STRUCTURAL GLASS FACADES - USC School of Architecture

What follows is a consideration of each system type identified above with respect to the
criteria just presented.
6.3.3 Class Comparisons: Application of Evaluation Criteria to
Glass System Types
It would make no sense to use a curtain wall system on a structural glass façade. Such an
approach ignores all opportunity for the integration of structure and glass system that is so
prominent in structural glass facades. It is informative nonetheless, to have them included in
this analysis, and two of the systems here derive from curtain wall technology. The stick and
the unitized systems are categorized here as framed system types. While frameless glass
systems are virtually synonymous with structural glass facades, there are a number of
examples that do not use point-fixed glass systems. These have been categorized here as
framed panel glass systems. Further analysis may reveal opportunity for a more refined
categorization of these systems.
As a matter of convenience and consistency, the systems are presented similarly to the
structure types, with the increasing attribute of transparency. The exception is the point-fixed
systems; the point-fixed drilled is arguably a more transparent system. It is presented first,
as the clamped version is a derivation best understood in comparison to the drilled system.
262