Parameters such as such as complexity, materials and finishes, performance, and magnitude and location of the project, the fa莽ade can account for anything between 20 and 30 per cent of the total construction costs.
Needless to say, that also represent a substantial part of the technical and commercial risk on any given project. Being the barrier between the outdoor climate outside and the conditioned interior, it determines the appearance of the building, and its performance relies on appropriate specification, design, and delivery of a multitude of components and systems.
The fa莽ade/structure interfaces are the perfect example of different systems engineered together 鈥渨here things always go wrong鈥. Successful projects generally depend on a high degree of collaboration across the design team and throughout the supply chain.
The people dealing with the architectural building envelope are usually referred to as fa莽ade engineers, becoming significaly important as part of each building project team, appointed to design and delivery of challenging complex architectural envelope designs.
What is facade engineering
But what is facade engineering? According to Society of Facade Engineers (SFE) Fa莽ade Engineering is the art of resolving aesthetic, environmental and structural issues to achieve the enclosure of habitable space.
There are numerous equally valid definitions apart from this one but the essential point here is the fact that fa莽ade engineering bridges across the more traditional disciplines that are architecture, structure, and services.
A qualified fa莽ade engineer inevitably has to address the differences in backgrounds and responsibilities of the professionals across a varied section of the building construction industry.
The beauty of facade engineering is that can be applied to various stages of the execution procedure. It can be carried out by architects in architectural practices, by engineers in consulting firms, and by expert technicians in different stages of the supply chain.
Usually the range of services constituting fa莽ade engineering is exemplified by the difference between on the one hand the design and specification of a bespoke solution, and on the other, the checking of a contractor鈥檚 design against a specification.
There is also a marked difference between, guidance on commercially available (standard) curtain walling systems and the bespoke engineering of a solution in response to an architectural vision and a set of client鈥檚 requirements.
Technological progress, industrialization of the construction industry and globalization means that the role of the Architect is changing from controlling the design from A to Z, to a role of orchestration of a multitude of specialist skills, knowledge, and industry intelligence.
Especially in modern building envelopes, there is a huge possibly to benefit from fa莽ade engineering input throughout the various stages of the design process. The first fa莽ade engineering are already 20 years old, formed in response to the need for expert input on technically challenging projects.
Fa莽ade engineering covers this very important 鈥榞rey area鈥 between the more traditional disciplines carried out for so many years but also overlaps significantly with all of them.
Many architectural firms nowadays have a 鈥榝a莽ade guy鈥 or a 鈥榮pecialist鈥 or an 鈥榚xperienced colleague鈥, who serves as the in-house fa莽ade engineer within certain limits set by the scope of the Architect鈥檚 work.
The effects of globalization pushed fa莽ade engineering a step further as multinational clients and investors, international design teams, and international fa莽ade procurement had to collaborate for large and challenging projects.
In the current financial status, the ability to deliver projects globally is of top importance and to this end, having the ability to understanding local conditions and market mechanisms is an asset.
While there is a significant element of global trends and exportation of technology from the more advanced markets, any project must be delivered according to local standards if any and in a competitive market. Therefore, the installation of building envelopes is typically handled by a local workforce.
This combination of an increasingly global demand for fa莽ade systems and local differences in procurement and design procedures means that Fa莽ade Engineering means different things to different people. That鈥檚 where 鈥榦ne size fits all鈥 definition of fa莽ade engineering comes out wrong.
With this is mind, fa莽ade engineering has been developed from a fast-growing industry to a must-have in its own right and fa莽ade engineers are constantly on the lookout for new ways to improve a building鈥檚 performance.
A facade engineer鈥檚 scope of work
A properly designed and engineered fa莽ade can help reduce the building鈥檚 energy consumption, improve natural lighting and offer a better airflow. This makes the fa莽ade of the building both functional and easy on the eye.
A well-engineered fa莽ade for a sustainable building will bring energy costs down considerably, and add to the lifespan of the building. Sustainability is clearly a key issue in today鈥檚 construction industry with many different products being used in ways and combinations that will hopefully bring about a lower environmental impact in the future.
Monitoring everything from the design phase through to the installation is essential as building envelopes are notoriously difficult to accurately predict. Making sure that the fa莽ade behaves in the way it is supposed to, can mean the difference between a successful project and an outright failure.
One more factor to be taken into consideration is the building鈥檚 use and occupancy status. It is down to the fa莽ade engineer to provide the future occupants with a comfortable space in which to operate, so everything from the amount of natural and artificial lighting requirements through to the noise levels from the external environment has to be taken into account.
Couple this with the green issues and the fact that the building will need to be able to blend into its surroundings and you can see why fa莽ade engineering poses so many challenges. Nevertheless, it is these challenges that make the job of a fa莽ade engineer one of the most important within the modern building industry today.
The GLASSCON Approach
GLASSCON apart from its holistic and turnkey solutions, also offers facade design and engineering as a separate and distinct service.
We assist Developers, Architects and Contractors and drive efficiency gains by constantly appraising and incorporating the most optimal design, latest research and most suitable technology.
We offer pre-tender and post-tender services which include the complete design of bespoke systems by engineering curtain walls, cladding systems, structural glass, skylights, BMU and many other facade components.
With rapidly-evolving cladding materials and techniques the global market demands more complex fa莽ade systems that require the attention of an expert engineering team to achieve the architectural vision whilst maintaining a cost-effective solution.
Our fa莽ade engineers work in close collaboration with other members of the project team to develop high-performance yet practical solutions.
Our process blends concept design, structural engineering, building physics and advanced modelling skills for efficient facade design and detailing.
See more of how we create added value to your project by downloading our brochure.
