Founding Story
Charlie Rizzo founded Skyline in 1983 with a $5,000 loan from his father and a vision for innovative craftsmanship. He was joined by Nick Corriero a few years later as the business started to grow.
Initially, the company specialized in thematic fabrication, creating unique pieces like sarcophagi for Luxor Casino in Las Vegas, a giant bagel for a bakery in Chicago, and a baseball player for a stadium. Alongside these creations, the company developed Lumicast, a poured resin product embedded with natural fibers, grasses, flowers, and printed or painted designs.
However, the company became concerned about the environmental impact and health hazards associated with fiberglass and resin, prompting Skyline to explore more environmentally conscious materials, processes, and products.
These experiments led to the creation of Greenplay, a line of children’s furniture made from non-formaldehyde plywood, recycled plastic bottles (HDPE), and low-VOC coatings.
In the early 2000s, we made the bold decision to shutter the fiberglass-heavy thematic fabrication division and focus exclusively on decorative glass, one of the most sustainable and versatile building materials.
Learn more about our sustainability story.
Design Collaborations
Soon after, Skyline launched its first pattern collaborations on glass with designers Laurinda Spear and Gensler, setting the stage for annual partnerships with renowned designers, artists, and photographers. These collaborations, including work with the estate of Alexander Girard, Patricia Urquiola, Suzanne Tick, KnollTextiles, Maharam, and Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, have since become a cornerstone of Skyline’s product innovation and artistic legacy.
Under One Roof
Over the years, Skyline continued to innovate, introducing Eco-etch, digital printing, and lamination and expanding its product offerings to include glassboards, mobile boards, and technical products like smart, acoustic, and security glass.
Significant investments were made to grow the company’s manufacturing capabilities, allowing Skyline to fabricate and decorate glass entirely in-house at its 150,000-square-foot Chicago facility. Every piece of glass is now cut, tempered, polished, laminated, and decorated under one roof, reinforcing Skyline’s commitment to local manufacturing and high-quality craftsmanship.
Skyline’s dedication to sustainability is evident in their ongoing innovations, such as the introduction of a PVC-free window film and the addition of smart glass to their product offerings. These advancements demonstrate Skyline’s continuous focus on environmentally responsible practices and product development.
Four Decades Of Craftsmanship
In 2023, after more than 30 years of working alongside Charlie, Vipul Bhagat, who had been a pivotal force in shaping Skyline’s innovations, was named President & CEO.
“Happily after 40 years at the helm, I was ready to step away. The one person I knew could take Skyline to the next level and continue its legacy was Vipul.” – Charlie
Under Vipul’s leadership, Skyline is poised to further its commitment to sustainability, craftsmanship, and innovation while honoring the integrity that has defined the company for over four decades.
Learn more about Skyline.
Timeline
1983 / Charlie Rizzo founded Skyline Design with a vision to create innovative decorative solutions.
1984 / The company began producing Lumicor fiberglass artwork and Lumicast architectural decorative poured resin for walls.
1988 / Skyline Design expanded its offerings to include glass etching, and texture on glass
1998 / Skyline Design moved to its current 150,000 square foot facility in Humboldt Park, just a few blocks down the street from the company’s original locations.
1999 / The company introduced a retail line of decorative mirrors, Coda, highlighting artists and glass and mirror decorative capabilities.
2000 / Skyline Design partnered with Laurinda Spear and Gensler for its first pattern collaborations, setting the stage for annual partnerships with designers, artists, and photographers, including the estate of Alexander Girard, Patricia Urquiola, Suzanne Tick, KnollTextiles, Maharam, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, and over 30 more.
2004 / Introduced Greenplay, a line of children’s furniture made from non-formaldehyde plywood, recycled plastic bottles (HDPE), and low-VOC coatings.
2005 / Developed Vitracolor, a low-VOC, water-based back-painting process.
2006 / The company discontinued Lumicast and Lumicor products, shifting its focus entirely to glass.
2007 / Skyline Design began offering digital printing capabilities on glass.
2010 / Introduced glassboards and mobile boards
2016 / Made significant investments to enhance glass fabrication capabilities, including tempering, polishing, cutting, and laminating.
2021 / Launched PVC-free window film, reinforcing the company’s commitment to sustainability.
2022 / Introduced smart glass technology, enhancing functionality and design.
2023 / Celebration of 40 Years and passing ownership