faรงad e e n g i n e e r i n g
FAร ADE ENGINEERING Our consulting services include materials research, specialty analyses, detailed design, engineering and construction support, and glass and faรงade failure investigations.
façad e e n g i n e e r i n g façad e e n g i n e e r i n g
WHAT WE DO We provide façade consulting services to architects, building owners and developers. Our suite of specialty analyses helps solve complex design challenges, improves constructability, maximizes energy efficiency and increases security. We offer a range of services for the full building life cycle with the goal of helping clients execute ambitious architectural visions.
FAÇADE CONSULTING We perform analysis and design services for all phases of building façade design and construction. We help project teams realize state-of-the-art, constructable and sustainable façade solutions that address project design, function, budget and scheduling goals. FAÇADE CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT We apply our extensive knowledge of the façade industry to assist contractors with bidding evaluation, negotiation and installation. We can provide shop drawing production, laboratory and field mockup test observations, plant inspections, and controlled site inspections for additional quality control.
ALWAYS INNOVATING In the technology-driven cladding industry, innovation comes with the territory. Nearly two-thirds of the façades we design and engineer are based on customized systems that involve unique combinations of materials. Architectural intent and projectspecific objectives, such as targets for thermal or acoustic performance, drive novel design solutions. Our ever-expanding set of technological tools enables us to deliver high-functioning designs that have been validated by prototype testing.
Ben Rahn / A-Frame
We provided structural analysis, formfinding and foundation design for the Celebration Zone, a series of inflatable composite-textile pavilions in Toronto, Ontario.
SPECIALTY FAÇADE ANALYSIS Architects are continually pushing building skin design into new territory, with faceted designs and thinner, more delicate enclosures becoming the norm. Designs have evolved to meet new geometric complexities, while also being crafted to meet unique local conditions and sustainability objectives, within demanding schedules, budget constraints and performance requirements. We offer a suite of specialty analyses, either as standalone services or as part of a larger scope, that solve complex design challenges, improve constructability, maximize energy efficiency and increase security.
HOW WE WORK
SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE
EXPANDING THE POSSIBLE We are passionate about engineering beautiful, functional and constructable façades. Our expertise in a variety of systems and materials allows us to work on projects of any shape or size, ranging from traditional curtain walls to complex ETFE, fabric and composite systems as well as innovative custom design solutions. And our advanced analytical capabilities, supported by our CORE studio and Sustainability practice, enable us to overcome even the most difficult design challenges.
COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS While the range of shapes and forms that can be designed with modern modeling tools is almost limitless, geometric discipline is still essential for budget control. When forms are still in flux, we use parametric and generative modeling to interactively study multiple geometric options and determine optimized shapes for building skins and related systems.
THE EXPERTISE TO SUCCEED Our multidisciplinary team comprises technical architects, façade engineers and other specialists with decades of work experience in façade consulting and contracting services. An extensive knowledge of local markets, building codes and construction practices enables us to provide pragmatic and cost-effective solutions to clients around the globe.
Thornton Tomasetti
Initial hand sketch for cladding of the new roof of Wimbledon’s No. 1 Court in London.
COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS Our team members take a handson approach to every project, with the common goal of creating value and finding the best path to overcoming any given challenge. We are committed to looking beyond our scope of work to engage proactively with the entire team to solve problems and maximize overall performance.
Our designers have expertise in an extensive array of materials and systems. • Brick & Terracotta • Cables & Tensegrity Systems • Composite Materials • Concrete • Curtain Wall • Double Skin Systems • ETFE & Fabrics • Glazing & Structural Glass • Kinetic Systems • Metal • Recladding • Stone
We worked closely with Zaha Hadid Architects to design an efficient, highperformance façade system for SKY SOHO, a mixed-use development in Shanghai, China.
Marco Jacobs
THORNTON TOMASETTI OPTIMIZES THE DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE OF STRUCTURES, MATERIALS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROJECTS OF EVERY SIZE AND LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY. An employee-owned organization of engineers, scientists, architects and other professionals collaborating from offices worldwide, we support clients by drawing on the diverse expertise of our integrated practices. We are committed to being a sustainable and enduring organization and the global driver of innovation in our industry. INNOVATION AT OUR CORE
CORE is our innovation incubator, a vehicle for collaborating with project teams, academic institutions and other partners – in the AEC industry and beyond – to develop and market new technologies. CORE lab identifies and nurtures R&D projects – ranging from incremental to transformational – to create new capabilities, methods or products.
www.thorntontomasetti.com
CORE studio provides technology-focused expertise to all our practices, enhancing collaboration and responsiveness through a wide range of creative initiatives.