Exterior Building Enclosures: Design Process and Composition for Innovative Facades

A comprehensive guide to the design and execution of sophisticated exterior building enclosures

Focused on the design process for architects and related professionals, this book addresses the design and execution of sophisticated exterior building enclosures for a number of commercial building types and in a variety of building materials. It focuses on the design process by delineating enclosure basics, the participants (owners, architects, engineers, consultants) and their roles and responsibilities through collaboration, and tracking the design process through construction.

This comprehensive handbook covers all of the factors that affect the design of a building enclosure, including function, visual aesthetics, performance requirements, and many other criteria. In–depth case studies of projects of various scales, types, and climate conditions illustrate the successful implementation of exterior wall enclosure solutions in brick masonry, stone, architectural concrete, glass, and metals.

This unique and indispensable guide:

Defines the functions, physical requirements, design principles, and types of exterior building enclosures Identifies the participants in the design and construction process and specifies their roles and responsibilities Presents a step–by–step process for the design of exterior enclosures, from defining goals and developing concepts through creating construction documents Reviews the construction process from bidding and negotiation through the paper phase to the "brick and mortar" stage Provides details on the properties of exterior enclosure materials, including structural considerations, weather protection, fire safety, and more Covers a variety of materials, including brick masonry, natural stone masonry, architectural concrete, metal framing and glass, and all–glass enclosures

Written by the technical director of the San Francisco office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Exterior Building Enclosures is an indispensable resource for architects, engineers, facade consultants, and green design consultants working on commercial building projects.

Acknowledgments v

Chapter 1 Basics 1

Understanding the Basics 1

Process 2

Definition 2

Functions 3

Elements and Forces on the Exterior Enclosure 23

Design Principles 43

Basic Types 51

Interfaces of Enclosure Types 52

Summary 53

Chapter 2 Participants 55

Owner 58

Architect 62

Engineers 67

Design Team Resources: Material Suppliers, System Fabricators, and Specialty Fabricators 76

Builders 79

Summary 85

Chapter 3 Design Process 87

STEP 1: Define and Establish Enclosure Goals 87

STEP 2: Enclosure Concepts 89

STEP 3: Research, Collection, and Analysis 92

STEP 4: Schematic Design/Design Development: Enclosure System Development 97

Schematic Design 98

Design Development 105

STEP 5: Construction Documents 117

Summary 134

Chapter 4 Construction 135

STEP 6: Construction Process 135

Bidding or Tender: The Step In–Between 137

Paper Stage of Construction 139

Enclosures Detailed Primarily by the Architect 142

Bricks and Mortar Stage 144

Summary 149

Chapter 5 Brick Masonry 151

Overview 151

Design 151

Enclosure Structural Considerations 154

Weather Protection 162

Thermal Design/Vapor Control/Condensation 162

Fire Resistance/Life Safety 167

Summary 167

Masonry Brick 168

Harvard University Northwest Science Building Masonry Brick 186

Rice University BioScience Research Collaborative Masonry Brick 206

UCLA Anderson School of Management

Chapter 6 Natural Stone Masonry 217

Overview 217

Design 219

Enclosure Structural Considerations 220

Weather Protection 228

Miscellaneous 237

Summary 239

Masonry Natural Stone 240

The Gas Company Tower Masonry Natural Stone 266

ARCO Tower One Masonry Natural Stone 275

The New Beijing Poly Plaza Masonry Natural Stone 291

Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

Chapter 7 Architectural Concrete 321

Overview 321

Design 321

Structural Considerations 329

Weather Protection 331

Detailing and Specifications 332

Summary 337

Architectural Concrete 338

United States Embassy Beijing Architectural Concrete 356

Dallas City Hall

Chapter 8 Metal Framing and Glass 365

Overview 365

Design 367

Enclosure Structural Considerations 373

Weather Protection 381

Thermal Design/Vapor Control/Condensation 383

Fire Safety 388

Additional Design Requirements 389

Summary 391

Metal Framed and Glass 392

San Francisco International Airport

Metal Framed and Glass 420

Jinta Tower

Metal Framed and Glass 435

Fountain Place (formerly Allied Bank Tower)

Metal Framed and Glass 450

Shanghai Huawei Technologies Corporate Campus

Chapter 9 All–Glass Enclosures 483

Overview 483

Design 484

All–Glass Enclosure Structural Considerations 484

Weather Protection 497

Additional Design Requirements 501

Summary 502

All–Glass Enclosures 503

The New Beijing Poly Plaza All–Glass Enclosures 526

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Farm Research Campus All–Glass Enclosures 542

Lenovo/Raycom Building C Entry Pavilion

Chapter 10 Realization 559

Putting It All Together 559

Emerging Trends and Technology 567

Integrated Technologies 574

Summary 575

Index 577

C. KEITH BOSWELL, FAIA, serves as Technical Director of the San Francisco office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), orchestrating and overseeing detailed design and construction documentation for all San Francisco projects. His experience includes high–rise office buildings, museums, retail spaces, government projects, amusement parks, and international and domestic airport passenger terminals.

Acknowledgments v

Chapter 1 Basics 1

Understanding the Basics 1

Process 2

Definition 2

Functions 3

Elements and Forces on the Exterior Enclosure 23

Design Principles 43

Basic Types 51

Interfaces of Enclosure Types 52

Summary 53

Chapter 2 Participants 55

Owner 58

Architect 62

Engineers 67

Design Team Resources: Material Suppliers, System Fabricators, and Specialty Fabricators 76

Builders 79

Summary 85

Chapter 3 Design Process 87

STEP 1: Define and Establish Enclosure Goals 87

STEP 2: Enclosure Concepts 89

STEP 3: Research, Collection, and Analysis 92

STEP 4: Schematic Design/Design Development: Enclosure System Development 97

Schematic Design 98

Design Development 105

STEP 5: Construction Documents 117

Summary 134

Chapter 4 Construction 135

STEP 6: Construction Process 135

Bidding or Tender: The Step In-Between 137

Paper Stage of Construction 139

Enclosures Detailed Primarily by the Architect 142

“Bricks and Mortar” Stage 144

Summary 149

Chapter 5 Brick Masonry 151

Overview 151

Design 151

Enclosure Structural Considerations 154

Weather Protection 162

Thermal Design/Vapor Control/Condensation 162

Fire Resistance/Life Safety 167

Summary 167

Masonry – Brick 168

Harvard University Northwest Science Building Masonry – Brick 186

Rice University BioScience Research Collaborative Masonry – Brick 206

UCLA Anderson School of Management

Chapter 6 Natural Stone Masonry 217

Overview 217

Design 219

Enclosure Structural Considerations 220

Weather Protection 228

Miscellaneous 237

Summary 239

Masonry – Natural Stone 240

The Gas Company Tower Masonry – Natural Stone 266

ARCO Tower One Masonry – Natural Stone 275

The New Beijing Poly Plaza Masonry – Natural Stone 291

Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

Chapter 7 Architectural Concrete 321

Overview 321

Design 321

Structural Considerations 329

Weather Protection 331

Detailing and Specifications 332

Summary 337

Architectural Concrete 338

United States Embassy Beijing Architectural Concrete 356

Dallas City Hall

Chapter 8 Metal Framing and Glass 365

Overview 365

Design 367

Enclosure Structural Considerations 373

Weather Protection 381

Thermal Design/Vapor Control/Condensation 383

Fire Safety 388

Additional Design Requirements 389

Summary 391

Metal Framed and Glass 392

San Francisco International Airport

Metal Framed and Glass 420

Jinta Tower

Metal Framed and Glass 435

Fountain Place (formerly Allied Bank Tower)

Metal Framed and Glass 450

Shanghai Huawei Technologies Corporate Campus

Chapter 9 All-Glass Enclosures 483

Overview 483

Design 484

All-Glass Enclosure Structural Considerations 484

Weather Protection 497

Additional Design Requirements 501

Summary 502

All-Glass Enclosures 503

The New Beijing Poly Plaza All-Glass Enclosures 526

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Farm Research Campus All-Glass Enclosures 542

Lenovo/Raycom Building C Entry Pavilion

Chapter 10 Realization 559

Putting It All Together 559

Emerging Trends and Technology 567

Integrated Technologies 574

Summary 575

Index 577