STRUCTURAL GLASS FACADES - USC School of Architecture

innovative technology, more particularly building technology, and most particularly structural
glass facades as a prime example of innovative building technology. In the process, the
intent is to define, categorize and describe this technology and the materials and processes
of which it is comprised, thereby perhaps adding to the rich vocabulary of this building form.
Design and Reference Tool
Building designers need information, delivery strategies, and tools to facilitate the
incorporation of advanced façade technology in their designs. Knowledge of the
fundamental considerations of material and system options, grid module, component sizing,
spanning capacity, span/depth ratio, deflection criteria, finish options and relative costs is a
prerequisite to the effective deployment of the technology in any specific design application.
The structural systems employed in the new façade technology are somewhat more complex
than conventional framing systems. Form determination with these structures is largely
driven by considerations of performance and less by arbitrary determinants of style. The
integration of structure and form characteristic of this technology make it imperative that the
designer have some feel for the behavior and attributes of the various structural systems and
the glazing systems they support. Very useful to the system designer would be a conceptual
design resource that would facilitate the development of comparative solutions in response
to a specific façade application. These solutions would be derived from the current body of
structural glass façade technology.
The program is envisioned ultimately as a web-based resource providing information, case
studies, technical reports, design guidelines and tools, for all aspects of structural glass
façade technology; glass, glass systems, structure systems and related systems and
components. such as a providing The tool will be useful to architecture and engineering
students as well as practitioners.
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