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Structural Glass Facades and Enclosures

ISBN: 978-0-470-93185-1

March 2011

304 pages

Description

A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO STRUCTURAL GLASS FACADES FOR ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, AND BUILDERS

Once an experimental building form, structural glass facades have matured into a fully robust technology. Structural Glass Facades and Enclosures documents, defines, and categorizes the current state of the art in long-span glass facade design and construction, with a focus on structural systems, glass cladding options, and implementation strategies for innovative design. A comparative analysis of these various systems is included, along with designs and design practices for enhancing transparency; engineering issues; material, process, and fabrication considerations; installation means and methods; and project delivery strategies for implementing innovative building technology in today's construction marketplace. The reader will find information here that is not available together in any single resource, including:

  • Structural system types and design options, with integrated glass system options and their application on each of the structural types
  • An in-depth discussion of design, fabrication, and installation issues relative to each system type, accompanied by illustrations and photographs
  • A discussion of the challenges of implementing innovative design and technology in the construction industry, and operational practices to improve the probability of success
  • A series of in-depth case studies documenting representative samples of stunning built works that employ the technology and design principles identified in the book

Structural Glass Facades and Enclosures provides expert content for putting cutting-edge technology into real-life practice, creating new potential for fresh applications embracing both aesthetic and performance solutions, and for the adoption of the technology by architects, builders, and facade practitioners.

About the Author

MIC PATTERSON is Director of Strategic Development for Enclos www.enclos.com, one of the largest specialty contractors in the United States, with a focus on the design, engineering, fabrication, assembly, and erection of custom-facade systems. He is part of Enclos's Advanced Technology Studio, a design think tank committed to research and development of advanced facade technology. He was a founding principal of Advanced Structures Incorporated (ASI), a design, engineering, product development, and design/build firm that pioneered structural glass facade development in the U.S. marketplace. Patterson has lectured widely and taught several courses at the university level, most recently an advanced facade course at the University of Southern California entitled Skin and Bones.