Author name: Petros Karatzas

Tasos Poulokefalos

Ο ρόλος του Facade Engineer στην Ελλάδα: Τάσος Πουλοκέφαλος

Blog, Greece /

Ο Τάσος Πουλοκέφαλος, Associate Facade Engineer στην Interface Facade Engineering και ιδρυτικό μέλος του Society of Facade Engineering Greek Hub, εξηγεί στην ψηφιακή έκδοση του περιοδικού Glass Forum γιατί η συνεργασία με μηχανικούς προσόψεων είναι εξαιρετικά σημαντική στις σύγχρονες κατασκευές. Συνέντευξη στην Αλεξία Καλογεροπούλου, πρωτότυπη δημοσίευση στο https://glassforum.gr/sinenteuksi-tasos-poulokefalos/ Στο 2ο Glass Forum, μιλήσατε για το ελληνικό παράρτημα του Society of Facade Engineering (SFE). Θα μπορούσατε να μας πείτε περισσότερα για αυτή την εξαιρετική πρωτοβουλία; Ποιο ήταν το βασικό κίνητρο για την ίδρυση του ελληνικού hub και πώς οραματίζεστε τον ρόλο του στη διαμόρφωση της σύγχρονης ελληνικής δόμησης; Το μακρινό 2004, στο Λονδίνο, ιδρύθηκε το Society of Façade Engineering, ένας σύλλογος για τους Facade Engineers (Μηχανικούς προσόψεων). Η πρωτοβουλία για τη δημιουργία του αντίστοιχου ελληνικού συλλόγου (Greek hub) είχε ως αφετηρία το Λονδίνο και ήρθε και έδεσε με τους εγχώριους επαγγελματίες που σχετίζονται με τον κλάδο των προσόψεων, οι οποίοι με μεγάλο ενθουσιασμό αγκάλιασαν την ιδέα. Σιγά σιγά λοιπόν, ο ελληνικός σύλλογος έχει πάρει σάρκα και οστά. Ο βασικός ρόλος του συλλόγου είναι να αποτελεί έναν κοινό τόπο συνάντησης των επαγγελματιών με κοινό ενδιαφέρον τις προσόψεις κτιρίων. Αυτός ο κοινός τόπος δεν υπήρχε στην Ελλάδα. Επιπλέον, βασικοί στόχοι είναι η ενημέρωση, η μετάδοση γνώσης και σχετικής εμπειρίας, καθώς και η επιρροή σε θέματα που αφορούν τον κλάδο, με στόχο την εξέλιξη και τη βελτίωση του, σε ευθυγράμμιση με τα σύγχρονα διεθνή πρότυπα. Πώς ορίζεται ο ρόλος του Facade Engineer στην Ελλάδα σήμερα και γιατί είναι απαραίτητος για τη διασφάλιση της ποιότητας σε έργα με εκτενή χρήση γυαλιού; Για αυτό το θέμα μπορούμε να αφιερώσουμε ατελείωτες ώρες… Δυστυχώς στην Ελλάδα, ο ρόλος του Facade Engineer δεν έχει τη θέση που του αξίζει. Η αγορά ωριμάζει σταδιακά αλλά εξακολουθεί να υστερεί. Οι βασικοί «παίκτες» της αγοράς, που είναι ο αρχιτέκτονας του έργου και ο πελάτης (developer), συχνά δεν αντιλαμβάνονται την αξία των μηχανικών με εξειδίκευση σε συγκεκριμένα αντικείμενα, καλή ώρα τώρα, οι προσόψεις. Έχοντας σπουδάσει Πολιτικός Μηχανικός στην Ελλάδα, γνωρίζω από πρώτο χέρι τη νοοτροπία της ελληνικής πραγματικότητας: «ο μηχανικός και ο αρχιτέκτονας τα λύνουν όλα». Μετά από 10+ χρόνια στην αγορά εργασίας, έχω πειστεί ότι αυτή η αντίληψη δεν είναι σωστή. Το γυαλί και η τεχνολογία που το συνοδεύει, απ΄ όσο γνωρίζω, δε διδάσκεται στα ελληνικά πανεπιστήμια. Ο τομέας αυτός εξελίσσεται τόσο γρήγορα, που είναι σχεδόν αδύνατο ένας μηχανικός που τακτοποιεί αυθαίρετα ή κάνει στατικές μελέτες σε κτίρια οπλισμένου σκυροδέματος να παραμένει συνεχώς ενημερωμένος. Αν θέλεις λοιπόν, ένα κτίριο με εκτενή χρήση γυαλιού, υψηλής ποιότητας, χωρίς οπτικές παραμορφώσεις, που να αξιοποιεί πλήρως τις σύγχρονες τεχνολογίες, είναι σημαντικό να έχεις στην ομάδα σου έναν Facade Engineer. Όταν μιλάμε για “ασφάλεια” στο αρχιτεκτονικό γυαλί, ποιες είναι οι κρίσιμες παράμετροι που συχνά διαφεύγουν από τη δημόσια συζήτηση, πέρα από την αντοχή στη θραύση; Εξίσου σημαντικές παράμετροι είναι η συμπεριφορά μετά τη θραύση, δηλαδή αν τα κομμάτια θα παραμείνουν στη θέση τους, αν θα συγκρατηθούν τα θραύσματα ή αν υπάρχει κίνδυνος πτώσης των θραυσμάτων αυτών. Μια ακόμα παράμετρος είναι η θερμική καταπόνηση και το θερμικό σοκ (thermal shock), καθώς και η αυθόρμητη θραύση του thermally toughened/tempered γυαλιού λόγω εγκλεισμάτων θειούχου νικελίου (nickel sulphide inclusions). Κρίσιμοι παράγοντες είναι επίσης η σωστή στήριξη και το σύστημα τοποθέτησης του γυαλιού, η πυρασφάλεια, όπου απαιτείται, και, προφανώς, η αντίσταση σε ανεμοπιέσεις και σεισμικές δράσεις. Πόσο επαρκές θεωρείτε το υφιστάμενο κανονιστικό πλαίσιο στην Ελλάδα, όσον αφορά τις προδιαγραφές ασφαλείας των γυάλινων όψεων; Η Ελλάδα βασίζεται σε μεγάλο βαθμό στους Ευρωκώδικες και στα αντίστοιχα ευρωπαϊκά πρότυπα EN, που καλύπτουν ζητήματα όπως η αντοχή σε φορτία ανέμου και σεισμού, η δομική επάρκεια, καθώς και οι βασικές απαιτήσεις ασφαλείας για τα υαλοπετάσματα και τα δομικά υαλοστάσια. Επίσης, υπάρχουν σαφείς προδιαγραφές για τη χρήση ασφαλούς γυαλιού (laminated, tempered) σε κρίσιμες εφαρμογές. Οπότε μπορούμε να πούμε ότι το κανονιστικό πλαίσιο θεωρείται επαρκές, τουλάχιστον σε επίπεδο θεωρητικού και τεχνικού σχεδιασμού. Το ζήτημα είναι, βέβαια, κατά πόσο αυτό τηρείται. Ποια είναι τα συνηθέστερα “κενά” που εντοπίζετε στη διαδρομή από τον αρχιτεκτονικό σχεδιασμό μέχρι την τελική τοποθέτηση του γυαλιού στο εργοτάξιο; Θα μπορούσαν κάποιες αστοχίες να έχουν προβλεφθεί μέσα από τη συνεργασία μεταξύ Αρχιτέκτονα και Facade Engineer από τα πρώτα στάδια της μελέτης (concept design); Η σωστή μελέτη και ο ορισμός των κατάλληλων προδιαγραφών κατά τη μελέτη του έργου αποτελούν ίσως το βασικότερο στάδιο. Οπότε ναι, η συνεργασία μεταξύ του Αρχιτέκτονα και του Facade Engineer από το Concept και το Development Design stage είναι ιδιαίτερα σημαντική και συνιστάται. Εν συνεχεία, ακολουθεί η εκπόνηση των κατάλληλων προδιαγραφών για την πρόσοψη της κατασκευής. Ένα επίσης βασικό στοιχείο είναι το τι συμβαίνει μετά το στάδιο των προσφορών. Και σε αυτό το σημείο είναι κρίσιμη η επικοινωνία με τον εργολάβο και τον εκάστοτε κατασκευαστή, καθώς και ο ποιοτικός έλεγχος στα εργοστάσια παραγωγής. Η επίβλεψη στο εργοτάξιο είναι αναγκαία, ειδικά σε έργα υψηλών προδιαγραφών, ώστε να διασφαλίζεται ότι τηρούνται τα συμφωνηθέντα. Το τελευταίο αυτό κομμάτι είναι ιδιαίτερα σημαντικό, καθώς, όπως όλοι γνωρίζουμε, το γεγονός ότι κάτι έχει υπογραφεί ή συμφωνηθεί, δε σημαίνει απαραίτητα ότι τηρείται στην πράξη. Με δεδομένη την κλιματική κρίση, πώς επαναπροσδιορίζεται η ασφάλεια του γυάλινου κελύφους απέναντι σε ακραία καιρικά φαινόμενα, όπως οι πολύ ισχυροί άνεμοι ή οι καύσωνες; Χρειάζεται ορθός σχεδιασμός και μελέτη από εξειδικευμένους επαγγελματίες του χώρου που ασχολούνται με το αντικείμενο και είναι ενημερωμένοι γύρω από αυτό. Στην πράξη έχουμε δει ιδιαίτερα τολμηρές εφαρμογές του «γυαλιού» απέναντι σε ακραίες κλιματολογικές συνθήκες. Η θερμική κατεργασία του γυαλιού του προσδίδει σημαντικά βελτιωμένες μηχανικές ιδιότητες, όπως αυξημένη αντοχή και ανθεκτικότητα. Οι πολυστρωματικοί υαλοπίνακες, σε συνδυασμό με κατάλληλα ενδιάμεσα φύλλα (interlayers), βελτιώνουν ουσιαστικά τη δομική συμπεριφορά ακόμη και υαλοπινάκων μεγάλων διαστάσεων. Έχοντας παραδείγματα όπου το γυαλί χρησιμοποιείται ακόμα και ως κύριο φέρον δομικό στοιχείο κατασκευών, μπορούμε να αναλογιστούμε ότι τα όρια της σύγχρονης αρχιτεκτονικής ως προς τους κατασκευαστικούς περιορισμούς έχουν διευρυνθεί σημαντικά. Με αφορμή τα μεγάλα έργα που βρίσκονται σε εξέλιξη στην Ελλάδα, όπως αυτά στο Ελληνικό, ποιες είναι οι προκλήσεις ασφαλείας που δημιουργεί η στροφή προς τα ψηλά κτίρια με γυάλινο κέλυφος; Εντάξει δεν εφευρίσκουμε ξανά την πενικιλίνη… θέλω να πω, αστειευόμενος φυσικά, ότι άλλες χώρες χτίζουν ψηλά κτίρια πολλά χρόνια νωρίτερα. Η τεχνογνωσία και η εμπειρία υπάρχει στον πλανήτη και στην Ευρώπη συγκεκριμένα. Η σωστή μελέτη

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Society of Facade Engineering

Society of Facade Engineering Greek Hub

Blog, Greece /

After more than a decade of severe economic crisis, the construction sector in Greece is currently booming. It is not only the mega-project of Hellinikon or some other headline projects, we all see construction sites and cranes in virtually every neighborhood that we pass through. And as the architects design taller and more complex buildings, the need for facade engineering has, almost naturally, come into the discussion. In this context, the Greek Hub of the Society of Facade Engineering has been established in Athens by the end of 2025 by persons that are active in the facade sector in the country, along with young talented Greek engineers that left during the economic crisis, have been employed in some of the largest companies in the sector -mainly in the UK- and have acquired a specialized knowledge that is both valuable and necessary in our country by now. We discuss with two of its founding members, Tasos Poulokefalos and Chrysanthi Anastasiou.  What is the Society of Facade Engineering and where it was first formed?  Tasos: Back in 2004, a group of architects, structural engineers and mechanical engineers based in London recognized the growing complexity and importance of building facades and expressed a clear need to establish the Society of Facade Engineering. Their aim was to formally acknowledge facade engineering as a distinct discipline within the construction industry, rather than a subset of architecture or structural design. What benefits you believe will accrue from the emergence of the importance of the facades for the buildings in Greece.  Petros: From a market perspective, the shift to the importance of facades becomes gradually visible. Investors and clients start to recognize that facade performance is closely linked to asset value. Buildings with well-designed envelopes tend to perform better in terms of operating costs, user comfort, and certification potential, which in turn strengthens their position in a competitive real estate environment. Perhaps just as importantly, the stronger presence of facade engineering allows for greater confidence in architectural ambition. We do see in Greece nowadays taller buildings, complex geometries, the use of innovative materials, and high-performance systems. All these can be pursued without compromising the buildability or the long-term performance. This creates the space for more expressive and forward-looking architecture, grounded in technical reliability. Finally, the emergence of facade engineering as a recognized discipline contributes to the development of the wider construction sector. It encourages specialization, raises standards, and supports knowledge transfer across designers, contractors, and materials suppliers. Over time, this can position Greece more competitively, both regionally and internationally. What are the biggest challenges facade engineers and consultants face in Greece today?  Petros: For many years, the building envelopes were mostly treated as a secondary layer, something to be resolved later in the process. This perception is gradually changing, and the implications are significant. As energy performance requirements become stricter all over Europe, facades start to be  understood as one of the most critical factors in reducing a building’s operational footprint. In a country like Greece, where solar exposure is intense and cooling demands are relatively high, the way a facade is designed can have a direct and lasting impact on energy consumption, indoor comfort, and overall environmental performance. At the same time, local conditions demand a more careful and informed approach. Coastal environments, strong winds, seismic activity, and temperature variations all place stress on the building envelope. A more advanced facade engineering culture helps address these challenges in a systematic way, leading to buildings that are not only more efficient, but also more robust and durable over time. We have witnessed the recent years certain initiatives towards adherence to international standards and buildings safety, the establishment of the Hellenic Institute for the Fire Protection of Structures (ELIPYKA) being a notable one. There is of course a clear impact on quality and risk. When facade design is properly integrated and led by specialists, common issues or defects such as water penetration, poor thermal performance, or premature material degradation can be significantly reduced. This ultimately translates into fewer problems, lower maintenance costs, and more predictable outcomes for developers and owners. Which trends or innovations in facade engineering do you believe will have the biggest impact in Greece over the next 5-10 years?  Tasos: We should move toward building smarter, leaving behind outdated methods and embracing modern construction trends. This shift highlights the importance of designing sustainable building envelopes that enhance performance and environmental responsibilities. At the same, developing smart systems that are efficient and easy to maintain. Do you think there is a gap in facade engineering education or specialization in Greece? How can it be addressed, or how can someone actually become a facade engineer?   Chrysanthi: Yes, there is currently an educational gap in Greece for the façade engineering specialization, as there is no structured pathway in academia to certify a façade engineer. This reflects the past decade of market demand for the profession, which has only been rising in more recent years. There are no dedicated bachelor or master façade engineering degrees yet in Greece, although principles of the field, such as thermal performance, structural design, physics (acoustic isolation), are taught in engineering schools, eg Civil or Architectural engineering. Studying and specializing abroad in façades, however, is not uncommon. Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands and Bath University in the UK, for example, offer façade engineering specialization Masters. Similarly, Italy offers an educational path in Building Engineering, which includes building physics and structural subjects that lay the bath towards becoming a professional façade engineer. How will the Greek Hub support professionals, architects and engineering in improving facade design and performance? Chrysanthi: The Greek SFE Hub is meant to create a safe space to exchange knowledge in the façade engineering field. Precious precedent experience from people of various backgrounds can be a valuable tool for all generations of designers. Professionals who hold façade engineering experience from abroad, engineers who have been working in the country and are familiar with the local policies and processes, newly emerging professionals

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Facade Engineering

Fire Engineering Conference 2026 Athens

Greece, News /

Our Executive Director Petros Karatzas had the honour to present in the 4th International Conference of ELIPYKA, along with Anna Ioannidou-Kati on behalf of the Society of Façade Engineering Greek Hub. Petros along with Anna, presented the latest developments in the Greek legislation regarding fires in tall buildings, made a comparison between codes in different countries, elaborated on challenges that a facade engineer has to deal with in cases of recladding and presented a case-study project. We sincerely thank ELIPYKA, George Iliadis, the host Angelos Zografos, as well as the fellow panelists Constantinos Chontzoglou, Eirini Marinaki, Andreas Tsichlis and Emmie Panagopoulos for their insightful presentations. #ELIPYKA #fireengineering #facadeengineering Read More

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The Future of Facades

The Next Era of Facades

Blog, Europe, Greece /

Our Executive Director Petros Karatzas is hosted in the October – December 2025 edition of Window & Facades magazine of WFM Media. Petros’ article is featured -along with other notable facade engineering experts- in a wider discussion about Intelligent and Responsive Design for the Next Era of Facades. Full article is also available in the following link https://wfmmedia.com/magazine/window-facade-magazine-global-october-december-2025/ as well as to our official LinkedIn company page. Our thanks to Shefali Bisht, Associate Editor for F&F Media and Publications for her kind collaboration. WFM Media: How do you see building facades evolving over the next decade, especially with rapid advances in materials and technology. Petros: When I look ahead at how building facades will evolve over the next decade, I’m both optimistic and realistic. Our industry often talks about revolutionary change, like materials that will solve everything, technologies that will transform the way buildings behave, but in practice, progress tends to move slower than the headlines suggest. And I don’t say that as a limitation but it’s simply the nature of an industry where safety, durability, and long-term performance matter more than speed. If we just look at how other industries, like transportation or telecommunications have evolved the last 20-30 years, we understand that construction industry moves at a slower pace. What I do expect is probably a steady but meaningful shift toward facades that are more intelligent and more responsible. We will continue to see incremental advances in materials such as glazing that performs better, composites that are lighter, coatings that last longer, and these improvements, though usually not dramatic, have a cumulative impact that is often underestimated. The real change will come from how these materials are combined with digital tools. The integration of sensors, automation, and data-driven design can help facades to respond more intuitively to their environment, improving comfort and efficiency without drawing attention to the technology behind the scenes. I also believe manufacturing and construction processes will become more refined. Prefabrication, better coordination through BIM, and more precise quality control will gradually reshape how facades are delivered. These shifts might not be as visible as new materials, but they can significantly improve performance and reduce waste—two priorities our industry can no longer ignore. WFM Media: What emerging facade innovations excite you the most, and why do you think will make a real difference to future buildings. Petros: When I think about facade innovations that excite me, I tend to focus less on the “headline technologies” and more on the developments that can have a positive impact on our everyday practice. Our industry doesn’t change overnight, so the innovations that matter the most are probably the ones that can actually be adopted at scale and not just admired in prototypes. An area I find particularly interesting is the quiet progress happening in high-performance glazing and coatings. We see developments in materials that manage heat and light much more intelligently, like glass that can reduce solar gain without darkening the space or blocking views, and coatings that maintain their performance longer in harsh climates. I know these sound like incremental improvements, but in facades, these incremental improvements across millions of square meters can have a massive impact. I am also encouraged by the evolution of prefabricated and unitized facade systems. The precision and quality that can be achieved in controlled manufacturing environments is impressive, and it opens the door to more predictable performance, faster installation, and less waste. This is one of those areas where innovation doesn’t have to be flashy to be transformative. What excites me most is the combination of these ideas: better materials, smarter systems, and more precise delivery methods. Individually their impact might not be great but the combination of these can improve the entire lifecycle of the building in a grounded and practical way that I believe the industry is ready for. WFM Media: Sustainability is becoming essential rather than optional. How can future facades contribute meaningfully to energy efficiency and climate-responsive design. Petros: When we talk about sustainability in facades, the simplest way is to repeat the same phrases about responsibility and climate goals. But reality is, as always, more complex. In practice, sustainability goals often contrast with commercial pressures, and many decisions are naturally driven by profit rather than performance. I think it’s important to acknowledge that openly, because pretending otherwise doesn’t help the industry move forward. A good example is something we all face at some point: what are we doing when the highest energy-consumption orientation of a building also offers the best view, and therefore the highest commercial value? The sustainable solution might be to reduce glazing, add shading, or rethink the massing, but the financial argument pushes in the opposite direction. In these cases, there is no perfect answer; there is only a careful balancing solution. This is where I believe facade design can make a meaningful difference, not by insisting on idealistic solutions that won’t be accepted by the investors, but by finding smart ways to reconcile competing priorities. If a fully glazed facade is commercially essential, then the design has to compensate through better glass selection, improved insulation, intelligent shading, or to integrate other passive strategies elsewhere in the building. The goal becomes minimizing the impact rather than eliminating it, because eliminating it may simply not be applicable. We should also recognize that sustainability often fails not because of a lack of knowledge, but because the long-term benefits rarely align with short-term financial models. Energy savings accrue over years, while construction costs appear upfront. Until those two timelines are better aligned, the tension remains. Still, facade designers can do a lot even within these constraints. They can reduce operational energy demand through considered design. They can lower embodied carbon through smarter material choices. They can maintain high performance over time through monitoring and early maintenance. And importantly, they can help clients understand that a more efficient facade is not just an environmental decision but it also reduces risk, improves comfort, and ultimately supports the building’s

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Sameer Kumar

The Future of Facades: Sameer Kumar

America, Blog /

The Future of Facades is the topic of this blog post. We take a dive and discuss with the renowned facade consultant Sameer Kumar issues like AI Design, key trends in facade design, urbanization, new materials technologies, embodied carbon etc. Sameer Kumar is the Founder of Techne, a building enclosure design and consulting firm based in New York. With over 23 years of experience in the field of architectural facades, Sameer’s accomplishments represent a consistent pursuit of design excellence through the balance of craft and environmental performance in a wide variety of material expressions on several prominent projects around the globe. Sameer extends his contributions to the architecture profession through his academic engagement as visiting faculty member with Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania, as well as through active participation in various architectural conferences as speaker and panelist. Sameer is a Fellow of the American Institution of Architects and a licensed architect in the State of New York. He holds degrees in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and CEPT University, Ahmedabad. He has been included in the list of “2024 Most Influential People” by US Glass Magazine and is appointed in 2025 AIA New York Nominating Committee. Skyline Facades: Sameer, do you believe that AI and data-driven design will have a major role to play in the development of facades in the next 20 years?  Sameer: Yes, I do believe that generative AI represents the next stage of computing, and it will have a significant impact on how we do our work. I often think about the early nineties when I was starting my architectural education, and we were still learning to draw by hand and produce ammonia prints. By the mid-nineties, there was a lot of buzz about the oncoming age of computers which included some bold speculations about the future of the profession, where computers would greatly devalue us, the professionals, to society. We are hearing very similar assertions being made today. Well, as we know, computers have brought about paradigmatic changes to how we think and produce our work, but they have not, in any sense, been able to replace us humans. I feel that the same is going to be true with AI. Skyline: What are the key trends shaping the future of facades, particularly in urban environments like New York City? Sameer: The climate crisis is the most prescient issue shaping our vision and our focus as professionals. I see two distinct trends: the first is around the rich interest in refurbishment and repositioning of existing buildings. We have good evidence from successful projects completed in the last few years that retrofit facades can bring unprecedented ideas to the surface, especially ones that would be unthinkable in the context of designing for new construction. It has mostly to do with the logistics of building the façade without having to navigate around the sequence and logistics of building the primary structure. The second trend is surrounding the growing emphasis on embodied carbon, which is rapidly becoming the new measure of the impact of human activity on the natural environment. We have spent the last 2-2.5 decades developing and mastering methods that ensure energy efficiency in buildings, which is entirely about operational carbon. The pivot to prioritizing embodied carbon would require a lot of unlearning and relearning and has the potential to disrupt many truths about facades that we have taken for granted in the past several years. Skyline: I recently read a study by United Nations projecting that by year 2050, 68% of the world population will live in cities. If we assume the territory as, more or less as granted, we expect to build vertically. What challenges this implies for the facades? Sameer: The design and development of the contemporary façade systems has largely been driven by the extreme needs of building tall buildings in high-density environments. For example, the evolution from stick-built systems to unitized systems was rooted in finding better performing façade solutions that could scale past the limitations of stick-built systems in terms of building height and the speed of installation. Going further too, large scale buildings, with their extreme requirements and economy of scale, shall continue to create fertile ground for innovation in our field, whether it is driven by the imperative of the climate crisis, the rapidly evolving impact of computing technologies, or the critical factor of labor and site safety. Skyline: What kinds of materials do you think will dominate facade construction in the next two decades? Are we moving toward entirely new materials or innovative uses of existing ones? Sameer: I would say both. The emergence of embodied carbon as a metric of performance is already showing significant shifts in the industries engaged in the production of construction materials. As you mention, there are two distinct lines of research and innovation that are evident: the first is the pursuit of new materials, mostly biologically “grown”, which carry the promise of carbon-neutral or carbon-positive alternatives to the traditional materials that are in wide use. The other, and probably the most important drive, is for industries producing traditional materials to find ways to improve the carbon footprint of their products. Thus, we see the emergence of low-carbon glass, metals, concrete, etc. This is not only easier to accomplish, the potential benefits of improving these materials would be tremendous and immediate, owing to the scale of use of these materials. Skyline: With growing awareness of embodied carbon in construction, how can facade engineers and designers minimize the carbon footprint of materials while maintaining performance and durability? Sameer: This is a great question, and one that I am very keenly engaged with within my practice and my teaching. Majority of the current conversation around carbon-conscious design relies upon a quantitative approach: there is a growing emphasis on EPDs, material databases, carbon calculators, etc. I find this process of “carbon accounting” to be too fine-grain and abstract for most early-stage design applications. The level of technical knowledge and involvement this

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Petros Karatzas

Συνέντευξη του Πέτρου Καρατζά: Facade Engineering και βιωσιμότητα

Blog, Greece /

Συνέντευξη του Executive Director και ιδρυτή της Skyline Facades, Πέτρου Καρατζά στο περιοδικό Alumini – ο Πέτρος μιλάει για το Facade Engineering στην Ελλάδα, τη βιωσιμότητα των κατασκευών αλουμινίου και τις πράσινες πιστοποιήσεις. Ολόκληρη η συνέντευξη εδώ. Alumini: Ποιες είναι οι κυριότερες προκλήσεις που μπορεί να προκύψουν κατά τον σχεδιασμό και την υλοποίηση κατασκευών αλουμινίου σε περιοχές με δύσκολες καιρικές συνθήκες ή έντονη ρύπανση –και πώς τις αντιμετωπίζετε; Οι μεγαλύτερες προκλήσεις που αντιμετωπίζουμε σε περιοχές με ακραίες καιρικές συνθήκες ή υψηλά επίπεδα ρύπανσης αφορούν κυρίως την ανθεκτικότητα των υλικών, τη μακροχρόνια απόδοση των συστημάτων και τη συντήρηση τους. Οι αλλαγές στο περιβάλλον είναι μια πραγματικότητα που πρέπει να ζήσουμε με αυτήν, καθώς υλικά και μονώσεις που επαρκούσαν πριν από 20-30 χρόνια, να μην καλύπτουν τις σημερινές απαιτήσεις. Σε περιοχές με έντονες θερμοκρασιακές μεταβολές, ισχυρούς ανέμους ή υγρασία, απαιτείται ιδιαίτερη προσοχή στον σχεδιασμό των συστημάτων, με κατάλληλα προφίλ αλουμινίου, θερμοδιακοπών και υαλοπινάκων, ώστε να εξασφαλιστεί η θερμομονωτική και στατική επάρκεια. Στην περίπτωση της ρύπανσης –για παράδειγμα οι βιομηχανικές ζώνες ή αστικά κέντρα με υψηλά επίπεδα διοξειδίου του θείου ή άλλων διαβρωτικών στοιχείων– δίνουμε έμφαση στην επιφανειακή προστασία του αλουμινίου, όπως είναι η ανοδίωση υψηλών προδιαγραφών ή η χρήση ειδικών super durable powder coatings με αντοχή σε UV ακτινοβολία και χημικούς ρύπους. Σημαντική παράμετρος του σχεδιασμού κελύφους αποτελεί και η συντήρηση του -καθώς στην πράξη βλέπουμε ότι ελάχιστα είναι τα κτίρια που καθαρίζονται, με αποτέλεσμα η όψη τους να δείχνει «γερασμένη» πρόωρα. Για αυτό το λόγο, εφαρμόζουμε στο σχεδιασμό μας σαφείς στρατηγικές cleaning και maintenance, με πρόβλεψη για façade access strategy. Τέλος, καθώς πάνω από το 90% των έργων μας είναι στο εξωτερικό, έχουμε αποκτήσει τεχνογνωσία σε διαφορετικά περιβάλλοντα (τροπικά, ημιέρημα, αστικά, παράκτια), γεγονός που μας επιτρέπει να προσαρμόζουμε τις λύσεις μας στις ιδιαίτερες απαιτήσεις κάθε τοποθεσίας. Beam on Farmer, Arizona / Phoenix, USA Alumini: Υπάρχουν συγκεκριμένες προδιαγραφές ή πρότυπα που καθοδηγούν τις επιλογές σας; Φυσικά. Οι επιλογές μας καθοδηγούνται από διεθνή και τοπικά πρότυπα, τα οποία εξαρτώνται από τη γεωγραφική περιοχή και τις απαιτήσεις του εκάστοτε έργου. Στην πλειοψηφία των περιπτώσεων, ακολουθούμε τα ευρωπαϊκά πρότυπα (EN), για παράδειγμα το EN 13830 για curtain walling, το EN 13501-1 για πυροπροστασία καθώς και πρότυπα που σχετίζονται με τη θερμομόνωση, τη στατική αντοχή και την αντίσταση σε αέρα, νερό και ανεμοπίεση (π.χ. EN 12207-12211). Όταν τα έργα μας είναι εκτός Ευρώπης –όπως στη Βόρεια Αμερική ή τη Μέση Ανατολή– ενσωματώνουμε και τα αντίστοιχα πρότυπα της κάθε χώρας, όπως τα ASTM και NFPA στις ΗΠΑ, ή τα BS standards στο Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο. Συχνά, μάλιστα, εφαρμόζουμε συνδυαστικά πρότυπα, προκειμένου να καλύψουμε τόσο τις τοπικές απαιτήσεις όσο και τα διεθνή best practices. Γενικά τα EN και τα ASTM είναι διεθνώς αποδεκτά σε όλες τις περιοχές του κόσμου. Παράλληλα, οι επιλογές μας επηρεάζονται από τις απαιτήσεις πιστοποίησης του έργου, όπως LEED ή BREEAM, που επιβάλλουν συγκεκριμένα όρια για ενεργειακές επιδόσεις, sustainability, fire behavior, και δυνατότητα ανακύκλωσης των υλικών. Είναι σημαντικό να τονίσουμε ότι τα πρότυπα δεν πρέπει να λειτουργούν μόνο ως “πλαίσιο συμμόρφωσης”, αλλά να είναι ένα εργαλείο ποιότητας, να  αποτελούν τη βάση για την τεκμηρίωση των λύσεων προς τον πελάτη, αλλά και για τον έλεγχο των κατασκευαστικών και ενεργειακών παραμέτρων του έργου. Old Paradise Street, London / UK Alumini: Η βιωσιμότητα αποτελεί πλέον αναπόσπαστο μέρος του αρχιτεκτονικού σχεδιασμού. Πώς ενσωματώνετε την περιβαλλοντική ευαισθησία στις λύσεις που προσφέρετε; Η βιωσιμότητα (sustainability) είναι μια έννοια που ο καθένας αντιλαμβάνεται διαφορετικά. Στόχος μας είναι να προσφέρουμε λύσεις που εξισορροπούν την αισθητική, την τεχνική αρτιότητα και τη μείωση του περιβαλλοντικού αποτυπώματος. Αρχικά, δίνουμε έμφαση στη χρήση προφίλ αλουμινίου που είναι ανακυκλώσιμα και προέρχονται, όπου είναι δυνατό, από πιστοποιημένες πηγές χαμηλού embodied carbon (π.χ. aluminium με EPDs – Environmental Product Declarations). Επιπλέον, προτείνουμε υαλοπίνακες με προηγμένες επιστρώσεις (low-E, selective coatings) που συμβάλλουν στη μείωση των ενεργειακών φορτίων του κτιρίου. Στον σχεδιασμό των όψεων, προτείνουμε τεχνικές παθητικής σκίασης και φυσικού αερισμού, ενσωματώνοντας στοιχεία όπως αεριζόμενες προσόψεις (ventilated facades), brise soleil ή διπλό κέλυφος (double-skin façades), με στόχο την ενίσχυση της ενεργειακής απόδοσης χωρίς την ανάγκη μηχανολογικών επεμβάσεων. Σε κάποιες από τις χώρες που δραστηριοποιούμαστε, όπως στις ΗΠΑ, η βιωσιμότητα και το embodied carbon emissions είναι πολύ ψηλά στις σχεδιαστικές προτεραιότητες ενός κτιρίου ενώ σε άλλες, όπως στη Μέση Ανατολή όχι. Βλέπουμε επίσης αρκετούς πελάτες να απαιτούν πλέον πράσινες πιστοποιήσεις όπως LEED, BREEAM και WELL, και είναι κάτι που εμείς ως façade engineers εργαζόμαστε συλλογικά ως ομάδα μαζί με τον environmental consultant, τον lead architect και φυσικά το developer. Icon Tower, Tel Aviv / Israel Alumini: Ποιος είναι ο ρόλος της προσομοίωσης στον σχεδιασμό σύγχρονων κατασκευών αλουμινίου; Υπάρχουν τρόποι αξιοποίησης των τεχνικών ανάλυσης για τη βελτιστοποίηση της μηχανικής συμπεριφοράς και της απόκρισης σε ακραία φαινόμενα; Η προσομοίωση αποτελεί πλέον βασικό εργαλείο στον σχεδιασμό σύγχρονων κατασκευών, ειδικά όταν πρόκειται για σύνθετες όψεις με αυξημένες απαιτήσεις μηχανικής αντοχής, ενεργειακής απόδοσης ή απόκρισης σε ακραία φαινόμενα. Χρησιμοποιούμε λογισμικά όπως FEM (Finite Element Modelling) για την ανάλυση της στατικής και δυναμικής συμπεριφοράς των συστημάτων μας – από την καμπτική δυσκαμψία των προφίλ μέχρι την απόκριση σε φορτία ανέμου, σεισμό ή θερμική διαστολή. Με αυτόν τον τρόπο μπορούμε να εντοπίσουμε σημεία έντασης, να βελτιστοποιήσουμε τις διατομές και να διασφαλίσουμε την ασφάλεια και λειτουργικότητα του κελύφους ακόμα και σε εξαιρετικά απαιτητικά περιβάλλοντα. Χρησιμοποιούμε επίσης CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) για την αεροδυναμική μελέτη των όψεων, αλλά και για τη διαχείριση φυσικού αερισμού ή θερμικών ροών σε double-skin ή ventilated façades. Αυτές οι αναλύσεις είναι χρήσιμες για έργα με υψηλά sustainability targets ή σε περιοχές με ισχυρούς ανέμους και φαινόμενα τοπικής υποπίεσης. Η μεγαλύτερη αξία αυτών των εργαλείων είναι ότι μας επιτρέπουν να περάσουμε από μια “αντιδραστική” σε μια “προληπτική” προσέγγιση: εντοπίζουμε πιθανά προβλήματα ήδη από το στάδιο του σχεδιασμού και προτείνουμε τεκμηριωμένες λύσεις που μειώνουν το ρίσκο και βελτιστοποιούν την απόδοση. Toronto Premium Outlets, Ontario / Canada Alumini: Με το βλέμμα στο μέλλον, ποια είναι η στρατηγική της Skyline Facades για την καινοτομία στον τομέα των κατασκευών αλουμινίου; Μια από τις μεγαλύτερες προκλήσεις των επόμενων δεκαετιών είναι σίγουρα η αστικοποίηση και η συγκέντρωση του παγκόσμιου πληθυσμού στις πόλεις. Σύμφωνα με

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Natural Anodized Cladding: Dirk Verwimp

Blog, Europe /

Natural Anodized Aluminium Cladding Panels have been around the architectural market for several decades now. The use of natural anodizing though in cladding panels have not been as widespread as natural anodizing in extrusion profiles. Though, it is indeed an excellent option to consider with. We discuss with Dirk Verwimp, an expert in this field and currently Business Unit Manager for Almeco Group in Italy. Skyline Facades: Dirk, what are the advantages of natural anodized cladding panels? Dirk: There are actually several. To start with, the anodic layer is inherent to the aluminium substrate, so it will never peel, chip or chalk. Anodising for facade cladding is a durable and sustainable solution with an unlimited design lifetime. In case of replacing the panel, the material is very easy to recycle at a fraction of the energy to produce new aluminium. The material is UV resistant and the metallic lusture and gloss will be maintained over time. Pre-anodised facade cladding is easy to maintain and is graffiti proof. And finally, it is a 100% pure aluminium product with an attractive aesthetic appearance. Umeus Student Home, Copenhagen / Denmark Skyline: There are pre-anodized cladding panels and post-anodized cladding panels. What are the actual differences? Dirk: Selecting pre-anodising will enhance your cost efficiency as the material can be post transformed into any type of cladding. Further, due to the constant and automatic processing on coils, the material will have an excellent uniformity. After the process , the coils can be levelled and cut into stress free sheets, which avoids tension in the cassettes. Post anodising is mostly selected in case of extruded profiles or for very complex structures. As the process is manual, it is very work intensive which is reflected in the cost. As one load contains no more than 20-30 m2, there is a risk of colour and gloss variation on your facade. With post anodising you can achieve higher anodic layers, as prescribed in the British Standards, but this is in fact not always an insurance for better quality. These high anodic layers are often forced which results in a soft top layer that can be reduced over time. Ideally pre anodised material is used for large facade surfaces where uniformity is essential, with the combination of batch anodised extruded profiles for the trims or finishing parts. Learown Fuda Square, Shenzhen, China Skyline: What are the finishes that can be achieved with natural anodizing? As architects, or façade consultants, do we have a wide range to choose from? Dirk: Generally anodising can be provided on different type of textures. Standard and well known in the market is the mill finish surface, which is a smooth and satin surface. But more and more different textures are requested by architects, where brushed, sand blasted and BRITE finishes or textures can be offered. The pre-treatment on these textures are different and usually the chemical etching part in the process is skipped in order to maintain as much as gloss or brushed definition as possible. Besides the different textures, modern natural anodizing offers also a wide range of colours: natural, gold, bronze, copper and zinc. Each of these colours will look different on different textures. This allows the architect to maximise its creativity by combining the preferred textures with the preferred colour tone. Bloom College, Wavrin / France Skyline: Can you explain us briefly the production process for natural anodized cladding? Dirk: The standard alloy for mill finish anodised aluminium is 5005 H14. The optimal anodic layer is 15 microns for exterior use, depending on the specification. We can  offer also 20 and 25 microns on coil depending on the location of the project. The process starts with a 3 step pre-treatment: degreasing for oil removal, etching for defining the right gloss and neutralisation to clean the smut and block the pH entering the acidic anodising tank. After the anodising step, the material can be coloured, where pigments or metal salt is deposited into the porous structure of the anodic layer. Finally, the material is sealed in a hot water tank, closing the porous structure and fixing the colour. It is important to opt for a QUALANOD certified supplier which ensures the quality and processing according European norms and standards. E-Sport Arena, Hangzhou / China Skyline: Is anodized cracking, when bended, an issue? Dirk: If you produce cassettes or other types of panels from pre-anodised aluminium, you will always have superficial hairlines perpendicular to the rolling mill directions. This superficial hairlines, also called crazing, is a natural effect and only visible under certain angels and light. This phenomena is purely aesthetical and will not affect the quality nor the warranty. We always recommend to reduce the bending radius to a minimum (in accordance with the limits of the metal substrate) in order to minimise the area of the crazing. Chang’An Cloud, China Skyline: What is the actual lifetime of a natural anodized cladding panel and what are the factors that affect it? Dirk: Natural anodized suppliers provide different warranties, for us  25 years of warranty is a standard, but in fact the design life is unlimited. The material is 100% pure aluminium and has a very strong resistance towards weathering. Factors that can influence the lifetime is direct contact with cement, acidic or alkaline substances which can attack the anodic layer. This must be avoided.

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Ventilation and A/C System Design Adaptation: Frederik Winther

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Is your building future weatherproof? Future weather will bring increasingly higher temperatures and humidity. This poses a challenge for the indoor climate in our buildings, as cooling and ventilation system design is based on historical weather data that is more than 10 years old. If we don’t change our design practices, our buildings will overheat. In this article, Frederik Winther – Senior Specialist Manager in Ramboll Denmark – along with his colleague Dragos Bogatu, explore the challenges that the future climate poses to our buildings’ ventilation and air conditioning systems and outline the change in approach to design and solutions needed to mitigate them. Frederik works for almost 12 years at Rambøll Danmark’s main office in Copenhagen. Started as a consulting engineer in the Department of Indoor Climate and HVAC. After 3 years at Rambøll he started his PhD project on Intelligent Glazed Facades. Did research on the potential of facades in future low energy buildings as well as experimental investigations on the performance of advanced facades. He has developed numerical calculation methodologies for advanced facade technologies such as PCM in glazing, dynamic g-/U-value technologies. Having been awarded his PhD degree he was employed at Rambøll working in greater depth with facade design and numerical analysis of thermal building simulations and CFD calculations. His work consists of consultancy work for many projects. We talk with Frederik about Ventilation and Air Condition System Design Adaptation to Climate Change and the subsequent challenges, approach and solutions. Original article was posted by Frederik in LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7208776945730265089/ Ventilation and air conditioning system design adaptation to climate change: Challenges, approach, and solutions Future weather will bring increasingly higher temperatures and humidity. This poses a challenge for the indoor climate in our homes, but especially in large buildings, as cooling and ventilation system design is based on historical weather data that is more than 10 years old. If we don’t change our design practices, our buildings will overheat. A change in mindset but also policy recommendations are required.   Expected changes in the Danish climate. Denmark’s future climate won’t only include more frequent storms, heatwaves, and heavy rainfall. It will also become warmer, with increased humidity. This is evident from DMI’s new Climate Atlas for Denmark’s weather [1] based on projections from the UN’s climate panel and Aalborg University, Department of the Built Environment, covering the period from 2030 to 2100. Annual temperatures are expected to rise by over 3°C. Looking at the number of heating degree days (HDD) – a measure of coldness – they will decrease by almost 30%, from 3319 HDD in the period 2001-2010 to 2271 HDD in 2090. Humidity will also increase significantly, as shown in Figure 1, based on data projections from IPCC [2], [3]. The number of hours per year with water content higher than the current 12.5 g/kg (which we currently design our ventilation systems for) will rise from 67 hours (~9 workdays) to up to ~250 hours (~34 workdays) by 2040. Figure 1. Humidity levels as a function of projected weather data in Copenhagen, Denmark compared to the Danish design reference year [2], [3], [4]. At the same time, rising temperatures and humidity will impact our perception of heat. Higher humidity makes it harder for the skin to dissipate heat. When combined with high temperatures, heat transfers from the air to the skin, making us feel significantly warmer. Both existing and future buildings must adapt to significantly different conditions than what we are used to. Failing to account for the warmer and more humid weather, will have detrimental consequences for the indoor climate and the cooling and ventilation systems we rely on. Homeowners are already grappling with warmer and more humid weather. If anyone doubts that these changes affect the indoor climate of our buildings, they need only ask homeowners. In the survey ‘Danskerne i det byggede miljø’ [5], conducted by Realdania and Videnscentret Bolius, over 12% of residents in homes built after 2000 report that their homes are too hot. Especially during the summer, overheating is a real issue. The challenge lies in larger window areas present in new buildings and changes in architectural preferences, which do not provide the same opportunities for natural ventilation and solar shading as older homes do. Mechanical ventilation and cooling are not common practice in Danish homes. Therefore, the indoor climate challenges, in newer residential construction, cannot be directly compared to large-scale buildings. However, it does emphasize the consequences of a changing climate on our indoor environment and the need for change in design approaches. Historical weather data does not consider climate change. Despite projections showing our climatic future, we still use 10-year-old historical weather data when designing cooling and ventilation systems. While we gradually adjust the standards we design for, the changes are insufficient given the climate shifts we anticipate. We risk having buildings where cooling and ventilation systems cannot maintain satisfactory air quality and humidity levels for their intended use. The consequence is overheating. This poses problems for building occupants, affecting well-being, health, and cognition. It’s also a challenge for building operators, as operating undersized systems becomes more expensive. Lastly, it’s an environmental concern because energy-intensive systems consume more than they should. Consider an average office building as an example. Calculations suggest that without other adjustments, we should increase the size of cooling surfaces in ventilation systems by up to 25% and enhance cooling system efficiency by up to 50% by 2040 compared to current Danish standards. Even by 2030, within the lifespan of new installations, the increase is significant. In some cases, simply increasing performance won’t suffice. In extreme cases, existing systems may need improvement or complete replacement with more powerful ones to handle future weather conditions. On the other hand, undersized cooling and ventilation systems are costly to operate due to high energy expenses and maintenance costs. The solution is a climate resilient design. Climate resilience refers to the ability of the designed systems and assets to withstand shocks and stresses as well as the

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Facade Engineer Greece

Facade Engineering in Greece: Anna Ioannidou Kati

Blog, Europe /

Anna Ioannidou Kati is a Senior Facade Engineer in one of the most famous facade engineering offices globally, Eckersley O’ Callaghan (EOC). She’s holding a Civil Engineering degree from Technical University of Athens and an M.Sc. in Building Engineering from Delft University in Netherlands. Based in London for the last 5 years, Anna managed the Facade Engineering services for Piraeus Tower, probably the first project in Greece where a facade consultant was appointed. We discuss with Anna her experience, as well as the reasons why Facade Engineering is a common practice in many countries globally but not in Greece, at least yet. Anna, what is the real value that facade engineering brings in the projects? Facade engineering can bring significant value to projects. As a discipline it aims to enhance both architectural aesthetics and performance of building envelopes. It looks at how the facade can influence energy efficiency, daylight, indoor thermal and visual comfort of buildings. As facade engineers we also investigate and ensure the buildability and structural integrity of the architectural proposals from early stages.  Overall, facade engineering plays a crucial role in achieving sustainable, visually appealing, and high-performing building envelopes. Why do you believe that facade engineering is not popular in Greece yet? As far as I am concerned, Piraeus Tower was the first project that this function actually applied to.  Facade engineering is a relatively new discipline not only in Greece, but even across the world. Architects and engineers were always collaborating to explore new materials and technologies for building envelopes, but the term and specialization ‘facade engineering’ probably emerged in the last 50 years or so. With the advent of modern construction methods and the increasing complexity of building designs, facade engineering became more and more popular. Also, the increasingly strict regulations related with sustainability that slowly came into effect in the last 10-15 years increased the complexity of facade designs and led to a demand for specialist consultants that could advise on facade technologies and performance. In Greece, traditionally, there was an intentional simplicity in architectural designs of building envelopes. This tendency likely stemmed from our country’s high seismic activity, leading to simple buildings in plan, and simple architectural elements and materials to the building exterior. Of course, the recent recession contributed to the construction industry being dormant for a few years. During this period, very few large and complex buildings were designed and constructed, and thus the circumstances did not allow for this discipline to emerge and grow like the rest of Europe and abroad. Would you think that this discipline will have bigger demand in Greece in the coming years? Greece seems to be entering a new era as it is starting to experience a significant growth in the construction sector. Private and government initiatives are slowly driving investments in new construction developments. We are currently seeing various notable new projects under construction, such as large mix-use buildings, high-rise towers, and refurbishments. We also see more and more ambitious and complex designs from Architects who are not afraid to explore new materials and technologies. This is where facade engineering can play a crucial role guiding Architects and Clients in achieving buildable, sustainable, and high-performing envelopes. Therefore, I do believe this discipline is going to grow in Greece in the next few years. What was the biggest challenge that you faced in Piraeus Tower? The biggest challenge we faced was probably the construction method of the facade. The industry across the world has embraced the design of unitised curtain walling for tall and repetitive buildings, such as Piraeus Tower, due to the benefits of the off-site manufacturing. However, due to the lack of tall buildings in Greece, this system had never been applied in any project and there was an understandable hesitance on the ability of the local market to deliver this project technically and within time and budget. During this process we had multiple discussions with Greek system suppliers and installers. We understood that the industry had the required ‘know-how’, they were only waiting for the right opportunity to put this knowledge into effect. I am very glad that Piraeus Tower was built with a unitised system, as this makes it the first building in Greece where this technology was applied and stigmatizes a new era for constructing tall buildings in Greece. In what stage exactly did you get involved in this project?  Ilias Papageorgiou from PILA reached out to EOC during the competition stage to provide technical support on their facade design proposal for Piraeus Tower. During the competition, we explored options for the construction method of the facade and investigated the optimization of the external shading fins. It is very fulfilling being involved in projects from such early stages, as this is the time when important decisions are made. We delivered a technically feasible design proposal and provided confidence to the Client that the design was buildable and efficient. Collaborating with architects for competitions is something we do very often, and we see more and more architects requesting our input due to the increased value we can bring in projects. Tell us a few things about the dynamics in the project team. By project team, I mean the Architect, the Client, the General Contractor, the Facade Contractor. Dynamics in project teams can vary depending on the type of project and the procurement process. The Architect is responsible for designing the overall appearance of the building and often acts as lead designer. They need to work closely with Clients to understand their vision, programme and budget constraints. Clients on the other hand, need to be actively involved in the decision-making process and constantly provide feedback on the design team’s proposals. The General Contractor is responsible for managing the construction phase of the project, while the Facade Contractor is appointed to design and build the building envelope. The sooner the General Contractor is involved in the project, the more influence they can have on the design solutions. As facade engineers, we often

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Why do projects delay

Why Projects Delay: with Matt Verderamo

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Matt Verderamo is Vice President, Preconstruction & Sales at Alliance Exterior Construction in Baltimore, Maryland. Alliance is a specialty subcontractor focusing on glazing, metal panels, and roofing. Matt is also a proponent of mental health and career growth in the construction industry. Follow him on LinkedIn and Twitter, and check out his website here (mattverderamo.me) Our discussion with Matt is Why do Projects Delay. WHY DO PROJECTS DELAY In his national best-selling book, “Atomic Habits”, James Clear describes the importance of upstream habits. Let’s say you want to eat healthy. Clear would argue that one of the best ways to ensure you do that is to create an “upstream habit” that influences the behavior. For him, it is all about a morning workout. When he works out in the morning, he finds that he is more likely to eat healthy! He doesn’t need to try to eat healthy, he just needs to make sure he works out, and then he naturally wants to eat healthy! This morning workout also influences his alcohol intake, stress levels, and overall health. This is the benefit of an “upstream habit”: it is a simple habit that influences a lot of other good habits downstream. When I think about Construction projects and why they delay, I think about this same “upstream” mindset. Construction projects don’t delay because of one sub missing their submittal deadline, or one owner’s rep missing an important email, or one architect taking too long to return a submittal. They delay because of thousands of small “upstream” actions that aggregate into bigger problems that delay the project downstream. In my opinion, if we want to overcome these types of delays, then more and more time, money, and energy need to go into the Preconstruction phase of the project. There needs to be more incentives for doing good paperwork, more collaboration between stakeholders, and more investment into architect, engineer, and GC fees. In other words, develop healthier “upstream habits” that lead to more effective downstream results. It’s really easy for me to say all of this when I’m not the one holding the purse as an owner, and I realize that, but I truly believe that this early investment will pay for itself over the course of the project. Skyline Facades: Matt, when I asked you the question, I had in mind a more conventional answer related to projects delay. I really love your point of view; it does put the issue in a different framework. What would you think hinders the whole process from this “upstream mindset”? Matt: I think the focus on initial cost vs. project life-cycle cost hinders the upstream mindset. Humans like to have the lowest initial price without realizing it may not lead to the lowest final project cost. Skyline: You mention above the need for more collaboration between stakeholders. From your experience, in the majority of the projects you have worked, do you feel the mentality of teamwork between stakeholders or it is more of a “power and muscles” relationship between the parties? Matt: It depends on the project. One thing is for sure: it trickles down from the top. When an owner is collaborative, the whole project is collaborative. When the owner is hard, the project is usually hard. Skyline: How many times have you really listened the phrase “we screwed up” from any project stakeholder instead of just putting the blame to others? Matt: I hear people say it a good amount. Realists know that construction comes with its fair share of mistakes. It’s just how the industry works! Skyline: What is the point when you simply say “ok, this project is not for me” and you just step away? Matt: Usually when the client doesn’t do what they say they’re going to do more than one time. Usually after 2 or 3 instances where they make a promise that they don’t keep, I know I can’t trust them throughout the project either. Skyline: What’s your mantra for today? Matt: I will be kind, compassionate, and caring with myself.

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