STRUCTURAL GLASS FACADES - USC School of Architecture

6.1 Façade Structure Types: Categorization Scheme and
Comparative Analysis
As postulated previously, structural glass facades can best be categorized by the structure
types used to support them. The structure types categorized below have been discussed in
some detail in Chapter 2.2.
6.1.1 Morphological Categorization Scheme
The structure types discussed in this thesis are not unique to structural glass facades; cable
trusses can and have been used to support long-span roofs, for example. But their
adaptation to the requirements of structural glass facades has rendered them unique, and
together they represent a distinct class of structures. Primary attributes of this class include:
Table 6-1 Attributes of structure types.
Attributes of Structural Glass Façade Structure Types
Exposed structure and connections Tension-based structural systems
Minimalized structural systems Frequent use of tensile elements in
rigid systems
Refined craftsmanship Lightweight structures
Machined components High flexibility; high deflections
High quality materials and finishes Optimized transparency as a frequent
design objective
The structural system types used in structural glass facades are categorized in Table 6-2
below. They are categorized here by inherent stability (open or closed system) and spanning
behavior (unidirectional and multidirectional), explained further below.
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