Author name: Petros Karatzas

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

Blog, Europe /

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

America, Blog /

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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Chat GPT: Facade Engineering Blog Post

America, Blog /

We are inviting Chat GPT to contribute in our Facade Engineering Blog. Below, is what the Artificial Intelligence software prepared for our blog. A Questions & Answers session follows, as we decided to challenged Chat GPT on what it says, as well as to encourage it to be as specific as possible. Facade Engineering is an important aspect of building design that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of building exteriors. The facade of a building not only provides aesthetic appeal but also serves functional purposes such as waterproofing, thermal insulation, and acoustic control. In this blog, we will explore the basics of Facade Engineering, its importance in building design, and the key factors to consider when designing a facade. Importance of Facade Engineering The facade of a building is its public face, the first impression that visitors, tenants, and passersby have of the building. A well-designed facade not only enhances the visual appeal of a building but also reflects its character and identity. Moreover, the facade serves as a protective barrier against the elements, noise and pollution. A properly designed and constructed facade can improve the energy efficiency of a building by reducing heat gain and loss, thereby reducing heating and cooling costs. Additionally, the facade plays a crucial role in providing natural lighting and ventilation, which can enhance the health and well-being of occupants. Factors to Consider in Facade Engineering 1. Function: The function of the building is a crucial factor in designing a facade. A commercial building may require a facade that showcases its brand identity and attracts customers, while a residential building may require a facade that provides privacy and security. 2. Location and Climate: The location of the building and the local climate are important factors to consider when designing a facade. The facade should be designed to withstand the local weather conditions such as wind, rain, and snow. In addition, the facade should be designed to optimize natural lighting and ventilation while minimizing heat gain or loss. 3. Material Selection: The choice of facade material plays a critical role in determining the durability, energy efficiency, and aesthetic appeal of the building. Some common facade materials include glass, concrete, brick, stone, metal, and wood. Each material has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and the selection should be based on the function, location, and climate of the building. 4. Structural Design: The structural design of the facade should ensure the stability and safety of the building. The facade should be designed to withstand the loads imposed by wind, snow, and seismic forces. The structural design should also accommodate the movement of the building due to thermal expansion and contraction. 5. Maintenance. The facade should be designed to minimize maintenance and repair costs while maximizing the lifespan of the building. The facade should be easy to clean and maintain, and the materials should be durable and resistant to corrosion, weathering, and other forms of degradation. Conclusion Facade Engineering is a crucial aspect of building design that requires careful consideration of several factors such as function, location, climate, material selection, and structural design. A well-designed and constructed facade not only enhances the visual appeal of a building but also improves its energy efficiency, provides natural lighting and ventilation, and protects the building from the elements. As such, it is important to work with an experienced and knowledgeable facade engineering team to ensure that your building’s facade meets your functional, aesthetic, and sustainability goals. Q & A Session Skyline Facades: If it is OK with you, we would like to ask you some questions on this very interesting blog. What do you mean by location and climate to be considered in Facade Engineering? Chat GPT: Location and climate are two important factors to consider in facade engineering because they can have a significant impact on the performance and durability of the building facade. Location refers to the geographic location of the building, and it can affect the local building codes, regulations, and standards that must be followed. For example, buildings located in areas with high seismic activity may require special structural designs to withstand earthquakes, while buildings located in areas with high wind loads may require special facade designs to resist wind pressure. Climate refers to the local weather patterns and conditions in the building’s location. Climate can affect the thermal performance of the building facade, as well as its ability to withstand weathering, corrosion, and other forms of degradation. For example, buildings located in areas with high temperature and humidity may require special facade designs to reduce solar heat gain and minimize the use of air conditioning systems. Similarly, buildings located in areas with high levels of precipitation may require special facade designs to prevent water infiltration and protect the building envelope. Therefore, in facade engineering, it is important to consider the location and climate of the building to ensure that the facade is designed and constructed to withstand the local environmental conditions and meet the specific needs of the building and its occupants. Skyline: Let’s be more specific on climate. So let’s assume we have a building in Dubai and an identical one in London. What are the factors to consider? Chat GPT: If we compare a building in Dubai to an identical one in London, there are several factors related to climate that would need to be considered in facade engineering: 1. Temperature: Dubai has a hot desert climate, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C during the summer months, while London has a temperate maritime climate, with average summer temperatures around 22°C. In Dubai, the facade would need to be designed to reduce solar heat gain and control indoor temperatures, while in London, the facade would need to be designed to provide thermal insulation to maintain indoor temperatures. 2. Humidity: Dubai has a low humidity climate, while London has a higher humidity climate. In Dubai, the facade would need to be designed to minimize moisture infiltration and condensation, while in London, the facade would need

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Facade Structural Engineering

Steven Sletten: Insights into Facade Structural Engineering

America, Blog /

Today’s guest is Steven Sletten, a Licensed Professional Structural Engineer and Project Manager for Larson Engineering in New York. Steve has great experience in the Façade and Curtain Wall Industry and has licenses from New York and Minnesota states. Has been involved in many great projects such as Transbay Transit Center, the Star Statue at Mall of America, Lantern House on NYCs Highline, One Madison Ave in NYC and many more. Works for Larson, one of the biggest firms in the field with 11 offices across United States. Skyline: What are the important items in a Facade Structural Reports and where do you give the most attention?  Steven: There are many important aspects of a façade structural report that bear mentioning.  The most critical items that should never be overlooked or discounted, are those pertaining to design loads and applicable building codes/standards.  The codes used today are established to provide an appropriate level of safety factor, in order to ensures a design is safe.  There are aspects of the design and engineering that can be up to the engineer’s judgment, however the minimum standard of care should always be to meet or exceed load/building code requirements. The second most important aspect, in my opinion, is providing an efficient design that will meet the project specifications.  This includes working closely with the client (fabricator/glazier/etc) to determine any project specific design criteria or specification requirements, including serviceability limit states, that may impact the design. These are important as they impact the clients’ bottom line, as well as owner satisfaction with the end product.  If specifications are not met, there is potential for the owner rejection resulting in rework or potential back charges to the client. The engineer’s goal should be to have an efficient design.  The project may have high corner zone wind pressures, but may only occur on a small percentage of the building.  It may be possible to get by with reinforcing system(s) only in corner wind regions, or maybe the loading is high enough in all regions, such that a change to the system extrusions/depths is warranted. Additional engineering time spent may be well worth the effort in order to provide the most efficient design for the client. Considering the additional cost of labor and material resulting from an excessively conservative or quick engineering design, may far exceed the cost associated with a more thorough engineering design. Each aspect of the overall design, should be reviewed with respect to the project specifications, applicable codes, and consideration for both the engineering and client budget. Skyline: Are the specifications and wind loads getting over-designed? Steven: Wind and code loadings are an ever-changing topic in the structural engineering industry. As more testing is executed, and more information is learned by the code agencies, the more accurate the resulting requirements become. This is paired in the facade industry with the need to be as efficient in design as possible.  These factors combined have led to our current codes and results in wind loads being dependent on many project specific factors, including but not limited to:  project profile (Manhattan skyscraper versus two-story building in Iowa), project complexity (unique building footprint vs box building), project location (Suburban area in Pennsylvania vs the coast line of Florida), applicable building codes for the project location, and also overall building design/construction. Typically, if a project is a low profile, simple building, the design wind loading for the project, likely wouldn’t be much different from older to newer codes much from older building codes. Skyline: What software you use for Facade Structural Reports? Steven: Wind and code loadings are an ever-changing topic in the structural engineering industry. As more testing is executed, and more information is learned by the code agencies, the more accurate the resulting requirements become. This varies within in the industry, but typical software includes: – Mathcad or similar engineering math software which is used in the creation of many calculation templates. – Use of Microsoft excel sheets, can be used in similar fashion, but may not be as friendly to the reviewer. – RISA or other similar 2D/3D structural analysis software. – RFEM or other Finite Element Analysis software. – AutoCAD or similar drafting software. – Bluebeam Revu or similar pdf editing software. Depending on your firm / expertise, you may have other complimentary software as well, used to support thermal analysis, acoustic analysis, etc. Skyline: What is the typical academic background for a Facade Structural Engineer? Steven: It is standard that a Facade Structural Engineer will have at minimum a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering – Structural emphasis.  It is also common for some firms to require a Master’s degree. Most engineers will have completed and passed the EIT exam, either prior to starting full-time, or during their first years as an engineer.  Most engineers will go on to take either the PE or SE exams for their respective state, and other states as required for the company/position. Skyline: What is the most challenging project you have worked and why? Steven: The most challenging project so far in my career, was a façade replacement for a high rise in New York City.  Due to damage on a portion of the elevation high up on the building, there was a need to remove and replace multiple bays of curtain wall system in an occupied building. The project was a testament to collaboration, as there were no drawings provided from the building owner, and also required to get an exact match to the adjacent existing curtain wall.  Careful consideration for site access and safety was maintained throughout the project, and the final product met all project requirements.  To this day, an unknowing eye, will most likely not be able to see that anything had been replaced. Overall, it was an exciting and challenging experience, as we spent more time than normal coordinating directly with members of the design team, the project building envelope consultant, and also a contracted façade designer that aided in all of

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Ventilates Facades

Ventilated Facades, Fire Safety: No need for a zero-sum game

Blog, Europe /

The concept and the history of building ventilated façades is not something novel. Actually the first examples of building facades are met in medieval Europe. Wood was the dominant material for the construction of facades since it was easily sourced from the vast forests that existed in Western Europe during this historical period. West Stow, Suffolk | UK – 5th– 7th Century AD (Building Reconstruction – Archeological Site If we try to find a benchmark project in contemporary building, we could arrive at no other than Flatiron Building in New York since it used metal structure and cladding. A significant parameter for the design of Flatiron has been the revision of the New York Building Act in 1892, which abrogated the requirement for masonry on the ground of fire safety reasons and gave rise to the formation of plenty of the modern building methods. Namely, the creation of a shell, which is suspended through a secondary level of support system on the primary frame of the building. In the case of Flatiron Building, glazed ceramic panels are the dominant cladding material of the facades. Flatiron, New York | USA – 1902 Today, the usage of ventilated facades with the simultaneous integration of a multitude of different materials –natural and artificial, such as metal, glass, ceramics, concrete, composite wood, plastics etc. has prevailed worldwide. Naturally, the progress in the field of materials science has been an important factor for the realization of the modern building. The Beam on Farmer, Phoenix AZ | USA (Aluminum Panels) The ventilated façade is synonymous with the structure of a multi-layered shell. A key feature of the ventilated façade is the clear separation of structural elements that are in direct contact with the interior or exterior space, as follows: – External cladding – Air gap – External insulation – Internal masonry The creation of air gap throughout the height of the building, in which the circulation of air remains unobstructed, but at a higher temperature than that of the natural environment, implies the circulation of air in conditions of natural attraction. Briefly, the air enters the gap, is further heated by the absorbed solar radiation and is emitted by the cladding, moves upwards, creates a vacuum, which tends to be filled again with air and hence continuous ventilation is ensured within the shell. Results of external thermal insulation and natural ventilation can be summarized as follows: – Improving thermal comfort in the interior of the building. – Saving energy for both heating and cooling, through the reduction of thermal losses. – Protection against moisture, as the external cladding is a first protective level while at the same time ventilation accelerates the removal of residual moisture. The three axes for the sustainability of buildings as below: – Limitation of the environmental footprint (Construction – Usage) – Ensuring the optimum operation of the building over time. – Enhancing the comfort levels for its users. The fireproofing principal of the ventilated façade as a fire transmitting factor The fundamental operating principle of the ventilated façade is at the same time its weakest point in terms of fire transmission. The natural attraction of the air within the façade dramatically accelerates the vertical fire spread of fire, consequently facilitating its expansion throughout the building. In this way, even a small localized fire can potentially evolve into a large scale fire to the whole building. Grenfell Tower in London has been the most notable case of building fire since several decades. A residential building of 24 floors, initially erected in 1967 and renovated in 2015-2016 with ventilated facades cladded with LDPE Aluminium Composite Panels and insulated with PIR. The non-compliance with Fire Regulation act was considered as the root cause for the tragic death of 72 people. A typical example of the fire spread in Grenfell Tower was while the first fire hearth was detected on 00:54 and by – 01:30, the fire had reached the roof of the building through vertical transmission and was totally out of control. Istanbul / Turkey Vertical fire expansion in 24-storey building. It is worth noting that while the building seems mostly unharmed, there is a vertical fire across the entire side of the building with possible disastrous effect. Tackling Design Methods (Fire-Barriers and Fire Compartmentalization) It is possible to maintain the advantages offered by ventilated facades while ensuring fire protection. The placement of fire barriers horizontally and vertically in order to fire compartmentalize the façade in accordance with the General Fire Safety of the building answers the existing challenge. A fire barrier is placed horizontally with fire-resistance sealing tape, leaving a gap of 25-50 mm from the surface of the cladding. In this way, the ventilation of the façade is ensured while it is interrupted in the case of fire. (1) Complete vertical fire barrier (compressed Rockwool in aluminium shell. (2) «Open» horizontal fire barrier with fire-resistant sealing tape. (3) Fire-inflatable sealing tape. Example of Facade Engineering Study as above. In this case, and in the particular Unitized System with embedded brickslips, we can see the vertical fire-barriers at the side of the unitized module and two vertical fire barriers with the fire-inflatable membrane. Re-defining the proper function of facade in existing buildings Case study with residential complex in Stratford, London built in 2006-2007. In 2021 it joined a State Funding Program in order to harmonize with the Fire Protection Regulation. The Grenfell building tragedy has triggered the imperative to carry out checks regarding the provided safety of buildings in Great Britain. The range of interventions required is extensive, both in terms of replacing the materials of the facades with fire-resistant ones, as well as in redesigning the shell by creating fire compartments. The materials replaced are: – Aluminium Composite Panels with 3mm Solid Aluminium Sheets. – Wood cladding sheets with fibrocement sheets. – Wooden decking floors with aluminium ones. – External thermal insulation system with corresponding non-flammable. – Spandrel glass curtain panels with corresponding with non-flammable core. – Brickslip cladding due to absence

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Ph.D. award to our Anastasia Sakka

Europe, News /

We are very proud for our Projects Director and Principal Anastasia Sakka, who has just received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Architecture from the University of Edinburg in Scotland. It was a beautiful journey that started 10 years ago and was officially completed yesterday in a traditional ceremony, so typical for UK universities. After all the hard work that Anastasia has put in, she sure deserves the highest degree that a student can have. It is a great success for Anastasia and her family  (yes, that includes us also -), having proved again how dedicated and strong-willed she is. A Ph.D degree is much more than a mere gain of a qualification to be proud of; it is also the incredible experiences along the way. Our best wishes to our lovely Principal for the future -)) We should not forget to express our sincere gratitude to the best supervisor we could have, Professor Iain Boyd Whyte. #facadeengineering #greece #skylinefacades

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