STRUCTURAL GLASS FACADES - USC School of Architecture

pyramid structure when the distribution of project applications is studied as a function of
cost. The less expensive applications make up the base of the pyramid with the highly
customized and complex applications at the peak. Structural glass façade technology seems
to comprise an inverted pyramid in this respect, with new applications vying for top, or at
least the top tier. Budget is often not the dominant consideration. Budgets for other building
areas are raided to build up the façade budget. This is not to say that there are no aspiring
users of the technology interested in less aggressive applications at a more reasonable cost.
The author’s own experience confirms beyond doubt that there are many practicing
architects that would like to use the technology. This group is in fact identified herein as the
key to unlocking this diffusion potential; the source of the built work of structural glass
façades can be traced to the design architect. If the design architect undertakes the
conceptual design of a structural glass façade as part of a building project, there is a high
probability that the façade will emerge as a building opportunity and ultimately be realized as
a completed work. The most direct method to grow the market is to get more design
architect producing more façade concepts. The hypothesis is that this group is effectively
prevented from including structural glass facades in their designs by a lack of know-how in
the use of the technology, and access to the technical capability required to exercise the
technology. The focal area identified herein is the conceptual design process within the
broader context of a design/build or design/assist project delivery strategy. The hypothesis is
that if the design architect can be provided a methodology that facilitates the conceptual
design process, if they can be thus enabled and assured of the resources necessary to
support the façade implementation process, they will make use of the technology. In this
context structural glass façade technology is very new. Designs to date have been produced
virtually exclusively by highly skilled specialists, and each design has been highly
customized to the individual project. Nothing exists in the way of standardized
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