STRUCTURAL GLASS FACADES - USC School of Architecture

Chapter 10 - Summary and Conclusions
10.1 Thesis Summary
A primary intent of this thesis has been to identify, define, and categorize a unique building
technology labeled herein structural glass facades. The technology is considered across the
full range of the building process from conceptual design through fabrication, erection and
lifecycle maintenance. The materials, processes, glass and structural systems that comprise
this technology have been dealt with at some length.
Structural glass façades have been characterized herein by certain attributes ranging from
performance and appearance to cost. Two of the more frequent adjectives to be used in
reference to this technology have been “emergent” and “innovative.” Certain other market
related attributes led to a conclusion that while emergent, the technology is mature and
potentially poised for broader application. A hypothesis was then developed that it was
possible to facilitate the diffusion of this innovative technology to a broader market by
enabling designers aspiring to utilize this technology, these designers representing new tiers
of adopters as discussed by Rogers (2003, p. 263). On page-1 of Diffusion of Innovations
Rogers points out that the adoption of the new and innovative, even when possessed with
obvious advantages, is no sure thing. Sometimes adoption fails; other times it takes a very
long time for the adoption process to unfold.
The beginning of structural glass façade technology is identified here as being in the early
1970’s in Europe. The innovators and early adopters were European engineers and
architects that began shaping this technology over the ensuing decades in a series of
innovative glass façade and building enclosures. This technology was not adopted at all in
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