Introducing FacadeRetrofit.org
Database of large commercial and multifamily buildings that have, or are currently undergoing, building facade retrofits
Los Angeles, CA – July 16, 2015 - While most of the green building dialog focuses on new construction, many have recognized that the fastest and most effective way to improve energy efficiency of the building sector is by remedying our existing building stock. Unfortunately, building energy renovations frequently exclude the facade system because of the expense and disruption characteristic of facade retrofit. How to implement building facade retrofits in a manner consistent with sustainable development goals remains largely uncertain.
Enter FacadeRetrofit.org.
FacadeRetrofit.org is intended as an online resource for the AEC community, from architects to academic researchers. At the heart of this resource is a database of large commercial and multifamily buildings that have, or are currently undergoing, building facade retrofits. This catalog will be used to develop in-depth case studies of precedent projects.
This project database will be used to establish taxonomy for building facade retrofits, considering classification, scope, scale of intervention, and other important factors. This information will be used to identify drivers of building facade retrofits (component and/or system failure, energy performance, aesthetics, etc.) and disseminate findings in industry papers and journal articles.
Data will be gathered from an open submission process facilitated by the website. These submissions will then be reviewed for accuracy and completeness, and ultimately posted to the database as appropriate. Researchers from the University of Southern California School of Architecture will provide the review and gather additional information as required. They will also develop some of these projects into detailed case studies that will provide added depth to this web resource. The database will be available to anyone accessing the website.
Lastly, FacadeRetrofit.org will catalog pre and post building facade retrofit analysis, including energy performance, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), building occupancy, and more.
With your help, FacadeRetrofit.org will close this important gap in sustainable development by providing readily accessible building facade retrofit data and related resources to guide deep energy retrofits from concept to built realities.
FacadeRetrofit.org is a collaborative development between the University of Southern California School of Architecture, the Advanced Technology Studio of Enclos, and Facade Tectonics Institute. The project received a prestigious seed-funding grant in 2014 sponsored by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) and provided by the East China Architectural Design & Research Institute (ECADI). We welcome your comments at info@facaderetrofit.org.
About Facade Tectonics Institute
The Facade Tectonics Institute (FTI) is the premier member organization for building industry and professionals as well as academic, government, and nonprofit organizations and institutions focused on healthy and livable communities. The Institute’s primary objective is to fuel discussion and collaborative research that bridges fragmented market segments of the building industry, pairing government, academia, ownership, and industry professionals. Integral to this mission is the dissemination of historical, theoretical, and practical information derived from this research to the building marketplace, thereby acting as a conduit and facilitator for both learning and further collaborative research pursuits.