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T
he façade is of paramount importance design team and throughout the supply chain.
in terms of building performance and Where the collaboration and the contractual set
is an important architectural element, up is handled competently, value can be added
ranking alongside building site and form. through excellent technical and aesthetical
It is not only the aesthetics that make the detailing and risk can be managed in terms of
façade so significant - depending on a series cost and programme. The competent people
of factors such as complexity, materials and dealing with the façade (or the building
finishes, performance, and magnitude and envelope) are referred to as façade engineers
location of the project, the façade can account and the relatively new field is becoming
for anything between 15 and 25 per cent of increasingly important as part of an integrated
the total construction costs and represent approach to design and delivery of buildings.
a substantial part of the technical and Notwithstanding the impact of facades there
commercial risk on any given project. is a lack of industry-wide regulation of the
professionals in this field.
The façade is the filter between the climate
outside and the conditioned space inside, it JfZ`\kpf]=XX[\<e^`e\\i`e^
determines the appearance of the building, In 2003, a group of professionals established
and its performance relies on appropriate the Society of Façade Engineering (SFE)
specification, design, and delivery of a in recognition of the need to ‘regulate’
multitude of components and systems. The the industry and introduce a system of
façade/structure interfaces, as well as interfaces accreditation. The SFE was inaugurated in 2004
between different cladding packages and as a Society under the Chartered Institution for
Seattle Library, Seattle, Washington, United States of America. other special areas is “where things always go Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), supported
Architect: Office of Metropolitan Architecture / LMN Architects joint venture. Copyright: Christian Richters wrong”. Successful projects generally depend by the Institution of Structural Engineers
on a high degree of collaboration across the (IStructE) and the Royal Institute of British
Architects (RIBA). The SFE was initially rather UK- professionals across a varied section of the
Jubilee Campus, Nottingham University, United Kingdom.
centric - mainly because of the people involved industry. Different (and equally necessary) Architect: Michael Hopkins & Partners. Copyright: Paul McMullin.
in the initiative and the fact that SFE was set forms of façade engineering are being carried
up in London. It was, however, always the out by architects in architectural practices,
intention to establish an international society. by engineers in consulting firms, and by
The membership is international and the SFE is technicians in different parts of the supply
experiencing significant growth in the regions - chain. While there are different perspectives
Notably the Middle East where the Society was and the services serve different purposes, the
launched around the beginning of 2009. field is common - the subject remains façade
engineering.
The SFE is still in its infancy with approximately
220 members, but the interest in the Society Similarly, there will be differences in the
is building and the membership is expected nature of the services. The range of services
to multiply through regional initiatives as constituting façade engineering is exemplified
well as a concerted effort to reach out to the by the difference between on the one hand the
membership of the supporting institutions. design and specification of a bespoke solution,
and on the other, the checking of a contractor’s
There are a number of benefits of membership, design against a specification.
such as: recognised professional status
(Associate, Member - MSFE, or Fellow - FSFE); There is also a marked difference between,
enhanced career opportunities; professional say, guidance on commercially available
networking; events; magazine; technical forum (standard) curtain walling systems and the
- to name but a few. Subscription is free to all bespoke engineering of a solution in response
existing members of CIBSE, whereas non-CIBSE to an architectural vision and a set of client’s
members get affiliate CIBSE membership when requirements.
joining the SFE and get the benefits of CIBSE
membership, for instance including free online The point here is that façade engineering
access to publications. covers a fairly broad range of professional
profiles and professionals working across the
Members are actively encouraged to contribute industry and the supply chain. Add to the mix
information to the Elevation Magazine of the geographical and national characteristics, the
SFE and take part in the activities coordinated fact remains that local tradition and practice
through the SFE Steering Committee. dictate important differences in the role
of the façade engineer, which needs to be
N_Xk`j=XX[\<e^`e\\i`e^6 embraced and dealt with for any international
The SFE has debated the definition of Façade accreditation scheme to be meaningful.
Engineering and has agreed on the following
wording: At the risk of coming across as pedantic, it
”
inevitably has to address the differences markets and traditions. façade engineering can be both complex and process. The increasing complexity of the generalist. Many architectural practices have a
in backgrounds and responsibilities of the stimulating. Appropriate application of highly technology and the recognition that not many ‘façade guy’ or a ‘specialist’ or an ‘experienced
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E X EC U TI V E BOA R DROOM COM M ENTA RY E X EC U TI V E BOA R DROOM COM M ENTA RY
specialist services, such as diagnostics and National Aquatics Centre (aka Water Cube),
remedial work. Beijing, People’s Republic of China.
Architect: PTW (Australia) & CSCEC & Design.
The ability of the client to demand professional Copyright: Arup.
qualifications seems essential, but has
nevertheless been difficult if not impossible
without a formal structure in place. Incidentally,
besides the obvious importance of critical
mass in terms of professionals effectively
being accredited, having a mechanism for
professional accreditation is also key to the
concerted effort to raise professional standards
across the industry.
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The education of façade engineers is another
important topic, which is currently being
explored at international level. Universities are Again, any activity in the field of education and attempt a ‘one size fits all’ definition of façade
offering MSc courses in Façade Engineering and continued professional development needs engineering. Any definition would need to
moving from isolated offerings to a networked to address the international perspectives and reflect local variations.
approach. Again, the definition of criteria for the international collaborations currently being
professional accreditation is key and the SFE formed will no doubt bring about significant 8[mXeZ\[;\j`^eKffcjXe[k_\
membership classes correspond to different benefits in this regard. JljkX`eXY`c`kp8^\e[X
levels of experience and training. There are Over the past years, the significance of the
already courses with a well-defined syllabus <]]\Zkjf]>cfYXc`jXk`fe integrated approach to design and delivery
which covers fundamentals and increasingly The effects of globalisation are felt in the façade of buildings has been widely acknowledged
incorporates aspects of integrated design in the engineering field in terms of multinational and debated. Terms such as ‘holistic design’ are
course work. clients and investors, international design now commonly used and there is an increasing
teams, and international façade procurement. In demand for assessment of environmental
There is a distinct difference between on the the current financial climate the ability to deliver impact.
one hand the ability to pick an appropriate, projects internationally is pivotal and to this
commercially available cladding system end, an understanding of local conditions and “A design team which produces a total
in response to a set of project-specific market mechanisms is paramount. balanced, efficient design can help to
Glaxo Wellcome Headquarters, London, United Kingdom. requirements and on the other the ability to produce a better environment”
Architect: RMJM . Copyright: Chris Gascoigne. engineer and procure a bespoke solution - While there is a significant element of global [Sir Ove Arup]
something which distinguishes the ‘façade trends and exportation of technology from
engineer’ from a ‘cladding consultant’. the more advanced markets, any project will The thinking has been around for a long time,
colleague’, who serves as the de facto in-house Gif]\jj`feXc8ZZi\[`kXk`fe become the yardstick for professionals and need to be delivered to local standards and but clients are gradually beginning to see
façade engineer within certain limits set by the Based on the discussion above it is apparent clients alike. Recognising the discipline is a first These definitions are not formal and there is a in a competitive market, the installation of ‘green buildings’ as good business and not
scope of the Architect’s work. that there is a need for regulation as a way of important step towards incorporation of the sliding scale where individuals will be able to building envelopes is typically handled by a merely an issue of corporate social responsibility
setting out the standards for the discipline and façade engineering services in the consulting switch mode according to the circumstances. local workforce. or legislative requirements.
Some very experienced individuals are establish well-defined levels of professional services of design teams and the accreditation
‘marketed’ as Experts (as opposed to experience and competencies. of professionals will ultimately prove to be an Key to the success of the courses and the The combination of an increasingly global As for facade engineering and procurement
Specialists), which usually implies some essential instrument for clients who require accreditation scheme is the way in which market for façade systems and local differences of facades, we can expect to see an emphasis
significant yet undefined level of industry The SFE works with academia and Industry hitherto loosely defined types of services in possible career paths are now being set out for in procurement and design processes means on the ability of suppliers and contractors to
experience, which can be highly subjective. at large to define and adjust the necessary connection with the design and procurement aspiring and relatively inexperienced individuals that Façade Engineering means different things demonstrate their sustainability credentials and
criteria and standards, which with time will of facades, as well as various other forms of to develop their skills in a structured way. to different people. It is not appropriate to the characteristics of their proposed solutions.
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Beijing National Stadium, Beijing, People’s Republic of China. to reduce net energy consumption and curb
Architect: Herzog & De Meuron. Copyright: Arup. carbon emissions, there is an increasing need
for interaction and integration in order to meet
the design targets.
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