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This chapter on Structural Design focuses on the comprehensive façade engineering and design for construction. Here, the conceptual façade developed in the previous stage is rigorously tested and evaluated through advanced technical lenses, including design for assembly and disassembly, glazing selection, structural thermal transmittance, embodied carbon, acoustics, structural verification, and fire safety
Part 1. Architecture Details and Construction
Part 1 of this work outlines a comprehensive design strategy for assembly and disassembly, driving the project's overall sustainability framework
Manufacturing, assembly and disassembly
The construction design is based on the off-site manufacturing of unitized façade panels and their external shading devices. These components are prefabricated separately, transported to the construction site, and assembled using dry hook-type connections, such as drop-and-lock systems. Once assembled, each complete unitized panel is lifted into position by crane and secured to the building structure using unitized brackets, anchors, and other mechanical fixings. As all connections are dry and mechanically fastened, the system can be easily disassembled for future maintenance, component replacement, refurbishment, or material recycling. This approach enhances construction efficiency while supporting the principles of adaptability, circularity, and sustainable building design.
Materials and Embodied Carbon
The two material options developed for the façade system are a standard embodied carbon option and a low embodied carbon option. A component-level comparison was conducted for each envelope element—including the shading devices, frame, spandrel panels, and glazing—using Global Warming Potential (GWP) values obtained from manufacturer-published Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). The assessment considers life cycle stages A1–A3, covering raw material supply, transportation, and manufacturing, to quantify and compare the embodied carbon of each material option.
Installation process
The installation sequence of the unitized façade panels is illustrated in the figure above. Each unitized panel is suspended from the floor slab using dedicated anchoring brackets. The panels are installed in a staggered arrangement, following the intended architectural design concept.
Part 2. Building Physics
In this section, calculations are performed to optimize the dimensions of the unitized panel materials to meet thermal transmittance requirements. While the complete analysis is detailed in the appended building physics report, key data are broken down here. In accordance with EN 13947, the overall thermal transmittance of a single unitized module is determined by the area-weighted thermal transmittance of its transparent and opaque elements, combined with the linear thermal transmittances of the frame. The U-value of the functional unit is calculated using the area-weight formula:
The frame
To accurately evaluate the thermal performance of the unitized module, the localized thermal transmittances of the various extruded frame profiles, as well as the linear thermal bridge coefficient induced by the IGU spacer, were calculated using two-dimensional finite element method (FEM) simulations in BISCO Physibel. Here is some example of the work:
The frame's length-weighted average thermal transmittance (2.462W/m2k) is the value carried forward into the module U-value calculation in previous chapter.
The Glazing Unit
General characteristics of reasonable glazing are explored above, all of them must have a U_value of around 1.06W/m2K. The proposed baseline stratigraphy was simulated using GlassAdvisor software to extract precise luminous, thermal, and mechanical properties. However, to determine the specific manufacturer, and determine the optimal insulated glass unit (IGU), a comparative analysis was conducted evaluating high-performance glazing products from four leading manufacturers: AGC, Guardian, Pilkington, and Saint-Gobain. Table below summarizes these performance metrics:
Guardian was selected as the optimal glazing provider for the unitized facade system, utilizing the Float UltraClear substrate paired with the SG SNX 50 solar control coating. By providing the lowest solar factor (g = 24%), the Guardian configuration minimizes solar heat gain on the highly exposed southeast (SE) and southwest (SW) orientations, directly reducing summertime peak cooling loads and thermal discomfort....
Find a comprehensive technical report here (update soon)
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