Intelligent Glass Solutions
DÃœSSELDORF ~ LONDON ~ MADRID
Autumn 2019
INTELLIGENT GLASS SOLUTIONS Autumn 2019 www.igsmag.com
WOMEN
SHAPING our WORLD Martha Thorne
Dean of IE School of Architecture & Design & Executive Director of the Pritzker Prize
An IPL magazine
Birgit Horn
Project Director of glasstec 2020
plus
Agnes Koltay, Astrid Piber, Eilis McShane, Anna Wendt, Aulikki Sonntag, Valerie Hayez, Tugba Okcuoglu, Viviana Nardini, Miriam White, Chiara Bedon, Helen Sanders, Emilie Develle, Becci Taylor, Valerie Block, Elena Zanette, Rebecca Gabriel & Maria Jasiewicz
CASE STUDIES – TRANSPARENT ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES
Building: V on Shenton, Singapore Photo: © Darren Soh Courtesy of UNStudio
intelligent glass solutions | autumn 2019
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CASE STUDIES – TRANSPARENT ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES
INSIDE THIS ...“the larger question is across all professions and all of society. That said, the history of the profession of architecture and the organization, or structure of the profession, has meant that it is more readily available to clients who have the ability to pay for its services” Professor Martha Thorne - Page 20
“Focusing on the darkest remnants of our global racist, sexist, homophobic, criminal past, uncovers a shameful history of oppression, inequality, and injustice. This does more harm than good by perpetuating the barriers to entry for young female architects and engineers and discouraging them from even attempting to enter what’s seen as a “gentleman’s world” Maria Jasiewicz - Page 8 “One Blackfriars sits elegantly on the Thames and no one can fail to stop and marvel at the complex geometry of the Cap. The resolution of this complex geometry required intense collaboration between architect, structural engineer and specialist subcontractor and shows how far integrated design has developed with regard to façade technology ensuring design reaches the highest level of excellence” Eilis McShane - Page 42
“In my opinion, glass is already a very powerful material. It is amazing how many functions it can perform. It offers light and supplies mind opening views, safe surroundings and protection. It enables us to build beautiful and functional buildings. Glass is an enabler or even an all-rounder that allows us to combine different properties with each other” Birgit Horn - Page 48
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CASE STUDIES – TRANSPARENT ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES
ISSUE “...when designing facades for shopping malls, you are not tasked with reflecting the values of only one brand, but of many brands housed in one building. As such, the new mall, with its collection of retailers, still needs to become recognised and to stand out as a brand in itself, and as a destination of choice” Astrid Piber - Page 54 “The selective coated glass (solar control + low emissivity) helps improve the energy efficiency of a building while offering optimal comfort all year long, regardless of temperature fluctuations. Glass helps to both lower heat loss in winter and the need for air conditioning in the hottest summer months. The interior space remains bright while maintaining a temperature that is more acceptable than if standard uncoated glass was used” Émilie Develle - Page 112 “I cannot be more disappointed when I see engineers sitting at the meeting table and not saying a word. The opportunity is yours, use it. I am not a believer in artificial gender based empowerment, but I am a huge believer in merit based empowerment. I had my fights and had the situations when you wonder a bit. But we all have these fights here and there - Just deal with it” Agnes Koltay - Page 28
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CONTENTS AU T U MN 2019
2 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Quotes from Authors and articles within the pages of this issue 7 STRUCTURAL SILICONE GLAZING Valerie Hayez of Dow Silicones Belgium 8 BREAKTHROUGH The “glass ceiling” has been ceremoniously smashed and the glass industry is now merit based. Read this gripping report by Maria Jasiewicz of IPL
EX ECUTI V E COMMENTA RY 20 THE BIG INTERVIEW **COVER STORY** Professor Martha Thorne, Dean of IE School of Architecture tells us that Architecture is a service to humanity
SH A R ING PER SONA L E X PER IENCE & K NOW LEDGE 28 I HAVE NEVER BEEN A MAN Agnes Koltay shares her story and experience of working in construction 34 THIS IS A MAN’S WORLD Miriam White explains that women engineers have always been essential
42 SHARING 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE Eilis McShane has worked with some class acts over the years, what she doesn’t know, might not be worth knowing 48 QUALITY TIME WITH BIRGIT HORN We learn what makes glasstec the FIRST date we put in our diaries every 2 years
C A S E S T U D I E S – T R A N S PA R E N T A RCHITECTUR A L STRUCTUR ES 54 FROM WINDOWS TO FAÇADE DISPLAYS Astrid Piber says Facades for retail outlets have to satisfy more than just one brand 62 PERMASTEELISA’S INTEGRATED APPROACH Elena Zanette reveals the secret formula behind the success of the mighty Permasteelisa Group 68 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM Learn how the new generation of façades create identity, atmosphere and improves performance from this expose by Anna Wendt of Buro Happold
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CONTENTS AU T U MN 2019
A DVA N C E D G L A S S E N G I N E E R I N G 77 EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY Rebecca Gabriel says adapt to future-tec or get steamrollered. “If you’re not part of the steamroller you’re part of the road” 82 RESEARCH DRIVEN DESIGN Aulikki Sonntag takes us into her confidence and explains what’s going on inside the science laboratories. Smart Living is the in thing. 90 VIBRATION OF GLASS WALKWAYS An important study assessing the vibration comfort of pedestrian systems as explained by Chiara Bedon 94 BUILDINGS BORROW MATERIALS Tugba Okcuoglu sets out the parameters for how the glass industry can benefit from the circular economy 99 ADHESIVES FOR BLAST SCENARIOS According to Viviana Nardini polyurethane technology offers new possibilities in terms of high strength gluing for glazing under extreme conditions 105 SPEC THE EDGE Dr.Helen Sanders makes clear why the U-factor is key in hot climates as well as cold climates 112 ANALYSING THE STATUS OF GLASS Émilie, Technical Advisor at Guardian Glass discusses the complexities of glass, a material used in abundance, but often misunderstood 120 FACADES FOR EVERYONE An absorbing article by Becci Taylor of ARUP that says façade design shapes the future of our cities 124 LAMINATED GLASS COMES OF AGE Valerie Block was born into a glass laminating family. Like a lamp that shines in the darkness she can see where the industry is going. Pay attention when her lips move.
Front Cover Image: Professor Martha Horne & Birgit Horn Photo: Courtesy of the ladies themselves Intelligent Glass Solutions is Published by Intelligent Publications Limited (IPL) ISSN: 1742-2396 Publisher: NIck Beaumont Accounts: Jamie Quy
Intelligent Glass Solutions
DÜSSELDORF ~ LONDON ~ MADRID
Autumn 2019
INTELLIGENT GLASS SOLUTIONS Autumn 2019 www.igsmag.com
WOMEN
SHAPING our WORLD
Editor: Sean Peters Production Manager: Kath James Director of International Business Network Development: Roland Philip Manager of International Business Network Development: Maria Jasiewicz Marketing Director: Lewis Wilson Page Design Advisor: Arima Regis
Design and Layout in the UK: Simon Smith Intelligent Glass Solutions is a quarterly publication. The annual subscription rates are £79 (UK) , £89 (Ireland & Mainland Europe), & £99 (Rest of the World) Email: nick@intelligentpublications.com
Published by: Intelligent Publications Limited, 3rd Floor, Omnibus House, 39-41 North Road, London N7 9DP, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 7703 487744 Email: nick@intelligentpublications.com www.igsmag.com
Martha Thorne
Dean of IE School of Architecture & Design & Executive Director of the Pritzker Prize
An IPL magazine
Birgit Horn
Project Director of glasstec 2020
plus
Agnes Koltay, Astrid Piber, Eilis McShane, Anna Wendt, Aulikki Sonntag, Tugba Okcuoglu, Viviana Nardini, Miriam White, Chiara Bedon, Helen Sanders, Emilie Develle, Becci Taylor, Valerie Block, Elena Zanette, Rebecca Gabriel & Maria Jasiewicz
IGS_AUG2019.OFC v4.indd 1
The entire content of this publication is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. None of the content in this publication can be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form, without permission, in writing, from the copyright owner. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, however the publisher does not accept any liability for ommissions or inaccuracies. Authors’ views are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher.
06/09/2019 16:56
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CASE STUDY
Durability of Silicone Structurally Glazed Façades exposed to extreme windload conditions
Valerie Hayez Dow Silicones Belgium
Introduction The use of Structural Silicone Glazing (SSG) has become ubiquitous in the world of enclosure design and construction and as such is well recognized by many building designers for offering high degrees of design freedom through its capacity to transform the exterior aesthetics of the façade by making vertical framing components disappear [1, 2]. The SSG façade of today not only provides appealing aesthetics to the building, but also has the capacity to protect the building from daily environmental conditions, such as rain, UV and wind in a durable way. Two recent research projects [3] have studied the durability and 6
service life of SSG sealants and structures. One study developed, in partnership with the Federal Institute for Materials Research Berlin/ Germany, a new performance-based durability test method based on simultaneously exposing system test specimens to artificial weathering and complex, multiaxial mechanical loadings. Two-part structural silicone sealants were subjected to this test, which is considered to correspond to an anticipated service life of 50 years. The other study demonstrates, that specimens of a first generation 2-part silicone sealant taken from an SSG façade after 23+2 years of real life, including quite harsh climatic conditions, with severe wind-driven rain
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exposure, high radiation heat gain (during days) and loss (during nights), and frequent freezethaw cycles, successfully passed the European ETAG002-1 [4] performance criteria for residual strength. The provisions made in the ETAG002 are based on an assumed service life of 25years, hence this further confirms the capacity of SSG to reach 50 years’ service life. Depending on projects’ geographic locations, façades can however be exposed to exceptional windloads such as typhoons or hurricanes. This article highlights the durability of the SSG performance subjected to extreme windload conditions through a few case studies of the Asia-Pacific region.
CASE STUDY
study published in ‘Nature-Earth’ indicated that since 1977, higher sea temperature levels due to global warming resulted in typhoon strength increases of 12-15% in the Pacific Northwest area [5, 8]. According to the research results of the typhoon impact on Asia-Pacific region, China has the tallest buildings – both existing and under construction - and has observed the highest annual economic loss because of typhoon activity, damage, and related disruptions [6, 9]. SSG was introduced to mainland China in 1980s and its use spread rapidly with the growth in the design and construction of these popular high-rise buildings and façades throughout the whole country, especially in economically fast-growing areas, like East China and South China which include the cities of Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The following case studies review the performance and durability of SSG façades in these cities exposed to frequent typhoons. Case studies Exchange Square, by architects Palmer and Turner and façade contractor Gartner and Builders Federal, is one of the first SSG projects in Hong Kong constructed in 1984.
Figure 2: Two Harbourfront, Hong Kong after typhoon Mangkhut. The glass is broken but still retained by the silicone bonding to the frame along the unit perimeter
Extreme windloads Typhoons or hurricanes are tropical cyclones and only differ in the location where they occur. In the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific, the term hurricane is used. The same type of disturbance in the Northwest Pacific is called typhoon [5]. Typhoons typically form and make landfall in the Pacific/South China Sea region from the months of July to September, which accounts for an average time of 76% of the total formations in a typical year [6, 7]. Statistically, the coastal region of South China experiences the most frequent typhoon events, accounting for 60% of the total area for the whole year. A
Figure 1: Exchange square, Hong Kong.
These 200m high towers comprise two-sided structurally glazed facades using DOWSIL ™ 795 Silicone Building Sealant. The monolithic glass is 1600 x 1280mm bonded with a 40mm structural sealant bite to resist a design windload of 5.1kPa. This structure has been in place for 35years and has withstood more
than 100 typhoons since its construction in the 80’s, including the recent passage of Typhoon Mangkhut in September 2018. Mangkhut was the fifth tropical cyclone affecting Hong Kong in 2018 and according to the Hong Kong Observatory, it was the most powerful since records began in 1946 as the intensity of the storm required the highest typhoon signal to stay in place for 10 hours. Peak intensity reached an estimated maximum sustained wind of 250 km/h near its centre. Whereas Exchange Square withstood Mangkhut without damage, Two Harbourfront in Hung Hom was less fortunate (Figure 3).
Figure 2: Two Harbourfront, Hong Kong after typhoon Mangkhut. The glass is broken but still retained by the silicone bonding to the frame along the unit perimeter
The façade of this 21-floor, 69m high building by DLN Architects was erected by Far East Aluminium in 1993. The curtainwall has units of 1.5m by 3.035m, which were structurally glazed on the verticals with DOWSIL™ 983 Structural Glazing Sealant. The design windload of 4.5kPa resulted in a joint of 25mm bite. As the typhoon Manghkut passed by, most of the glasses were damaged due to unlocked openable windows, flying debris impact and extreme glass deflection. However, the pictures clearly demonstrate that the silicone maintained the glass bonded to the frame around its perimeter. A field deglazing exercise was performed on several broken units at different locations of the façade to verify the performance of the silicone after 25 years of service and exposure to extreme climatic conditions with severe wind exposure and high radiation heat gain. Peel tests on the samples confirmed cohesive failure. Samples of aged silicone were collected from the broken units and prepared in H piece shape in order to verify the maximum tensile strength at break after 25 years’ service. Adhesion loss was again cohesive for all tested samples. Continued on page 41
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BREAKTHROUGH
Architect, or engineer… …will do just fine Maria Jasiewicz
W
e open this incredible issue of IGS by reiterating the words published in the New York Times (Sept.14th 2018), “architecture was long called a gentleman’s profession”. For more than 130 years women have been highly active in the design and construction of buildings and yet have been rarely acknowledged as the original creators of what was often their own designs. In 1879, Mary Louisa Page became 8
the first woman in North America to graduate with an architectural degree; nonetheless, many architecture schools refused to admit women until the 1972 passage of “Title IX” (The Educational Amendment of June 23rd 1972 signed by President Richard Nixon), which forbade gender discrimination in federally funded education programs. Prior to World War 2, it was relatively easy to count the number of distinguished female architects on one hand. As late as the 1990s,
intelligent glass solutions | autumn 2019
the percentage of architectural firms owned by women in the USA was still in single digits. Today, female members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) represent less than one third of its total membership. In addition, online design magazine Dezeen, found that women occupied just 10% of the highestranking jobs. The first time a woman won the AIA Gold Medal, its highest honor, was in 2014. The recipient, Julia Morgan, had been dead for 57 years.
BREAKTHROUGH
Zaha Hadid, Image copyright of Steve Double
People used to think women did not have enough logic. Well, that is absolute nonsense. I don’t know the ego of a man or how their mentality works, but there is no difference at all in capability, not formally in terms of the buildings at least. There might be differences in women’s leadership qualities or in their ego issues, but we can design in the same way if we have the chance” Zaha Hadid intelligent glass solutions | autumn 2019
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BREAKTHROUGH
The Smile. Image courtesy of Alison Brooks
Mary Louisa Page, ca. 1878. Courtesy of the University of Illinois Archives
this article has touched upon. Due to lack of space, not lack of importance, we cannot cover all aspects in detail in this issue, I leave this for another time and another place, maybe our website. We could fill this magazine from cover to cover with charts and figures that substantiate the fact that women have been, and still are, underrepresented in the world of architectural design and construction. The opening paragraph of this introduction paints an admittedly broad but rather bleak picture of the state of equality and female empowerment within the architectural sector, a brush that could easily be used to tar related industries including engineering, construction, and indeed our own beloved glass industry.
Alison Brooks. Image courtesy of Alison Brooks Architects
In 2018, assumptions that women would quit to marry or have children, that they would be unable to command authority on job sites, or even that their creativity was not up to scratch, persisted, resulting in unequal pay, no recognition and limited access to top job opportunities. There is no single, or simple, explanation for this. And I shall not attempt to provide one in such a short space, nor is there an easy fix. The challenge, said Ila Berman (Dean of the University of Virginia School of Architecture) in an interview with Allison Arieff published in the NYTimes on Dec.15th 2018, is to “change 10
a culture that will only be changed through representation, when 50 percent of the people in the room are women.” The tentative good news is that it’s happening. Groups and individuals have pushed gender equality to the forefront of mainstream discourse and rightly so. From the AIA-led Equity by Design which has been working to address “pinch points” hiring and the glass ceiling, to institutionalised laws that promote best practice in recruitment, retention and promotion in the field. There is a strong revolution that seeks to balance the imbalance
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But is this the story we should be telling? Focusing on the darkest remnants of our global racist, sexist, homophobic, criminal past, uncovers a shameful history of oppression, inequality, and injustice. This could do more damage than good by perpetuating the barriers to entry for young female architects and engineers and discouraging them from even attempting to enter what’s seen as the “gentleman’s world”. At this point I would like to draw your attention to the sentiments of the lamentably, late, Zaha Hadid; being a female architect was not an association she was keen to emphasise, “an architect would do just fine”. Hadid’s phenomenal success, as well as her forthright views on the significance, or insignificance of her femininity, have come sharply into focus in a political and cultural climate where gender equality issues have surged to unprecedented prominence. Herein
BREAKTHROUGH New Artist Residency in Senegal. Photo Credit Iwan Baan
I want to be a good architect who has a meaningful impact. I don’t want to be known for being a good woman architect.’ Architecture needs to look like the world it serves, and that’s everybody”
Aqua Tower. Image credit Hedrich Blessing
Deborah Berke, Dean of Architecture at Yale
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BREAKTHROUGH
The Shed. Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Rockwell Group. Image © Iwan Baan
lies the philosophy of this Foreword and ultimately the crux of this issue: Talking about gender in the professional field is not a matter of classifying and differentiating women in the subject of their profession, it’s simply about recognizing the work for what it is, and there you have it. We need to call out the systemic issues in these industries that are perpetuated time and time again, and then repeated again and again, subsequently forming a barrier (and powerful deterrent) to many talented women advancing through the ranks. These issues need to be discussed and approached thoughtfully. This includes addressing wage inequality, institutionalised sexism and inappropriate behaviour, along with adjusting long standing, deep rooted attitudes. But I believe re-defining success, means looking to the present, not the past. To me, this is the beginning of change. Instead of asking “Why is there inequality?”; start writing about women, exhibiting their skills, illustrating their achievements and telling their unique stories. Show their successes and their reinventions of practices, show how they forged their own paths, and then let success lead the way, it speaks very well for itself. This, I believe is the key that will empower, excite and inspire the female youth of today to fall in love with this industry and thereby reach their full professional potential.
What does change look like? It looks like this: Writing and talking about myriad women who are doing exceptional, sensitive, and important work while simultaneously running businesses, acting as caregivers, giving time to mentor, and yet still doing things that “normal” people do . Long-standing custom gives strong resistance to change, but it will be subdued by a better habit. Once we truly acknowledge the talents and capabilities of all people regardless of gender, colour, sexual-orientation, religion or background, we open the door to welcome an exciting future of new change, fresh innovation and sustainable growth.
Pritzker Prize winner Kazuyo Sejima
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We should be talking about the intrepid trailblazers of today. Elizabeth Diller, Founding Partner of Diller Scofidio + Renfro designed the Shed at Hudson Yards, a newly completed multi-disciplinary arts center in Manhattan. Deborah Berke, the first female Dean of Yale’s School of Architecture; Jeanne Gang, Founding Partner of Studio Gang who first captured widespread attention with the rippling balconies of her 2010 Aqua tower; New York architect Toshiko Mori designed a school for the remote Senegalese village of Fass pro bono; Pritzker Prize Winner Kazuyo Sejima, Founding Partner of the Tokyo based firm SANAA; Alison Brooks, creator of The Smile pavilion for the 2016 London Design Festival and a 2017 A+Award Jury Winner. Several of the USA’s most prestigious architectural programs, including Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell, the University of Virginia and the University of California, Berkeley, have in recent years appointed women as Dean or Director. Toshiko Mori’s monograph conveys a strong imagery that should fuel attitudes toward careers in architecture and related fields: “Architects cannot be defeated by disappointments. The profession requires mental strength, good health, and especially a strong stomach. An unlimited amount of optimism, a healthy dose of idealism, high energy and high spirits help us to persevere through difficult circumstances.” There is no question that these industries are tough and thus need to be infused with this kind of motivation. So, let’s hear some of these remarkable success stories from these gifted women, these architects, these engineers, these glass industry professionals…These Leaders! MLK said “Privileged classes won’t give up their privileges voluntarily, you have to fight for it”. It’s clear the continuing fight for women to smash their way through all different types of glass ceilings in all different types of industries is working, the proverbial glass ceiling is cracking under relentless pressure, so tread carefully, there are splinters on the sidewalk.
BREAKTHROUGH
Toshiko Mori Image credit - Kris Snibbe (Harvard Staff Photographer)
According to a survey concluded in 2014 by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), the biggest obstacle in women’s climb to the top is confidence, not gender. The report states that women managers tend to lack self-belief and confidence at work when compared with men. The advance of women to company boardrooms is slow not because of discrimination, but because of the decisions of women workers themselves. Women’s special contribution was seen by many as their ability to work collaboratively, creatively and non-competitively. This could be considered both as an advantage and a disadvantage. The idea is that women bring a fresh perspective to the table. The numbers look better if we widen the scope to include non-executive directorships to which women have the greater share. This includes part time roles that act as the checks and balances on the activities of full-time bosses. The survey involved 3000 respondents and revealed that on the whole women managers have a lower level of ambition and confidence than their male counterparts. The survey found that only 30% of women under the age of 30 expect to become senior managers, compared with 45% of males. Half of women managers said they have a high level of confidence, against 70% of men. 73% of women say there is a glass ceiling limiting their prospects of promotion, but only 36% feel their own careers have been hindered. Just 38% of men in this survey said they believe women are held back. Everyone has their own opinion, we’d like to hear yours on this article. You may have a completely different take on things or perhaps a new argument to bring to the table. Share your thoughts with us right here, the best replies will be published in our: Winter/December Glass Supper 2019 issue. Send your thoughts and comments to: Maria Jasiewicz at IPL Email: intelligentglassolutions@gmail.com
Jeanne Gang Image credit John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
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BUSINESS SUPPORT
New BBC HQ proves the Kawneer door to Cardiff’s heart Award-winning building features Kawneer curtain walling and debuts a new door. Two types of curtain walling, and entrance doors, by leading UK manufacturer Kawneer, including the first use in the UK of a new severe duty welded door, feature on an awardwinning building at the heart of the dynamic redevelopment of Cardiff’s Central Square. Kawneer’s AA®100 capped and zone-drained aluminium curtain wall, complemented by its SSG (Structurally Silicone Glazed) and mullion-drained sister product, have been used throughout the glittering façade of the striking new headquarters building for BBC Cymru at Three Central Square. They in turn are complemented by thermallysuperior AA®720 doors and the new dual colour AA®190 TB severe duty welded doors with classleading thermal performance that is so robust they are offered with a lifetime guarantee. The project, designed by Foster + Partners and built by main contractor ISG Construction for developer Rightacres Property, won a 2019 RICS Wales award for Design Through Innovation, and it is easy to see why.
The 2,000-tonne steel frame is an essential design feature, as part of the design’s focus on the building’s visibility. It is left exposed underneath a glass roof garden canopy supported by 10 28m-high supporting steel columns, with the frame’s connections forming a diamond shape in the centre.
Set over four floors, the building is the new home for 1,200 BBC Cymru staff and includes 16,292m² of curtain walling and 3,572m² of precast stone panels over 150,000ft² of office, studio and production space.
The building is designed to be open and welcoming – visitors can access the ground floor and look up through a full-height atrium into the working spaces above, as well as into a new café facing the square. The design
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also establishes a sense of openness and transparency between different departments to create new opportunities for collaboration and interaction. The heart of the headquarters is a 4,000m² ‘hub’ which extends across three linked levels and incorporates studios, offices and production facilities. The scheme includes a sheltered garden on the hub’s roof which is connected to a restaurant and provides a unique venue for filming as well as a valuable social amenity for staff.
BUSINESS SUPPORT
The project targeted BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ environmental accreditation with strategies such as chilled beams, locally-sourced and recycled materials, and an efficient envelope. Mechanical systems have been carefully integrated to create a highly flexible interior which can anticipate and respond to changing technologies. Adam Newburn, partner at Foster + Partners, said: “The Kawneer system was proposed by the façade contractor, Dudley’s Aluminium. We looked at the product closely and found that it met the performance requirements of the design.” The glazed elements are fundamental to Foster’s design which was to have large-format curtain glazing so the Kawneer products were instrumental in allowing that to happen. They met the aesthetic and performance intent of the design, enabling the design intent to shine through and integrating seamlessly with the rest of the façade. Located opposite Cardiff Central railway station, the project is situated on the site of the former bus station. Works on Plots 1, 2, 3 and 6 have completed, or are near completion, and works on Plot 4 are to start soon, and this will create a dynamic area known as Central Square. The innovative spirit of the project was defined by the BBC’s vision to be the most creative organisation in the world, its commitment to create genuine public engagement and the idea to create an open and attractive workplace. Broadcasting studios usually require a controlled environment for operations, yet the building manages to achieve the contrasting aims of the project to open up to the public as well as be a world-class broadcasting hub for BBC Cymru. RICS judges said the project created a dynamic principal building for the Central Square redevelopment and that the team behind it had created a “spectacular” commercial, pre-let building. Historically, Central Square was the site of the planned settlement of Temperance Town, a 19th Century inner-city suburb, which was demolished to make way for Cardiff bus station which opened in 1954, and office buildings. For many years the area suffered from a lack
of sustained investment. Despite its significant public transport attributes, it failed to deliver high levels of economic activity and provided an underwhelming and unwelcoming arrival for many visitors. The case for regeneration of the site was made because the existing underdevelopment was hindering Cardiff’s potential.
One of the primary aims of the project was to give back to the city and the relocation of BBC Cymru from Broadcasting House in Llandaff acted as a catalyst for change, creating the opportunity to regenerate the historic site and unlock the heart to the city.
Cardiff’s rapidly changing skyline reflects the capital’s huge economic growth over the past 10 years. Central Square is within the Central Cardiff Enterprise Zone which is already home to several financial and professional service businesses.
For further information, please contact: Jane Ashley Marketing Executive Kawneer UK Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 1928 502500 Fax: +44 (0) 1928 502501
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CASE STUDY
MAD Architects Design Glass Sailed Grand Theatre
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CASE STUDY
Y
iwu, in China’s Zhejiang province, has established itself internationally for its strong economy, as the world’s largest wholesale commodities market. Domestically, it is traditionally known as a city of trade, thus making it an integral part of the country’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative.’ While being a hub of growing international commerce, the city decided in 2018 that it would focus on culture to further elevate its soft power, and hosted an international competition to design the ‘Yiwu Grand Theater.’ MAD Architects, led by Ma Yansong, competed against four other global architecture firms, coming out ahead of Arata Isozaki & Associates, Atelier Christian de Portzamparc, GMP, and KDG, to secure the project.
Located on the south bank of the Dongyang River, the ‘Yiwu Grand Theater’ encompasses a grand theater (1600 seats), medium theater (1200 seats), and international conference center (2000 person capacity). Positioned with the mountains in the distance as its backdrop, and the water as its stage, MAD’s design responds to its locale, and appears as a boat, floating on the river. It is defined by a layering of glass sails that are reminiscent of the Chinese junks that once transported goods across the waters, while their subtle curves echo the Jiangnan-style eaves of the ancient vernacular architecture that is typical of the region. The transparency and lightness of the glass express the texture of thin, silky fabric, creating a dynamic rhythm that makes them appear as if they are blowing in the wind. They act as a protective canopy around the building, resonating with the river, elegantly floating above the water’s surface, setting a romantic atmosphere.
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CASE STUDY
To reduce overall energy consumption, MAD has conceived the theater with a passive solar design. Thus, the semi-transparent glass curtain wall has been developed to not only act as a shading system, but to also optimize the use of natural light within the indoor public spaces, forming a solar greenhouse effect in the winter. In the summer, it serves as the ventilation system, enhancing airflow circulation inside and outside of the building. Envisioned as a public space for the city, the ‘Yiwu Grand Theater’ is easily accessed from all directions. Vehicular transportation can enter from the south shore, while tree-lined foot bridges from the north offer pedestrians the opportunity to meander along the water and enjoy views of the city, theater, and greater waterfront as they approach the building. Emphasizing public interaction, the scheme features an amphitheater and large open plaza that extends into the water on its southern edge, while landscaped terraces offer elevated views of the site’s surroundings, and areas of quiet contemplation – an immersive natural experience in the urban context. 18
The ‘Yiwu Grand Theater’ has been designed as a monument for the city, that will serve to connect inhabitants to the waterfront from a new perspective. In its completion, it will stand as a world-class venue that will attract visitors from around the globe, putting Yiwu on the map as a cultural destination. Construction on the ‘Yiwu Grand Theater’ is expected to begin in 2020. Images courtesy of MAD
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CASE STUDY
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19
THE
BIG
INTERVIEW
Architecture - A sustainable service to
Humanity IGS brings you the words of authentic industry leaders so you can better understand these powerful lifetime influencers and how their minds work. In August we spoke with Professor Martha Thorne; Dean of IE School of Architecture & Design and, Executive Director of the Pritzker Prize Here are the essential passages from our exchange.
IGS: What are the main challenges for Architectural education today? MT: If I had to cite just three challenges of architectural education today, I would say technology, the need for more crossdisciplinary education and how to respond to real-world problems such as global warming. The onslaught of technology is changing the way we teach, learn, communicate, how we approach architecture and the structure and relationships within the architecture profession. 20
intelligent glass solutions | autumn 2019
THE
BIG
INTERVIEW
A second challenge is the tension between the traditional discipline of architecture and the new needs of society that could benefit from the processes and mindset of architects, and the third is the need for more holistic education. In some countries, architects are artists, in others great technicians, but in all cases, architects need to understand more deeply the context in which they are working, especially the economic or business context. Finally, at no time in history has our environment been under threat. The built environment is a major cause and potential solution to how we address and implement issues related to sustainability. IGS: How is the IE School of Architecture meeting these challenges? MT: We address these challenges in multiple ways. Perhaps the most unique ways are through our elective courses, a robust internship program, and blended learning. The electives are geared to allow students to intensively take a deep dive into, for example, landscape architecture, virtual reality or important fields adjacent to traditional architecture studies. The internship program allows students to work half a day and study online, in real-time with their teachers and classmates, the other half of the day. We find that a connection between academics and the professional world is more positive than taking a year off to work. Students more readily see the connection with what they are studying and can also bring real-world challenges back into the classroom for discussion. Finally, in all our courses, sustainability underpins the work and discussions of students and teachers alike. IGS: What words of wisdom do you give to your students in order to create a winning mindset on which they can build their careers? MT: Our world is changing, professions are evolving and new ones being developed, the way we understand work, education and leisure time is also undergoing major shifts. Given these changes, it is important that students have an entrepreneurial mindset, are flexible in terms of professional careers, and develop skills and talents that can be applied to the many new situations that they will be facing. Of course, it is necessary to approach any future professional challenge with a rigorous process and a highly honed skill set. In this vein, architectural education is especially relevant for its ability to get a grasp on complex problems,
undertake research, imagine alternative futures, and evaluate the options. Students learn to do this while including stakeholders, those who will be affected by the new project proposal or idea, in the process. I would encourage students to develop skills that allow them to embrace new technology which can help in gathering data and interpreting it to understand complex issues on one hand. And, on the other, I would also suggest that they develop the ability to listen carefully, to read between the lines when they hear someone speaking, and to think outside
of the box to question assumptions. By doing all this they can then use their creative spirit to suggest alternative paths for the future. In other words, knowing the tools of the trade (and there are many in the field of architecture and design) and combining these with soft skills that add value such as empathy, the ability to connect the dots and to not be afraid of criticism, throwing away ideas that don’t work and persevering until they are able to develop proposals that will meet multiple goals.
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IGS: Art, like architecture, is subjective. In your learned opinion, what makes great architecture? MT: First of all, I would disagree that art and architecture are subjective. Of course, there are individual interpretations both by the creator as well as by the client for the public. Not all expressions of architecture or all art are equal and we can certainly cite characteristics, especially of architecture which contributes to good architecture. We must remember that the purpose of architecture is to serve the public. It is created to serve someone outside of the architect or the team in a real way. In contrast, art certainly can contribute to the culture of a community or a city but it doesn’t have the functional imperatives that architecture does. When thinking about what makes good architecture, I believe that it must be a balanced combination of many things. Buildings and places must: serve their function well; do this sustainably; reflect the time and place in which the architecture is built; and be a good neighbor. Great architecture is also well constructed so that it will last. More and more we are evaluating architecture based on its entire life cycle performance, from cradle to cradle so to speak. Spaces created should communicate clearly to those who will use them, and include such values as protection, comfort, and be welcoming and understandable.... Finally, what separates great from good architecture is that which can touch the human spirit. IGS: AI, robotics, the IoT and digital transformation are all disruptive technologies. There is a danger that if we all use the same design engines, the same drivers, we will all make the same mistakes and buildings will become same old, same old, thereby stifling the talent of the individual. What are your thoughts on this? MT: Architects have never resisted technology. Just the opposite, they have often been leaders in the field. SOM created a computer group, an applied research group, back in the early 1960s. The design process, which embodies a spirit of invention and critique, can become even more powerful with the efficient and expanding use of technology, I do not worry about computers leading to uninspired standardized products. Rather, analyzing pertinent information rapidly, eliminate boring, rote tasks, and allowing the rapid sharing of information to all team members can lead to even better buildings and more creative architecture. 22
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IGS: You recently referred to Dieter Rams “10 principles of good design”. We are now living in a vastly different age, 50 years or so on from Rams, so please give us “Martha Thorne’s 10 Principles of Good Design”. A brand-new set of commandments if you will. MT: For architecture, I would still be guided by most of industrial designer, Dieter Rams concepts, who coined 10 principles of good design: innovation, makes a product useful, is aesthetic, makes a product understandable, unobtrusive, honest, long-lasting, good through to the last detail, environmentally friendly, and as little design as possible. Perhaps I would disagree that architecture has to be unobtrusive. Sometimes architecture can form a strong contrast with an existing environment or surrounding that then has the ability to communicate and heighten the appreciation of both the old and new. Likewise, as little design as possible, I would agree that architecture that calls attention to itself or the architect just for the sake of publicity is too much design. However, sometimes monumental quality is called for and architecture, at times, needs to be a symbol of a community, a moment in history, an event, etc. So, I would keep eight of Dieter Rams 10 Commandments for design and add that architecture must be a “good neighbor”. When a new building is erected, it must be very sensitive to its context and add something to the community in which it is located, beyond just the building itself. This “good neighbor” quality could be the addition of something physical, like public space or something less tangible, such as an appreciation of the history or people who live there. IGS: Moving forward, in the face of global warming and environmental degradation, what role do architects play in providing comfortable, habitable spaces for our future generations? MT: Architects are key players in helping us to find solutions for global warming. The profession as a whole and architects as individuals must take responsibility for what is built. However, it must be remembered that architects alone cannot change the world. While they may design our built environment, they do not commission it or pay for it. Therefore politicians, developers, other professions, and society in general, must do its part to take very seriously the threats of global warming and proactively provide the resources and legal
THE
and ethical frameworks to tackle climate change together. IGS: Architects have a reputation for being elitist, they’re called the “terribly terribly” brigade. Dollar bills and a “je ne sais quoi” sense of arrogance, Patrick Schumacher and his cringeworthy statement last year spring to mind. In your expert opinion, do architects have a moral obligation to provide affordable housing, in fact affordable work, rest and play to a large percentage of the world’s population that currently do not benefit from high performance mainstream all singing and dancing beautiful architecture? MT: Your question is interesting. You are asking about the moral obligations of a profession to contribute to equality and democracy. This situation is not exclusively limited to architects when the larger question is across all professions and all of society. That said, the history of the profession of architecture and the organization or structure of the profession has meant that it is more readily available to clients who have the ability to pay for services. As other professions such as health or education are often thought of as Universal rights, architecture has not fallen into that category. So what can architects do? As a profession, architects should communicate the value they are able to add to the built environment. Architects do not have more obligations than other professions to work pro bono or to provide services for the poor and disenfranchised. I do not believe that architecture has done a good job of communicating the value it can add to society or how the built environment can favor the health and welfare of all. We have allowed our profession to be seen as an extravagant luxury for the elite. There are a few architects who support this idea of being “the chosen profession for the chosen public,” but most architects view the profession as one of service. Refocusing the profession to communicate better and to be recognised as a field which can make huge and significant contributions to the betterment of society should be one of our goals. However, only when clients, politicians, and society in general demand good services from architects and are willing to pay them for their work, can we hope to be a profession for the majority and not for the minority, as it is today.
IGS: Not all architects regard folks less fortunate than themselves as something smelly that’s adhered itself to the bottom of their shoe, can you name one or two that have demonstrated compassion for the poor and needy in their work? MT: There are many architects and firms that contribute generously to that goal of “service to humanity”. There are different ways to do this and many different models. I will cite just a few. The practice of Alejandro Aravena, called Elemental, is a for-profit company with social goals. They are clear about what jobs they will take on and their backers and advisors help with their business model. Shigeru Ban tackles disaster relief projects by working pro bono. His
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high-end projects allow him a margin to work for free on others along with the collaboration of local firms and students, acting as “first architecture responders” to natural or manmade disasters. Austrian architect, Anna Heringer says that she “uses architecture as a medium to strengthen cultural and individual confidence, to support local economies and to foster the ecological balance.” She is invited by local authorities or groups at times, but often she does her own fundraising. Another model is that of Mass Design Group of Boston which has set up a not-for-profit structure within the firm, and at one time contributed 25% of its profits to respond to those most needy.
Spaces created should communicate clearly to those who will use them, and include such values as protection, comfort, and be welcoming and understandable.... Finally, what separates great from good architecture is that which can touch the human spirit.
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I believe that the glass industry has shown how it can evolve and innovate, more than some other industries related to our built environment. IGS: With 20/20 vision, what trends in architectural design can you see going mainstream next year? MT: Trends in architectural design that I hope go mainstream in the coming year are ones that have to do with sustainability. I think we will see an evolution both in conceptual approaches to architecture as well as the use of materials. All could contribute to making our buildings more sustainable in terms of resources used, in construction resources used in the life of the building, lengthening the life of buildings, and allowing them to be recycled more effectively. Technology, of course, is part of the equation. Prefabrication will allow us to save materials at the onset, it allows more precision in the fabrication of materials and therefore less waste on-site. Conceivably technology will allow us to set up movable factories so that we do not have to transport building materials over such long distances. There is no silver bullet, however, multiple steps used together will allow us to use our resources more widely as we move forward. IGS: And finally, what are your thoughts about glass as a structural material? Does glass perform enough functions to satisfy your own creative mind? Or is there something you would like glass to do that it currently does not do…to your knowledge? MT: Although I am not an expert, I believe that the glass industry has shown how it can evolve and innovate, more than some other industries related to our built environment. We use glass in numerous ways. It can be used structurally, as the “skin” or façade for buildings, as an additive 24
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to other materials for high-quality finishes, all in addition to the traditional uses for windows and doors. Glass is a very versatile and recyclable building material. What is even more exciting is how glass can contribute to realizing the “experiential” qualities of architecture. By using glass in creative ways, light becomes a defining quality of architectural space. Transparency allows for flowing spaces that can enhance the users’ experience in a building. I am sure that the glass industry will work more closely with others to find new uses and create even better, more sustainable products.
Prof.Martha Thorne will deliver an Executive Address at the Glass Supper in Guildhall, London on Tuesday 10th December
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FOR READERS>>> Our job is to improve the quality of life for the billions of people who will arrive in cities during the next decades by providing essential information, knowledge and tools for architects and engineers who will have the challenge to design habitats for them. Every day we receive architecture projects, news and technological updates from architects and engineers from all around the world; we curate and then deliver them through our deep database of projects, news, tools, images, drawings and products. Our carefully laid out website is easy to navigate and is separated into distinct sections: FEATURES The IGS features sections brings you the best of glass and facade architecture, Case studies, interviews, opinion pieces from thought leaders, and stunning architectural projects. Many of our articles are written by renowned figures in the industry, giving our readers insight to the thoughts and minds of key innovators in this transforming sector. PORTFOLIOS View past, present and future architecture from the leading architectural firms in the world. With amazing photography and comprehensive project descriptions, readers can access inspiration and knowledge from the best and brightest minds.
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FOR THE INDUSTRY>>> At IGS, we are always looking to showcase the best of the glass industry. We work with industry leaders to show the world your fantastic innovations in this transforming sector. From magazine partners, videos, full length editorials and adverts, we offer you the perfect platform to reach your audience‌ ADVERTS Full and half page adverts in our print edition, prime advertising banners on our website and newsletter sponsorships
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SHARING PERSONAL EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
ma
I have never been a Agnes Koltay Koltay Facades
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an he most difficult type of writing, is when you have the freedom to “write about anything”. There is so much to say, but where to start. To make it even more difficult, I was asked to pull away from my usual home territory, the technical façade related topics and façade engineering case studies and, I quote, “focus on your personal journey and story of building the company”. Not a single cold bent glass or unitized mullion.
So let’s start at the beginning. I was 7 and my father had this American friend of his. Sometimes he came home with a pile of National Geographic magazines. One of the issues had a fold out page, with a beautiful vertical image of the Chrysler building’s roof structure shining in the setting sun, the other side an interior shot of one of the upper levels of the Hancock building, which houses the pool area. There was a lone man swimming his early morning laps in clear blue water, blurry in motion, with the view of Chicago behind, through the floor to ceiling glazed wall. I was
The view from the soon-to-be infinity pool area of Sky View. This photo was taken at sunset over Downtown, where even more of our projects can be seen: from left to right: Address The Boulevard Hotel, Fountainviews, Boulevard Point, Burj Vista, The Opus. On all six listed projects, Koltay Facades provided façade engineering consultancy.
amazed beyond imagination. Firstly, I had never seen high rise buildings before, and secondly, I never imagined a pool being that high up. There was also a diagram explaining the mixed use building concept, but even as I kept looking at the article, this was as far as my understanding went, since I could not speak English in those days. Later, when I studied architecture in the USA, I went to the library and searched for this magazine. I like to finish things that I start, I managed to read it, finally, some years later. This is how my attraction to high rise construction was initiated. (And also, probably my appreciation of powerful photography). I studied architecture, but then immediately started working in façade detail design. While I enjoy good architecture, with its perfect harmonies, pleasing alignments and balanced masses; I like the rational, objective aspect of engineering. And that is exactly what façade engineering is all about, the perfect marriage of aesthetics and sound engineering. One cannot work without the other. Solutions and building details must safely work, provide air- and water tightness, corrosion resistance, durability, thermal and solar performance, and so on, but that is not enough. They must look nice, pleasing to the eyes. Subjectivity meets objectivity. After my second masters in Bath in Façade Engineering, I had a brief few years of working in London, before arriving in the Middle East. It was 2005 and the building boom had just started. That means working on several high rise projects simultaneously, on different phases. The speed of transitioning design stage into a building under construction and then reaching handover had been unprecedented to me. Seeing your designs implemented on site and learning the feedback is a rewarding experience. I am grateful for those years, gaining the same amount of experience in Europe would not have been possible in such a short space of time. I met with many excellent engineers, architects, main contractors, facade designers, glass processing specialists, and have been meeting them ever since! Technical confidence derives from background knowledge. However, successful façade consultancy is not purely about technical issues. There is a wider picture for every project, the interest of stakeholders, real and unreal time pressure, material availability, judgement of project and client priorities and judgement
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of risk, etc. The optimal outcome can only be reached by considering all these components carefully, in context. None of these should compromise critical technical aspects, but many times problems have multiple, equally good solutions, and finding one that does not create further problems is always a relief. In construction there should not be sides. Our work is frequently categorized based on our contract as Client side or Contractor side. It should not matter. Consultancy advice should help the project and be fair to all sides. I never really planned on having my own practice, it just happened. I ended up working at a very large multi-disciplinary company that acquired the midsize firm I joined, and was busy with my 80 emails a day and management reports. We were a small façade team swimming in the company processes set up for different business sectors. Then I opted for a holiday, two and a half weeks in Yemen. It was in December 2010. There was no data signal on the whole trip, only amazing nature, big green terraced canyons. Beautiful old multi-story adobe buildings, like gingerbread houses (I wonder how they look now?). Fresh air, the small traditional villages, colorful glass inlay work windows, qamariya, that makes you smile every morning when you wake up to see the colored light spots dancing around the room. The smell of bokhoor from the incense burner. With no emails, I was forced to live in the present and enjoy the surroundings. Think about what is important and what is next. What feeds happiness. What keeps the flow. Is that the 80 emails? I came back to the company and resigned. Some are cut for corporate type work, I was not. I like to do meaningful things. I like to feel passion around me, need to feel that my passion could find ways to be received, it is not just a faint diminishing wave in an infinite space. Large companies can have immense power to do things that require large capabilities. For good façade engineering, you need a small team, good internal communication, mutual respect of each other’s strengths, the rest is distraction. A few more months, and I went travelling around more, to come back and try my own consultancy firm in May 2011.
Address The Boulevard Hotel, 368m tall tower in Dubai. Koltay Facades provided façade engineering and façade access strategy consultancy from schematic stage until handover.
A photo taken during a photography trip to the unique Lake Baikal. Photography is a great tool helping to notice the beauty of nature.
It was the peak of the financial crisis and not many projects started. It gave me time to settle the idea. By the time the new wave of Dubai construction intensity started, the company was ready to deal with anything. Opportunities were everywhere. 30
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I am of course proud of where we are now. Two offices in Dubai and Singapore, presence in London, projects in almost all continents, and most importantly….excellent colleagues. It is hard to find a favourite project, I have too many. Many of our landmark projects are located in Dubai. The 368m tall Address The Boulevard Hotel was one of the major new projects with design starting in early 2013 and handed over in 2017. Three towers for Fountain Views and the 4th one, Boulevard Point are in the last phase now, at the other end of Dubai Mall. Burj Vista, 2 towers, 20 and 70 floors, with interesting positive-negative massed façade was handed over in July 2018. The twin towers of Sky View, connected with a 3-story skybridge, and including a glazed floor observation deck and other tourist attractions is aiming at an end of 2019 handover. Vida Residences, another 58 floor building reaching 240 meters. These are a few of the projects right around Burj Khalifa, by Dubai’s prime developer, Emaar, where we had involvement from the design stages. Typically, we follow through the building to handover. These projects will be on every postcard and coffee table book and magazine in Dubai, so of course we are very proud of our contribution.
A photo taken during a trip to Iceland. Trips to remote nature balances city life and intense work involvement well.
The Opus, 20 floor office and hotel building in Dubai. Koltay Facades provided façade consultancy. The darker, freeform geometry “void” façade includes flat, curved, cold bent, double curved glazing.
There are some projects we worked on that were quite advanced in terms of technology required to realize the project. Zaha’s The Opus was initiated back in 2006, then started on site after the financial crisis in 2015. It has double curved glazing, in an extremely freeform geometry. The project provided the opportunity to carry out extensive research and independent testing on behavior and design of cold bent unitized panels. Another interesting project we worked on is Museum of The Future, by Killa, a large egg shaped structure clad with double curved stainless steel faced GRP (glass reinforced plastic) based units. The units are typically 9 meters x 2.2m, and each are completely different in shape. We have freeform geometry on various buildings, such as the newly proposed glazed Foster+ Partner’s tower in Budapest, the tallest building in Hungary. There is an interesting tendency in the industry. Parametric tools like Rhino have been available to designers for a long time, they gained wide popularity in the 90’s. It is possible to easily design and define any shape with exact geometry. This aim has not been translated to manufacturing and production. Fabricators use their machinery most efficiently if they are set to produce repetitive elements. Due to the intelligent glass solutions | autumn 2019
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Dubai Design District, 11 buildings 5-12 floors each, with unitized curtain wall. Koltay Facades provided specifications and technical support for a fast track design & built procurement route, that allowed completion of the building envelope in 14 months.
The three towers of Fountainviews and Boulevard Point (on the right) are situated above a common, 12 story podium. The large development connects to Dubai Mall with link bridge and provides extension to Dubai Mall, as well as containing residential and hotel units in the towers. Koltay Facades provided façade engineering and façade access strategy consultancy for the entire development.
demand driven by more freedom in architectural expression, newer generation machinery is multi-axis computer instructed equipment, where it makes no difference if 20 pieces are machined using the same computer file, or 20 different pieces from 20 different files. Logistics, labelling, pre-planning and sequenced timed site delivery have to all adjust to bring ease of constructing freeform buildings cost efficiently. There are projects that are driving these changes. The ones we worked on are definitely among them. Where the architect’s vision meets the client’s determination and we can reach out to potential suppliers to research and develop and experiment and try, until a way is found. This is an amazing process, despite being long, risky and demanding. The construction industry is maybe the slowest changing industry of all. Reinforced concrete has been done pretty much the same way for more than a century. We are proud that these projects could bring change and could set a new baseline example in the industry. This is a big achievement. Another trend I see is actually when computer technology backfires. We have better and better design software to assist the work. 50 years ago it took a week to hand draft 2 copies of all 4 elevations, 20 years ago 1 day in 2D CAD, now it is just a few minutes of clicking on the model file – it seems. The workflow eased. Did it give more time to architects to perfect the design, assess other options, or just have a rest instead of the all nighters? No. Instead, project design programmes got shorter. Sometimes so ridiculously short that there is hardly enough time for design approaches to settle and mature during the process. What it necessitates is that the architect offloads more. You wonder how could your architect grandfather design buildings without a room full of sub-consultants?
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Sunset over New York, Agnes’ photo. High rise towers form cityscapes.
I cannot really tell you the secret of our success, what helped the company to grow this successfully in the past 8 years. It is a combination of following our passion in façade engineering, taking the opportunities that keep popping up around us, being persistent, try until solved, listen. None of this could have happened without working with an amazing bunch of like-minded passionate people, both male and female, within the company and among our clients, project team engineers, suppliers, contractors, and many others. We win and move forward together, as one. You don’t need to be a man.
He had time to think. I am not applauding it at all. I do not see it as the opening of some kind of forced new market to façade consultants. I just hope architects claim back time, time they need to complete their work, their mental process, and we input specialist items.
stories, is an assumption that the company head in Construction Engineering is likely to be a man. Sadly, this assumption is made many times by female secretaries too. My recollection above, is an entertaining reminder about false stereotyping.
Ok, now I come to the big question, the one I am often asked about. What is it like to be a woman in construction? Last year I was presented with the award for “Woman of the Year in Construction”. Following that award, this question came even more frequently. A month later we won the “Specialist Consultancy Firm of the Year Award”, yet I was still asked about my feelings as a woman. To be honest, I do not know. I have never been a man, so I cannot compare. What all participants of any project needs, is progress. Progress comes by defining methods and solving problems. A rational project participant welcomes and appreciates sound technical advice and sensitivity to the context. And that is it. I cannot be more disappointed when I see engineers sitting at a meeting table and not saying a word. The opportunity is yours, use it. I am not a believer in artificial gender based empowerment in workplaces, but I am a huge believer in merit based empowerment. I had my fair share of fights, and situations when you wonder a bit. But we all have these fights and disagreements here and there - Just deal with it.
We have a very diverse company of 35 people coming from 17 different nationalities, and many different backgrounds. Diversity actually helps with having a good office atmosphere and communication. People are interested in finding out about each other, and we all have our strengths, the work environment should be encouraging and comfortable enough for people to be able to ask anything. Projects are delivered best when the team has a mutual understanding.
I do however have a personal collection of letters, contracts, invitations, flight and hotel bookings addressed to Mr Agnes Koltay over the years. One of the funniest one is an email chain, where the sender realized that Agnes is a female name, so he sent a follow up email apologizing for the typo, correcting it to Mr Angus Koltay. What lies behind this and similar
Our Singapore office was registered 3 years ago. After a long work to friendship relationship, my colleague April Soh wanted to move back to Singapore and this gave us an opportunity to think about expansion. Not necessarily for the market, but also to give opportunity to people working with us to select from a wider choice of countries. I believed from Day One that we will be able to find modern means of communication, screen sharing and cloud solutions, enabling us to stay as one team, despite the geographical distance. Again, it is not only about technology. It is about the people who use the technology. We now have great projects in the region, stretching from India to Vietnam, including the new and very much anticipated Science Center competition that we won supporting Architect 61 and Zaha Hadid Architects. The building is running a 5 year design and construction programme, and we look forward to including a number of innovative green solutions.
Agnes Koltay holds a Masters in Architecture (Hungary, USA) and Façade Engineering (UK). She has worked with award winning architects and international engineering offices, before starting her own façade engineering consultancy, Koltay Facades, in 2011 in Dubai. The consultancy firm is one of the largest specialist practices in the ME, well known for the capability to work on the largescale developments, high-rise and complex geometry buildings, opened the second office in Singapore in 2016. Agnes has been based in Dubai since 2005 working on the numerous iconic projects. She was ranked 91st on the 2013 Construction Week Top 100 in the ME, delivered over 20 conference speeches around the world in the past 5 years, regularly teaches sessions at the universities. Agnes was selected as Woman in Construction 2018 by Big Project and the firm was awarded the Specialist Consultancy Company of the Year 2018 award by ME Consultant.
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This is a man’s world
- but it wouldn’t be nothing without a woman engineering it. 34
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Miriam White BSW Properties Ltd
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ack in the 1980’s, the influencing figures in my career began with New Zealand’s dearly loved and greatly missed, the late David Mitchell. David nurtured my early years. The architect behind many Le Corbusier influenced NZ houses for which I humbly followed with great attention in order to develop conceptual, and sculptural skills on projects such as the famous cliff front Home and Art Gallery. An award winning project for a prestigious member of MOMA and her partner, a well-known entrepreneur and political advisor, I was put in a position of managing the demands of what perhaps were two of the most controversial NZ personalities of the 80’s. Whilst delivering for the main contractor under a traditional form of contract, I was personally carrying all drawings and detailing from civil and structural infrastructure to interior design, for a product that was nothing short of start of the art. Little did I know that this was the beginning of my learning process, and that delivery would become my middle name. This role at an early stage in my career would not have been possible, however, if it were not for the type of education I received at both the School of Architecture and Carrington Polytechnic, Auckland NZ. A base technical education founded in traditional building methodology and the fundamentals of Engineering. These days architectural graduates start their profession armed and highly skilled in fancy parametric modelling, but little if any knowledge of building materiality and associated detailing. Its us oldies that frustratingly must teach our young graduates how to build a building, and thus pushing us into ever separate corners of the profession. This is reinforced by the relatively new focus on “Concept Architecture” practices, such as Jean Novell and the late Will Alsop, and Executive architect role, namely Adamson’s. I will discuss this in a little more detail later in this article with regard to the Walkie Talkie building and the relationship between Rafael Vinoly and Adamson Architects. Adamson’s is headed up by Megan Royston and with this relationship, I cite another albeit extreme example of juxtaposition in scale, the example of a man conceiving and a woman delivering. • Te Papa Tongarewa, the Museum of New Zealand, was the end product of a national design competition. The process included thirty-seven architectural practices or consortia that responded to the invitation in 1989, to 36
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submit credentials and design concepts. The design criteria for which the judges confirmed was grouped under three headings: Building in Context, Biculturalism, and National Identity/ Symbolism. Interestingly, to my knowledge, and despite what would become one of the most challenging engineering feats of its time in NZ, less emphasis was placed on the architectural design and engineering teams technical and delivery expertise. If the competition was run today, I believe it would be a very different approach to the procurement of the architectural concept and delivery teams. I joined the winning team JASMAX Architects, not to be part of the concept design process, not that I would not have enjoyed the same, but to be part of the larger architectural and engineering delivery process. Perhaps the biggest and most complex building site of its time. I was confident that no matter how small or large my role was on the project, the experience would afford me an international opportunity. Being part of the team did not only expose me to complex state of the art materials and technology, it also gave me an insight into the Project Management of largescale projects, thus developing an attitude of process and order. My hero and mentors Ivan Mercep a founding partner of Jasmad the former traditionally based architectural practice and Pete Bossley formerly of Bossley Cheshire the younger architectural practice whom joined forces to compete both bought a certain grounding to the process, and despite the project catapulting a traditional NZ architectural practice and a young fashionable
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residential practice onto the international circuit. John Sutherland, also a founding partner of JASMAD and the most ‘Contractual and Technical’ orientated leader /member of this formidable team and another one of my many hero’s, taught me not only the contractual and technical implications of every line I draw and every word I specify, but he taught me the importance of an integrated team approach on a complex and technically demanding project. Te Papa is built, on the Wellington and Wairarapa faults. Show me a young architect today in London that even knows what a fault line is. Fault lines combined with the worst conceivable wind and rain storms common to Wellington culminated in a building who’s seismic performance of the external envelope was developed to ensure that there should be no damage to it after a Wellington earthquake, and only minor and repairable damage to the sub-components eg flashings and sealants etc. This exposure to engineering design response to an active seismic environment was perhaps one of the most astonishing eye openers for a young architect, for which the basic principal responses that I am mindful of to this very day,
is that buildings move. And in some areas, more so than others. Later experiences particularly in Hong Kong, would further develop my awareness of building performance under stress. Often young architects avoid the large-scale projects for fear of being lost, going unnoticed and not gaining their own status as a Concept Designer during what they believe is the most important stage of their career. Not so is my experience. I have met and worked closely with hundreds of budding young Concept Designers of my contemporary, many of which “ever so politely” would scorn those of us ‘technical types” for our roles as merely detailing the side of someone else’s building. From my early years of practice in NZ I can name less than a handful of architects whom frequent the front cover of Architecture NZ, the popular vehicle for local Architecture, let alone the internal press. • Next stop Hong Kong and welcome to the 90’s, a time that found me representing Sir Norman Foster. A calculated career and lifestyle
move from NZ to Asia, diving off the high board into senior roles on major international projects in Asia and London. Firstly Hong Kong during the magic years leading up to the 1997 Handover back to China, working on the controversial International Airport at CLK. Probably the most significant piece of infrastructure in Asia at the time involving land reclamation, motor way and bridge building that would top the records with regard to scale and speed of construction. HK International airport attracted hundreds of young enthusiastic architects, engineers, planners to work as part of the Mott Consortium formed of Norman Foster, Arup Engineering and Mott McDonald Engineering. Joining the team at the early stages of the construction and reclamation works afforded me a role that would start literally managing the less glamorous back of house design and construction, leading the London Architectural team, to end in managing the fitting out of some one hundred tenants, including Airlines, Retail outlets, service providers of all types 38
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on behalf of the Provisional Airport Authority (PAA). I was located in Hong Kong on site for 6 years and on completion of the final concourse extension, I headed straight to departures, and promptly flew to London. • London and the millennium. HSBC International Headquarters at Canary Wharf, oh and thanks to Margret Thatcher for your think big drive, thus supporting the mobilisation and delivery of literally millions and millions of square feet of commercial, residential, retail and transport infrastructure. Working for UK’s largest Development and construction companies I further engrossed myself and honed my skills as to the most advanced building technologies from leading edge cladding systems, to sitting on the Canary Wharf Framework Fire Engineering Group. The frame works formed by Canary Wharf PLC to strategize and deliver the most resilient yet sophisticated fire engineering solution for the Canary Wharf Towers being first of their kind in the UK on mass, and most certainly beyond the realms of
Section 20. There I had the luxury of working alongside Arup’s leading fire engineering group in association with London Tower Hamlets. The likes of Peter Bressington head of Fire Engineering Arup, and Beryl Menzies a leading Fire Engineering Consultant literally sat across the table from me. I learned about fire behaviour, resistance and life safety protection solutions from these learned individuals. I am as always in awe of our leading specialists and hope that they too are comforted by the fact that those of us that follow to develop and implement their innovations, take with us a better understanding and safer built environment whilst sharing the knowledge amongst the building industry. Also, and in the same borough London Tower Hamlets still with Foster and Partners, I headed up a million sq foot of pure offices for the Hammerson Group tenanted by Allen & Overy where (and on the same theme of fire engineering ). I worked closely with HLP Fire Miller, Hannah (like me a young enthusiast in 2002) and LBTH Fire consultant Beryl Menzies, perhaps then and to
this day, is the most formidable woman in Fire Engineering that I have ever had the luxury to be associated with. It is relationships like these that not only push you beyond your technical experience allowing you to continue to grow and blossom as a professional, but this forms one’s identity and earns one respect in the community for projects, and makes possible the opportunities that follow. • To NYC John Drew (now Perkins Will Architects) and I, in support of Architect Rafael Vinoly most known in London for the very successful though extremely controversial Walkie Talkie Tower. John and I ran their London office. From detailing the side of and Project Managing large-scale Foster and Partners designs, for which there was an established order and methodology to supporting Rafael Vinoly who had a starchitect reputation for strong conceptual statements around the world I, more than ever, needed to draw on my technical, management and delivery expertise. I mentioned earlier the relationship
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Riyadh Investment Company Mega Master Plan, they had appointed many of the worlds most famous signature architectural and engineering practices from around the world. • My concluding thoughts on the topic of “Women In The Building Industry”, I have been gender blind for the most part, with high regard for my contemporaries for whom I have competed all my life to reach my personal goals, and achieve my educational and professional accomplishments. However, I have typically leaned very firmly, and unforgivingly, on women architects and engineers, and for those of you reading this article, what can I say, sorry, but I hope I made a man of you. Miriam White has recently co-founded BSW Land and Property a development company focussed primarily on the Hospitality Sector and has appointments of leading Architects, Engineers, Town Planners and Contractors in support of the feasibility, design and delivery of building works in and around the UK valued at more than £250 Million GDV.
BSW Land and Property Ltd
and now common occurrence between concept architect and delivery/executive architect. On completion of planning and the pre-construction design phases, Land Securities joined forces with Canary Wharf Contractors supported by Adamson Architects to deliver the city central Walkie Talkie building at 20 Fenchurch Street. Twenty years ago we would not have dreamed of handing over to an ‘executive architectural team’ though now it is a common and welcome practice, thus allowing the respective practices to hone their design and delivery expertise skills, resulting in a more efficient and cost effective practice. No doubt many would disagree with my thoughts on this matter, though now as a developer and sitting on the other side of the table balancing quality with profit on cost, I have become more aware of the need to properly assess the professional 40
team fitness and suitability for the task at hand, ensuring compliance and deliverability… at a profit. • All of you reading this article would have done a stint in the middle east at some stage of your careers not only to say we have done it, but also to help us see the built environment from a different perspective in respect of the cultural and environmental differences, though once again, pushing the boundaries in order to understand local build methodologies, environmental impacts which are perhaps the most challenging to overcome, and notwithstanding the local cultural expectations. Reporting directly to perhaps the most formidable construction company in the world, the Saudi Bin Landen Group (SBLG) with RMJM, I delivered 3 towers as part of the RICS
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Miriam White has recently co-founded BSW Land and Property a development company focussed on the Hospitality Sector, Commercial and Residential and has appointments of leading Architects, Engineers, Town Planners and Contractors in support of the feasibility, design and delivery of building works in and around the UK valued at more than £250 Million GDV.
CASE STUDY
Continued from page 7 The remaining strength of the tested H pieces was always higher than 0.8MPa for all samples which is 5 times higher than the minimum requirement used for the design (0.14MPa). As seen above, extreme windloads typically result in large joints, which are sometimes even further over-dimensioned to add safety. Whilst this allows to compensate for future increase of frequency and strength of typhoons, it is not always acceptable from an aesthetic point of view nor compatible with the thin aluminum profile systems used on façades. Ping An International Finance Center (Ping An IFC) is an example where the applied joint dimension differed from the calculated requirements. This 118-floor, 599 meters high, supertall skyscraper in Shenzhen, by the architectural team of KPF/CCDI, was completed in 2017. The façade was constructed and structurally glazed by Shenyang Yuanda using DOWSIL™ 993N and DOWSIL™ 995 Structural Glazing Sealants (respectively to bond glass and stainless steel panel), DOWSIL™ 3362N Insulating Glass Sealant as the secondary seal of the insulating glass and DOWSIL™ 791 Silicone Building Sealant for the weathersealing. The façade uses large size glass units and requires
Figure 2: Ping An IFC Building
high wind-load design as it is in the coast region of South China and needs to undertake strong and frequent typhoons. The project uses 4-sided structural glazing whereby the dead load of all the glasses is permanently supported by mechanical means. The biggest glass panel size is 1.5m x 1.7m. A design windload of 5.72kPa was required which challenged the conventional methods of joint dimensioning, since using joint calculation equations as provided in ASTM C1401 [10] or ETAG002, resulted in unacceptable large joint sizes (32mm by 11mm) incompatible with the frame designs, which could only accommodate a joint thickness of 8mm. The bite was slightly increased to 35mm and a final joint of 35x8mm was proposed. As this differs from the requirement of the standard, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) analysis was performed to ensure the performance under these extreme environmental conditions would maintain the integrity of the building envelope [11]. One year after completion, in September 2018, the super Typhoon Mangkhut hit the South China region and Ping An IFC, which successfully endured the event and remained unaffected and undamaged throughout the typhoon. Conclusion Structural sealant glazing technology and application has repeatedly demonstrated its structural resilience and long-term reliability based on testing and historic evidence, even under the extreme environmental wind conditions as discussed in this paper. To ensure the safety of the façade structural glazing, a systematic technical support is recommended, including early communication with building consultant and fabricator on the sealant selection and laboratory evaluations to recommend most suitable sealant application process, based on the adhesion and compatibility test. Proper joint design methods enhanced with the support of advanced calculation and modeling techniques are essential. Shop assembled unitized structural silicone curtainwall systems benefit from systematic quality control documentation collected on each glazing unit before and during the assembly process, whilst field erected stick systems have increased risk of quality issues since inspectors are not typically on scaffold systems daily. This whole comprehensive systemic service ensures the safety and accuracy of structural sealant application and consequently the expected durability of performance.
Valérie Hayez holds a PhD in Applied Sciences from the University of Brussels, Belgium. She is Global Façade Engineering & Architectural Design Engineer for High Performance Building at Dow, Belgium. In her current role, she provides technical service to the design community, including façade system manufacturers, architects and engineers. Valérie is responsible for identifying and communicating industry needs to Dow‘s Research and Development Community and supporting the development and commercialization of new products.
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Sharing over 30 years of Knowledge and Experience 42
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Eilis McShane Multiplex Construction Europe Ltd
I
have been involved in the Façade industry, predominantly in London, for over thirty years and have seen huge changes. The one constant I would say are the creative and pragmatic people involved in our industry.
In the late eighties I joined Bovis Construction and became involved with the delivery of the façade on Foster and Partner’s ITN Headquarters in Grays Inn Road. This had a stellar team including Grant Brooker, Ken Shuttleworth and Robin Partington, with the early double skin façade by Josef Gartner and the cathedral wall and roof by GIG. As an engineer I loved the finer points of façade engineering and materials technology and, coupled with an appreciation of good architecture and detailing, my lifelong passion for facades was set. Following that project I was involved with many prestigious projects including the Rothschild Headquarters by OMA, Central Saint Giles by Renzo Piano, One New Change by Jean Nouvel and One Eagle Place by Eric Parry. I mention these particular projects as they incorporated some artisan elements such as faience, fine mesh and bespoke design, as part of the façade. This entailed lots of time understanding unusual trades, sampling and mock ups and pushing boundaries with an open mind. The results are beautiful and unique. As projects have become more complex and incorporating unusual materials there is an increasing reliance on large scale visual mock ups which bring great benefit provided the programmes and budgets are realistic and allow for this process.
22 Bishopsgate dominating the London skyline
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Damac Tower on the River Thames
Central Saint Giles bringing colour and life to the streetscape of London
It is important to mention the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology (CWCT), who were very influential in the development of facade engineering in the UK in the eighties, people such as Art Muschenheim of SOM and Stephen Ledbetter of CWCT. At that time we just had the American standards and also limited test facilities. In those days it was not unusual to be spending many weeks at the Performance Test Mock Up (if you had one..) before achieving success. Nowadays this is much more straightforward and we have standards which are internationally recognised. I am pleased to have played a part in this great achievement. A few years ago I noticed a trend in more tall buildings being constructed in London and I wanted to be part of this exciting development. I joined Multiplex and have been involved in many great projects including 22 Bishopsgate by PLP and One Blackfriars by Simpson Haugh. The 22 Bishopsgate project is the largest Closed Cavity Faรงade in Europe. It took a visionary client such as Peter Rogers to support such a project with this technology and again a great team, including Rob Peebles and Karen Cook of PLP and Gartner, to design and deliver. When setting up the project sufficient time was allowed in the process for due diligence and applying lessons learned, testing and mock ups. 44
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Realising scale with UHPC
It was significant to note how open everyone was with sharing lessons learned and as a result the final result represents a major step forward in this technology. One Blackfriars sits elegantly on the Thames and no one can fail to stop and marvel at the complex geometry of the Cap. The resolution of this complex geometry required intense collaboration between architect, structural engineer, and specialist subcontractor Yuanda and shows how far integrated design has developed with regard to facade technology ensuring design reaches the highest level of excellence.
One Eagle Place incorporating faience artwork
Multiplex project Damac Tower by John Bushell of KPF takes tall buildings to the next level by including a high level bridge spanning between the two towers, which is essentially a 5 storey office building. This has posed technical challenges in terms of movement and tolerance, timing of the cladding installation and not least how to construct it safely. These are now well under construction. Again, projects like this illustrate how much stronger the collaboration is now between engineers, architects and contractors. Whilst this is all very exciting, it is important not to forget refurbishment projects and one of intelligent glass solutions | autumn 2019
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of cultures, expectations, standards and capabilities. It is a small world, rightly so.
the elegant 48 Leicester Square
my favourites has been 48 Leicester Square by MAKE. This entailed the largest faรงade retention scheme in Europe and introducing a beautiful contemporary mansard roof, by specialist subcontractor Schneider. The engineering challenges of this project were immense, to design and fabricate something with refined tolerances and incorporate elegantly within such an old faรงade. The existing frame was completely removed and a new steel frame installed and tied back to the existing faรงade. Waterman Engineers did some incredibly detailed analysis working closely with MAKE,
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Schneider and Multiplex. Once again we had lots of surveys, full scale mock ups and fabricated the complex corners off site to ensure best fit prior to site installation. The building now sits proudly on Leicester Square. When I first began in our industry Europe seemed a big place but quickly this became the norm in terms of our supply chain. I did not imagine at that time I would be travelling to the Far East and China to procure facades. This has now become commonplace, albeit it has taken some time to develop a mutual understanding
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I do see it as a very positive development that main contractors, specialist subcontractors and suppliers are engaged early in the design process in order to ensure we have a robust and deliverable design, also including an optimum programme and realistic budget. Early involvement also enables understanding of materials and performance but also pushes boundaries. It is good to see developments such as Liquid Crystal Glass which ensures facades are at the forefront of technology not just in terms of optimising energy usage but also to moderate the internal conditions in order to maximise wellness. Ultra High Performance Concrete will help to take design to another level through realising solidity on a large scale with interesting shapes and aspect ratios whilst not penalising the structural frame. Perhaps we should continue to look outside our traditional supply chain in order to continue to grow. The UK faรงade industry has had its ups and downs and sadly we have seen the demise of some really good specialist subcontractors.
SHARING PERSONAL EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
There are also excellent companies who have prevailed through being rightly conservative with regard to growth and also with regards to the client base and product offering. Sadly risk profiles are high in the façade industry and sometimes there is an imbalance in the apportioning of risk and perhaps a naivety in terms of taking this on which can end badly. I am pleased that I helped establish the first façade group within a main contractor organisation and have seen this trend grow similarly with the other main contractors. The informed understanding and technical expertise within these groups has seen a more balanced approach to risk and should continue to ensure a more thorough appreciation and understanding of what is possible in terms of realising the design. I always say that the façade team in the main contractor organisation is the bridge between design and construction. Complex geometry and 3D modelling is really a given in facades. Equally digitalisation is now more widespread and we use Bluetooth technology to track fabrication, transportation and installation of panels and materials. We are collaborating with Arup Façade on one of our major projects to provide a detailed model of
the building, with each façade panel having its own file with embedded information which allows the client to understand every aspect of the provenance of the materials included in their facade, fabrication details and associated dates. This is readily accessible and should form a benchmark for such projects moving forward. I would say that whilst digitalisation is the way forward it is still wonderful to see the Façade Engineering Sketchbooks as part of the façade design package which break down all the components of the façade and suggest how they can be reconstructed. Apart from being artistic in their own right, these provide reassurance of the robustness of the design and an understanding of components and interfaces which bodes well for the detailed design stage. I am proud of our industry and our journey and I would finish by reiterating that our success is down to the collaboration of talented individuals and clients with great vision. This will ensure that the London skyline continues to develop and inspire.
One Blackfriars, a striking new building for London
Eilis McShane – Head of Façades, Multiplex Eilis has a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, a Masters in Façade Engineering and over 30 years of experience in the construction industry. As Multiplex’s Head of Façades, she is responsible for ensuring that all façade design solutions are compliant with the Client Brief and can be constructed efficiently, while also overseeing key elements of the supply chain, such as systems design, glazing, stone and brickwork. Eilis and her team work on a portfolio of major UK projects, predominantly in London, with recent examples including London Wall Place, Centre Point Tower and 22 Bishopsgate – soon to be the tallest office building in the City of London. In the course of her career, she has also worked on many other iconic London buildings, including Central Saint Giles, One New Change and the Rothschild Headquarters. As a recognised industry expert, Eilis spent several years on the technical committee for the CWCT (Centre for Window and Cladding Technology), which defines standards and good practice for façade engineering and drives innovation within the industry. She also lectures at schools and universities, hosts continuing professional development talks for colleagues and leads façade training for the Multiplex Graduate Scheme.
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Quality time with Birgit Horn, Director of glasstec 2020 La Casa Del Desierto ŠGonzalo Botet
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lass is acknowledged around the world as a slow developer in terms of groundbreaking innovations. Since you became Project Director of glasstec in March 2009 what memorable technologies spring to mind that have made a significant impact on the status quo? The first thing that comes to my mind are thinfilm photovoltaics. Back then in 2010 PV was totally en vogue. Today, you can implement the solar cells into the glass facades or windows, undetectable to the naked eye or even integrate it into colored glass. On top of that, every two years it is exciting to see the competition in the field of architecture between glass producers,
trying to outdo each other in breaking the next XXL glass record. And of course, I am fascinated by multifunctional glass. Digitalization and the unrivalled success story of smartphones and tablets have opened our eyes to just how fast new technology can change our lives. Thin glass plays a key role here thanks to its touch properties – thereby laying the foundation for the further development of multi-functional and interactive properties. The limits of what is feasible have yet to be reached. In future, glass will play an active and varied role in regenerative energy generation, building management, medical device technology and bio engineering, entertainment and healthcare. And it is also capable of prompting groundbreaking changes and developments in the automotive sector.
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In April 2019, Mayor Bill de Blasio introduced legislation to ban glass and steel skyscrapers in New York City due to their apparent “detrimental” effects on climate change and global warming. Being someone with their finger firmly on the pulse of the glass industry, do you agree/disagree with the Mayors sentiments and why? Glass is part of the solution, not part of the problem. Nevertheless, I understand that Mr. de Blasio is trying to reduce CO² emissions but it is not about the glass, what matters are the energy efficiency standards. Glass skyscrapers are wonderful pieces of architecture and proof of what humans are capable of planning and constructing. It is true that windows conduct about five times more heat than traditional walls. This in turn can lead to a greater need for air conditioning in the event of heat and heat loss in winter. But glass has more functions than Mr. de Blasio is aware of. Glass also has the capability to use and transform the energy for climate control or shade itself by putting intelligent LowE coatings and sun protection coatings on it without losing its architectural shape and form. This leads to a highly energy efficient building with a low energy transmittance. Future architects and planners should employ integrative concepts to develop functional as well as technical and economic properties of glass but also consider energy efficiency and sustainability during construction. Then we will be able to see such wonderful architectural masterpieces even in New York in the future. Following from this, what role do you think the glass industry has to play in the global fight against climate change? It will play an active role because climate change concerns all of us. The glass industry is aware of the emissions they produce, the energy they need to produce glass and the lack of resources that will also affect productivity in the future. But it is also a recyclable and natural resource which is useful for containing food and drinks. This will also be a topic for glasstec 2020 in our supporting programme. Just recently we were discussing with industry representatives what they are thinking and planning, to reduce the environmental footprint of the industry to show their commitment to the planet. Glass production is energy-intensive but once you set up a glass-melting factory, it runs for 15 50
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years or longer. There are already solutions available to use the waste heat and return it to the energy cycle. Emissions can be reduced by using special filter systems. Another big topic is the cradle to cradle principle which needs a combined effort from the industry. The whole industry is already working on a way to improve the circular economy and thinking about how processed flat glass can be reused, even in the building sector. Another way to improve the production, processing and finishing is already underway and will have a big impact. Through digitalization and automation, processes will be handled with higher sustainability and efficiency. What from your point of view, are the main challenges facing the glass industry today? The industry will continue to manufacture products that are fascinating and of high functionality. For windows, facades, automotive and all industrial applications. However, the challenges are global. As previously mentioned, the industry is already in the process of a digital transformation. This will make companies more efficient when we talk about predictive maintenance and being capable of improving their flexibility regarding customer-specific product inquiries. At the same time, they are facing a lack of qualified personnel. Education and training will be a major topic for the upcoming years. Energy efficiency is the other big challenge. Energy productivity in many cases also leads to optimized processes and the meaningful usage of the resources. With 20/20 vision, what trends in glass can you see going mainstream next year, e.g at glasstec? Glass technology live will again bend your mind in terms of trends and innovations. That I can promise, but I can´t and won´t say more at the moment. Come to Düsseldorf from 20th to 23rd of October and you will find out for yourself. Adaptive solutions on windows, facades and interior glasses will also astonish visitors. Artificial intelligence, automation and customer services as well as new technologies will play a major role at the exhibitors’ stands and in our supportive program. The additional specialist conferences “engineered transparency” and the “Architecture Congress” are also highly interesting for all those professionally involved in facade planning or construction. From spring 2020, it will definitely be worth taking a look at our homepage at www.glasstec.com
If you could choose one building that ticks all the boxes in terms of aesthetics, functionality and innovation, benefits the environment and more importantly benefits the people, what building would it be and why? I would choose a building that is completely made of glass offering perfect transparency to see nature and the sky. But it should also have the possibility to protect against heat, cold and UV light. What comes to my mind is f.e. the Glass House initiated by Guardian Glass and OFIS architects in the Andalusian desert. Congratulations on a highly successful glasstec 2018, an auspicious year as you also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the fair. Taking a trip down memory lane, can you share one or two personal experiences of which you are particularly proud? When I made my first steps into the world of glass, I experienced a very warm welcome by the industry and it felt immediately like I was part of the global glass family. I am still very thankful for this. Over all these years, I have been able to meet and work with so many inspiring and enthusiastic people. The support from the team working behind the scenes and the involvement
from the industry and conceptual sponsors make this show so fantastic every two years. The big transformation that we implemented for the 25th glasstec was very memorable. We challenged ourselves with a completely new concept for glass technology live and the coordination with four technical universities at the same time as well as the new layout for the glasstec conferences. We are very pleased that all of it was perceived so well by the industry. glasstec has cemented itself as an important event in the industry calendar, if not THE most important event, in the face of stiff international competition. How does glasstec differentiate itself and remain time and time again as the undisputed Universal Champion of glass fairs? We focus on one topic – glass. That enables us to identify the products, solutions and innovations and bring them to this platform. Nowhere else in the world will you find such a variety. The industry focuses on this event to present its innovations every two years here in Düsseldorf. In addition, we offer a widely diversified support programme that provides unique insights into all the segments of the industry and allows visitors to stay ahead of the competition.
The limits of what is feasible have yet to be reached. In future, glass will play an active and varied role in regenerative energy generation, building management, medical device technology and bio engineering, entertainment and healthcare. intelligent glass solutions | autumn 2019
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Looking to glasstec 2020, is it possible to go up another level? Is there any room for growth or have you reached the proverbial glass ceiling? There is always room for improvement. We are not resting on the success and will always challenge ourselves to improve continuously. Together with the glasstec partner associations, we already identified specific areas that will be covered in 2020. The conference will be enhanced so that every topic and every item on the program can be enjoyed every day regardless of the day of arrival and it will be open to all exhibitors and scientists to present their best practices and research results. In terms of growth, we are not talking about size but surely about quality. In this issue of IGS we celebrate inspirational women of architecture, glass and facade engineering. As a strong female leader representative of the international glass industry, (container, automotive & architectural) how tough has it been for you to arrive where you are today? My career path has been at times rocky but successful. What is interesting is that you are never asked if you found personal fulfilment in your job and if it is fun. You have to commit yourself to the job despite the challenges and at the same time be enthusiastic about the industry. At the end of the day though, the currency is and remains competence, heart and soul. The times they are a-changing, what advice would you give today to young women embarking on a career that remains, heavily dominated by white males? Be yourself. Know your weaknesses and build on your strengths. Create a network and recognize those who support you. Stay close and authentic. Stay on the path you have chosen, define what success means to you. When it comes to your career, don´t sweat the small stuff. What ultimately counts is your performance and consistency. And finally, what are your thoughts about glass as a structural material? Does glass perform the right functions? Or is there something you would like glass to do that it currently does not do…to your knowledge? In my opinion, glass is already a very powerful material. It is amazing how many functions 52
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it can perform. It offers light and supplies mind opening views, safe surroundings and protection. It enables us to build beautiful and functional buildings. Glass is an enabler or even an all-rounder that allows us to combine different properties with each other. An important aspect for me would be glass as an energy supplier. There are already projects that deal with this topic. For example glass tiles with integrated solar cells. The energy can power buildings directly, charge electric cars or can be stored. These glass tiles can be used
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in new construction, but also in renovation projects. They can also be integrated into existing structures as well. Transparent solar cells or films turn facades and windows into power plants. Power plants that provide energy from the sun more or less invisibly and unnoticed. These windows thus reinforce a trend in solar energy generation. There is surely more to come in terms of constructive usages and I am looking forward to learn about even better products at glasstec 2020 from October 20th to 23rd here in Düsseldorf.
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Mastering crafts through the use of glass in retail From windows to facade displays
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CASE STUDIES – TRANSPARENT ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES
Astrid Piber UNStudio
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echnical innovations with glass - a material whose transparent properties afford a multitude of potentials for numerous industries - has always played an especially essential role for the retail industry. Retail, as a commercial enterprise that relies on the creation of desire, has itself played a significant role in shaping the advertising industry and, by so doing, created for itself the possibility to garner the attention of potential customers from a distance. As we know, ‘Soap Operas’ carry this appellation as a direct result of early advertising on television through programme sponsoring. (And let us not forget, without technical innovation in the glass industry, none of this would have been possible.) However, the ‘bricks and mortar’ establishments from which the retail industry does much of its business - and which are often physically located near to their direct competitors - have always had an equally important role to play in enticing customers. Even with the advent of online shopping, they continue to do so today. However, the role of the physical store has had to evolve in the face of the ‘digital turn’, and it is in this respect that the technical developments of glass craft can still go hand in hand with the commercial goals of the retail industry. As a result, today, more than ever before, architects continue to experiment with the physical and conceptual possibilities of glass, in order to create the cultural effects that can meet the changing needs of the retail industry.
Galleria Department Store, Seoul, South Korea, 2003-2004 Photo: ©Christian Richters
100 YEARS OF WINDOW SHOPPING – DISPLAY AND DESIRE Over the past century the world of retail has changed significantly in numerous ways. The methods used to physically display goods have also evolved along with these changes. From the first window displays – as can be seen in examples of storefronts in the UK from the 1920s - products were simply displayed as objects placed randomly on the shelf of a vitrine. In essence, little concern was paid to how these goods were displayed, nor indeed, how often the displays were changed. From the 1950s onwards however, various retailers began to realise that the front window could serve as a useful device for enticing customers in more targeted ways into their stores. This was
especially true during the Christmas season with Macy’s display windows probably being the most notable and quoted example of this new approach. What provoked this change however, can be explained in part by changing building technologies and in part by certain cultural changes that were taking place at the time. In the first half of the previous century (during Hollywood’s heyday in the 1930s), dress forms and mannequins became increasingly popular. Relating oneself to the glamourous stars of the Silver Screen became a cultural norm for many, and as a result, retailers responded by enabling their customers to envisage themselves wearing the idealised ensemble of the fashions of the day. At the same time, displaying new fashions and trends every week created a new level of excitement and anticipation about the products and the in-store displays. Typically weekends were used for creating and dressing and the resulting displays were revealed on Mondays. With the introduction of plate glass however, it became possible for the first time for retailers to display these styled mannequins in large storefront windows; no longer in-house and no longer as disassociated items on a shelf in the window. As such, technological innovation in glass production - namely the craft of producing of larger glass plates - opened up possibilities to bring the retail offer to the fore and entice the passerby, thus using the facade as an attractor in a new and unprecedented way. Building upon this evolution, during the second half of the previous century, retailers of all kinds began to experiment with their storefronts in order to make these more and more attractive to their customers: not only did mannequins display fashion, but they began to inhabit household scenarios with new products that promised to make our lives more convenient and leisurely. (Emancipation was envisaged in the shopfront). At the same time, lighting was employed to promote night-time window-shopping and to direct the gaze to the products on offer. However, towards the end on the century, some retailers started to introduce a holistic approach to their stores: no longer only focusing on the window display incorporated into the shopfronts, but also with respect to how these could be integrated with the overall building.
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Galleria Department Store, Seoul, South Korea, 2003-2004 Photo: ©Christian Richters
THE BUILDING AS A HOLISTIC EXPRESSION OF BRAND VALUES UNStudio’s first retail project of this kind dates back to 1994, when a department store in Emmen (the Netherlands) wished to renovate its existing building and completely change its appearance. In this project, it was decided to play with both the reflective and transparent qualities of glass in order to activate the facade as an integrated whole. For this reason blue-green glass elements were tilted and curved above the display windows, in order to reflect and display the surrounding environment across the facade. The display windows themselves were also tilted to follow this concept through. This approach enabled the context (and the customer) to be superimposed on the facade, whilst giving the appearance of an entirely new building. During the same period however, the majority of retailers continued to disregard the aesthetics of the building, until a few well-known department stores - such as Selfridges in the UK - and retail brands - such as Louis Vuitton, 56
Hermes and Prada - revealed unprecedented flagship stores, all of which exploited the opportunity to brand their specific company values by way of the display of the full building facade, rather than the storefronts alone. Over the intervening years, UNStudio has been commissioned to design numerous projects where the architecture of the overall facade is used to reflect and represent the core values of the client’s brand. These have included various strategies for department stores both renovations and new builds - as well as shopping malls. With projects such as the renovation of Galleria West department store in downtown Seoul (2003 – 2004) and the newly built Galleria Centercity in Cheonan (2008 – 2010), focus was placed on the idea of the building skin as display. In Seoul, the application of 4300 glass discs with integrated laminated film, alluded to a shimmering dress during daytime, while the envelope became a large-scale pixelated media facade at night. This ensured the attraction of
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the store during both day and nighttime. The new facade created dichroic reflections during daytime and fast became both a landmark and a ‘place to visit’ in Seoul. Such an approach was unprecedented in the city, as for once a media screen was not being used for advertising in the usual sense, but instead became a surface for the display of a cultural expression that could change over time. The Galleria Centercity in Cheonan is a large scale department store with integrated communal and cultural functions. The building is organised by a large central void surrounded by rotating platforms at different heights. This design approach was chosen in order to create an open, almost museum-like, experience in all parts of the store interior. However the rotation of these platforms also triggered the creation of a wave-like effect on the exterior glass facade, thereby highlighting the public functions of the building through visual inside-out relationships. The double layered curtain wall facade, comprising large glass plates, principally covers and closes off an inside-oriented
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Galleria Centercity, Cheonan, South Korea, 2008-2010 ©Christian Richters
programme. However, the effect of the shifting vertical mullions creates a constantly changing, fluid pattern as people move around the building. Since its completion, the building – which was the first to be completed in this new district of Cheonan - has become a meeting point and social hub that is strongly linked to the commercial culture in the town.
Galleria Centercity, Cheonan, South Korea, 2008-2010 Diagram: ©UNStudio
In both of these examples, glass is not used by virtue of its street-to-product transparency, and thus its ability to instantly reveal the goods on offer within the stores. It is instead crafted across the entire facade - and with integrated lighting effects - to create an abstraction that alludes to the essence of these products. During the evening, the media facades in both buildings further accentuate this effect, whilst simultaneously ensuring a holistic approach to branding. In both cases, the entire buildings are ‘painted’ and ‘clothed’ in ways that express their meaning and function through abstraction, thus creating a new form of display, attraction and enticement.
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21ST CENTURY GLASS CRAFTSMANSHIP In the first half of the previous century, technological invention brought about an increase in the size of glass elements and new techniques for producing float glass. It may also be noted that at the beginning of this century, innovations in the structural use of glass have also come on to the market by way of retail projects. The use of glass in the Apple stores, along with the testing of different methods for gluing glass, have meant that the architectural dreams of the 1920s, which envisioned all-glass buildings, have come true, albeit on a smaller scale.
Star Place, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 2006-2008 Photo: ©Christian Richters
The Apple Store projects, which are designed to be as transparent as technically possible, are an expression of the brand that emphasise its technical prowess and innovative approach, whilst also reflecting the design excellence of its products. However, when designing facades for shopping malls, you are not tasked with reflecting the values of only one brand, but of Star Place, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 2006-2008 Photo: ©Christian Richters
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many brands housed in one building. As such, the new mall, with its collection of retailers, still needs to become recognised and to stand out as a brand in itself and as a destination of choice. At UNStudio this has resulted in a new sensitivity and focus on the craft of designing with material, geometry and optical effects. The experience at UNStudio is also that the integration of architectural lighting and the atmospheric specificities of each project have become an extremely important focus of retail designs. For example, at the Star Place shopping plaza in Kaohsiung, Taiwan (2006 – 2008), fritted glass fins were introduced, which, during the day appear opaque and, as such, blend in with the aluminium clad areas of the facade. At night however, the frit is illuminated and thus dematerialises the glass, creating a hue of colours and soft tones across the facade surface. All of this has been made possible by engineering the lighting fixture in accordance with the glass fins and the fritting type. During design stages, experimentation and testing were carried out
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using scale mock-ups to manually adjust the set-up, because it was not possible to simulate the visual effect created by the physics of light and glass by using digital tools. This custom designed detail is what makes the project both bespoke and an attractor to the passerby.
Hanjie Wanda Square, Wuhan, China, 2011-2013 Photo: ©Edmon Leong
From the outset of the design for the Hanjie Wanda Square retail plaza in Wuhan, China (2011- 2013), the idea was to create a visual array through custom designed and repeated fixtures. These fixtures, which are actually individual lamps on the facade, are mounted on to the back structure and incorporate both the cladding and the lighting fixtures. The 42333 spherical elements cover a surface of 18000m² and are combined with glass plates with laminated film. The specific positions of the spheres in relation to each other create the effect of movement and reflection in water, or the sensuous folds of silk fabric, while the spherical lamps clothe the building in pearl-like jewelry which dynamically guides visitors into the two main interior atria.
FACADE MODULE
GLASS DISC TO STEEL CONNECTION
Hanjie Wanda Square, Wuhan, China, 2011-2013 ©UNStudio
INTEGRATED LED
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THE HERE AND NOW – BROADENING THE PERFORMATIVE QUALITIES OF GLASS Today we still observe that ideas concerning how to craft and how to assemble glass, alongside ongoing technical innovations for the structural use of glass, significantly impact what we design for our clients. The cultural shift to the digital market has meant that retailers have had to think again about the role and design of their physical stores and this has led to some extremely creative results - including artisticallyinspired ideas, where store windows become a playground for artists. Interventions such as this open up new possibilities for retailers to make their mark.
for a retail project in Eindhoven. Each display measuring 5.5 metres wide and 7 metres high and exceeding every international standard format in the glass industry - weighs 3,000 kg. As a result, the desired ‘invisible’ system for mounting and supporting the glass structures made the engineering of this project a uniquely challenging undertaking, but one that with the expertise of ABT Engineering in collaboration Si-X became possible. The individual glass plates will now be seamlessly affixed to one another by means of various types of glued connections. Never before has this type of glass facade construction – at such a scale and without visible metal elements – been realised in the Netherlands.
Currently UNStudio is working on a structural solution for complex large-scale glass displays
For another retail project, located on the PC Hooftstraat in Amsterdam, UNStudio, in
Façade PC Hooftstraat 138, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2019 Photo: ©UNStudio
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collaboration with Arup and Octatube, has recently experimented with the fluid properties of glass to create the effect of vertical drapery on the storefront. The facade is a celebration of textiles, both in form and function; three curved glass panels flow down from the upper floors in a design that mimics billowing transparent cloth. In a fluid gesture, fashion and architecture come together to represent and celebrate the geometry of high-end, tailored clothing, Alongside projects such as these, UNStudio continues to experiment with different ways to craft glass, such that we can continue to push the material and its potential effects beyond simple glass plates. With our sister company UNSense we have recently brought to market a new glass product in the form of printed BIPV modules called ‘Solar Visuals’. The aim of
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the product is to integrate PV in order to be able to use the full facade surface for energy harvesting, whilst simultaneously creating an aesthetic layer that is based on an algorithmic principle of pixilation. This approach enables endless design possibilities: the cladding modules can be used to mimic other materials, such as bricks, in order to be able to blend in with existing buildings, or they can be printed with more abstract, geometric or colorful patterns. The choice is completely left up to the designer of the building. UNStudio’s Knowledge team originally worked on the research, design and development of this new technology as part of a European research project and in collaboration with the Construct PV Consortium. However, as it needs to go to market in innovative ways, UNSense joined forces with the printing company TS Visuals
and ‘ECN, part of TNO’. Currently companies are being selected to partner with and to invest in this product, including large glass companies, while the modules undergo further development. Today, in a world where a large portion of the retail business has shifted over to the digital world, one could be forgiven for questioning how important the traditional shop window actually is, or indeed, whether holistic facade displays are still required. But when we consider the human experience and how potential customers will still navigate within both the physical and the digital worlds, the tangible elements that encourage us to enter a space are still connected to materiality and tactility - perhaps even more so than ever before. I would argue, in fact, that to be connected 18 Septemberplein, Eindhoven, Netherlands, 2014-2019 Rendering: ©UNStudio
with the real world and to experience how things are made has today become more important in fashion, design and architecture. It is therefore not so surprising that when retailers are developing their stores, what architects and designers can offer are the skills required to create a design that incorporates the art of crafting materials and making this feature an integral and important part of the brand experience. Astrid Piber Partner / Senior Architect UNStudio Astrid Piber is a Partner at UNStudio and Senior Architect in charge of several large-scale design projects globally. Since joining UNStudio in 1998, she has worked on numerous projects, from the initial urban study and competition phases through to realization. In projects such as the Arnhem Central Station masterplan and the Raffles City mixed-use development in Hangzhou, China, the interdependency of functional, economic and future-proofing criteria has led to building organizations that go beyond segregated typologies. Working with a trans-scalar approach - from large-scale projects to their interiors - designing to add value through user experience has been key. Sophisticated place-making strategies have also been part of the design approach for the retail developments on which Astrid has worked. These include department store projects, such as the Galleria Luxury Hall West in Seoul and the Galleria Centercity in Cheonan (both South Korea), shopping mall projects such as Talee Star Place in Kaohsiung (Taiwan) and Hanjie Wanda Square in Wuhan (China), and boutique retail projects in Amsterdam (Netherlands). In all cases, the projects are designed to be inherently contextual, while commanding their own unique presence.
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The Permasteelisa Integrated Global Approach: The best way to turn the ideas of architects into reality
Elena Zanette Project Manager Permasteelisa Group
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orking with worldrenowned architects and being able to participate in the execution of their works, oftentimes bound to forever change the skyline of the cities that will host them, is a one-of-a-kind experience. To turn the ideas and vision of the best architects in the world into reality, the Permasteelisa Group can rely on an outstanding work team from the very early stages of a project, along with design and engineering, and then stride through all the stages of the project until the installation; a complex business model, coordinated and monitored by the Project Manager, the true deus-ex-machina of the project. A work team that is common to each of the 50 companies of the Group over 4 continents, all capable of collaborating, knowing that they can rely on the same procedures and technological solution. A teamwork that today is well represented by two projects located in two of the most avant-garde neighborhoods in the world: Battersea Power Station Redevelopment in London and Hudson Yards in New York.
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Battersea Power Station PH.1 A few years ago on the other side of the River Thames, south of London’s elegant neighbourhood of Chelsea witnessed the first phase of the huge redevelopment of Battersea Power Station complex: the Circus West Village (RS1A) project (Client: Battersea Power Station Development Company, Main Contractor: Carillion Construction, Architects: SimpsonHaugh and Partners). It is a project which I had privilege to manage as Project Director for the Permasteelisa Group, a major challenge as potentially a forerunner for the acquisition of the subsequent phases of what will soon become London’s most luxurious district, the new icon of the city. As a result, the project team was carefully selected and witnessed, as actors, some of the best Design/ Project/Site Managers and Engineers within the Group. The residential complex (RS1A) comprises 753 flats, offices, shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities that branch out in seven blocks that are interconnected to form a building up to 17-storeys high and 327-metres long characterised by an unusual plan that thins out to the south and borders the famous Power Station to the west. The main façade is a double skin, i.e. an internal glass envelope comprising of fixed and sliding modules, and an external glazed envelope also made up of an alternation of fixed and sliding modules. A winter garden is therefore resulting in the gap between the two layers creating an external, though protected, extension of the living area that, this way, can offer a daily relaxation area. At the same time, the privacy and protection from solar glare are guaranteed by elements that are accurately designed and constructed, such as solar shadings in custommade extruded aluminium that are conceived in sliding modules to better adapt to the needs of the buildings occupants. Glass plays an essential role in achieving the architectural intent of transparency, a transparency that is not static but plays with volumes thanks to the openings of the external 64
skin that create an empty-full movement which becomes dynamic thanks to the daily use of residents; a play of volumes stressed by the design of the façade on three different layers – external skin, juliet balcony and internal skin. This was the façade in the limelight, the façade that was the protagonist of them all, as the accurate and stringent specifications imposed by the architects and the final client indeed determined the development of ad hoc solutions in terms of technology and design. The dynamism of the huge complex, boasting a total surface of over 90,000 sq. m, is also the result of its overall geometry, made up of broken lines, where the projecting and receding volumes alternate giving rise to horizontal glass and metal bands that act in turn as roofs, terraces and ceilings. On the other hand, the vertical movement stems from the steel and glass atrium and the glazed fissures that unfold from one block to another. The main challenges faced by the team were the multiplicity of the solutions adopted, due to the special geometry of the project and scarce repetitiveness of the modules and the consequent management of huge quantities, combined with a very compressed installation timeframe that influenced the entire project in all its phases. This led to the need for courageous project management choices, such as the careful choice of suppliers from all over Europe that were required to work in parallel to guarantee compliance with the deadlines of the project, and to be constantly monitored to guarantee the overall quality of the material supplied. Likewise, it was crucial to be able to rely on the support of a global Group such as Permasteelisa that simultaneously put production sites and engineering offices into operation in different countries; a unique feature that distinguishes Permasteelisa from its competitors. Another key element was the logistics of transport and storage; in fact, the site was organised in such a way that materials had to be carried to the various storeys according to a “just in time” schedule. This entailed the use of a huge external warehouse that had to be
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CASE STUDIES – TRANSPARENT ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES
organised according to a detailed schedule to allow for a relatively lean management of the withdrawal of the various components (unitized curtain wall, sliding elements, special material, etc.) according to the site needs. In addition, the lay-out of the flats and the size of the façade elements required in-depth studies to identify the best routes, within the various storeys, to move the material from the landing point to the pre-assembly and installation area. The installation was undoubtedly challenging; this is the stage which brings together the results of all the choices made and where adrenaline flows abundantly at least until the first elements of the façade are installed and approved by the architects. Also, it has been very complex to manage a construction site that was actually seven sites at the same time, where basically seven buildings were being installed simultaneously. Subdivided into blocks and storeys, the installation was executed according to very precise sequences and instructions, where each work team, supported by supervisors and quality controllers, carried out their activities in a synchronised manner. Among the nicest things, I recall the collaboration and the synergy with and between the technical office and the site office, and within the team made up of colleagues spread across Italy, Croatia, Holland and UK; teamwork that turned out to be crucial for the successful outcome of the works.
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30 Hudson Yards Storefront (Hudson Yards - Tower A) In New York, in the west side of Manhattan, looking over the River Hudson, we find the new quarter of Hudson Yard, built over the railway tracks within a stone’s throw of the High Line. The entire development will incorporate residential buildings, offices, commercial spaces, parks, roads and public services in a single huge complex. It is in this area, between 10th Avenue and 33rd Street, that we find another project to which I had the pleasure to manage as Project Manager for Permasteelisa: Hudson Yards Tower A – Storefronts (Client: Related Companies, General Contractor: Tishman Construction, Architects: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates), a small jewel for its architectural elegance and the high quality requested. Features of the overall project are the complexity of the geometry of the various facades, that required numerous and indepth 3-D studies to define and develop the hidden substructures, structures and aesthetic claddings. The management of this project was an extremely intense and particular experience, a true personal enrichment: each element supplied is so specific, that the engineering, production, quality control and management phases had to be more than ever something unique and inescapable. And they were. The study of logistics is also worth noting as, being the project was made up of special elements produced in Europe, they were to be collected by truck, in the planned timeframe, loaded onto containers and shipped by sea; from the port of New York then they had to be transported by truck to a temporary storage area in New Jersey, then picked up and finally transported to the building site for the “just in time” installation by our US colleagues. In NYC just like in London, in accordance with the planned timeframe, one must also always take account of the chaos of the big city and local regulations, that turn every location into a challenge within a challenge. Worthy of particular attention is the northwest façade of the Storefronts, a stick system in which a very complex glass & steel structure rises up with every element which is installed 66
according to exacting schemes and tolerances. The custom made mullions used are of handsatin stainless steel with ‘T’ section; up to almost 20-metres long, they are made exclusively through joints welded in the factory (which remain invisible) and carried over from the other side of the Ocean via exceptional transportation using individually sized iron and wood cages. Once at the site, the satin-finished mullions were handled and lifted according to precise instructions defined by the project engineer in order to avoid deformations that might have jeopardised their aesthetics, and then connected to hidden carbon steel mullions through bolted connections which enabled them to reach their maximum length of about 25 metres. The transoms are made up of screenprinted glass fins, connected to the mullions through stainless steel “shoes” that, according to the architects’ will, besides bracing the façade, give it an undeniably streamlined appearance. Another special feature of this façade is the inward inclination of its central section, where in the entrance area the mullions connect with a portal also made entirely of welded and hand satin-finished stainless steel. To better explain the level of complexity of the welded elements it is worth noting that some of the welds of the stainless steel structures required up to three days of execution each, followed by the shaving phase, the controls and the final satin finishing were carried out in several steps. Each of these elements was produced according to stringent specifications and quality controls carried out by the Quality Inspectors of Permasteelisa and the Client’s consultant. The façade glasses are structurally sealed in place on their vertical sides, whilst laterally stainless steel panels - in Linen finish – clad the canopies to the west and to the north, interrupting the verticality of the glazing. A further note of complexity, besides the dimensions, the geometry of the elements and the stringent tolerances, is represented by the fact that the entire façade is in fact hung on the fourth floor. This entailed the need to carry out considerable engineering, logistics and laying studies.
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Lastly, among the features of the Hudson Yards Tower A Storefronts is the canopy located to the north-east, consisting of shaped panels in satin-finish stainless steel studied using 3-D modelling, that envelope the structure and then continue on, in the central part, inside the entrance façade, as well as the east, north and west sides of the building that features another steel-and-glass stick-system facade made up of “T”-shaped transoms (again custom-made in satin finish stainless steel) on which the glass panels are structurally sealed on site. The vertical deflection of the transoms, essentially given by the weight of the elements, is limited at the centre by a special full-height stainless steel tie rod that besides dampening out the vertical forces at the top of the main structure, adds aesthetic value as well as lightness and verticality to the façade. In this case too, stainless steel panels characterise the shaped framed of the visual part and crown the upper blind area of the façade.
Elena Zanette is a civil engineer graduated in Padua, Italy. After working in the technical field and as project engineer, undertakes the management career, as Project Manager and Project Director following several projects particularly in the UK
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Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
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The next generation of stadium and the role of the façade in creating identity, atmosphere and performance. Anna Wendt BuroHappold
Image Copyright - Hufton+Crow.
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Image Copyright - Hufton+Crow.
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tadium are some of the most complex specialist buildings – they serve an increasingly important function in local communities – not to mention the passion and love that sports fans have for them as iconic representations of the teams they support. The Evolution of Stadium Design Stadium design is evolving – these buildings are moving away from the once a week usage of times gone by. Now they are focal points within the community for regeneration and development. Once a powerhouse of structural engineering that were largely environmentally uncontrolled, these buildings are now advancing to create high performance spaces to suit a variety of needs. Be it a state of the art media centre, a VIP viewing room, restaurant or at the heart of it, creating an unforgettable experience for the fans with an exciting atmosphere that lingers long after the game has finished. The combination of architecture and engineering is the science of buildings. At BuroHappold we are applying our specialist engineering knowledge to better understand what buildings need in order to be successful. With Stadium, we feel it is really about venue performance. We are harnessing powerful data to assess and analyse performance and behaviour to really understand what good looks and feels like. One particular area of pioneering research we have been undertaking is how to measure atmosphere. A great atmosphere leads to a better fan experience, which in turn translates to increased profitability for the client. Therefore really understanding the metrics and contributing factors, in relation to the stadium building itself, helps us to engineer the optimal solution. Introducing Tottenham Hotspur Stadium The new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium provides state of the art facilities and increases spectator capacity from around 36,000 to 62,000. The stadium has a pioneering retractable pitch design that ensures it is a highly flexible sports and entertainment venue. The stadium itself will not just be a venue for football matches but will include NFL games, music concerts, and private events such as conferences and banquets.
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Image Copyright - Populous
From the outset the client’s aspirations was that the new stadium should offer fans a better experience with both an unforgettable atmosphere and an intimate friendly vibe. The stadium itself and the wider development around Northumberland Park is focused on providing a catalyst for regeneration across the local area ensuring that the stadium benefits the entire community, not just the fans. BuroHappold provided multi-disciplinary engineering services to the stadium supporting the architects Populous through the design phases and Mace during construction. In particular the synergies between the façade engineering and disciplines such as structures, energy, sustainability, lighting, acoustics, security and blast were important to ensure high performing well co-ordinated façade solutions. The façade as part of the solution The façade and roof of Tottenham Hotspur is a feast of materials, geometries and finishes. The architecture developed by Populous showcases a dynamic, open building skin which offers a glimpse into the buzz of activity within the stadium itself and creates an iconic building that pushes at the boundaries of what has been seen in stadium before.
Traditionally stadium facades are structurally complex – often having to span large distances between infrequent primary structural columns and slabs whilst having to accommodate significantly large movements. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is no different. The primary structure including pitch, stands and roof were designed well in advance of the façade due to necessary acceleration to test viability of the scheme. Consequently one of the first tasks in supporting the architects with the façade development was geometry definition and panelisation in relation to the primary structure
and determining what secondary steelwork was required to adequately support the façade. This was a large optimisation task that was particularly important in achieving some of the feature façade elements such as the 40m tall, cranked, curved south façade which consists of single glazed cold bent panels and the “twin skin” façade around the majority of the stadium which consists of an inner skin of glazed stick curtainwalling and an outer skin of 4.5m x 1.2m perforated aluminium mesh panels with a fully accessible maintenance cavity between the two skins.
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Image Copyright - Populous
Image Copyright - Hufton+Crow.
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The south façade particularly is a focal point for the building – being the main entrance and the start of the journey into the building. Geometrically and structurally challenging, it was also key to get the environmental approach right. The concourse behind the façade is not a fully conditioned space but clearly with a south facing glazed façade appropriate mitigation against solar gain was necessary. The glazing is comprised of single laminated heat strengthened glass. A solar absorbing interlayer is used to achieve the g-value. The façade allows passive natural ventilation through continuous strip openings integrated into the base and at the main curved fold along the elevation. Furthermore, detailed CFD assessments were carried out to determine temperature ranges within the space and assessment of any condensation risks with using single glazing.
The roof The stadium roof is a complex assembly comprised of a bicycle-wheel shaped cable net structure with twin tension rings on the inside connecting to the outer fabricated steel box outer compression ring with radial cables connecting the two. Radial rafters are propped from the upper radial cables to support a braced secondary structure which, in turn, supports the roof cladding which is an aluminium standing seam with polycarbonate panels at the leading edge providing necessary light translucency.
movements across the roof had to be carefully accommodated within the detailing of the sky lounge cladding with bespoke movement joints developed to accommodate up to 50mm of movement between segments. Concertina type gaskets were used between segments, spaced to align with the radial roof ties. The main supporting frame for the glazing was designed to be isolated from the surrounding roof structure to allow the glass to be supported at the top and bottom with unframed vertical joints between the glass panels.
At the far edge of the roof sits a sky lounge which comprises a restaurant and bar that is accessed through radial access bridges. Inclined large format double glazed units provide an uninterrupted birds eye view of the inner stadium and pitch. The extensive
The Tottenham Experience The Tottenham Experience Building sits just in front of the stadium and houses a museum depicting the history of the club, the main shop and ticketing. The building incorporates the refurbished Grade II listed Warmington House
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which is nestled at the centre of the building. The new building incorporates the largest cast iron façade in the UK which was developed using digital fabrication to create moulds from CNC cut foam with the traditional method of casting. The building also incorporates two incredibly impressive glass boxes. Again, linking with the idea of transparency used with the Stadium to provide a glimpse of the hive of activity within. The glass boxes are formed entirely from structural glass – 12.4m in height with single glass panes spanning the full height. The glass fins are comprised of 5 sheets of 10mm laminated heat strengthened glass. The roofs adjacent to the glass boxes are all accessible to the public also, therefore extensive fragility testing was required to the glass roofs to take into account accidental impact loads. Due to the geometry of the glass boxes the glass fins are 15 degrees from being perpendicular to the glass panels – this required detailed development of the connecting frame between the glass and the fins. The creation of a world class venue It is without a doubt that the façade contributes significantly to the creation of a world class venue, a new heart for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. The clever and careful design by Populous positively engages the public and the community. Making the envelope largely transparent with incredible views inside and out thus creating a seamless connection with the surrounds. The extensive use of glass in Stadium, particularly at public level is not overly common in Stadium Design. The façade
engineering challenges presented in creating such unique geometries were coupled with much higher loading and movements than are commonly applied to glass in buildings. The careful selection of materials combined with the highly engineered interfaces and detailing are what really allow the clients hopes, the architects vision and the entire Tottenham Hotspur communities passion for the team to come to life in this new home for their club.
After completing a degree in Architectural Engineering Anna joined the Facade Engineering team at BuroHappold. Anna is currently a Director responsible for leading both facade specific and multi-disciplinary projects. Anna has experience of delivering projects from conceptual design stages through to tender and construction. Her technical facade expertise includes the design, engineering and detailing of a wide range of facade systems and materials incorporating key performance attributes such as structural, environmental, fire, acoustics and security. Anna has a particular interest in the broader application of an integrated engineering approach to building design addressing the complex demands of the built environment. Anna specialises in bringing together a range of highly specialised engineering disciplines to unlock design opportunities and deliver seamless solutions to specific engineering challenges within the building environment and fabric. Anna has a broad experience of working across a variety of sectors with specific expertise in cultural, education, sports and aviation. She has worked globally on projects within Europe, North America, India, Asia and the Middle East allowing her to gain a sound knowledge of the requirements and expectations in a range of climates and cultures.
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Up to this point the articles you've read have been extraordinary, over the remaining pages they become astounding, displaying star quality with something for us all to learn.
, T here s plenty more to come Aulikki Sonntag
Chiara Bedon
Tugba Okcuoglu
Viviana Nardini
Helen Sanders
Émilie Develle
Becci Taylor
Valerie Block
This is IGS - Nothing more, nothing less.... 76
NOT HING ELSE!
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Embracing technology in the construction sector – the need of the hour! Rebecca Gabriel
In this day and age, where everything around us is being digitised, from shopping to managing appliances, it is hard to imagine a world without mobile phones, emails, or google search engines! However, it was only in 1983, that Motorola released its first commercial mobile phone! The first search engine created was Archie in 1990 by Alan Emtage who was a student at McGill University in Montreal. For those in their mid-career, all the changes, growth and advancement in technology has been during our life-time. Digitisation, automation, internet – the question is where are we heading to and what does it all mean, especially to infrastructure and the built environment? After completing my civil engineering degree in India, I came to the UK to do my MBA. Straight after, I joined one of the largest Consultancy firms as a structural engineer. Life without CAD was unthinkable, the size of our desks was really large, reviewing drawings was a mandatory part
of our everyday activity. While the world has been making accelerated advancements in the field of digitisation, technology and automation, statistics reveal that the construction industry has been one of the last to embrace the change and slow to adapt.
“Once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the road.” Says Stewart Brand, a Writer.
We are living through a fundamental transformation in the way we work. Automation and ‘thinking machines’ are replacing human tasks and with that, they are changing the skills that organisations are looking for in their workforce. Technology, digitisation, robotics, Artificial Intelligence – all are starting to impact our jobs. However, Despite being slow to innovate, the construction industry, due to the leap taken by a few companies, some of the changes in the recent years have taken the hard hat industry by surprise. New technologies in the industry are being developed at breakneck speed. Some of the technologies that are reshaping the construction industry today are: 1. Cloud and Mobile: Cloud and remote computing have transformed the modern world in many ways. In the construction sector, they enable stakeholders to access common project data and work together more efficiently in real time. On-site workers and project managers are now able to edit and review
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the same drawing, file or a blueprint from completely separate locations. This improves collaboration, keeps everyone informed, stimulates innovation, and drives optimisation. With mobile apps and mobile-based solutions greater efficiency can be achieved, as it is quicker to input information, it means a paperless system that ensure no information is lost. 2. Building Information Modelling (BIM): BIM is simply a process for creating and managing information on a construction project across the project lifecycle. BIM is about unlocking the value of information in the Asset Lifecycle by defined information processes and a single source of truth. By being able to create a digital Building Information Model, BIM enables those who interact with the building to optimize their actions, resulting in a greater whole life value for the asset. It is anticipated that the lines between the digital and physical world will be much less defined in the future. As the technology that supports BIM approach improves, there will be a greater need to adapt to higher levels of BIM. It is anticipated that in few year’s time, industry will widely engage with 6D and 7D BIM that will enable us to more accurately predict whole life costs, which will help us and our clients to understand the longterm viability of alternative design proposals. 3. Drones: Unmanned aerial vehicles, sometimes referred to as UAVs, or more commonly, as drones, are also changing the way the construction industry works. The use of drones in construction has bought about significant changes and they will continue to have lasting effects. Replacing traditional land-surveillance methods, reducing theft and keeping workers safer by creating a round-theclock real-time monitoring system, providing instant connectivity and communication on the job site, causing a sharp increase in security efficiency and aiding in transporting goods aerially are just some of the uses of Drones. 4. 3D printing: The 21st century is emerging as the 3D age, and it’s no wonder that the once novel technology has found its way into the Global Construction sector. 3D printing construction is now being touted as the future of the sector. Using 3D printing, it is now possible to build a house in just 20 hours! It is expected that construction 3D printing would result in lower labour costs, produce less waste, enhance safety and allow faster and more 78
accurate construction of complex or bespoke items. 5. Virtual Reality: Virtual Reality (VR) was born as a tool for gaming. However, VR is creating huge opportunities for Infrastructure and the built environment. VR in construction is the next level in 3D modelling. VR streamlines collaboration and provides teams the ability to “see” a project site without traveling to it. It thereby enhances customer experience and hence drives greater satisfaction. With the changing face of the construction industry, this is not the time to sit back and wait for events to unfold. To be prepared for the future, one has to understand it, be a part of it and embrace the change. However, is it as easy as it sounds? In this ever changing industry, if one has to stay current, it is imperative to have an open mind and a willingness to adopt new practices.
“The advance of technology is based on making it fit in so that you don’t really even notice it, so it’s part of everyday life.” Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft. Some of the practical steps that one can apply to ensure that digital growth and progression are a part of our everyday lives are summarised below: 1. Being connected with professional bodies and ensuring that one is aware of the current trends and best practices. From the very outset of my career, being connected with my industry peers, professional bodies and contributing to them has helped ensure that I am keeping abreast of the latest changes, emerging trends. This also often opens doors and provides opportunities to contribute back to the industry in whatever small, but significant way possible.
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2. Understanding that change is inevitable and looking at the changes positively. Ensuring that one fully understands the intended benefits and if applicable, take the time to become familiar with the technology! Reading, attending seminars and obtaining the relevant training if required are some of the practical steps. As a leader, its important I adhere to these practices and also: • I align technology and strategy to achieve our intended vision; and • Act as an ambassador of change Alignment of IT and business strategies involves more than combining them into a single document. As a part of the business planning cycle, it is imperative that every aspect of the IT strategy considered, supports the goals of the business. In practicality, this means that every IT-related investment, activity, service or project must tie in with the overarching vision of the organisation and create or optimise business value. 3. Create a workplace culture where people want to be, not have to be! Adopt best practices, standardise, and simplify, so that in the infrastructure space, where the change has been slow in coming, the buy-in becomes easier when it is simplified and standardised. Be a digital ambassador, understand the benefits, advocate them, ensure teams fully understand and create a culture, where people buy-in from the outset and embrace the change. 4. Think outside of the box, not necessarily big, and seek opportunities to trial new technologies. Seeking out opportunities from the outset or pre-conception stages works better rather than during the later stages. Identify repeat tasks, identify problem statements, investigate available technology, identify intended efficiencies and value add along with investment required for implementation and roll-out One does not have to start big, but be willing to look outside the box and out of the ‘norm’. In addition to using some of the emerging construction trends, some of the simple, but effective ways in which I have implemented technology in my recent projects are as listed below:
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1. Use of Drones for Surveys: Some of the road investment projects that we work on often requires surveys to be undertaken and ecological constraints considered right from the outset. Often the timescales for the surveys are constrained due to their seasonal nature and land access required. The use of drones was researched and it soon came to light that Drone surveys can be procured quicker, the area covered by a drone survey larger and in less time and in addition, drones offer a safer means of undertaking the survey than the traditional methods of land surveys. Use of drones also helps achieve significant cost, programme, health & safety savings and result in increased accuracy. The generalized iterative four-step management method used is as shown below. To drive control and continuous improvement of processes and products, simple iterative management tools such as Deming circle or the PDCA/PDSA (Plan, Do, Check or Study and Act) cycles are very helpful. 2. Interactive dashboards – use of PowerBI and Tableau Transforming Data into Actionable Insights is what its all about! Simple, but effective way of producing reports has been the introduction of ‘Dashboard Reporting’ using PowerBi and Tableau as opposed to issuing word/pdf report. For one of our clients with multiple sites across the globe, an interactive report of the KPI metrics provides greater interaction with the data. Greater interaction leads to better client experience, resulting in client satisfaction.
3. Think out of the box! In addition to use of existing current trends, identifying the problem statement and taking small steps towards innovation successfully results in efficiencies, improvements, costs and time savings. In one of my recent projects, we identified at the very outset that the approach of capturing hazards traditionally is disjointed and left projects open to potential risk. It is important from the early conception stages that a Hazard Elimination Schedule (HES) is maintained. The HES is a ‘schedule’ that records the various significant (high risk) hazards identified by the designer(s) and, where they have been able, details of how they have been eliminated. Traditionally, the hazard would be captured within the drawing and then the associated information would be captured within a spreadsheet. This meant that in some instances points would be removed from the designers drawing but not the spreadsheet, and likewise records in the spreadsheet but not the associated hazard in the drawing. The disjointed, traditional HES workflow is as shown below: On the current project, we wanted to ensure from the outset that we have a better approach to managing hazards. Using the problem statement and known associated risks and with the use of our Enterprise Geographic Information System (GIS) environment, we have now developed a solution that has established the HES as a single source of truth for the project. The new innovative process we use
ensures the data is updated to one data source and in software the user feels comfortable using. The excel information is now directly associated with the hazard and therefore removing the risk of a hazard being amended without its associated information is now eliminated. By establishing a clear workflow the culture and behaviour of the team on the project has changed. It is now no longer the responsibility of ‘someone else’. With visibility of hazards across the whole project team it has led to more and better-quality conversations and actions to improve safety in design. We also have a client where safety is one of its imperatives, with ambition to be leading in this area over the next few years. The innovative approach by the Health and Safety in conjunction with the GIS team and the work on the project really supports them achieving their ambition. Simple steps to embracing change result in long term positive sustainable growth, that perhaps was not previously possible. It can either be by being in the forefront of innovation or embracing small changes like the ones I have listed in this article and being a digital ambassador. Technological advancements are driving and will continue to drive the construction industry forward. Today, we are able to build stronger, taller, and more energy efficient structures than previously anticipated. Technology has made Infrastructure and the built environment safer and workers more efficient, by driving
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improvements from the project conception stage. It has allowed us to increase our productivity, improve collaboration, tackle more complex projects, reach many previously unreachable areas and come up with solutions that were unthinkable in the past. The global industry is starting to come around to adopting advanced digital technology. Many Companies that are researching and implementing technology are reaping the rewards with increased productivity, better collaboration, driving efficiency and completing projects on time and within budget.
“In the new world, it is not the big fish which eats the small fish, it’s the fast fish which eats the slow fish.” – Klaus Schwab Hence, it is important that as individuals, we embrace the change and play our part. In a world of rapid advancements, in order to evolve, it is important to create the right balance between creativity, diversity and active engagement with stakeholders, customers and our workforce. Whatever steps we take on that journey, it is extremely important that we remain agile, and as jobs are being redefined and re-categorised, we work towards building an agile culture and skillset for us, our teams and technology to work in harmony. 80
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Rebecca is a Director with Arcadis based out of their Manchester office and a part of the Senior Leadership team. Amongst various roles with Arcadis, she also is the Project Director for one of the major Tier 1 Highways England project. Previously with Arcadis, Rebecca was the Global PMO Director for one of their key multinational client, managing teams across the EMEA and the Americas with the Head of Programme & Project Controls, Head of Quality and Compliance, Head of Project Governance and Head of Contractor and Supplier performance reporting through to her. Over the years, she has gained strong technical and commercial background working for public and private sector clients across wide range of sectors such as Transportation, Defence, Nuclear, Rail, Highways and IT. and possesses a good understanding of technical and business issues surrounding the viability of major projects and programmes. In addition, previously she has led the Risk Advisory teams for both in the Private and Public sector bodies. Her key areas of focus remains ensuring that large programmes and projects are executed and completed within the time, scope, and budget negotiated with the client; evaluating existing systems and procedures making recommendations for improvement to public and private sector clients and seeing them through. In addition, Rebecca is also passionate about empowering women, next generation leaders and promoting engineering as an exciting career. She was one of the speakers at the recently held ‘Women in Construction’ summit in London and also regularly speaks at various RICS and APM events. She firmly believes that “Leadership should be more participative than directive, more enabling than performing,” as stated by Mary D. Poole.
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Research-driven building design to achieve 2050 objectives. Case study of Smart Living Lab building (Fribourg)
Aulikki Sonntag Building Envelope Design as Part of the Overall Building Concept Being trained and having worked as an Architect in the past, I found an early interest in the development and implementation of energy efficient envelopes, adaptive and integrated façades, based on a three-pillar concept interfacing architecture, environmental design, and structural engineering. Since two decades my work focuses on the building envelope: Responding to the specific location and climate using an interactive building planning process, while pursuing diversity in design and high efficiency in performance. 82
Although I have been carrying this around for quite some time, there are only a handful of projects which allowed for its full implementation. Most recently the competitive design study for the Smart Living Lab (Ref 1) within the Innovation district in Fribourg, Switzerland. Press release smart living lab | Fribourg, 12 July 2019 The group made up of Behnisch Architekten, Drees & Sommer Schweiz AG, and ZPF Ingenieure AG wins the Parallel Studies Mandate (Mandat d’études parallèles - MEP)
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launched in 2018 by Bluefactory FribourgFreiburg SA and the Smart Living Lab in order to define the project of the new iconic building of the research center located in the blueFACTORY innovation district, Fribourg. Introduction The new building for the Smart Living Lab (SLL) is the research and development center for the future of the built environment, shared by scientific teams from three Swiss educational institutions: EPFL (Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne), the HEIA-FR (School of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg),
ADVANCED GLASS ENGINEERING
Figure 1: Perspective from Main Entrance (rendering moka-studio)
all projects will take place at the blueFACTORY ground in Fribourg, Switzerland from September 13-26, 2019. The future building is scheduled to be occupied in fall 2022. Design Process The six-month parallel studies mandate for the Smart Living Lab started with the preselection of four interdisciplinary working teams of architects and engineers in December 2018. The final team building the project Behnisch Architekten, ZPF Ingenieure AG, and Drees &Sommer - was selected in July 2019. Throughout the process, open workshops and discussions between the experts and all teams took place, reflecting the interactive research carried out within the SLL prior and during the design process. The knowledge and tools developed by the researchers were part of the analysis and measurable deliverables during the parallel study design process. Design Parameters Environmental Quality The Swiss society aims to reach the targets set by the 2000-Watt Society (Ref5) regarding energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The SLL project had the clear objective to reach these values.
energy sources on site, their efficiency factor needed to stay above the one of the Swiss energy mix (Ref6). The reduction of the environmental impact of the building is paired with the comfort requirements regarding indoor air quality and temperatures, natural ventilation, and daylighting. Quality of Usage / Space The total building floor area of the five storey building was given with 5,000 m2, creating work-space for close to 130 people within an approximate building volume limited to 20,000 m3. Individual and collaborative working spaces are part of the program, guaranteeing equitable conditions and well-being for all users, independent of their variable activities. The flexibility of the workspace is essential to the changing demands of the research groups. Experimental Quality In the case of the SLL, the building itself becomes an experimental tool. The use of the building is divided in two research families: Permanent and temporary ones. The building incorporates permanent installations, transformative spaces, and flexible experimenting, expressed in “CORE, PLUG, and FLEX”.
Building performance requirements outlined in the competition program are considering a 60-year life cycle of the building, taking into account the embodied energy of the construction materials as well as the energy demand for its operation. Foremost target is the building compliance with three set threshold performance numbers:
and the UNIFR (University of Fribourg). The design for the future building is a result of the smart living lab research program, consisting of eleven core research groups focusing on the sustainable habitat: Well-being and behaviors, construction technologies, interactions and design processes, and energy systems. The results of their researches from the last four years have been published in two books (Thinking (Ref2) and Exploring (Ref3) within the series Towards 2050 in May 2019. The project concluded the parallel studies mandate (Ref4) in June 2019. The exposition of
Building Concept With the quantity of information provided, one of the first major challenges was to understand the site-specifics of the ancient brewery brownfield, the program for the future building, and the research tools provided. As an example, the ELSA (Exploration Tool For Sustainable Architecture) (Ref7) offered around 20,000 possible combinations of material and system Total Primary Energy Demand choices. It has been found that the building 209 kWhoil-eq/m2.year structure, the heating system, and the thermal insulation were the main parameters influencing Non-Renewable Primary Energy Demand the greenhouse gas emission, contributing in up 120 kWhoil-eq/m2.year to 80% of the total of all building components. Furthermore, from the three possible base Greenhouse Gas Emission volumes, the square volume with a center atrium 13 kg CO2-eq/m2.year provided the best daylighting and PV energy harvest compared to the longitudinal volumes By adding the third design parameter with being more shaded by the adjacent silo tower. target values for greenhouse gas emission to the equation, the design process was Since the new building and its adjoining public determined by finding the optimum balance spaces in the center of the new neighborhood between them all. E.g. providing additional “blueFACTORY” will not form an isolated entity, surfaces for integrated-photovoltaic elements the interior and exterior communication spaces by increasing the building volume, would have are quite relevant for the project. The required raised the amount of total energy demand and flexibility resulted in the core idea that the CO2 emission considerably. In using renewable project should be experienced as a “living intelligent glass solutions | autumn 2019
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demand of the building. Taking advantage of the “spacial voids”, the atrium and the winter gardens with the building envelope are designed to change their behavior through the seasons. The façade is actively contributing to the overall energy performance of the building. In winter, air circulates through the re-use of an existing underground technical canal, acting as a heat exchanger, preheating the air. Heat exchange via monobloc takes place in the basement, pre-heated fresh air is then distributed via technical shafts into the wooden slab structure of the building and the floor spaces. Exhaust warm air is collected at the atrium top to a heat recovery system connected back to the monobloc in the basement. The system allows for a full heat recovery. In summer the same underground canal provides pre-cooled air. A bypass allows to distribute the air directly into the floor spaces. The distribution of air is carried out following the same principles as in winter.
Figure 2: Node Point of Communication (Interior and Exterior)
Figure 3: Proposed Wood Structural System
organism”, which interacts with its environment. Four building voids are essential to support the concept of the space diversity: Two winter gardens, allowing to step outside on each level connecting with the outside, the atrium as a centralized come together, and the lobby extending out to the public. Building Structure Based on the environmental impact study performed, the main structure of the building consists of European beech. Built-up timber column sections with project specific developed knot points support the pre84
fabricated wooden box slabs. The optimized structural grid of 6m x 6m further supports the flexible floor plan. The hollow spaces in the box slab structure are used for air distribution, replacing traditional duct work to a maximum extend. Furthermore, it provides room heights up to three meters, without further increasing the total building volume (and consequently energy for additional materials and volume to be heated). Energy and Building Envelope Concept A powerful energy concept was needed to reduce the need for the non-renewable energy
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Operable elements are provided for natural ventilation within the standard façades, the atrium roof, as well as the exterior and interior glazing of the winter gardens. In winter the pre-heated air of the winter gardens further increases comfort and reduces the energy demand of the building. Heat is provided by a radiant ceiling mounted system. The quick response time addresses fluctuations of internal loads. In summer the operables in the atrium roof allow for a direct exit of the hot exhaust air, night cooling supports the concept. At extreme temperature conditions, the stack effect gets enforced by fans located in the upper area of the atrium. Additional pre-cooling by circulating cold water in the radiant ceilings is possible and guarantees that the comfort levels are met during a summer heat wave. The operable elements to the winter garden stay closed, the winter garden itself is flushed. During the design process, the energy concept, the sustainability approach, and the indoor comfort were confirmed in calculations. Among them, indoor thermal simulations, life cycle analysis, calculation for energetical autonomy and renewable energy yields, as well as the overall energy demand of the building. Various daylighting and shading studies were performed. The building provides good distribution of day light via the atrium skylight. To meet the spatial daylight requirement an average of 45% of the exterior vertical main
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Figure 4: Seasonal Adaption of the Environmental Concept
Récupéra on centrale de chaleur de l'air extrait via échangeur à eau glycolée en par e haute de l'atrium. L'atrium fait office de canal d'air extrait
Figure 5: Overall Energy Concept of the Building
Panneaux photovoltaïques horizontaux en toiture
Panneaux Extrac on photovoltaïques inclinés Air rejeté Air repris Air soufflé Air extrait Chauffage Refroidissement Electricité Eau pluviale
Récupera on des eaux pluviales Mise en place des systèmes économes: Robinets à débits réduits, détecteurs
Maximiser la lumière du jour Panneaux photovoltaïques Protec on solaire ree mobile m ob bilee Préchauffage de l'air neuf dans la zone tampon
Panneaux photovoltaïques
n érrence onf Conf Co fé Café Ca
Façade performante Triple vitrage et panneaux photovoltaïques (cf. calculs détaillés) Protec on solaire extérieure
Maximiser la lumière du jour Plafond rayonnant argile
Passage d'air avec piège à sons Air soufflé en par e basse Rafraîchissement nocturne ven la on naturelle possible
Atrium
Plafond rayonnant rd d standard Direc on de la lumière Valorisa on des eaux pluviales: toile es, arrosage, ne oyage etc.
Plafond rayonnant standard
Chauffage / Refroidissement via plafond rayonnant en argile ou standard
Installa ons électriques appareils performants, detecteurs
Préchauffage (hiver) / pré-refroidissement (été) de l'air dans le canal souterrain Ven la on mécanique contrôlée avec récupera on de chaleur à haut rendement
Récupéra on des eaux de pluie en toiture dans une citerne située au sous-sol Citerne
Réduc on de la quan té d’eau à traiter par la sta on d’épura on. Pompe à chaleur (chaffauge/refroidissement) à haut rendement
Figure 6: Perspective from Atrium Space (rendering moka-studio)
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Figure 7: Adaption of the façade to the given sun exposure
Figure 8: South-East Façade Elevation
façade needs to be glazed. The illumination of the deeper zones was enhanced by the façade integrated horizontal fins acting as light shelves with an exterior light channeling screen at the upper glazing. Building-Integration of Photovoltaics (BIPV) To be able to provide a 50% self-sufficiency for the electrical energy demand of the building, PV elements, based on Cd-Te technology, were integrated in the exterior building envelope and roof. Vertical as well as horizontal elevations are considered, elements are sized and oriented to ensure optimized production while at the same time providing shading in summer. Façades The building envelope adapts to the seasons, each elevation responds to sun exposure and solar radiation given. The visual appearance of the building changes in a lively manner throughout the year. Elevations with dominantly east and west sun exposure 86
incorporate deep vertical fins. While the southeast façade provides deep horizontal and vertical fins, the exterior elements are reduced to subtle vertical fins on the north-west façade. The entire exterior envelope is well insulated, allowing for a maximum benefit of internal heat gain in cold periods. Main materials are local wood (spruce fir for framing and lark for opaque paneling), glass, and textile screens. The façade grid is half of the structural grid, hence using a 3m module width. Façades are constructed in layers, responding to the different life time of materials, providing accessibility and material separation accordingly. The inner layer of the main vertical façade provides the thermal and moisture barrier of the building. Operable elements allow for natural ventilation and night cooling. Vision areas include a triple insulated glass with high performance insulative coatings. The outer layer consists of a fixed brise-soleil system, supported off the building structure directly. It accounts for electrical energy production and sunshading at the same time.
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Extensive solar shading studies led to the optimized layout. Fins are custom tailored towards the solar exposure, while maintaining unobstructed views. The fins consist of a PV element mounted onto a wood framing with moisture repellant textile backing. Exterior screens, located below the horizontal fins, provide additional glare protection. Although the building volume and therefore the thermal envelope are compact, the three-dimensional geometry of the outer layer fin structure provides a large energy harvesting surface. Winter gardens are highly transparent with monolithic glazing, allowing for high visible light transmittance via the inner double insulated façade system. Operable elements and sloped horizontal sheds include for PV panels. The positioning of the windows has been optimized for a constant air circulation and flushing of the winter gardens when needed. A flexible interior dense metallic coated textile screen provides an interior cavity shaft further enhancing the natural stack effect.
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Figure 9: Layering of Exterior Envelope Components
Figure 10: Main Faรงade Elevation and Section
Figure 11: Winter Garden Faรงade Elevation and Section
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Green Building Labeling The project is in line with the requirements of the 2000-Watt Society concept (Ref5), meeting Swiss Minergie-A requirements (energy demand of building) and Minergie ECO requirements (material choices and separation of systems, cost-effective technical systems, and daylight distribution). In addition, a pre-audit of requirements according to the Swiss SNBS Green Building Label shows that compliance with the “gold” requirements is conceivable for this project. Press release smart living lab | Fribourg, 12 July 2019 The winning team stood out particularly because of their collective intelligence, their ability to listen and their enthusiasm, and the integration of a close cooperation between architects and engineers. The latter describes well the position of the building envelope in this unique interdisciplinary design process: The façade as integrated part of the overall building concept, interfacing between Architecture and Engineering.
Credits All above presented materials are the results of the collaborative and enriching team work. The team: Behnisch Architekten (Stefan Behnisch, Stefan Rappold, Angie Müller-Puch, Alex Whitton) ZPF Ingenieure AG (Fabio Pesavento) Drees & Sommer (Aulikki Sonntag, Thiébaut Parent, Toni Calabrese, Hans Voigt, Stephan Mock) Special thanks to Marilyne Andersen, professor EPFL, academic director of the SLL (interne) and chairperson of the panel of experts and Philippe Jemmely, managing director of Bluefactory Fribourg-Freiburg SA, the expert panel, and all the researchers involved in this future oriented endeavor. A big step forward towards the construction of tomorrow.
Figure 12: Perspective from Winter Garden (rendering moka-studio)
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Aulikki Sonntag Façade Engineering and Design PROFILE & OBJECTIVES Development and Implementation of Energy Efficient Envelopes, Adaptive and Integrated Façades, and Structural Glass Solutions based on a three-pillar concept interfacing Architecture, Energy Design, and Structural Engineering. Designing for a Location based on the Specific Climate, using an Interactive Building Process while pursuing Diversity in Design and High Efficiency in Performance. Challenging the “state of the art” in pushing technical limits and innovative design solutions. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Since 2017 Drees & Sommer Schweiz AG, Basel Team Leader Eng2 (Façade Engineering, Building Physics, Energy Design) Basel, Switzerland 2012 – 2016 Roschmann Group, New York / Augsburg, Director of Engineering & Design (VP), Business Development / International Projects 2001 – 2012 R.A.Heintges & Associates, New York, Façade Consultant - Senior Associate 1997 – 2001 Petry Wittfoht Architects, Stuttgart / Frankfurt, Project Architect
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Whenever your company products or services are mentioned in IGS, whether it’s an article, case study or new innovation we can produce a tailor-made reprint for you to use in your future marketing and promotional campaigns. Reprints can vary from a single page to multiple page brochures. To order your reprints simply contact us at the following email address: nick@intelligentpublications.com or go to igsmag.com
SHARING PERSONAL EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Sharing over 30 years of Knowledge and Experience
Eilis McShane Multiplex Construction Europe Ltd
lass is acknowledged around the world as a slow developer in terms of groundbreaking innovations. Since you became Project Director of glasstec in March 2009 what memorable technologies spring to mind that have made a significant impact on the status quo? The first thing that comes to my mind are thinfilm photovoltaics. Back then in 2010 PV was totally en vogue. Today, you can implement the solar cells into the glass facades or windows, undetectable to the naked eye or even integrate it into colored glass. On top of that, every two years it is exciting to see the competition in the field of architecture between glass producers,
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In the late eighties I joined Bovis Construction and became involved with the delivery of the façade on Foster and Partner’s ITN Headquarters in Grays Inn Road. This had a stellar team including Grant Brooker, Ken Shuttleworth and Robin Partington, with the early double skin façade by Josef Gartner and the cathedral wall and roof by GIG. As an engineer I loved the finer points of façade engineering and materials technology and, coupled with an appreciation of good architecture and detailing, my lifelong passion for facades was set.
Spec the Edge: Why U-factor matters in hot climates
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trying to outdo each other in breaking the next XXL glass record. And of course, I am fascinated by multifunctional glass. Digitalization and the unrivalled success story of smartphones and tablets have opened our eyes to just how fast new technology can change our lives. Thin glass plays a key role here thanks to its touch properties – thereby laying the foundation for the further development of multi-functional and interactive properties. The limits of what is feasible have yet to be reached. In future, glass will play an active and varied role in regenerative energy generation, building management, medical device technology and bio engineering, entertainment and healthcare. And it is also capable of prompting groundbreaking changes and developments in the automotive sector.
Quality time with Birgit Horn,
Following that project I was involved with many prestigious projects including the Rothschild Headquarters by OMA, Central Saint Giles by Renzo Piano, One New Change by Jean Nouvel and One Eagle Place by Eric Parry. I mention these particular projects as they incorporated some artisan elements such as faience, fine mesh and bespoke design, as part of the façade. This entailed lots of time understanding unusual trades, sampling and mock ups and pushing boundaries with an open mind. The results are beautiful and unique. As projects have become more complex and incorporating unusual materials there is an increasing reliance on large scale visual mock ups which bring great benefit provided the programmes and budgets are realistic and allow for this process.
Director of glasstec 2020 La Casa Del Desierto ©Gonzalo Botet
22 Bishopsgate dominating the London skyline
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Q UA L I T Y T I M E S P E N T I N T H E C O M PA N Y O F
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have been involved in the Façade industry, predominantly in London, for over thirty years and have seen huge changes. The one constant I would say are the creative and pragmatic people involved in our industry.
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Helen Sanders Technoform North America
There is a general misconception that U-factor of fenestration is not a big concern for building performance in hot climates. This idea is perpetuated in building energy codes and standards where U-factor requirements are laxer in hot-humid and desert climate zones compared to those in cold climate zones. In North America’s 2018 International Energy Conservation Code, the U-factor requirement for Climate Zone 1 (e.g. Miami) is 2.8 W/m2K (0.50 btu/ºF.hr.ft2) compared to 1.6 W/m2K (0.29 btu/ºF.hr.ft2) in climate zone 7 (e.g. Southern Alaska and Northern Minnesota).¹
1 Based on National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) Standard 100
Exterior view of the newly renovated Space Needle in Seattle. Photo Credit: Photo by oakie on Unsplash.
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Perception scales for the vibration serviceability assessment of in-service glass walkways Chiara Bedon
Abstract The vibration performance of pedestrian structures attracts the attention of several researchers, especially with respect to unfavourable operational conditions or possible damage scenarios. Vibration comfort levels must be satisfied (in addition to basic safety requirements), depending on the given class of use, structural typology and involved materials. While existing guideline documents offer simplified Single-Degree-of-Freedom approaches, these methods are mostly calibrated for specific structural typologies (i.e., steel-concrete, timber, etc.). Dedicated methods are required for glass pedestrian systems, due to their intrinsic features (small thickness-tosize ratios, high flexibility, type and number of supports, live-to-dead load ratios, use of materials that are susceptible to mechanical degradation with time/temperature/humidity, etc.). In this context, “Pedestrian’s Perception Scales� specifically calibrated for glass can represent an efficient tool in support of a reliable vibration comfort assessment of inservice structures. Keywords: vibration comfort, laminated glass, pedestrian glass walkways, field vibration experiments, human-structure interaction (HSI) 90
Introduction Load-bearing structural glass elements in buildings can take the form of simple members (columns, beams, plates) but also complex assemblies. While the development / refinement of safe and optimized rules for the design of glass structures is continuously evolving, major issues are still related to their vulnerability. Even more attention is required for pedestrian glass structures, that could be subjected to severe operational conditions
and pronounced Human Structure Interaction (HSI) phenomena (Figure 1). As a general rule, glass slabs should be verified in operational conditions, against vibrations, in the same
Figure 1. Glass pedestrian systems and transparency effects on human perception of vibrations (examples).
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Figure 2. Example of mathematical model for HSI calculations of pedestrian structures, accounting for crowd effects
way of pedestrian structures composed of other constructional materials. Possible critical aspects of glass, however, are represented by small thickness-to-size ratios, high slenderness, unconventional or limited number/size of restraints, long-term phenomena, etc.. The human perception of vibrations can be then further magnified by psychological effects deriving from glass transparency. Certainly, key parameters for vibration analyses are represented by the motion features (pacing frequency and phase, walking speed, stride length, etc.), and a pedestrian structure must in any case satisfy the general equation of motion: Mx ̈ (t)+C(t)+Kx(t)=P(t)
structure (Figure 3) was built in the early 2000 in the monumental building of the Basilica of Aquileia (UNESCO Site). The design of the indoor system resulted in a triple laminated glass (LG) slab, composed of a fully tempered (FT) section with Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB®) bonding layers. A sacrificial annealed (AN) layer was placed on the top of each LG panel. A series of steel tendons and frame members was then used to support the glass plates, for up to ≈140 square meters of walking surface (79 glass panels with variable dimensions and restraints).
Experimental analysis of the occupied walkway Dynamic tests were performed under pedestrian excitation, for the 2-side supported panels of Figure 3 (nave path). The experimental measurements were collected in different periods of the year, and involved up to p= 20 adults (≈80kg the average weight), with several walking scenarios. In doing so, the acceleration were recorded using six Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) triaxial accelerometers, based on an optimized test setup (Figure 3(d)), and then post-processed via the SMIT Toolsuite. Special care was spent for the analysis of dynamic effects due to (a) unsynchronized motions (for p ≥ 2), (b) normal or consistent walks, (c) regular (i.e., longitudinally to the nave) or irregular (i.e., random) walking paths. Human comfort assessment based on existing technical documents Several technical documents are available for the vibration serviceability assessment of pedestrian systems. Their advantage is to offer practical methodologies, based on design charts or SDOF calculation approaches and equivalent, single occupant scenarios. However, the possible limitations of these methods still require investigations, especially towards
(1)
with M, C, K the modal mass, damping, stiffness matrices, P(t) the imposed force (motion of occupants), x(t) the (vertical) displacement vector. As far as a given pedestrian system is occupied (i.e., “os”, Figure 2), the dynamic response still depends on Eq.(1), but the frequency and modal damping of the empty (“es”) structure can strongly modify. Usually, (i) standing people reduces the “os” frequency, while (ii) walking occupants manifest in a “os” frequency increase. However, these general trends do not necessarily apply to glass pedestrian systems, where dead loads are relatively small compared to live loads. Case-study walkway The vibration serviceability of an in-service glass walkway, in Italy, was assessed via field experiments. The examined pedestrian
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Figure 3. In-service glass pedestrian system object of analysis: (a) operational conditions; (b) lateral view; (c) resisting cross-section of the glass slab and (d) field-experiments.
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Figure 4. Vibration serviceability and comfort assessment of the examined in-service glass system, based (a) on EC0-A2; (b) SÉTRA and (c) AISC Design Guide 11 provisions
their reliability for walking systems with high live-to-dead load ratios. All these criteria are in fact calibrated for specific structural typologies. In this project, the Eurocode 0 – Annex A2 method, the SÉTRA approach and the AISC Design Guide 11 were first applied to the case-study system. As far as their vibration comfort parameters are taken into account and compared with the experimental acceleration peaks, it can be seen in Figure 4 that different levels of comfort can be achieved for the same system. In addition, several test configurations are “unacceptable” of related to “medium” comfort only. Definition of Perception Scales for glass pedestrian systems The “Perception Index” (PI) value is an important parameter for vibration analyses, because it allows to quantify the feeling of walking/ standing occupants over a given pedestrian structure. It hence represents a relevant feedback especially for existing systems, or for new structures including innovative technologies and materials, and thus also glass assemblies. During the experimental campaign, the perception of vibrations from the involved volunteers was also collected. PI values can be conventionally calculated as: 92
PI=1/p ∑_(i=1)^5▒〖W_i∙n_i 〗 (2) with ni the number of volunteers choosing the i-th Wi grade. Five perception grades were detected, i.e., “imperceptible” (Wi= 1), and rising up to “just perceptible”, “obviously perceptible”, “unpleasant / annoying”, or “intolerable” (Wi= 5). Similar PI estimates can be easily associated to specific comfort level classes (i.e., “VL” in Figure 5(a)). Subjective feelings can provide further relevant feedback, as far as the collected data are related to additional quantitative walking features. In Figure 5(a), a second-order fitting curve is also calculated, to estimate – for the examined system – the expected comfort level as a function of PI feelings. The chart shows that PI data under “normal” walking frequencies are mostly associated to “normal” or even “good” vibration performances. The comfort level decreases, in contrary, as far as “unconventional” frequencies and movements are imposed to the system. The latter condition, however, reflects the destination and class of use of the system. There, it is rationally expected to have high occupation densities and the prevalence of unsynchronized movements that do not match with “normal” parameters in use for pedestrian systems (i.e., when the visitors move by small groups, standing on the system, etc.).
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A further elaboration of PI data, in this regard, can be carried out by accounting for the experimental measurements and correlating the subjective feelings of Figure 5(a) with quantitative records from dynamic vibrations, so as to derive PI-amax-fp for comfort estimates. Such an outcome is proposed in Figure 5(b), where a series of analytical fitting curves are obtained for the examined system. As far as a “normal” walking activity is taken into account, “good” or “normal” perception feelings are associated to relatively low acceleration peaks, up to 0.07-0.08g. When the walking frequency decreases and / or the acceleration peak increases, the perceived comfort minimizes. Again, this condition is associated to relatively low acceleration peaks – with respect to the threshold values of Figure 4 – and is strictly related to the intrinsic features of pedestrian glass structures. It can be hence concluded that: • the collected experimental records and feedback from volunteers generally suggest the need of dedicated methods of vibration comfort analysis, that are specifically calibrated for glass structures; • from Figure 5, it is clear that the vibration serviceability assessment of pedestrian systems is a complex design issue involving several aspects, both on the structural / dynamic
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Figure 5. Correlation between (a) walking frequencies fp (test) and vibration comfort levels (VL) for the examined structure, in support of the (b) definition of Perception Scales for graphical comfort assessment.
side (i.e., system features, sensitivity to human induced loads, etc.) and especially on the psychological side (i.e., subjective human reactions). • For glass pedestrian systems, the sensitivity of volunteers’ feelings is affected by the transparency of the walking surface. for glass pedestrian systems, the possible occurrence of minor noise during movements can further affect the human perceptions, thus is another important parameter to account; • finally, the relevance of vibration comfort assessments in glass systems increases as far as the life-time or the operational / ambient conditions are unfavourable, thus existing structures should be properly monitored. Conclusions The vibration comfort assessment of pedestrian systems is a relevant topic of research, and even more detailed analyses are required for glass systems, where the sensitivity to HumanStructure Interaction (HSI) phenomena is further enforced. However, existing methods of analysis and vibration serviceability are mostly calibrated for specific structural typologies of pedestrian systems / limited walking scenarios, and do not account for the intrinsic features of glass assemblies. Another influencing parameter is represented by glass transparency, and related effects on human feelings. In this
regard, the definition of “Perception Index” values and “Perception Scales” can offer further feedback for comfort evaluations, since developed on the basis of a combination of objective dynamic measurements (i.e., acceleration peaks and occupied frequencies), subjective feelings from the occupants (i.e., perception grades) and movement features (i.e., walking frequency, etc.). The final result of research efforts, as shown, can take the form of design charts that are specifically calibrated to account for in-service glass structures. Acknowledgements The “Società per la conservazione della Basilica” – So.Co.Ba. Foundation is gratefully acknowledged for facilitating the field experimental measurements.
Chiara is Assistant Professor in Structural Engineering at University of Trieste, Department of Engineering and Architecture (Italy), where she chairs the course of ‘Structural Analysis’. Born in 1983, Chiara achieved the PhD degree in 2012, and since 2009 she is involved in several European projects and international networks (i.e., Joint Research Centre-ERNCIP, NATO-Science for Peace and Security, EU-COST Actions, etc.). The research efforts are mainly spent for the analysis of glass structures under extreme loads, and for the definition of reliable design methods. In this regard, she received in the years several grants for Early Stage Researchers or international projects. In April 2017, she achieved the Italian National scientific qualification for the position of Associate Professor in Structural Engineering. With more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific publications, up to now she collaborated with >70 international co-authors. Editorin-Chief for the open access International Journal of Structural Glass and Advanced Materials Research (SGAMR), she joins several Editorial board committees for ISI international journals.
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Buildings as Borrowers of Material: Circular Economy in Architectural Design Tugba Okcuoglu
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best be enhanced by engagement of the local community. In short, my study will attain to explore guidelines for sustainable architectural design while showcasing how creative and sustainable can be the destruction through active involvement to re-obtain a building.
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ustainability, coupled with Smart City discourse, dominates recently all levels of debates, policies and visions in urban planning and architecture, as well as any other field or profession. Overstated, these terms came to a point of exhaustion, where people facing current socio-political and ecological challenges began to ask what is truly sustainable, or what do you really mean by referring to smart for a city. The circular economy requires a brandnew mindset to handle the way construction industry functions, furthermore, demands a widened consciousness, which I assert may
The circular economy is not just recycling efficiently, it suggests a fundamental shift in the industry and ownerships. It challenges the notion of what is waste and aiming to diminish it via an understanding where wasting means a failure of design, where instead of the current Cradle-to-Grave approach the Cradle-toCradle is suggested which is like gardening. In line, the circular approach is restorative and regenerative by design as declared by Ellen MacArthur Foundation1, where the model seeks to disassociate the growth from finite resource consumption with non-linear yet circular production methods. Google, as the
largest digital platform, is also promoting the circular economy; “by extending the life cycle of products, we reduce waste, increase reusability and wisely use our shared natural resources. This will involve all of us: businesses, governments, and individuals; our cities, our products, and our jobs.� 2 Recently, due to alarming global indicators, a common awareness of a global society that is integrally sustainable has risen. Until then, industrial flows approached resource productivity as a not necessarily related input, that was, according to McKinsey Company3,
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“hugely underexploited as a source of wealth, competitiveness and renewal”. Henceforward, for instance, as soon as 2030 a net economic benefit of €1.8 trillion may be achieved if the industry integrates with circular economy principles in addition to obvious benefits in the environment through far fewer resources consumption and social benefits in creating jobs benefitting from local sources and so on. That sort of circular model passes beyond what comes first to the mind such as recycling, design for deconstruction, or extending building lives, yet it points out an inherent change and innovative business model thus frames the economic models and policies entirely to enhance an integrated of ownership. The circular logic, at least at the base level, is not new to the construction business. Spolia is a Latin term that is used for describing re-use of constructive or decorative parts in 96
new buildings. 3 R’s; repair, reuse and recycle have been commonly used to re-circulate materials in the construction business. Until recently, before industrialization, the majority of building elements such as wood, rock, and soil were sourced from nearby available deconstruction sites. In those societies reuse of building materials was the rule. Nevertheless, those circulating processes have lost their role at industry due to the recent abundance in production and decreased prices of building materials, in contrast to increased labor prices. In other words, the industrialization made the exploitation of natural resources much easier than before, while the consumption-oriented capitalist culture asserted the newness and growth as economic assets. To a larger scale, circulated building materials are inherent to the living mechanism of the cities, similar to natural cycles.
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Even though LEED and BREEAM are standing out to be overarching green building rating systems that are promoting 3R’s, there is a need to align the fragmented sector of reused building materials. They are some distinct characteristics of the circular economy that transcends the conventional building system, striving to change how buildings are being operated as well. The circular economy is targeting a service-based economy focusing particularly in the service and performance rather than ownership, which is including all costs on closed loops. In other words, such an economy promotes the long-term value and peer-to-peer renting – which make it possible to lease seldom or less used items. To conclude not only the design, dissembling strategies and resources are being challenged but also the ownership rights and type of use will be in question. Besides efficient policies and incitements, holistic, visible and reachable
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projects such as this proposal to design, build and operate through circular economy principles may help to overcome insecurities of the sector. Apart from socio-economic benefits, the intervention of the circular economy into the construction business is extremely important today, since the total mass of solid waste is increasing at a very high rate. According to the World Bank4, the waste generated per year by cities will double up in 2025 to 2.2 billion tons. What is more, ARUP5 declares that the waste produced by the construction industry, for instance in the UK, triples the households waste. On the other hand, the demolition waste is increasingly recycled today, for instance, Sysav from Sweden declares that they have received 2,209 tones construction and demolition materials in 2018; that is three times more compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, at the same time, the total amount of received waste material is 169,262 tons – slightly over %1 of all wastes, considering that construction and demolition waste (CDW) is constituting approximately 25–30% of the entire solid waste in developed countries6. After all, for Sysav
there are no further plans to make use of the received CDW other than crushing and using them as filling material for road construction or directly disposal7.
With regards to the enormous capacity of building industry globally, the aim of applying circular economy perspectives into the construction is due to changing how we conceive buildings. Buildings that were once ‘graveyard for materials’ are entitled to transform into buildings as resourceful ‘material banks’ provided with ‘materials passports’ using QR coded inventories to identify the item
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for subsequent uses. The circular approach in deconstruction includes ‘selective demolition’ where components are re-used if possible. The most probable components to re-use; doors and windows, wood beams and trusses, brick, roof tiles of concrete or clay, sanitary, parquet flooring, stone material such as slate, marble discs and window sills, interior such as wardrobes, kitchen cupboards and shelves. Working with the recycled materials is not fundamentally a game changer at the process of the architectural design of a building, however reusing components may have critical consequences. Even labeled, the absolute standardization of the active stock for re-use is improbable since the materials are in-use, literally embedded to buildings. This aspect means a fundamental shift at the construction business at each level with innovation and imaginative design strategies. One of the guiding agenda might be the Delft Ladder, a waste management strategy which is aligned with of EU’s Directive 2008/98/EC on waste. Chain management of deconstruction works in three major areas; the level of re-use, way of re-use and building stages. There are preconditions that have to be taken into consideration at the design level about whether the building is designed to be recycled or designed to be disassembled. To conclude the Delft Ladder model offers several re-use options, as following and according to the diminishing waste hierarchy; prevention, construction reuse, element reuse, material reuse, useful application, immobilization with useful application, immobilization, incineration with energy recovery, incineration and finally landfill. Another crucial aspect about the circularity of the built environment is the life expectancy which is hard to predict since it is affected by various reasons that are physical, functional, technical economic, legal or also fashionable. Even so, extended life span is not always desirable since new technologies may contribute to the energy efficiency for the new products remarkably. Life cycle analysis (LCA) is a complex calculation process to evaluate reusability. Some software is available for LCA but still many suggests instead ‘embodied carbon analysis’. Recently, architectural practices have started to take the circular economy principles seriously. Yaneva8 interprets that the design is to re-design; “design relies on a cognitive and experimental move of going back, 98
rethinking carefully and recollecting, reinventing, re-interpreting, re-looking, re-doing everything once again in a new combination of conservation and innovation”. There are several architectural initiatives that are grasping circular economy principles practically. For instance, 3XN9, from Copenhagen in collaboration with Vandkunsten and Lendager Architects, are designing a project titled the Circular House. This is project ‘designed to be dismantled’ to ensure 90% of the materials to be reused without losing value. Even if it is not built yet it as a daring project asking bold questions such as what if your floors were like LEGO bricks, what if your carpets were on a subscription service, or what if your furniture was a resource for other consumers. Another example is Rotor10, from Brussels, works to ease the reuse of building components through their spin-off Rotor DC11 that serves as an online platform to dismantle, condition and sell salvaged materials and also provides consultancy. RAU Architects12, from Amsterdam, achieved to rebuild an office building while preserving 90% of the old building and 80% of all the materials are either reused directly on site or reused from outsources. Similar to the previous Circular House project, it was built for disassembly while using materials passports for future users. Through an economic approach, it is reported that old materials and components were kept in place, if not possible they were removed, cleaned, reprocessed and then reused in the new building. The project is about investigating how the circular economy may play a role in the construction business. Therefore, by definition, the focus on the construction itself by research by design approach fits inherently adequate. Engaging people into the process of construction or testing ideas through small size buildings are not uncommon at the practice recently. Recetas Urbanas13, from Seville led by architect Santiago Cirugeda, is a pioneering design and advocacy collective working on self-built projects using re-use materials. Or at a more professional level ARUP, has collaborated to design and build a small scaled building titled The Circular Building testing circular economy principles and drawing practical lessons for the circular economy in the built environment. Testing out the circular principles via the actual construction is extremely important since it implicitly challenges the levels of public perception and architectural appreciation.
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To incorporate the circular economy approach into the architectural design and the construction business seems to be a necessity for the close future while the sources are getting exhausted, climate is changing and the level of environmental pollution became intolerable. However, the current circumstance also provides a great opportunity to designers within numerous fields regarding the design and demolition as well as ownership and maintenance of the built environment. It is a new challenge that will stimulate new creative concepts for architects and design professionals around the world. Accordingly, buildings has to be conceived as borrowers of the material rather than final destinations.
Tugba Okcuoglu is an architect and urbanist with 10+ experience in housing, master planning, smart cities, and institutional projects. She is keen on working within collaboration through creative processes for design and research. She has completed Istanbul Technical University Department of Architecture with the Highest Honors. She worked for Nevzat Sayın from 200720013 for various scale and functionality of projects. In 2013 she has collaborated with Melike Altınışık for Istanbul’s TV and Radio Tower project. Winning the first prize in Turkish Republic Administration of Mass Housing (TOKI) competition for “Housing Ideas” and she got the opportunity to establish co-founded practice HLF Architects with Levent Fırat in 2014. She has been an invited critic and jury member at faculties of architecture and design. Recently settled in Malmö Sweden to join Urban Studies Master Program at Malmö University from which she has been awarded with Excellence Scholarship.
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Adhesives for blast scenarios – extreme conditions for structural sealant glazing Viviana Nardini Abstract In the early days of the 1970s, Structural Sealant Glazing (SSG) technology was introduced in the U.S. to bond glass panels to metallic frames. Silicone adhesives were the only accepted bonding technology for this application due to the unique UV resistance and thermal stability they could offer, at that time. Considering that no options for controlling the UV radiation and temperature on the adhesive joint existed for façade design, the unique properties of silicone adhesives were essential. Compared to the past decades from the ‘70s to the ‘90s, the facade industry has experienced extraordinary technological developments: Nowadays numerous solutions exist to control temperature as well as UV radiation on façade components and bondlines. Consequently, new criteria for selecting the best performing
adhesives available in the market should be used. Beyond silicone technology for SSG applications the benefits of other adhesives technologies and the new market requirements should be considered. In this paper the mechanical and application properties of Sikaflex®-268, a high performance polyurethane adhesive are presented and compared to Sikasil® SG-500, a typical silicone adhesive used for structural glazing applications in facades. All obtained results illustrate that Sikaflex®-268 outperforms Sikasil® SG-500 and makes it an ideal solution wherever high loads need to be transferred. In blast scenarios, Sikaflex®-268 can introduce significant opportunities for reducing the SSG joint dimensions and optimizing systems. The PowerCure technology patented by Sika
provides a combination of high flexibility for on-site bonding and reglazing with fast curing of the adhesive, widely independent of climate conditions. Furthermore, there are no limitations in terms of maximum joint dimensions in a single-step application with the boostered polyurethane technology. 1 Impact of façade technology evolution on Structural Sealant Glazing solutions Early in the 1970s a new technology, Structural Sealant Glazing (SSG), was developed in the U.S. to bond glass panels to metal framing systems by use of an adhesive. The success of such technology in the construction industry was already evident in the ‘80s and ‘90s: At least one third of the building curtain walls and windows installed
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in the U.S. used SSG systems, relying on the properties and adhesion performance of the adhesive to connect glass and frame without the need of using mechanical fasteners. Consequently, many activities started in order to develop standards regulating design, application and requirements of the new technology [1]. At that time, only a silicone adhesive was considered acceptable for structural glazing applications in facades due to its unique properties that no other technology could offer simultaneously: • Thermal stability Mechanical properties of silicones remain almost unchanged over a wide range of temperatures. Unlike other adhesive technologies, glass transition occurs at very low temperatures (usually lower than -50 °C), apart from service temperatures. Most structural silicones available on the market provide stable mechanical behavior within a temperature range from -40 °C up to +150 °C, covering typical service temperatures in façade systems. • Very high weathering and UV resistance Long life expectancy and durable adhesion on the interface between silicone joints and transparent substrates can be ensured, with no negative effects due to exposure to UV radiation and weathering impacts. • Elasticity / Elongation capabilities Elastic behavior of bonded connections is a key requirement in façade applications. Indeed, thermal movements are imposed to joints, which bond components of different size and material and which are subject to temperature variations; such movements need to be accommodated elastically, exploiting the adhesive elongation capabilities. Considering the state of the art in façade systems available in the ‘70s, the unique properties offered by silicones were essential as other options for controlling the temperature of the adhesives joints and protecting them from UV radiation were non-existent.
Figure 1 - Adhesive technologies
which also provide opportunities to control temperatures and UV radiation on bondlines. In most façade applications, the following solutions are state-of-the-art: • Insulating Glass (IG) units had replaced the use of monolithic and laminated glass panels. This helps significantly in reducing the temperatures on the bonded area between inner glass layers and inner metallic profiles. In addition, the secondary sealing joints of the IG units helps to protect the SSG joints from UV. • Climate control systems allow managing indoor temperatures, with significant impact on temperature of façade elements where SSG bond lines are applied. • Thermal break, e.g. polyamide bars, introduced into profiles and systems, can minimize the temperatures in bonded areas. • Advanced technologies such as ceramic screen printing have been developed, providing a safe solution for the protection of bondlines from UV. • Shadow systems and blinds are often integrated in façade elements to control temperature and radiation on the façade components and consequently of the adhesive joints as well.
Nowadays, the scenario has completely changed: The façade industry has faced extraordinary developments and new advanced solutions, systems and tools are available for design and construction, 100
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• Specific PVB interlayers exist for controlling UV radiation; tinted interlayers are reducing heat gain from sunlight. • Dedicated software has been developed and is used on a daily basis to evaluate a building`s physical performance and estimate temperatures on components with the target of minimizing extreme conditions. • Many others (advanced coatings, etc.) Considering all these factors, the technologies currently available within the façade industry prove that limiting the SSG applications to the silicone adhesives is outdated. New solutions for SSG applications should be investigated in order to select the best performing adhesive technology available on the market depending on specific requirements (driven by systems, loads, design, production, boundary conditions, etc.) in an effort to gain greater benefits for the whole application. 2 Adhesive selection in blast scenarios Figure 1 compares the mechanical behavior of different adhesive technologies, evaluating the tensile strength versus the elongation offered. Considering that elasticity and high elongation capabilities are a must to accommodate thermal movements occurring in façade components, two adhesive technologies can be selected for SSG applications:
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Figure 2 - Sikaflex®-268 PowerCure: Lap-shear strength vs. shear strain
Figure 3 - Sikasil® SG-500: Lap-shear strength vs. shear strain
Figure 4 - Sikaflex®-268: Fatigue test results
Figure 5 - Sikasil® SG-500: Fatigue test results
• Silicones - offering a typical elongation at break in the range of approx. 50 - 400 % and a tensile strength in the range of approx. 0.5 - 4 MPa [2]. • Polyurethane adhesives - offering a typical elongation at break in the range of approx. 250 - 650 % and a tensile strength in the range of approx. 4 - 8 MPa [2]. It is clear that whenever high loads need to be transferred by an SSG connection, the use of polyurethane technology can be beneficial in minimizing joint dimensions and optimizing system design.
used in the façade industry on a global scale and different climate regions. Sikaflex®-268 PowerCure: a 1-component accelerated polyurethane adhesive designed for large component assembly and direct glazing applications in the rail and transportation industry, where it is widely used for structural bonding of windshields and windows to frames. In their typical application fields, both Sikasil® SG-500 and Sikaflex®-268 PowerCure adhesives are commonly exposed to similar loads of
equivalent magnitude: • High temperatures • Fatigue phenomena due to cycling loading • UV radiation • Aging of adhesive in service life • High loads e.g. wind load, barrier loads, etc. • Extreme impact loads In the case of Sikasil® SG-500 these can be determined from blast loads or hurricanes. In the case of Sikaflex®-268 PowerCure these can be identified in tensile/pressure waves and transient variations in air pressure caused e.g. by the passage of trains through tunnels and
In the following sections the behavior of two adhesives will be compared, with the target of identifying the most suitable one in terms of mechanical behavior offered for blast design. Sikasil® SG-500: a 2-component silicone adhesive ideal for structural glazing and widely intelligent glass solutions | autumn 2019
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by aerodynamic interaction with other trains travelling in the opposite direction. Typically, windshield joints of high-speed trains must withstand sustained pressures of approx. 6.0 kPa when travelling, up to 15 - 20 kPa equivalent static pressure when entering into tunnel. 3 Mechanical behavior under standard test conditions In the following sections the mechanical behavior of Sikaflex®-268 PowerCure and Sikasil® SG-500 were analyzed and compared. 3.1 Mechanical behavior at 23 °C / 50 % r.h. Table 1 and Figures 2 and 3 summarize the lapshear strength and shear strain at break for the adhesives tested after curing with a constant speed of 5 mm / min on single-overlapped lapshear specimens. The joint overlap, width and thickness were 12 ± 0.5 mm, 25 ± 0.1 mm and 6 ± 0.5 mm respectively.
Figure 6 - Sikaflex®-268 vs. Sikasil® SG-500: Lap-shear strength after curing and after accelerated aging
The speed of 5 mm/min was selected according to the test speed specified by [3] to evaluate the adhesives strengths under wind load. The results show that the lap-shear strength of Sikaflex®-268 PowerCure is more than 3.4 times greater than Sikasil® SG 500, with a shear strain at maximum force over 2.6 times greater. 3.2 Mechanical behavior under fatigue Figure 4 and Figure 5 show the reduction of lap-shear strength depending on the number of load cycles the adhesives were exposed to, based on Whöler tests defined in DIN 6701 [4]. Test results refer to a number of load cycles ranging from 10e3 to 10e7 and show that Sikaflex®-268 is more sensitive to fatigue than Sikasil® SG 500. Nevertheless, the strength offered by Sikaflex®-268 is consistently higher than that of Sikasil® SG-500 for all load cycle ranges. 3.3 Mechanical behavior after accelerated aging Sikaflex®-268 PowerCure and Sikasil® SG-500 are high-performance elastic adhesives designed for large component assembly and glazing applications. Both offer outstanding weathering resistance. In order to evaluate the impact of external effects during service life, the lap-shear strength was tested after accelerated aging. 102
The accelerated aging conditions were: 7 days of curing at 23 °C / 50 % r.h., followed by 7 days of water immersion at 23 °C, 1 day of conditioning at 80 °C and finally 7 days of exposure to high temperature and high humidity (70 °C / 100 % r.h.). After the accelerated aging, the tests were performed at 23 °C and 80 °C at a speed of 5 mm/min. Table 2 summarizes the results obtained. The mechanical values of Sikaflex®-268 PowerCure
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are more sensitive to accelerated aging and high temperatures compared to Sikasil® SG-500. However, the lap-shear strength offered by Sikaflex®-268 PowerCure is more than double the strength of Sikasil® SG-500. 3.4 Mechanical behavior at different temperatures The lap-shear strength of Sikaflex®-268 and Sikasil® SG-500 were determined with a
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Figure 7 - Sikaflex®-268 PowerCure vs. Sikasil® SG-500: high-speed lap-shear test results
constant test speed of 18 mm/min at -35 °C, 23 °C and 70 °C, after curing and after accelerated aging (described in section 3.3). In accordance with DIN 6701-3 [4] the specimen geometry of overlap of 12 mm, width of 25 mm and adhesive thickness of 3 mm was used. Figure 6 summarizes results and confirms the outstanding mechanical performance of Sikaflex®-268. The strength offered by Sikaflex®-268 at 70 °C is more than 3 times greater compared to the strength offered by Sikasil® SG-500 at 23 °C. The glass transition temperature of Sikaflex®-268 is approx. -57 °C (API [5]). In general, test speed and geometrical factors (overlap / adhesive thickness) influence the results obtained on lap-shear specimens and need to be considered when the mechanical behavior of elastic adhesives are compared. Lap-shear values of elastic adhesive show lower strength with increased joint thickness, whereas higher test speeds usually result in higher lapshear strength. Therefore, a direct comparison of the results provided in sections 3.4, 3.1 and 3.3 might be difficult due to the different test speeds and adhesive thicknesses used. 4 Mechanical behavior at high test speeds Section 3 highlights that Sikaflex®-268 offers outstanding mechanical performance compared to Sikasil® SG-500. The higher strength and elongation makes Sikaflex®-268 an ideal adhesive solution for systems where high loads need to be transferred.
With reference to the demands in blast scenarios, the lap-shear properties of Sikaflex®-268 and Sikasil® SG-500 were investigated by testing at high speeds of 1 m/s, 3 m/s and 5 m/s. The tests were carried out on lap-shear specimens with an overlap of approx. 12 mm and joint width and thickness of approx. 25 mm and 6 mm respectively. 4.1 Mechanical behavior at high speeds at 23 °C / 50 % r.h Results are provided in Table 3. 4.2 Mechanical behavior at high speeds after accelerated aging In order to compare the adhesives performance after accelerated aging, the high-speed lap-shear tests were conducted after the conditioning described in section 3.3. 4.3 Mechanical behavior at high speeds after accelerated aging and testing at 80 °C The mechanical strength of Sikaflex®-268 PowerCure is temperature dependent; as highlighted in Section 3.3, the higher the temperature, the lower the strength offered. In order to investigate this behavior at highspeed conditions, Sikaflex®-268 PowerCure and Sikasil® SG-500 were tested at 80 °C (specimen temperature) after the same accelerated aging outlined in section 4.2. Figure 7 summarizes the obtained results of lap-shear strength and fracture energy at high speeds. For all test conditions, the strength and fracture energy of Sikaflex®-268 PowerCure is always
consistently higher than that of Sikasil® SG-500, being always at least double. The strength offered by Sikaflex®-268 PowerCure under the most unfavorable conditions is always higher than the strength offered by Sikasil® SG-500 in its most favorable condition. 5 UV resistance The most relevant benefit offered by silicone adhesive is the undiscussed resistance to UV light. That means a durable adhesion can be expected over service-life when a transparent glass substrate is bonded to a frame and the adhesive joint is permanently exposed to natural light and UV radiation passing through the glass. Polyurethane adhesives are usually more sensitive to UV radiation, which can impair joint adhesion performance in the long-term. Despite that, well-known strategies, design rules and protective measures exist today to overcome this. Tests and experience gained from the rail and transportation industries teach us that the most common ways to overcome the obstacle of bonding transparent or translucent substrates with polyurethane adhesives are (as alternative options): • Using a proper UV-opaque ceramic screen printing. The application of such a ceramic printing can be limited to the precise glass perimeter area where the adhesive joint is applied. Especially for bonding of insulating glass units to metallic frames, the design impact of a ceramic print is limited. Indeed, any screen printed area along the perimeter can be usually hidden by the spacer and the secondary sealing.
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• Using proper caps to protect the bonded area. This solution is quite often implemented in blast design to retain the glass units and allow the joints to work only in shear. • Using other UV-radiation reduction elements as UV-absorbing interlayers, system configurations, etc. 6 Application benefits offered by Sikaflex®-268 PowerCure for blast design Sikaflex®-268 is a 1-component polyurethane which cures (as 1-component silicones) under exposure to atmospheric moisture forming a durable elastomer. This curing process is dependent on the atmospheric conditions and limits the speed of production due to slow curing reactions. To overcome this limitation, accelerated curing options were developed for Sikaflex®-268 and are permanently in use. • Sikaflex®-268 can be applied by pump equipment in combination with SikaBooster®-20 S, so that adhesive cures fast by reaction with the moisture provided by the booster system. The curing process is largely independent from the atmospheric moisture. • Sikaflex®-268 PowerCure: This patented technology consists of the on 1-component Sikaflex®-268 adhesive, boostered with an accelerator paste while extruding it with a professional electric dispenser (PowerCure Dispenser). The integration of the booster ensures fast curing, largely independent of the atmospheric moisture. The handy dispenser compared with the curing properties is the ideal solution for onsite applications and reglazing. Six hours after the boostered adhesives application, more than 50 % of the final strength can be achieved. Unlike a 1-component polyurethane and a 1-component or 2-components silicones, no restrictions of maximum joint dimensions exist for a one-step application if a boostered versions of Sikaflex®-268 is used. This ensures high flexibility in terms of system design as well as application feasibility, confirming the adhesive potential for design in blast scenarios where big joints are usually required.
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7 Conclusions In the façade industry, silicone adhesives are commonly used to structurally bond glass and opaque panels to metallic frames. Nevertheless, polyurethane technology can open opportunities for new adhesive solutions where higher strength in combination with high elongation is required. Consistent experience and design standards for use of polyurethane technology exist in industry fields (e.g. rail industry) other than facades, where demands in terms of substrate types, weathering exposure and loading are similar. In this context, properties and mechanical performance of Sikaflex®-268 polyurethane adhesive have been analyzed and compared with those of Sikasil® SG-500, a typical silicone adhesive used for structural glazing in facades. Tests carried out at different temperatures after curing and after aging prove that the mechanical strength of Sikaflex®-268 is always consistently higher than Sikasil® SG-500. This opens opportunities for optimizing joint dimensions, improving design safety levels and increasing feasibility for systems exposed to high loads. Especially in blast scenarios, polyurethane technology shows great potential. At high testing speeds Sikaflex®-268 confirms a lapshear strength much higher than Sikasil® SG500 (factor dependent on joint thickness, test speed and boundary conditions). In addition, Sikaflex®-268 adhesive is available in boostered version not only for pump equipment but also for application by electrical dispenser, offering two major benefits on façade applications: a) fast curing not only for factory production but also for site applications and/or reglazing b) no limits in maximum joint dimensions, which confirms the value of Sikaflex®-268 in blast scenarios where bigger joints are usually required. In the ‘70s, silicones were selected among adhesive technologies for their unique UV resistance and thermal stability as the right solution for SSG bonding, based on the level of development of façade systems of that time; indeed, limited options for temperature control and UV radiation protection existed. Nowadays, advanced criteria and technologies for designing and building façade components are available to control their impacts. Therefore, the best performing adhesives should be selected
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among different technologies, to exploit benefits they can offer based on actual system and design needs. 8 References [1] ASTM C 1401, Standard Guide for Structural Sealant Glazing [2] ISO 527-2, Plastics – Determination of tensile properties – Part 2: Test conditions for molding and extrusion plastics, 2012 [3] EOTA ETAG 002-1, Guideline for European Technical Approval for Structural Sealant Glazing Kits (SSGK) – Part 1: Supported and Unsupported Systems, 2012 [4] DIN 6701 – Adhesive bonding of railway vehicles and parts – Part 3: Guideline for construction design and verification of bonds on railway vehicles, 2014 [5] API Sikaflex®-268: Chemical and mechanical properties according DIN 6701-3, 2015
Viviana Nardini is a civil engineer, active in the facade industry for more than 12 years. After working as structural engineer for Permasteelisa and Yuanda Europe, in 2014 she joined the Corporate Façade Team of Sika. In Sika, she provides technical support to global façade companies and insulating glass producers, being involved in many challenging projects and fostering the development of new products and applications to meet industry needs. She is member of different Standardization Committees dealing with the design of adhesives and sealants in façade applications.
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Spec the Edge: Why U-factor matters in hot climates Helen Sanders Technoform North America
There is a general misconception that U-factor of fenestration is not a big concern for building performance in hot climates. This idea is perpetuated in building energy codes and standards where U-factor requirements are laxer in hot-humid and desert climate zones compared to those in cold climate zones. In North America’s 2018 International Energy Conservation Code, the U-factor requirement for Climate Zone 1 (e.g. Miami) is 2.8 W/m2K (0.50 btu/ºF.hr.ft2) compared to 1.6 W/m2K (0.29 btu/ºF.hr.ft2) in climate zone 7 (e.g. Southern Alaska and Northern Minnesota).¹
1 Based on National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) Standard 100
Exterior view of the newly renovated Space Needle in Seattle. Photo Credit: Photo by oakie on Unsplash.
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The common rationale used is that the temperature difference between inside and outside is much greater in colder climates (say 21ºC/70ºF inside versus -40ºC/-40ºF outside) than in hotter climates (say 21ºC/70ºF versus 43ºC/110ºF); and thus, the driving force for heat transfer is much less in hotter regions. However, what is missing in this scenario is the impact of solar absorption by the exterior surface of the aluminium window frame. Absorption of solar radiation, especially by dark coloured frames, can result in framing members reaching much higher temperatures than the surrounding air. In these conditions, the resulting temperature differential between outside frame and the interior environment is much closer to that seen in cold climates. With nothing to break the flow of heat from the outer framing element to the interior, heat flows unhindered into the interior, causing significant load on chillers and remarkably uncomfortable conditions next to the fenestration. A field test in Singapore conducted by the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) for Technoform and supported by Meinhardt, the Singapore Green Building Council, Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority and Yongnam, clearly demonstrated the importance of using thermally broken frames even in hot climates. The study measured the surface temperatures of, and heat gains through, vertically oriented aluminium window frames with a range of thermal performances:
Figure 1: Mean (60-day average) daily heat gain through four different dark coloured aluminium window frames: Non-thermally broken, low-performance thermally broken, medium-performance thermally broken and high-performance thermally broken.
• • • •
A non-thermally broken aluminium system (Uframe = 7 W/m2K) , An aluminium system with a small polyamide thermal break (Uframe = 3-4 W/m2K), An aluminum frame with a mediumperformance polyamide thermal break (Uframe = 2.5 W/m2K) and An aluminum frame with a highperformance polyamide thermal break system (Uframe = 1-2 W/m2K).²
Each frame type was tested in a light and dark exterior colour finish to assess the impact of thermal absorption. Thermal Breaks: Reducing Heat Gain and Energy Use The dark coloured frame with the very high-performance thermal break reduced
the average measured daily heat gain to the interior (figure 1) by 61% compared to the dark coloured non-thermally broken system. Even the low-performing thermal break reduced the heat gain by 24%. It is easy to see how this magnitude of heat gain reduction can translate directly into energy performance improvements in actual buildings. In fact, according to building energy simulations by Building Systems and Diagnostics (BSD), U-factor of fenestration can be as impactful as solar heat gain performance of fenestration in hot climates. Using a prototypical, large 24-storey (8,290 m2) office building with a 40% window to wall ratio located in Singapore, BSD evaluated the impact of reducing overall fenestration solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), whilst maintaining a non-thermally broken
2 Note that these frame U-factors given in w/m2K are calculated using the European standard methodology and are as such not comparable with U.S. U-factors calculated using NFRC 100 even if translated into inch-pound units. Because of this no unit conversions to btu/ºF.hr.ft2 are given to avoid confusion by comparing to U.S. building code requirements.
Figure 2: Building energy modeling analysis for a prototypical building in Singapore evaluating (a) the impact of reducing solar heat gain coefficient, whilst keeping U-factor constant and using a non-thermally broken frame; and (b) the impact of reducing U-factor whilst keeping solar heat gain constant, all while increasing window to wall ratio from 40% to 60%.
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frame (figure 2a) and the ability to offset an increase in window area to 60%. They then evaluated the impact of improving U-factor by thermally breaking the fenestration framing without changing the overall window SHGC (figure 2b). Both strategies – reducing SHGC or reducing U-factor – reduce the building energy consumption by a similar amount, and more than offset the impact of increasing window area. This underscores that conductive heat gains through the opaque elements of fenestration should not be discounted in hot climates, and that aluminium thermal breaks are essential. Thermal Breaks: Improving Thermal Comfort In addition to heat gain, the temperatures on the room side of non-thermally broken frames can reach very high levels (figure 3) and cause occupant thermal discomfort, or worse. Even the light-coloured non-thermally broken frames in the SERIS field study reached a very high 48ºC (118ºF). According to the National Institute for Standards and Technology, human skin can sustain first-degree burns at 48ºC (118ºF) and starts to feel pain at 44ºC (111ºF). As one might expect, the corresponding interior temperature for the non-thermally broken dark coloured frame was, even higher at 129ºF (54ºC). Not only can non-thermally broken fenestration be uncomfortable to sit next to, it can be potentially harmful to touch.
Figure 3: The interior (room side) surface temperatures of four different framing systems of light exterior colour measured in a field test in Singapore. The occupant-facing surface of the unbroken aluminium window frame reached extremely high temperatures. The high-performance thermally broken system was able to moderate the interior surface temperature to a more comfortable level.
In the example of the light coloured frame, the highest performance thermal break was able to reduce the temperature by 27% (Celsius scale) to 35ºC (95ºF), just below normal body temperature. This ensured that occupants nearby would not experience a large radiant temperature differential; and thus, were not likely to experience significant discomfort– certainly not the discomfort that they would feel if they were sitting next to the nonthermally broken window. There is a significant body of research which concluded that for approximately every half a degree Celcius above or below the optimum temperature of ~22ºC (71-72ºF), human productivity drops by 1%. Based on this information, it is critically important to ensure that even in hot climates, the fenestration has a high-performance thermally broken frame as well as good solar heat gain control in the central vision area. The radiant temperature of the surfaces surrounding an occupant can
Figure 4: Exterior view of the newly renovated Space Needle in Seattle. Photo Credit: Photo by oakie on Unsplash.
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whilst maintaining the benchmark durability of a metal box spacer and not compromising structural performance.
Figure 5: An example of an edge of glass comprising a plastic hybrid stainless steel (PHSS) spacer. The PHSS spacer comprised thin solid stainless steel wrapping the back and sides of the spacer with plastic thermally breaking the top. Photo Credit: Technoform
significantly impact the temperature that they “feel” and can also increase the local air temperature. The creation of “no-go” areas next to the fenestration because of discomfort is costly in terms of reduced floor area efficiency. The ability to have full use of floor space up to the building envelope is a potential cost benefit for investing in higher performance fenestration. What About the Edge of Glass? It stands to reason that if heat gains due to solar absorption and consequent conduction across the opaque elements are an important heat flow mechanism in hot climates, then not only does the frame have to be thermally broken, but so does the edge of the insulating glass. If the frame is well insulated, but the edge of glass comprises a typical highly conductive aluminium spacer, the heat will take the path of least resistance and flow through the edge of the glass. This means that low conductance – often referred to as “warm-edge” – spacers should be specified along with highperformance polyamide thermal breaks in hot climates, just as in cold climates. Edge of Perfection: Seattle Space Needle Renovation An example of the importance of thermally breaking the edge of glass using a warm-edge spacer can be found in the recent much lauded renovation of Seattle’s Space Needle, which pushed the limits on glass design. Whilst temperate Seattle could never be accused of being either a typically “hot” or “cold” climate, 108
this project had stringent requirements for limiting both cooling and heating loads, which was made more challenging by a two-fold increase in glass area designed to enhance the views: 160 metric tons and 10 types of glass replaced entire walls, barriers and floors (figure 4). In addition to needing to meet the Seattle energy code – one of the strictest in the United States (U.S.), the project also met the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Gold certification criteria. Adding to the project’s complexity, the chiller could not be replaced in the renovation, nor could the historic building’s appearance be changed. The key supporting elements that define the Space Needle’s appearance passed from exterior to interior at many points without thermal separation causing the opaque elements to have poor thermal performance. This put extra demand on the glazing systems to meet the performance requirements. Cooling load turned out to be the biggest challenge because of the chiller size limitation, and in particular thermal bridging at the edge of glass was a key problem that needed to be solved in two large expanses of glazing: On the observation deck (“Atmos” level) and on the restaurant (“Loupe”) level. Front Inc., the glazing consultant and designer, specified a rigid plastic hybrid stainless steel (PHSS) high-performance warm-edge spacer for the large, laminated, insulating glass because it solved the energy performance challenges,
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Box spacers comprised of solid metal (e.g. stainless steel and aluminium) surfaces facing the sealants are the industry’s benchmark in durability because of the excellent sealant adhesion, zero gas and vapor transmission through the spacer back, and high desiccant carrying capacity. This made thermally broken PHSS box spacer a sound choice for this iconic project – delivering the same benchmark durability as stainless steel box spacers, whilst providing the same high-level thermal
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performance typical of non-metal spacers (figure 5). Richard Green, P.E., of Front, Inc. explained: “We had to coordinate quite tightly with the HVAC designers at Arup and needed to get as good a performance as possible out of the glazing system. Getting the right insulating glass spacers in there made the difference. Spacers tend to be a fabricator’s choice. Many use stainless steel as standard; we needed better.” Generally, true warm-edge spacer, such as the PHSS box type and non-metal spacer reduce overall U-factor of an aluminium window by
around 0.06 to 0.11 W/m2K (0.01-0.02 btu/ ºF.hr.ft2) compared to stainless steel spacer, and by 0.11 to 0.17 W/m2K, (0.02-0.03 btu/ºF.hr. ft2) ³ compared to an aluminium box spacer. The improvement from the performance with stainless steel spacer can be significant in both thermal performance and condensation resistance. Space Needle: Loupe Level at 500 Feet (Restaurant) The restaurant level of the Space Needle features floor to ceiling glass walls; 2.1 metrewide and 3.0-metre-tall, laminated, insulating glass units (IGUs) supported only on the top
and bottom and tilted outwards to maximize the view (figure 6). With no frame on the vertical edges, the weakest link in energy performance was the edge of glass. A rigid PHSS spacer was considered the only option to provide both the high level of thermal performance and the necessary edge seal rigidity. The rigidity provided by this spacer type was needed to manage the localized edge seal stresses resulting from the special support conditions at the top and bottom, which were required to reduce the displacement of the frameless glass.
3 Based on calculations done in accordance with National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) Standard 100
Figure 6: The Loupe level of the Space Needle after renovation, featuring inclined out floor to ceiling laminated insulating glass with unsupported vertical edges to improve the view, and a rigid hybrid warm-edge spacer to provide reduced heat gain and resist the localized stressed due to the special support conditions at the top and bottom. Photo copyright Nic Lehoux.
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Space Needle: Atmos Level at 520 Feet (Observation Deck) On the Atmos level, the glazing needed to retain the original, deep, exterior-facing steel mullions. The reverse curtain wall created a smooth surface on the interior, so viewers have few physical obstructions to getting close to the glass. This unique aspect of the building envelope posed one of the project’s most significant challenges in terms of thermal performance.
Double-laminated 2.4 by 2.1 metre (8 x 7 foot) IGUs manufactured by Pulp Studio comprised a neutral, triple silver, low-e coating for solar control and anti-reflective coatings to maximize the view. A 16-millimetre-wide (5/8 inch) rigid bar, PHSS, warm-edge spacer provided the required large thermal break.
Specify the Edge in Hot Climates The edge of fenestration should not be ignored when designing buildings in hot climates. These exterior deep mullions absorb a lot of solar Conductive heat gains driven by high levels of heat and, with very little in the way of a thermal solar absorption in its opaque elements can break between it and the glass edge, would drive cooling loads, especially peak demand, if cause significant conductive heat gains to the not appropriately controlled using advanced interior if not for the warm-edge spacer (figure 7). polyamide thermal break systems in aluminium frames and high-performance durable warmAccording to Green, “the only thermal separation edge spacer on the edge of glass. And, as ever, we had is in the small thermal spacer [between it is not just about energy. The thermal comfort, the mullion and the glass] and in the IGU seals, and subsequent productivity and well-being, making the choice of spacer super-important in of building occupants next to the envelope both thermal performance and condensation depends on delivering this level of fenestration resistance.” This thermal break performance edge performance too – whether the building helped reduce the cooling load on the chiller and is in Miami or Minneapolis. improve visitors’ comfort next to the glazing too.
Figure 7: The Atmos level of the Space Needle after renovation. The reverse curtain wall with large mullions on the exterior caused significant heat gain issues. A wide 16mm (5/8 inch) highperformance PHSS spacer in the large laminated insulating glass units was able to reduce the heat gain sufficiently to meet the chiller load requirements.
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Dr. Helen Sanders, Technoform North America, General Manager Helen has 25 years’ experience in glass technology and manufacturing, especially in functional coatings, insulating glass and thermal zone technology for fenestration. Currently she is general manager of Technoform North America, providing solutions for high performance fenestration. Helen is an advocate for high performance fenestration through active membership in many industry organizations and participation in codes and standards development. She is also president of the Façade Tectonics Institute, a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the performance of building envelopes for people and the planet. Recently, she was named one of USGlass Magazine’s Top 100 Influencers as one of the individuals “who are leading their peers in new directions” and “changing the whole equation of how we look at the industry.” In October 2017, she was recognized by US Glass Magazine as one of the top women leaders in the glass industry. She has a Ph.D. in Surface Science from the University of Cambridge, England.
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SOON T O C OME. . . Winter/December Glass Supper 2019 Special Issue
20/20 VISION Interlayers - From strength to impregnable Examples in Best Practice - Quality, Quality, Quality
www.igsmag.com intelligent glass solutions | autumn 2019
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Interview with Émilie Develle, technical advisor, Guardian Glass Europe
Le Cristallin © Sergio Grazia
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Glass has been a beloved material in architecture for nearly two centuries. But just because a material is transparent, it does not mean it’s simple. The properties of glass are constantly changing in order to adapt to new architectural needs and the evolution of building standards and regulations. What are its properties today, what can we expect of glass in the future and how will it be used? As a technical advisor at Guardian Glass, Émilie Develle gives a detailed review of the contemporary characteristics of a material that is used everywhere, yet often poorly understood.
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Glass is omnipresent in architecture. How do architects view this material? One could begin by saying they have a transparent vision: as they are developing their vision, glass is just a simple ‘blank square’, empty on the drawing of a façade. That’s how glass is represented in the conception of a façade, of a building...but the reality is very different. As a project becomes more detailed, notions of reflection, colour and performance of the glass come into the design and the ‘blank square’ takes shape. That’s why it’s important to consider glass as an independent material but integral to the whole project.
Tour Incity ©Stanislas Ledoux
What surprises the architects? Most often its colour, the light green due to the iron oxides contained in the material. This colour is appearing more often as labels and regulations demand increasingly high levels of energy performance while wanting to keep the original architectural idea, which often requires large volumes of very transparent glass – or low-iron glass. And speaking of large dimensions, this requires thicker glass, which makes the green consequently more noticeable from an aesthetic point of view. After all, the laws of physics do not allow for glass products that are invisible and efficient at the same time! However, at Guardian Glass, we offer solutions that give glass a very clean look, allowing it to be as transparent as possible. There are also very clear types of glass, sometimes without any reflective properties. Why aren’t they used more frequently? Design requires ambition, and realisation requires rationalisation: architectural projects have to combine both these extremes. The point at which we have an important part to play is before the project starts, or at the project’s onset, counselling architects and cladders. There are extremely clear glass products often referred to as extra white, extra clear or low iron, because they have a lower volume of iron oxides but do not automatically meet the required performance levels. For example, in terms of anti-reflectivity, we use another process to coat low iron glass with a material that lowers the reflection rate to almost 0% (less than 1% vs 8% for a standard glass type). This type of glass is ideal for retail outlets and shopping mall windows. It can also be used in the VIP boxes of stadiums or for the windows of a panoramic restaurant, but it does not offer the energy and thermal performance used for 114
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Le Cristallin © Sergio Grazia
a curtain wall. However, it can be combined with solar control coatings to raise energy performances and to lower the rate of reflection. I often draw a parallel with sunglasses: the glass is tinted to filter UV radiation. The same applies to curtain walls – the glass is coated to increase energy and other performance attributes. Conceived in the 1920s, large glazed structures became widespread in the 1960s and 1970s. And have continued to increase over the decades. What is the role of glass in buildings in 2019? Compared to the ‘60s and ‘70s, it is not so much the role of glass that has changed but rather the performance and appearance. Highly reflective glass has disappeared. It gave up its place to a rather colourless glass which reflects its environment. The appearance of a contemporary glazed building should not be static or imposed on the landscape. Architects are now realizing that the project’s façade should be in harmony with its environment and change as the day goes by, in accordance with the exterior conditions. During the day, the movement of the sun and the shadows (which depend on the light intensity) create a changing image on the façade. Depending on the time
BNP Paribas Headquarters © Luc Boegly
of day, the season and the sky, the building can glow like a jewel or, on the contrary, almost disappear. There is also a desire for natural light. Many architects seeking a contemporary design appreciate these characteristics and are willing to create glazed buildings that let as much light in as possible. This can also mean the introduction of a lot of heat, an energy consumption factor that is now unacceptable according to energy regulations such as the HQE (High Environmental Quality standard) and RT (Thermic regulations) approaches in France, for example. We thus find ourselves facing a contradictory requirement: more light, less heat. How can we solve this paradox? Glass manufacturers have been developing glass types with spectrally selective coatings for years. These create a compromise between light (light transmission), the energy which enters the building (solar factor) and good thermal insulation (heat transfer coefficient). The solar factor and the heat transfer coefficient hereby decrease.
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Selectivity is a fundamental characteristic of contemporary glass. Could you explain its role in achieving energy performance? Selectivity represents the ratio between light transmission and solar factor. The lower it gets, the worse it is. In the 1970s, it was allowed to be lower than 1. Fortunately, coated glass has improved. From a simple silver coating that improves the selectivity of a coated glass, we now have glass types with a triple silver coating that allow their selectivity to reach 2 and higher. Let’s take Guardian SunGuard SNX 60 as an example: as a standard double-glazed glass, it has a light transmission of 60% for a solar factor of 29% ; that is to say a selectivity of 2.06 - where a glass without coating would offer 82% light transmission and 78% solar factor (or in other words, a selectivity of 1,05).
Can these products alone solve the problems of solar thermal input into glazed buildings? Are complementary features necessary? The first question is one of regulation. In France for example, the thermal regulation RT 2012 still authorises energy consumption that the RT 2020 will no longer tolerate. The performance of the glass might be reinforced by solar protection, depending on the façade’s orientation or environmental conditions. The selective coated glass (solar control + low emissivity) helps improve the energy efficiency of a building while offering optimal comfort all year long, regardless of temperature fluctuations. Glass helps to both lower heat loss in winter and the need for air conditioning in the hottest summer months. The interior space remains bright while maintaining a temperature that is more acceptable than if standard uncoated glass was used.
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Are you considering developing shadow glass types such as smart glass? These products are intended for very specific applications and are expensive and complicated to produce. For now, they are not in our catalogue. We won’t rule out adding these once an economical and simple technology has been developed, but for now, we are focusing on developing dynamic glass systems, with integrated shades, which are easier to manufacture and consume little energy for the building owner.
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How do you meet the requirements of architects who want to create a building based on aesthetics and performance? How do they go from the ‘blank square’ to the actual product? Glass products tend to become streamlined with regard to their performance and sometimes even their aesthetic. At Guardian Glass, our clients’ feedback is really important, which is why we are constantly working on our glass brand in order to meet their requirements, regarding the appearance of our products as well as their performance. Guardian Glass collaborates with industry partners to offer efficient glazing solutions, fully tested and approved for well-defined applications and as solutions to specific problems. Our goal is to manufacture products that don’t just offer the best performance, but which are also the most attractive in the industry. Our solutions help architects implement their most inspired visions while providing flexibility, colour and functionality.
What support do you offer during the development of a project? We work directly with cladders and businesses, depending on the architect’s expectations. They are generally looking for neutral glass. We do not just offer a product but rather provide solutions that meet the project’s needs. We are working on combining several coatings to meet the desired performance. In a nutshell, we do studies for clients. We are not technical architecture consultants, but we do offer advice and guidance regarding our products and their applications.
What is your direction in the development of new products? We can see that the trend is towards glazing that is either slightly or fairly reflective, with a neutral grey or silvery appearance. We are always working to develop products that are as neutral as possible. Our more recent products have a subtle grey colour, which is quite popular among architects. We are working on achieving products that meet the required performance in the building industry today, while also providing an attractive aesthetic. For example, our new double-silver coated solar control glass with a grey, neutral appearance meets current architectural trends for glass façades and windows.
About Émilie Develle Émilie Develle is passionate about glass. She joined Guardian Glass in 2016 as a technical advisor and provides guidance to architects, clients and cladders on the application of its glass in their projects. A chemist by trade, she became acquainted with this unique material in all its possible forms during her studies and in her professional life. She worked in an office for technical studies that specialised in the building envelope and worked on the integration of flat glass into façades. Furthermore, Émilie works at the Superior Architecture School of Nancy where she teaches students in the second year of their master’s studies in specialities Glass, Design and Architecture.
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Facades for Everyone Challenging design complexities through better industry collaboration Becci Taylor, Associate Director, Arup “Why do we build? Depending on who you ask in the building industry, the answer to this question is certain to vary. Architects, engineers, and designers may be passionate about shaping structures that leave a physical imprint on the natural world. Builders and entrepreneurs could be attracted by the power to construct and assemble disparate parts into a whole. For developers, the drive might be the thrill of finding and closing gaps in the market, or indeed, the urban fabric itself. Across these and many more sub-sectors, we are united by a motivation to build – to add pieces to the puzzle that becomes ‘the built environment’.” [1] In 2015, the United Nations released the 17 Sustainable Development Goals which as a call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that people enjoy peace and prosperity highlights to the multidisciplinary nature of our challenge. As multi-sensory environmental filters, facades are probably one of the most multidisciplinary elements of the built environment that have to respond to ever changing user requirements in ever more demanding locations. Not only do they create an imprint of the building on the world outside it, but are critical for the occupant’s wellbeing, the efficiency of building operation and form the protection of the building to the elements whilst safeguarding pedestrians outside. 120
It can feel like there are too many demands on the façade, which is perhaps one of the barriers to challenging the established norms in the built environment. An architect once said to me ‘I would never specify external shutters in the UK, they’d never get built’. Why not, when they are successful in most other European countries with similar climate to us and are a great answer to overheating…? Provocatively, we might argue that many façade designs follow a prescribed fashion of the time, or an expectation of what will be accepted through planning, However, as an industry, our challenge as designers is to encourage deeper thinking about user experience utilising a more collaborative approach that defines better, perhaps unexpected, outcomes. It is all too
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easy to leave design decisions unchallenged given the complexities associated with façade design. So when we shape the physical world, we are also shaping our social landscape; we are impacting on the ability of individuals and communities to live healthy and happy lives. With their large impact on people both inside, facades are driven by social and environmental drivers . For example, consider how facades conduct daylight. The colour and intensity of facades influence how our bodies produce hormones like melatonin and serotonin – these in turn affect our sense of wakefulness and quality of mood. And views (especially of vegetation or sky) are also psychologically important – improving both our concentration, creativity and productivity.
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Big cities that are centres of human innovation and collaboration can also be seen as sterile wastelands of concrete and steel where animals disappear or adapt as there are not habitats left for them. From an environmental point of view the envelope of a building is a fantastic place to integrate wildlife pockets and reconnect humans with our innate affinity with nature including living things and organisms [2]. As David Attenborough famously said: “My home, too, is here - in the city of London. Looking down on this great metropolis, the
ingenuity with which we continue to reshape the surface of our planet is very striking. But it’s also sobering. It reminds me of just how easy it is for us to lose our connection with the natural world.”
[4] Why do we just apply these principles in healing environments when it is equally applicable to where we live or work? I think we all know what we would prefer, a view of nature versus a brick wall.
Views are essential to human happiness and health. Having a window looking out to nature has shown to help speed up the healing process of patients in hospitals.[3] Similarly, having plants in the same room as patients in hospitals also speeds up their healing process.
Noise is also a contributing factor affecting our ability to concentrate, relax and sleep. Noise can cause increased levels of stress hormones, which may have long-term effects on physical health. So improved design of facades must respond to environmental noise and sound transmission considerations in order to function effectively. Control is important too. Something as simple as the ability to open windows for example, has a positive impact on our stress levels – actually making us better able to cope with discomfort. Despair owing to things outside our control is a common human response. Privacy is another key consideration. The challenge to convince architects that full height windows in bedrooms are a bad idea continues, and while we can report success on a number of our projects, a lack of post occupancy evaluation remains the problem. These are just a few of the demands placed on the façade for user experience however we could have mentioned…..overheating, access and maintenance, embodied energy, materiality, fire performance, security or impact on furniture layout. At Arup, we are playing our part in challenging design principals. The façade at White Collar Factory in Old Street, London, was driven through a sustainable and human centred approach. This high-performance façade, was achieved by optimising the ratio between vision and opaque areas to control solar gains. But the provision of control through operable windows and a natural ventilation strategy had a daily impact on its users with a traffic light system to optimise usage. Each façade was designed differently depending on its orientation. Acoustic intervention meant natural ventilation was able to take place whilst protecting human comfort even though the project is located on one of the noisiest roundabouts in London. Gathering and utilising data to inform better decision making is also crucial. Our Facades
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team in London has been working with the Glass and Façade Technology Research Group at the University of Cambridge and façade contractor Permasteelisa to look at important aspects of the workplace environment that has the biggest impact on our satisfaction. A year-long monitoring experiment is focused on understanding the impact of transient environmental conditions including CO2, solar radiation, temperature, pressure, humidity and noise on human comfort. Data collected by a specially-made toolkit – which includes a feedback unit for volunteers to register their feelings of comfort (and discomfort) – will be used to develop strategies for more efficient, human-centric façades. As we start to develop on more constrained and complex sites we will increasingly need to embrace the challenge and the complexity as a set of opportunities for collaboration. This will enable us to maximise socially useful outcomes and deliver what people really need, rather than what we think they need. This will require our responsibility to go well beyond practical completion in order to get the necessary
feedback to ensure buildings improve over time. To do this we have to unite all the drivers at the façade as part of the holistic building design, earlier than we might normally work, and most probably leave our egos at the door. The façade which has been for a long period for others should place the users at its heart through multidisciplinary design.
Becci Taylor Becci is a building services engineer, building physicist and design integrator. She is an expert in strategic, environmental and sustainable design across arts, culture and residential sectors. Becci is a passionate advocate and communicator for integrated design that focuses on people and performance. She leads teams of multidisciplinary engineers, driving collaboration to realise fantastic buildings that also reduce resource use. Her creativity and technical understanding has influenced development strategies, masterplans and building designs across the world. Becci has the most impact when engaged early enough to shape the constraints of scheme into opportunities.
Fundamentally, through successful façade design, we are shaping the future history of our cities. 1. Camilla Andersen, Arup, Social Value article 2019; 2. The Biophilia Hypothesis” Edward O. Wilson.1995; 3. Park, SH; Mattson, RH (2009). “Ornamental indoor plants in hospital rooms enhanced health outcomes of patients recovering from surgery”. 4. Deborah Franklin (2012): “How Hospital Gardens Help Patients Heal” https://www. scientificamerican.com/article/nature-thatnurtures intelligent glass solutions | autumn 2019
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Laminated glass comes of age Valerie L. Block LEED AP Kuraray America
Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California / Image: Tom Bonner Photography à SentryGlas®
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W
hen people hear my name, they automatically think of laminated glass. This makes perfect sense because my father owned Laminated Glass Corporation, a small glass laminating facility in Detroit, Michigan. The factory produced laminates for the automotive industry and other industrial uses, with a limited focus on architectural glazing. Most of the companies engaged in glass laminating were familyowned businesses. When the Laminators Safety Glass Association was formed in early 1970s, meetings felt more like an extended family reunion than an industry trade organization. Harvestehuder Weg, Hamburg / Image © Marcus Bredt à Trosifol® UV Extra Protect
Laminated glass got its first boost in the U.S. architectural market with the passage of the Consumer Product Safety standard, CPSC 16 CFR Part 1201, in 1977. This federal standard addressed safety concerns of glass situated in hazardous locations subject to human impacts. Built on an industry standard, American National standard Z97.1, first published in 1966, the CPSC standard was different—it was a federal regulation that applied to all jurisdictions in the United States and could not be pre-empted by any other standard for safety glazing that addressed the same risks of injury. The safety glazing requirements were based on impact testing. In the U.S., this impactor was a leather punching bag will with 45 kg (100 pounds) of lead shot. Both tempered and laminated glass emerged as complying glass solutions. Tempered glass broke into small particles after impact and laminated glass particles were retained by the interlayer. Glass distributors typically bought stock sizes of laminated glass and cut down sheets in the shop or in the field to fit specific project requirements. Skylights in commercial buildings became the next architectural opportunity for laminated glass. Overhead glass was growing in popularity as a key design element that effectively brought natural daylight into an interior atrium space. However, regulators enforcing state and local building codes wanted to protect people from falling glass. Laminated glass alleviated this concern when used by itself or as the inboard lite of an insulating glass unit.
Falling glass also prompted a recent building code requirement for glass in railing systems. While both tempered and laminated glass products were approved leading up to the 2015 International Building Code, that edition adopted a proposal to limit most glazing in railings to heat-treated laminates. Incidents of falling glass in Toronto, Austin, Seattle, and other cities in North America, prompted speedy adoption of this code change. Standards Development Over the past twenty years, there has been a proliferation of glass-related standards. ASTM C1172 was developed out of a need for quality guidelines for glass laminates. At the ISO level, the ISO 12543 series also addresses laminated glass. Besides quality standards, testing and specification standards have enabled the expanded use of laminated glass. The hurricane standards are an example of this expanded market development. In the U.S., a local jurisdiction, Miami-Dade County, started the ball rolling with more stringent requirements for glazing to resist windborne debris in its TAS 201, 202, 203 standards. The requirements for testing and specification are now found in two ASTM standards, ASTM E1886 and ASTM E1996. These standards, which were developed by a cross-section of stakeholders, enable greater consistency and reliability in impact resistant windows, doors, skylights, curtain walls and storefronts. In the security area, many different standards have been developed over this time period,
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Cologne/Bonn Airport, Germany > photo: Trosifol > Trosifol®
including standards on blast, ballistics, forced entry, and physical attack. Laminate make-ups are available to resist all of these security threats and are finding their way into detention and correctional facilities, embassies, courthouses, and schools. While there are risks around glass, there are also benefits in these architectural settings, including daylighting and views, as well as energy conservation when laminates incorporate high performance coatings or are placed in insulating glass units. ISO TC 160 on Use Considerations of Glass has a similar range of test methods and standards.
Diversity in Interlayers When I was growing up, there was one interlayer, PVB. It came in clear or standard tints of blue-green, grey, bronze, and translucent white. This is not the case today. The Kuraray portfolio is diversified by stiffness, color, and special features. In terms of stiffness, Trosifol® SC, a soft acoustical interlayer, is available for sound control, standard PVB comes in clear and ultraclear with or without the UV-blocker, Trosifol® ES, a stiff PVB, is available for interior structural glass applications, and colors are offered beyond the standard tints to enable a more decorative approach to glazing. The stiff, structural SentryGlas® Ionoplast interlayer, developed originally for the hurricane market, is now the darling of structural engineers who continue to amaze with their designs for laminated glass walkways, suspension bridges, viewing platforms, and even laminated glass slides. The structural benefits of ionoplast interlayer can also result in thinner glass to meet windload and/or deflection requirements. The stiffness of this interlayer can also benefit extra-large laminates, especially those that are minimally supported. The interlayer does not contain plasticizer, thereby, offering better moisture resistance to open-edged laminates. All in all, this interlayer has served as an enabler for structural glass storefronts, glass railings, and even art objects. The pressure to “go big or go home” has not been wasted on the interlayer suppliers. The SentryGlas® Ionoplast interlayer, which was developed in sheets, is now available in large widths in roll form. Even the processing guidelines are more user-friendly now with the latest product release. The Future Laminated glass may be the key to even more performance in the area of energy conservation and technologies that are designed to mitigate excessive solar heat gain in buildings. Electrochromic products are available in laminated form, as well as bird-friendly glass products. Encapsulation in laminate form encourages new product development and enhanced performance. From my perspective, new products make my job interesting. Where can we improve? A life-cycle analysis will always come back to sourcing raw materials and disposal of products that are no longer
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Space Needle, Seattle / Image © Olson Kundig à SentryGlas®
needed. From a sourcing viewpoint, we need to be thinking about the effect of our products on the air, water, and the land itself. From a disposal viewpoint, we need to be aware of landfills and the ever-growing problem of too much trash. More opportunities to recycle architectural laminate glass would help to reduce disposal in landfills. As a LEED® AP, I am often asked about the contribution Kuraray is making in this area. I know for a fact that sustainability and the environment are critical matters for our leadership. I hope this translates into a future of active stewardship in all areas of our business.
Valerie Block is currently a senior marketing specialist for Kuraray America, formerly DuPont Glass Laminating Solutions, located in Wilmington, DE. She leads the global architectural team responsible for large projects. In this role, she works with architects and specifiers, structural engineers, façade consultants, and glass fabricators on the specification, design, and use of laminated glass in buildings. Valerie is a LEED® Accredited Professional with the U.S. Green Building Council, as well as a Construction Documents Technologist with the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI). She participates on numerous industry and standards committees, including ASTM International, ISO, and the Canadian Standards Association. She is a board member of the Glass Association of North America, where she chairs the Laminating Division. A frequent speaker and author of articles about the use of glass in buildings, Valerie brings over 30 years of experience in the glass and glazing industry. She holds Masters Degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania.
Cultural Center Väven, Sweden / Lindman Photography à Trosifol® Diamond White
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AUTHORS DETAILS AU T U MN 2019
MARIA JASIEWICZ IGS Magazine Business Development Manager Intelligent Publications Limited Omnibus House 39-41 North Road London N7 9DP United Kingdom intelligentglassolutions@gmail.com +44.07971.368231 www.igsmag.com VALERIE BLOCK Kuraray Senior Marketing Specialist 2625 Bay Area Blvd Suite 600, Houston, TX 77058, USA valerie.block@kuraray.com +1 713 495 7311 www.kuraray.com MARTHA THORNE Dean of IE School of Architecture & Design + Executive Director of the Pritzker Prize Calle de Velázquez, 130, 28006 Madrid, Spain admissions.architecture@ie.edu +34 915 68 96 00 www.ie.edu/school-architecturedesign AGNES KOLTAY Koltay Facades Founding Partner & CEO Office R-101-A, Podium Villa R, Executive Towers, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE dubai@koltayfacades.com +971 4 4253593 www.koltayfacades.com
EILIS MCSHANE Multiplex Head of Facades 99 Bishopsgate 2nd Floor London EC2M 3XD euinfo@multiplex.global +4402038292500 www.multiplex.global BIRGIT HORN Glasstec Messe Düsseldorf GmbH Director of GLASSTEC 2020 www.glasstec-online.com HornB@messe-duesseldorf.de +49 211 4560 404 www.glasstec-online.com ASTRID PIBER UNStudio Partner Stadhouderskade 113 1073 AX Amsterdam The Netherlands info@unstudio.com +31 20 570 20 40 www.unstudio.com ELENA ZANETTE Permasteelisa Project Director 2nd Floor 1 Old Jewry London EC2R 8DN United Kingdom info.uk@permasteelisagroup.com +44 (0) 20 7618 0400 www.permasteelisagroup.com
ANNA WENDT BuroHappold Director Happold Ingenieurbüro GmbH Pfalzburger Straße 43-44 10717 Berlin Germany berlin@burohappold.com +49 (0) 30 860 9060 www.burohappold.com REBECCA GABRIEL Arcadis Program Director Arcadis NV “Symphony” Gustav Mahlerplein 97-103 1082 MS Amsterdam The Netherlands info@arcadis.com +31 (0)20 2011 011 www.arcadis.com AULIKKI SONNTAG Drees & Sommer Team Leader Eng2/ Basel - Switzerland Drees & Sommer Malzgasse 16 4052 Basel Switzerland info.schweiz@dreso.com +41 61 785 72 00 www.dreso.com CHIARA BEDON University of Trieste Assistant Professor of Structural Engineering Piazzale Europa, 1, 34127 Trieste TS, Italy chiara.bedon@dia.units.it +39 040 558 7111 www.units.it TUGBA OKCUOGLU Architect & Urbanist tugbaokcuoglu@gmail.com
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VIVIANA NARDINI Sika Services AG Corporate Market Field Engineer Façade / Insulating Glass Tüffenwies 16, 8048 Zürich, Switzerland nardini.viviana@it.sika.com +39 0254778370 www.sika.com HELEN SANDERS Technoform North America Co-General Manager 1755 Enterprise Parkway, Suite 300, Twinsburg, Ohio 44087, US info.us@technoform.com +1 330-487-6600 www.technoform.com ĒMILIE DEVELLE Guardian Glass Technical Advisor 19 Rue du puits Romain, 8070 Bertrange, Luxembourg Guardian Glass PR: Siria Nielsen snielsen@emg-pr.com +31 164 317 036 www.guardianglass.com BECCI TAYLOR ARUP Associate Director 8-13 Fitzroy St, Bloomsbury, London W1T 4BQ, UK london@arup.com +44 20 7636 1531 www.arup.com MIRIAM WHITE BSW Land and Property Director 51 PARK ROAD, LONDON, United Kingdom miriam@bswlandandproperty.o.uk
PAlAiS de juStiCe de PAriS (2017) ARCHITeCT: ReNZO PIANO BUILDING WORkSHOP FACADe: PeRmASTeeLISA
GLASS BONDING IS OUR PASSION Sika offers full range sealing and bonding solutions for insulated glass manufacturing, structural glazing and weathering sealing thereby ensuring system compatibility. With its profound competence in opaque and glass facades alike, Sika is the ideal partner for planners and applicators of all kind on building envelopes. Contact us now.
Sika Services AG FFI Facade · Fenestration · Insulating Glass Tueffenwies 16 · CH-8048 Zurich · Switzerland Tel. +41 (0)58 436 40 40 · Fax +41 (0)58 436 55 30 www.sika.com/ses