ADVANCED FAÇADE SYSTEMS

SESSION 21

DATE // START TIME // ROOM NUMBER:

Thursday, September 30, 2010 – 9::00am – Altman B

ABSTRACT:

Panel will discuss the technical and energy efficient aspects of the Liquid Wall as an architecturally versatile, systems-integrated, high-performance, unitized building envelope of a type never seen before. Winner of the American Institute of Architects’ Open Call for Innovative Curtain Wall Design, the Liquid Wall is currently in full-scale prototype production.

MODERATOR:

Peter Arbour, Project Manager, RFR Consulting Engineers

SPEAKERS:

Robert Del Vento, Jr., Architectural Project Manager, Coreslab Structures
Mitsu Edwards, Structural Engineer, Project Director, RFR Consulting Engineers
Kelly Henry, Architectural Project Manager, Lafarge North America
Kevin D. Schaefer, Principal, CSArch

DESCRIPTION:

The Liquid Wall derives its name from the three aspects of its innovative design. The first is its fabrication method of concrete casting; the liquid state of poured concrete provides an architectural freedom unprecedented in glazed, unitized curtain wall design. The second is its inherent capacity for form-finding; the initial design, arising from a strict adherence to the structural criteria of a building’s envelope, results in undulating profiles and an aesthetic of “frozen flow.” The third and most important liquid aspect is the actual flow of liquids through the spandrel cassette, which captures solar energy transmitting it to systems for use as radiant heat, domestic hot water production, and dehumidification of ventilation systems.

Each Liquid Wall unit consists of two concrete frames cast in Ductal®, an ultra-high-performance concrete (20,000psi), and martensitic stainless steel tension bars. The panels are assembled using a cast-in, structural, thermal break technology of pultruded glass fiber. Vision panels are of clear triple glazing, maintaining an excellent u-value with a 70% glazed exterior wall.

The panel’s spandrel cassette is similar to an inserted shadowbox. It is a glazed assembly containing a system of tubes set against an energy-absorbing backpan. A non-freezing liquid mixture flows into the system from inside the building. The heated fluid is then recovered from the panels and transferred to one of several possible uses. This simple, passive harvesting of solar radiation energy significantly reduces a building’s fossil fuel energy consumption. The integration of the envelope with the MEP systems provides an economy of means and of construction without additional cost and without compromising the efficiency of the envelope installation process.

The use of ultra-high performance concrete reduces the required material by 90% relative to other precast concrete wall products. The post-fixing of reinforcing armature eliminates the need to extract steel rebar for concrete recycling. The Liquid Wall aims to be a 100% recyclable system, and is expressly designed to avoid the extensive use of typical high-carbon-footprint materials such as aluminium.

Panelists will also discuss the Liquid Wall Prototype, which is being constructed using the direct transfer of 3D computer modelling to CNC milling of pieces that are used to create state-of-the-art flexible molds. The fabrication of molds and of the panels is a repeatable process that can streamline the production of facades covering large surface areas of multiple designs that precisely address the needs of various orientations and solar exposures. All sunshading devices and decorative grillwork can be cast of-a-piece with the structural framing, allowing reduction of the costs and risks of on-site assembly procedures. In addition, the smooth, highly detailable finish of the cast concrete provides endless design possibilities for architects and façade designers, possibilities not seen since the use of cast iron and cast terra cotta, with an integral structure and environmental performance that exceeds the ever more stringent criteria of today’s building envelope.

The functions required by building envelopes remain the same throughout the process of technical innovation. All facades must insulate without thermal bridging; they must provide water and air seals and secondary drainage channels; they must resist the vertical spread of fire; they must be constructed efficiently at an industrial scale; and they must operate reliably without excessive maintenance costs or systemic failure. The Liquid Wall is a system that achieves all of this while tapping into our most universal and dependable source of free energy.

> REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION

ADVANCED FAÇADE SYSTEMS: 300-level

SESSION 7

DATE // START TIME // ROOM NUMBER:

Wednesday, September 29, 2010 – 2:00pm – Altman B

ABSTRACT:

This panel will explore two award winning entries submitted in response to the Center for Architecture’s recent competition “Open Call: Innovative Curtain Wall Design,” which utilized recent advances in kinetic building envelopes to produce responsive and adaptive buildings.

MODERATOR:

Rick Bell, Executive Director, AIA New York

SPEAKERS:

Anna Dyson, Director, Center for Architecture Science and Ecology (CASE)
Alberto De Gobbi, President and CEO, Permasteelisa North America.
Chuck Hoberman, Principal, Adaptive Building Initiative
Nicholas Holt, Director, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Denzil Gallagher, Principal, Buro Happold
Christopher Sharples, Principal, SHoP Architects PC

DESCRIPTION:

Both the HelioTrace and HeliOptix façade  proposals showcase the experience and sensibility of the design collaborators as well as the technology and environmental performance of the combined kinetic envelope systems.

SOM invited cladding construction leaders Permasteelisa Group and the Adaptive Building Initiative (a co-venture between Buro Happold and Hoberman Associates) to partner in pioneering an advanced kinetic curtain wall system called “HelioTrace.”

HeliOptix is a joint venture that was developed to commercialize a solar façade system that has emerged from one of the research areas currently being pursued by The Center for Architecture Science and Ecology (CASE).  This integrated concentrating façade system combines photovoltaic electricity generation, daylight harvesting, and collection of high grade heat which can be used for solar powered absorption cooling.

HelioTrace

Nicholas Holt, Director at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) will introduce the firm’s history in building enclosure design in several diverse climate regions worldwide.  The design team challenged themselves to design a universally applicable system.  Mr. Holt will address challenges of building enclosure design, including balancing the desire for transparency with opacity required for energy efficiency.

Recognizing the importance of inter-disciplinary collaboration and the creative solutions arising from them, SOM invited Permasteelisa to partner in this competition.  Permsteelisa’s first response to the design challenge was the need for a kinetic system, and introduced the Adaptive Building Initiative to the Team.  The award-winning “Helio-Trace” is the result of this collaboration.  The presentation will conclude with a description of the system’s design, including environmental analysis provided by SOM’s Sustainable Enginneering Studio, yet another example of inter-disciplinary collaboration and teaming.

The Adaptive Building Initiative (ABI), founded in 2008, is a joint venture between Hoberman Associates and Buro Happold to develop enabling technologies that allow buildings to optimize their configuration in real time by responding to environmental changes.  Chuck Hoberman will discuss the ability to implement adaptive systems, stemming from a series of technological advances over the last 10 years, including reductions in cost and size, coupled with increased efficiency of motorized systems and microprocessor technology allowing a greater distribution of embedded network intelligence. Mr. Hoberman will present how the work of the Adaptive Buildings Initiative was adapted by SOM and Permasteelisa to become an award winning kinetic curtain wall.

Permasteelisa’s aim is to constantly innovate and improve architectural cladding systems to ensure top quality performance through constant research and development of new systems, technologies and innovative materials.  Alberto DeGobbi will discuss the performance criteria for exterior enclosures and the analysis, testing and validation involved in the design and fabrication of curtain wall systems, and the real world challenges of manufacturing, budget, safety and installation are integral to Permasteelisa’s overall design of systems.  He will present the structural system integration developed for the HelioTrace project and the opportunities and challenges associated with the design, fabrication and maintenance of kinetic facade systems.  He will conclude with a new state-of-the-art testing facility under development at Permateelisa’s Connecticut fabrication plant.

HeliOptix

The second half of the session will explore another kinetic façade system which allows natural daylight and views while also lowering building operating loads and generating renewable energy.

Anna Dyson will introduce the HeliOptix system and compare this to other solar electric and water heating technologies currently available.  She will describe ongoing testing and instrumented data gathered from the demonstration installation at the Syracuse Center for Excellence.

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) design by SHoP is one of the testbed sites for this technology.  Chris Sharples will address façade and building integration and the added benefits of this system in the atrium application.   He will also discuss the licensing process and development activities currently being undertaken by HeliOptix, a joint venture established to bring this next generation technology to market.

Denzil Gallagher will present how solar concentrating façade technologies can be used to provide solar powered absorption cooling and heating.  He will show system configurations combining solar concentrating facades integrated with building perimeter heating and cooling systems.  Energy modeling analysis of these systems will be used to discuss the benefit and challenges of these systems.     Mr. Gallagher will conclude by discussing future trends in façade design and integration with energy management systems.

> REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION

ADVANCED FAÇADE SYSTEMS: 300-level

SESSION 9

DATE // START TIME // ROOM NUMBER:

Wednesday, September 29, 2010 – 2:00pm – Metro 2A

ABSTRACT:

A presentation of the collaborative design methods that enabled the development of advanced building façade systems at Yale University, Ithaca College and Battery Park City.

SPEAKERS:

Naree Phinyawatana, Environmental Designer, Atelier Ten
Nico Kienzl, Director, Atelier Ten
Kevin Smith, Robert A.M. Stern Architects
Mark Simon, Partner, Centerbrook Architects & Planners
Craig Copeland, Senior Associate, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects

DESCRIPTION:

As designers strive to create spaces that provide a sense of outdoors while maintaining indoor comfort, building facades are also literally stretched to encompass community spaces both within and around buildings. In recent years the science and the art of façade design have enabled the creation of previously unattainable building and even community, skins. Rigorous analysis and cutting-edge design can now achieve that crucial balance between daylight and thermal comfort.

This session will present the design methods that have made possible the development of these advanced building façade systems as exemplified by Kroon Hall at Yale University, the Ithaca College School of Business, and The Visionaire in New York City. Presenters will each discuss a design approach of “optioneering,” working collaboratively with architects and other team members to design solutions that respond to environmental and technical concerns.

Session attendees will learn about key environmental and design drivers, see new analysis tools, and be presented with a range of innovative façade design strategies for the Northeast climate. Technical design challenges at scales ranging from individual building elements to neighborhood-scale shelters will also be discussed. The case studies presented are all completed projects that have earned LEED Platinum certification.

> REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION

ADVANCED FAÇADE SYSTEMS: 300-level

SESSION 2

DATE // START TIME // ROOM NUMBER:

Wednesday, September 29, 2010 – 11:00am – Metro 2A

ABSTRACT:

A panel investigates the design and performance of a 45,000 SF double-glass façade for the new Weill Cornell Medical College Medical Research Building in New York City and the analysis and methodology utilized for the design of this façade.

SPEAKERS:

Hilary Brown, Professor, City College of New York, Bernard & Anne Spitzer School of Architecture, Principal, New Civic Works
Craig McIlhenny, Associate Partner, Ennead Architects (formerly Polshek Partnership)
Wendy Meguro, Atelier Ten
John Pachuta, Partner, Heintges

DESCRIPTION:

The panel will address the design and performance of a 45,000 SF double-glass façade for the new Weill Cornell Medical College Medical Research Building, an 18-story laboratory facility located on East 69th Street in Manhattan. The analysis and methodology utilized for the design of this façade is applicable to any designer committed to reducing solar gain and energy usage while maintaining views and daylight to create a dynamic yet economical façade. The building is pursuing a LEED NC 2.2 Silver or possibly Gold Certification. Design is complete and construction of foundations is currently underway, with a scheduled completion date of April, 2014.

Design:

The building design creates an environment on the College’s urban campus that promotes collaborative research and recognizes the stature of the College’s preeminent researchers. The use of a glass façade establishes an identity for the institution that is accessible, yet representative of its cutting-edge  medical research.

Given the site’s east-west orientation, the building uses a double-skin glass façade technology in order to maximize daylight within the building, while minimizing solar heat gain and visual and thermal discomfort within the offices and collaborative workspaces on the prominent, south-facing side of the building.

Design Process & Performance:

To provide a cost-effective and environmentally responsible overall envelope design, a double-skin glass façade is featured on the south face of the building, while the remaining building facades utilize a well insulated, economical masonry cavity wall and a high-performance ribbon window system.

This curtain wall system is comprised of an outer layer of white ceramic fritted glass in an undulating/folded design that shades the interior space, an air cavity of varying depth , and an interior insulated glass façade. Large openings within the outer layer of glass articulate the façade, giving a human scale to the façade design,and promoting natural ventilation within the air cavity, mitigating extreme temperatures on the exterior and significantly reducing temperatures on the interior glass. Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD) studies suggested this compartmentalization of the cavity and informed the size, location and placement of the ventilation openings.

Indoor Environment and Occupant Comfort:

In accordance with the sustainable goals of the building and to recruit world-class researchers, the Medical Research Building provides its occupants with well-designed and comfortable research spaces with abundant natural daylight and controllable lighting systems.

Interior automatic shades are provided in the offices and meeting spaces behind the double façade. The Building Management System tracks exterior solar condition and raises or lowers the shades as necessary to increase occupant comfort and reduce the use of interior artificial lighting during overcast conditions. The building also utilizes daylight dimming in the offices and meeting spaces along the double façade to reduce energy use.

The exterior glass skin of the double-façade increases visual comfort for building occupants by minimizing glare within the interior. Solar shading and visual comfort are further enhanced by the utilization of “double-pass” glass frit technology, which provides a black inward-facing frit to reduce glare and a white outward-facing frit to increase solar reflectance and to achieve the desired aesthetic.

> REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION