STRUCTURAL GLASS FACADES - USC School of Architecture

to water penetration and air infiltration are better understood now, and certain modifications
based on the rainscreen principle, pressure-equalization, and thermal conduction, have been
made on the systems, and unitized systems have enhanced quality and lowered field costs,
but the basic technology is unchanged. Limitations in basic curtain wall technology have
resulted in new system developments such as dual-skin facades, some examples of which
involve structural glass façade technology.
Of course, the performance pressures on the building skin apply to structural glass facades
as well, but the technology is more flexible and adaptive than conventional curtain wall. This
flexibility provides the potential for the technology to respond to a wide range of aesthetic
and performance issues. Because of this, there is the possibility that some adaptation or
manifestation of structural glass façade technology will emerge that better address the
increasing pressures of the marketplace. This opens up the potential for a partial market
conversion whereby a new or hybrid technology will replace some percentage of the
conventional curtain wall or storefront market. Such a partial conversion did occur with finglass
walls in the storefront market, and while still a specialty item with a premium cost, the
number of product suppliers and installers has increased, the cost has dropped, and market
share continues to grow.
1.4.3 Development Costs Absorbed
Innovative building technology typically comes at a premium cost, and such is the case with
structural glass facades, which represent more of a solution technology then a product.
Designs are often highly custom, and both design and engineering a matter of some
specialty not provided by the mainstream industry. While the use of new and untested
materials is rather rare, the adoption of unfamiliar materials from other industries is
occasionally involved (as in the adoption of high-strength tension rod technology borrowed
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