![David Vadocz David Vadocz](/sites/default/files/styles/6/public/news/2024/David-Vadocz.jpg?itok=inw4bSxZ)
Date: 7 June 2024
Participants at the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) Summer Conference in Montreal, QC, heard from a structural engineer about how to select fa莽ade systems for iconic building architecture. David Vadocz, Principal Engineer, shared background information about fa莽ade movement, including balconies within facades and various other design considerations. He provided several case studies with special emphasis on the recently renovated University of British Columbia Museum of Anthropology building.
鈥淚magine working on an iconic building,鈥 said Vadocz. 鈥淭hey materialize from a dream, based on a sketch.鈥
Fa莽ade System Selection
Vadocz said selecting an appropriate facade system depends on, firstly, facade movement. 鈥淎 major type is interstory drift, or its lateral movement relative to the floor above and below,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he facade goes along for the ride.鈥 Glazing systems like curtain walls, window walls and glass walls are often used in facades. 鈥淭he facade engineer needs to confirm what the interstory drift amounts are before the facade can be designed,鈥 said Vadocz. 鈥淧ay attention to both elastic or service interstory drift and inelastic interstory seismic drift.鈥
Fa莽ade Movement
The three types of fa莽ade movement are rotating, racking and translating. Typical interstory drift allows for movement of up to six inches, he said, although vertical movement is considered too, and usually allows for up to 3/4 inch movement.
鈥淔a莽ades can have a combination of movements,鈥 he said. 鈥淒on't underestimate gravity and friction. This is where full-scale mockups can be important.鈥 Other tips he offered included paying special attention to inside and outside corners of racking curtain walls ang glass walls and always detailing corners and jamb joints with translating window walls. When done properly, the results can be remarkable, said Vadocz. 鈥淚t is incredible to see the movement allowed in these mockups where the structure goes back to normal again and passes air, water and structural testing.鈥
Considerations for Balconies
When it comes to balconies, he said he understands hesitation. 鈥淵ou may think, are they really a good idea with a curtain wall? But it can be done,鈥 he said. He advised allowing for the different movements of a window wall or curtain wall. 鈥淭he joints matter,鈥 he said. For a less complicated fix, Vadocz said his company is seeing many bolt-on balconies that allow for faster installation.
Museum of Anthropology
He concluded with an overview of the University of British Columbia Museum of Anthropology building鈥檚 renovations. Designed in 1976 by the late architect Arthur Erickson, it was determined to have a high level of seismic risk in 2017. Its modern structural glass fa莽ade and skylight replacement was completed to preserve the integrity of this glass-paned historic building. Unique glass structural challenges were overcome to make an architect and owner鈥檚 dream come true. Among other things, it used multiple types of fittings.
鈥淭his structure houses artifacts,鈥 said Vadocz. 鈥淚t was more than 40 years old and was not built with seismic movement in mind. Much consideration was needed for its glass performance criteria.鈥
The FGIA Summer Conference continues through June 6. For more information about the event, visit .
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