Recap of presentation on 10/25, part of Surface Conversations

Erik Verboon from Buro Happold

http://www.burohappold.com/

façade engineering
- facades account for 15-25% of construction costs
- architect as master builder --> conductor
- differentiate between off the shelf cladding/curtain wall versus façade engineering
- integrated design – façade and other engineering services offered

King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, Snohetta – surface as armor
- cultural interdependency in time and space – pebbles in sand
- architectural intents: free form, reflective, uniformity, and unique
- construction realities: sand, birds, clean surface, scheduling, budget
- stainless steel tubes wrapped in a pattern resembling a thumbprint
- intersection of thumbprints creates unique seam on each pebble
- steel tubes flattened in front of windows; transition piece bridges gap
- outer skin reduced inner skin temperature
- automated geometry rationalization/generation of new form – used Rhino, Grasshopper, and CATIA
- custom CNC tube bending – contractor bought 4 machines that run constantly to produce tubes for skin
- tubes attached to standing seam roof system – cheaper than steel substructure

performative envelope
- focus shifting from materials only to energy savings
- static to adaptive
- Adaptive Building Initiative founded by Buro Happold + Hoberman
- great project videos at http://www.adaptivebuildings.com/index.html
- tessellate, adaptive fritting, strata, and permea

Simons Center for Geometry and Physics, New York
- tessellating system – geometry relates back to purpose of building

Wyss Institute, Boston
- adaptive fritting to provide opacity for privacy

Aldar Central Market, Abu Dhabi, Foster + Partners
- permea operation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKpJkvEzToU

Hospital Manuel Gea Gonzales, Elegant Embellishments
- scrubbing surfaces
- tiles – penrose tiling – irregular but few pieces
- scrub CO2 from air

107 West 5th St – Cetra/Ruddy
- “Pencil Tower” – will be most slender tower in New York
- only accommodates 1 bedroom condos with shear walls on either side
- mechanical exhaust occurs through the façade (through joints of curtain wall) - use less core space, eliminated grilles on façade
- use of structural thermal break – maintain thin profile of the floor
- thin performative steel cladding housing LED lights
- does not exceed ASHRAE requirements, achieves even distribution of light up the building

what’s next in façade engineering
-  adaptive facades currently powered by electricity
- desire to use solar power for movement of façade elements – a prototype is in the works, but they need a project to test it