NYC Regional City Program: Session 4: Façade Analytics: Who Owns It? Integrating Aesthetics and Performance

This presentation, presented by BuroHappold Engineering, will categorize façade analytics in terms of when, how and why analysis is implemented and by which parties (architect, engineer, façade contractor) identifying the overlap and gaps within the industry.

In today’s building industry, the façade of a building forms one of the major capital cost items, and is expected to fulfill a far more advanced role than that easily achievable with a traditional façade. High performance façade systems are expected to address multiple issues, such as aesthetics, thermal comfort, day lighting quality, visual connection to the outdoor environment, acoustic performance and energy performance.

Designing and constructing aesthetic and energy-efficient building enclosures requires careful integration of materials and assemblies as well as integration of the various disciplines on the project team to develop holistic design solutions that prioritize integration into the building’s systems. This is especially true when multiple façade elements and materials are selected to complete an exterior design scheme – metal, glass, GFRC, architectural shading devices – which bring with them a host of issues in constructability and combined performance.