Imperial College White City Campus, Block D

Terracotta and brick façades can impart a timeless aesthetic to a building’s vocabulary. For designers who want to marry this aesthetic with new forms, façade systems that use these materials, but with better performance and at a fraction of the weight, are often the solution. Our engineers are experienced in the design of these systems. We have a thorough understanding of these systems, whether used in a traditional cavity wall, as rainscreen cladding or as a high-performing panelized system. The result is a façade that unites classical language with new technology.

Composite materials – fiber reinforced plastics (FRP), glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) and polycarbonate – make for elegant, lightweight and cost-effective enclosures. These materials are well-suited for use in stadiums and long-span buildings, both in new construction and for re-roofing existing structures. Most composites adapt to nearly any complex shape and are available in an array of thicknesses and finish options, from translucent to opaque. Using our 3D form-finding and optimization tools, we can adapt commercial systems or develop customized solutions.

New technologies have transformed concrete – traditionally a heavy material used for structural elements – into a material that can be used on façades. When reinforced with glass fiber, concrete makes lightweight cladding panels that provide the textures of traditional material with a new flexibility of use. Precast concrete offers efficient panelization and range of finishes and embedment options such as brick or stone. We have experience applying these systems and can use that knowledge to help our clients select the most effective solution for their project.

Our façade engineering teams advise clients on the best way to develop both conventional and innovative façade systems, applying our knowledge of structures, glazing technology, mechanical shade systems and thermal behavior. We provide design, detailing and engineering support for enclosures of any shape or size, from minimalist to high-tech. We also provide expertise in safety and security glazing, along with glass frits and reflective coatings.

The double-skin façade has come to represent the ultimate in passive energy performance. Used primarily in Europe in the past, double skin is now being adopted worldwide for its ability to provide controlled natural ventilation, excellent solar control and high thermal performance – leading to substantial energy savings over time. Our building physics expertise and our experience with glazed façades enable us to provide design guidance to clients who wish to maximize energy performance by using a double skin.

A variety of metals are used to wrap a building’s skin: aluminum, stainless steel, copper and zinc are notable examples. Each has its own special characteristics and can be used as rainscreen cladding, open screens, overhead enclosures or decorative elements with an array of possible shapes and configurations. We have used metals in a variety or project types, ranging from new façades to innovative re-cladding of existing structures. Our understanding of each material’s physical properties helps us provide designers with unique solutions that fulfill their design visions.