New Design Tools & Materials Assist New Glass Design
As a designer of commercial buildings in all areas for the past twenty years, I can honestly say that the learning curve seems to slope ever-steeper. Whereas in the past, simple curtain wall and glass panel construction was a modern marvel, these days have ushered in new concerns about sustainability and practicality that embody the modern architectural vision that older construction methods made too expensive to be pragmatic on any wide scale. New design and construction methods, along with strong concern for environmental factors both inside and beyond the realm of the specifically architectural have led to new design solutions for glass buildings that expertly balance the needs of users with concerns for the environment: interests which the modern ideals tell us should usually align.
Specifically, to address some of the concerns about temperature control associated with regular glass curtain wall construction, the implementation of double façade design not only provides a buffer against sunlight, it also adds a sense of spaciousness and makes functioning windows more practical and cost effective. For one, the buffer between the skins provides for circulation and the ability to keep windows open year round. What’s more, coupled with composite windows, the outer façade not only has the ability to reflect sunlight and prevent the ‘incubation’ or ‘greenhouse’ effect of traditional architecture, it also provides for privacy and is far less costly in terms of the carbon footprint required for its production and the other environmental costs associated with glass manufacturing and transportation.
For all its benefits to users and the environment, double façade construction is not without its drawbacks. From beginning through design, planning, prefabrication, and construction, this desirable method for construction is more complicated than its traditional counterpart. Thankfully for architects like me there is a suite of software tools that customize the drawing environment, visual objects, planning tools, and specification systems in such a way that is consistent with the needs of an architect who frequently works with glass façades. Whether it’s simulating the thermal impact of different sizes and types of composite windows, or putting together cutting specs and plans for contractors assembling the façade, the suite put out by Glazier makes it easier for me to realize the modernist dream and put my clients into a building they can use and enjoy sooner, and at a lower cost to them. I highly recommend that anyone who frequently works in glass use tools suited to the job to make designing more accurate, more considerate of needs (with thermal simulation, etc.), and easier.
