This session will explore curtain wall detailing, fabrication, testing, and installation oversight strategies for resolving complex geometries involved in iconic high-rise tower design that combine stick-built and unitized systems. It will begin with a general overview of the key differences between stick-built and unitized curtain wall systems, covering the pros and cons of both in terms of water and air barrier performance, schedule and cost efficiency, quality control, installation time, construction equipment and labor demands, and inspection requirements. It will also explore why, though unitized curtain wall systems are typically preferred for high-rise design, combining unitized and stick-built systems can yield better performance and aesthetic results, and how by rationalizing the facade design the systems can be combined effectively. It will also provide valuable insights into economical procurement options for curtain walls, as well as the structural performance of curtain walls and how various anchorage systems affect it. The presentation will also explore common pitfalls in curtain wall installation that threaten to compromise building performance and strategies to overcome these issues, which include installation errors, gasket and seal degradation, and sealant issues.

Learning Objectives:

1.  Explore curtain wall detailing, fabrication, testing, and installation oversight strategies.
2.  Participants will be able to identify design situations where combining stick-built and unitized curtain wall systems serves performance, aesthetic, and other project goals and apply those systems effectively.
3. Recognize opportunities to procure curtain walls more economically without compromising quality through exploring international procurement routes.
4. Identify and overcome common pitfalls in curtain wall design, detailing, and installation for specific design conditions.

Manan Ravel, P.E., Hatfield Group

Manan Raval, PE, is Partner of Facades and Building Envelopes at Hatfield Group. He is widely recognized as an industry expert in facade design and specialty glass systems. He has led facade engineering for complex buildings worldwide, among them high-profile arts institutions, residential developments, and mixed-use hubs. His areas of specialization include developing facade systems for a diverse range of climatic conditions, enhancing thermal and acoustic performance, and optimizing facades for manufacturing and installation. He is widely recognized as a dynamic leader who offers progressive insight towards achieving sustainable and high-performance building envelope solutions that achieve the design intent.