Benton Duthie, Head of B2B Property at O’Brien Glass, challenges retailers and landlords to see glass differently. Beyond repairs, he highlights how smart glazing solutions can enhance safety, efficiency and design – turning glass into a strategic asset for future-ready retail spaces.
When most people think about glass in a retail setting, their minds tend to go straight to repairs – a broken window, a late-night make-safe, or a quick replacement after damage. While this remains a critical part of keeping retail spaces safe and operational, it’s only one part of a much broader picture. In today’s shopping centres, glass plays a far more strategic role – shaping customer experiences, enhancing security, supporting compliance and enabling smart, flexible design.
For shopping-centre owners, landlords and facilities teams, glass is no longer just about protection from the elements or visibility. It’s increasingly central to how spaces look, feel and perform. Whether it’s creating striking façades, improving interior flow with partition glazing, or integrating advanced security systems and next-generation glazing solutions, the role of glass in commercial environments is evolving rapidly.
At O’Brien Glass, we’re working closely with our commercial partners to help them plan, design and implement these changes – often well before any glass is broken.
And that’s the real shift: Glass is no longer just something to fix. It’s something to plan for.
Glass With A Purpose
Having spent more than six years working closely with the retail property sector, I’ve noticed a shift in how glass is perceived. Where it was once seen as a passive, functional building material, there to enclose a space and display product, it’s now being recognised as a dynamic tool to influence customer experience, reduce risk, support sustainability goals and drive efficiency.
Retailers and centre managers are asking smarter questions:
- Can my glazing improve the energy performance of my building?
- Can I use glass to create a more distinctive aesthetic?
- Can partitions maximise flexible leasing?
- Can we protect tenants from smash-and-grab incidents without compromising the look of a frontage?
In many cases, the answer is yes, with glazing solutions that provide an added layer of deterrence and resilience.
Smarter, Safer, More Stylish Spaces
Glass today does more than look good or keep the weather out. It defines brand, enhances safety and supports flexibility.
Let’s say you’re planning a new precinct, revamping an ageing façade, or repurposing an underused tenancy. Instead of defaulting to generic glazing, we can help you explore options such as:
- Internal glazed partitions with aluminium frames for flexible tenant layouts
- Security-grade anti-intruder doors that still maintain an inviting retail look
- Balustrades and decorative glass that double as safety features and style statements
- Solar window film or tinting that can help reduce energy consumption and glare
- Customised mirrors and coloured glass panels to elevate interiors or create zones
Where the project requires, O’Brien can provide end-to-end service – from consultation and design through to installation and aftercare – with full compliance to Australian Standards.
And for shopping centres, that ‘fit for purpose’ mindset is critical. When you’re balancing multiple different tenancies, each with their own requirements and aesthetic direction, your glazing solutions need to be versatile, durable and future-ready.
Future-Ready Innovation
One of the most exciting areas we’re seeing momentum in is emerging glass technologies.
From energy-efficient films to acoustic glazing and even switchable panels that shift from transparent to opaque, advanced solutions are already here. They allow spaces to adapt instantly – whether that’s a retailer creating an immersive launch, a fitness studio switching between open and private classes, or a medical tenant ensuring confidentiality.
At O’Brien, we’re constantly scanning the horizon for what’s next. As demand grows for flexible, tech-enabled environments, advanced glass solutions will only become more standard. And these aren’t for the next decade, they’re increasingly used now in forward-thinking spaces.
We’re not waiting for the future – we want to help clients adopt these innovations now, so you’re better prepared for what’s next.
Reassurance and Readiness, Always
Of course, when glass does break, speed and safety still matter. That remains a cornerstone of who we are.
Our 24/7 Customer Solutions Centre ensures businesses have access to certified glaziers across our nationwide network. We’re not just sending a technician – we’re sending in an expert trained to follow compliance and safety protocols. That’s what makes the difference when you’re operating in a live shopping environment.
We’re also called upon to conduct glass safety audits – helping landlords and managers identify non-compliant panels or outdated installations before they become a risk. It’s a proactive approach that can support risk management, may assist in discussions with insurers, and ultimately helps protect people. Beyond safety, audits also give centre managers the insight they need to prepare and plan – to build multi-year upgrade programs and budgeting for future compliance with confidence.
It’s Time to Think Differently about Glass
Glass isn’t just something you install and forget. It’s a living part of your environment – one that can attract customers, enhance safety, create ambience and evolve with your tenants’ needs.
For over a century, O’Brien has built trust through craftsmanship, responsiveness and integrity. Looking ahead, those values remain at our core as we embrace innovation, integration and insight to meet the future. We’re not just a service provider, we’re a strategic partner for retailers who are ready to see glass not just as a surface, but as a solution.
So next time you walk through your centre, ask yourself: is your glass working as hard as it could? If not, we’re here to help change that.
- This article was first published in SCN magazine – Mini Guns 2025 edition
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