A PRESENTATION BY: OLIVIA MURPHY, GENIECE SAMBOLA, MAGGIE GOODRICH, & ANNA BEDWELL

DSNI 322

CURTAINWALLS

WHAT

are

they

?"...any exterior wall that is

attached to the buildingstructure, but is not load-

bearing."

"These systems minimize airand water infiltration by

equalizing the...wind pressureson high-rise buildings."

"...designed properly, theyare beautiful and highly

functional in keeping the elements out and temperate

environment in."

The name curtain wall derives from the idea that the wall is thin and "hangs" like a curtain

on the structural frame.

WHER

Edo

the

y co

me

from

?

The first curtain wall (glass)

appeared inArchitect Willis Polk's

Hallidie Building inSan Francisco in

1918. New

technology in the1930's created

way for curtain wallsto be constructed

with sheet metal.

Largeareas of glass

became possible in the1950's with the newly

invented float process.

Today,buildings faced with

curtain walls are associated with

modern, commercialarchitecture.

1. Anchors

2. Mullion

3. Horizontal Rail

4. Spandrel Panel

5. Vision Glass

CURTAIN WALL COMPONENTS

HORIZONTAL

VERT

ICAL

MULLIONS

RAILS (typically

frame shortdistance from

mullion tomullion and

transfer weightof glass tomullions)

Curtain Wall in Plan

THERE ARE FIVE CONSTRUCTIONSYSTEMS FREQUENTLY USED:

WHILE THERE ARE MANY VARIATIONS,

UNIT PANELSYSTEM

UNIT MULLIONSYSTEM

STICKSYSTEM

COLUMN COVER& SPANDRELSYSTEM

POINT-LOADED STRUCTURAL GLAZINGSYSTEM

**

*

*MOST COMMON

STICKSYSTEM

Installed pieceby piece at the

site.

The systemcomponents

are shop-fabricatedand shipped.

Low shipping costs

Permits a greater degree of on-site

adjustment ascompared

to the othersystems.

Disadvantage:

Longer on-siteassembly time and more on-site labor

than the other systems.

UNIT PANELSYSTEM

Consistsof framed

wall units thatare shop fabricated,preassembled and

generally pre-glazed

Unitsare designed so

that the vertical and horizontal members inadjacent units interlock

to form commonmullions and

rails

Greaterdegree of quality

control resulting fromshop fabrication

Disadvantages:greater shipping cost

(added bulk from assembledunits), more protection

needed, lower degreeof field

adjustment.

POINT LOADEDSTRUCTURAL GLAZINGSYSTEM

Thesesystems are

anchored onlyat specific

points

The glass thickness

in these systemsis considerably

larger

There aretwo basic

glass applications:vertical glazing &

sloped/overhead

glazing

Disadvantage:They develop stress

when loaded with loadeduniformly distributed

surface pressure, like wind loads

IMPLICATIONSSPACE

Curtain Walls are used to create sleek and emphasized facades.

& REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

AERIALWORK

PLATFORMSCRANES

GLASSVACUUMLIFTERS

FINISHINGEQUIPMENT(WRENCHES,

SCREWDRIVERS)

IMPLICATIONSDESIGNER

What must adesigner consider? SystemType

to Use

ThermalPerformance

Visual(Daylight)

Sound

Safety Maintenance  Durability

EXAMPLESON CAMPUS

CHBS Building

Young Hall

CONCERNSCURTAIN WALL

QUALITYCONSTRUCTION

& QUALIFIED TEAM

Even the bestdesign will failif not properlyimplemented. Experienced

architects, craneoperators,

contractors andproject managers

are necessary for successfulcompletion.

MISALIGNMENT

Errors may occurwhen laying outthe structural

framing system orproblems between

the buildingstructure & C.W.

tolerances. Properfield measurements

& application is imperative for a

uniform aestheticappearance.

REGULARMAINTENANCE

In order to keep out moisture

and wind, a sealant must be applied to the perimeter, &

must be replacedevery 10 years or

so.

(Now you do )

DIDyou know...

THE MOSTairtight & weather resistant

cladding andexterior wall system available?

the curtain wallis