Facade Tectonics SKINS

Introduction to APT

One of the most consequential innovations in building technology since 1945 was the development of curtain wall construction. Maintaining these systems while minimizing their carbon footprint is a challenge to heritage conservation and to industry – and a collaborative opportunity for APT and FTI.

3 min read

Building Rehab/Reuse, Decarbonization and Modern-Era Precast Facades

Almost all Modern-era buildings have inherent quality and value, which demands reuse and retrofit to help meet our climate targets over the next 25 years. Rehabilitation of these buildings will soon become a major portion of work for building professionals.

8 min read

Stop Relying on Myths – Energy Efficient and Durable Heritage Building Enclosures

A primer on a material analysis methodology that provides a scientific assessment of freeze-thaw risk for materials commonly used in historic and heritage buildings, including a case study of a modernist precast clad heritage building.

6 min read

Repainting the Existing Curtain Wall at Toronto Dominion Centre

When the curtain wall of a modernist building is at the point of cyclical maintenance, it is typically stripped off and discarded. Heritage designation asks that character-defining elements and the original design expression be preserved.

7 min read

The Energy Performance of Mid-Century Metal-and-Glass Curtain Walls

Case studies reveal that overall energy performance of an existing building renovation may benefit from retention of the existing facade when embodied energy is taken into account, further strengthening the case for renovation over demolition of existing buildings.

8 min read

A Break From The Past: How the Guggenheim Renovation Made Thermally Broken Steel Windows a New Normal

Accepting the constraints of balancing optimal performance with preservation appropriateness in the renovation of existing facades can yield unprecedented innovation, advancing higher-performing fenestration products as well as their adoption.

7 min read

Guidelines for the Treatment of Aging Composite Materials and Assemblies

Leading experts share experiences addressing the challenges of aging composite materials and assemblies as a point of departure to develop practice guidelines promoting consistent and effective treatment of deficient modern building facades.

9 min read

Appropriate Repair and Retrofit for Carbon Reductions: OSCAR

Climate-specific, low-carbon strategies may be found in the embodied wisdom, or “Inherently Sustainable Features,” of the design of our built environment for thermal comfort, durability, and resilience. Material selections for repairs and retrofits affect upfront carbon emissions.

3 min read

Leveraging Avoided Emissions Through Retrofit and Reuse: the CARE Tool

The greenest building is the one that already exists and has been renewed - new methods of carbon estimating, such as the CARE Tool, can support building reuse as climate action through quantitative evaluation of whole life carbon emissions.

2 min read

Adaptability

Deep green skins: Façade assembly design for adaptive capacity, durability, and disassembly

It is clear that our facade design and delivery practices here are deeply flawed and the processes, along with the building industry itself, must undergo disruptive transformation if we are to realize a truly resilient and sustainable built environment.

18 minute read

Resources

Design & Preservation Resource Roundup!

The authors of the articles included here along with others in their respective organizations have devleoped this shortlist of useful resources for those wanting to explore more.

dig in!