STRUCTURAL GLASS FACADES - USC School of Architecture

methodologies, tools, or leaning resources in support of structural glass façade technology.
This represents an opportunity.
The intent here is not to standardize the façade designs themselves, producing a uniformity
that would have little appeal to the majority of design architects. The intent is rather to
develop a generalized, robust methodology, supported by resources in the form of learning
programs, technical information and automated design tools that accommodate a wide
diversity of design and design complexity as part of an efficient implementation process. The
work of this thesis has been to map a comprehensive methodology rather than to focus on
any single element that would comprise it. Certain elements of the methodology however
have been developed as prototypes to further articulate the functioning of the proposed
design method and test its viability. These elements are discussed following.
10.2 Evaluation and Recommended Improvements
The elements of the FacadeDesigner methodology that have been developed as part of this
thesis are in prototype form only. The scope of work involved for completion of these various
items lies considerably beyond the scope of this thesis. Some of these elements, such as
the SpecBuilder module, are untouched. The following discusses the current state of the
various prototypes and identifies the work needed to complete them as envisioned within the
context of the fully developed FacadeDesigner methodology.
10.2.1 FaçadeDesigner.com; the Web Resource
There is no question that a resource such as described herein should be Web-based. The
World Wide Web provides unparalleled access to information. This does not mean that the
Web should be the only resource; print media is still an important form of communication
with many technology users. Even here, much of print media is most conveniently accessed
from the internet and downloaded for local printing.
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