tremendous view and lots of windows, but very little ambient light,” explained Fazio. “Mondono tile was perfect because it doesn’t need a lot of light to illuminate the tile.

“One of the things that I had talked to Constellation about was to look at the outside views,” the designer went on to say. “I told them to look at what the natural colors are and look at something striking that enhances that or reflects what is going on outside.”

After accessing the space, Fazio decided on the “Treviso” pattern in the color “Sunrise” from the Extreme series in the Modono Glass Tile Collection. “I chose ‘Sunrise’ for the color, which has red, yellow and orange in combination,” she said. “I thought it would work really beautiful, especially in the fall. It also works terrific with the finishes in the space.”

The colorful glass tile was employed for the face of the bar as well as a couple of partition walls. “We identified where the tile would most likely benefit the room best,” said Fazio. “Since Constellation is a wine importer, they wanted to focus on the bar area. That is truly the focal point without it being directly in the middle of the room.”

A critical part of the job was laying out the tile prior to installation, according to Chris Leva, President of E.G. Sackett Co. “Honestly, placement and layout were the most important,” he said. “It was the first time I laid a tile like that. It was pretty wild when I first saw it. Precision was crucial.”

The installation

Installation of the large-format glass tiles -- ranging in size from 12 x 24 to 12 x 28 inches with some “cut to fit” on site -- were installed by E.G. Sackett Co. of Rochester, NY. The installer worked closely with LATICRETE International of Bethany, CT, as the company’s installation products were used for the job.

Due to the size of the large-format glass tile as well as the coating that is on the glass, much consideration had to be taken before the start of the installation. The Applied Coatings Group coats the inside of the glass with an optical thin film that controls the transmission, reflection and absorption of specific light wavelengths (color). The specific light source, the angle of the light source, the angle of the viewer and the texture (pattern) of the surface will all affect perceived color, according to the manufacturer.

Greg Sherwood, the LATICRETE representative for the project, explained that testing was done on Modono glass tile at LATICRETE’s facilities to determine what product would work best. “Tim Bergin, Technical Services Supervisor, oversaw testing to get approved installation materials specified,” he said. “We did testing with premium white polymer fortified thin-set mortar and found it applicable for large-format glass tile.”

In the end, it was decided that LATICRETE Hydro BanTM, a thin, liquid-applied waterproofing and anti-fracture membrane, and LATICRETE 254 Platinum, a one-step polymer fortified thin-set, were the most suitable for the installation. “We have had great success with 254 Platinum,” said Sherwood.

Sherwood collaborated with the install crew from E.G. Sackett Co. when deciding on what specific products to use. “It was a joint decision to use LATICRETE products,” said Chris Leva, company president. “They recommended us for the job. We double checked that it was the right products. Greg helped us decide.”

According to Leva, a critical part of the job was laying out the tile prior to installation. “Honestly, placement and layout were the most important,” he said, adding that the company’s technician on the job was Jeremy Pete. “It was the first time I laid a tile like that. It was pretty wild when I first saw it. Precision was crucial. We are used to being precise, but this was extremely precise. It’s not that every job isn’t very important, but this was a very important high-end headquarters for a Fortune 500 company.”

The focal piece of the space is the bar, which features the large-format glass tile in the color “Sunrise” and pattern “Treviso” on two 3- x 3-foot corners below the actual bar surface. LATICRETE Hydro BanTM was applied over a pre-finished plywood substrate and then the tiles were installed with LATICRETE 254 Platinum.

The large-format glass tiles were installed in three different areas of the dining room. The first step required treating all three different substrates with LATICRETE Hydro Ban, which is Greenguard certified.

For one section, the LATICRETE Hydro Ban was applied over an exterior glue plywood substrate. The large-format glass tile was then installed on all three sides of an end wall in the cafeteria/kitchen area of the dining room leading to the bar. The next step was to apply LATICRETE 254 Platinum over the LATICRETE Hydro Ban and place each cut-to-fit panel -- butting them to each other for a seamless installation that did not call for grout.

For the bar -- the centerpiece of the room -- the two 3- x 3-foot corners below the actual bar surface feature the Modono glass tile. LATICRETE Hydro Ban was applied over a pre-finished plywood substrate and then the tiles were installed with LATICRETE 254 Platinum. Additionally, the back wall behind the bar consists of 10 individual 12- x 24-inch glass panels -- five on each side -- that were laid over a drywall substrate protected by LATICRETE Hydro Ban. The installation was then completed with LATICRETE 254 Platinum.

“Adhering the tile to the substrate was a challenge,” said Leva. But careful planning and execution made for a successful installation. Two installers from E.G. Sackett Co. completed the glass tile installation in four days.

Installation Details

Installer:E.G. Sackett Co.; Rochester, NY
Installation Products:LATICRETE Hydro BanTMand Laticrete 254 Platinum
Number of Installers:2
Installation Time:4 days