Facade Engineering make a major contribution to the overall aesthetic and technical performance of a building. Facade engineers work in consultancy for architects, building owners, cladding manufacturers and construction managers. Projects can include new buildings and recladding of existing buildings. Their goal is to balance the overall objectives of appearance, quality, performance, cost, durability and schedule.
Facade engineering requires a blend of skills ranging from structural engineering through to building physics, architecture, manufacturing, materials science, dynamics, programming, procurement, project management and construction techniques.
The Basics of Facade Engineering
By Billings Farnsworth
Facade engineering basically encompasses the creation of a building envelope that enhances the outer appearance of a building while performing a host of other functions as well. Facade engineering can become a part of the construction process with a brand new building or it can be used to update an existing structure.
Photo: bellmont.net
The completion of a facade engineering project will usually require the cooperation of many different professionals, including facade engineers, architects, structural engineers and building services engineers. It is important that all of these participants work well together to create a building that is structurally sound, environmentally sustainable and aesthetically pleasing.
Facade engineering has evolved into a process with many purposes. While the early days of facade engineering used to be primarily for aesthetic purposes, today’s environmental concerns have prompted engineers to come up with facades that can promote energy efficiency as well.
In addition, facade engineering must be concerned with the comfort of the staff working inside the building by contributing to the internal climate of the building in a positive way. This includes taking noise, lighting, insulation and ventilation into consideration.
When it comes to aesthetics, it is no longer enough to create a facade that is attractive on its own. The structure must also fit in well with the rest of the community so that it is a complementary structure to the rest of the buildings in the vicinity. It certainly seems that facade engineering must be a challenging prospect, given the many shoes it must fill today.
Axis Facades http://www.axisfacades.com is a leading company in facade engineering. Billings Farnsworth is a freelance writer.
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