Ever-increasing performance requirements in the latest version of the energy codes are compelling project teams to consider the thermal performance of the building envelope more rigorously than ever before.
Glass by nature is a reflective material, and it is well-known and documented that issues of glare can occur due to solar reflection. This phenomenon…
Electrochromic windows introduced to building market as a smart glare control solution to provide visual comfort for building occupant. EC glazing ca…
This paper documents a six year academia/industry collaboration between researchers at the Department of Architecture, University at Buffalo (SUNY) a…
Energy codes across the country are progressively getting stricter and increasing the threshold for a baseline building’s energy performance. Califor…
A common building upgrade to add value to existing commercial real estate is the renewal of the entrance lobby. The lobby facade is replaced to give …
Today's evolving digital tools allow designers to be more creative in designing new forms and geometries. Adapting similar tools to the fabrication a…
Access to natural daylight and connection to the outdoor environment is one of the key elements of contemporary architecture. This design concept is …
Facades developed in response to climactic factors increase performance and human comfort while reducing energy loads. A single building envelope wil…
Direct sun on the body is a known potential cause of thermal discomfort for occupants, yet most thermal comfort simulations do not capture its effect…
Facades must be responsive to a myriad of qualities and influences ranging from urban impact and aesthetic character to numerous performance requirem…
While most of high-rise buildings feature a core surrounded by a spatial frame defining the volume, one could envision a column-free plan where the p…
To paraphrase Robert le Ricolias, the art of the structure is where to put the folds. Using that inspiration, fundamental concepts from origami, topo…
The wonder of nature is the abundance of unique forms she creates based on a few simple physical principles or laws. No two snowflakes are alike. Eve…
Precision in digital workflow is necessary to deliver facade projects where there is a high design aesthetic or structural performance requirement. T…
Complex freeform architectural enclosures are becoming increasingly popular and easy to model and design with the help of modern computational tools.…
Daylighting & Solar Glare control, which affect both the energy consumption of the building as well as the comfort of the occupants, become rathe…
Over the last two decades, in what has been coined “The Digital Turn”, the introduction of parametric design software has afforded increased accessib…
The design of complex, high-performance facades involves balancing attention towards principles of material selection, thermal and moisture protectio…
Recently, building envelopes have been exhibiting complex shapes and patterns, a trend supported by current digital technologies. Likewise, the desig…
