Modern Architectural Design And Engineering Features

A modern city skyline at night is a stunning array of light, form, color, and architectural marvel. Often we admire the design and form of modern skyscrapers and high rises and wonder at the engineering feats of the builders and architects. What we're not as aware of, however, is that often, the part of the building we view and admire is the result of the hard work of a facade or curtain wall designer and engineer.

The facade of a building is typically the front exterior side but often the sides and rear of the building as well. Since the exterior facade is the first thing you visualize, it is important in setting the tone for the building and communicating the architect and builder's intent. (The word facade is French and means "face" or "frontage.")

A curtain wall is a type of building facade that most people are used to seeing in modern architecture, particularly in skyscrapers and high rises. It is not designed to carry any structural dead load from the building other than its own dead load, but it is designed to resist water, air, and wind infiltration and a curtain wall often spans multiple floors.

The development of steel and reinforced concrete allowed modern architecture to expand from the previous centuries, where the nature of available materials made it necessary for the exterior walls of a building to bear most of the load of the structure. However, with the invention of these modern building materials, exterior walls could be non-load bearing which led to the invention of curtain walls. Typically designed with a frame of extruded aluminum members, curtain walls are often infilled with glass.

The first curtain wall in New York City, the Lever House designed by Gordon Bunshaft, was built on Park Avenue in New York City in 1951-1952. After its construction, many of the corporation headquarters on Park Avenue adopted this type of design for their buildings. Another famous example of curtain wall design is the Bauhaus in Germany, where the famous Bauhaus school of design originated.

Curtain wall and facade engineers collaborate with other members of the architectural design team to balance the overall appearance of the building. The also ensure durability, cost, and safety are in line with project design. A facade or curtain wall engineer must have a blend of essential skills like structural engineering, materials science, building physics, project management, construction techniques, etc.

With all the design and engineering that goes into the exterior facades of modern building, viewing the beauty of a night skyline should have new meaning.