Best Building Envelope Products of 2019
Ventilated Glass Facade for Parking Structures
Engineered to beautify typical garage structures, this cladding system uses proprietary aluminum fittings, which require no drilling or notching and attach directly to walls and slabs, eliminating the need for steel substructures. Decorative safety-glass panels are also functional, filtering light and enabling ventilation through openings created by their steel mounting hardware.
Nomad Steel Slab Edge
Unlike many metal panels that are laminated and contain petroleum, this single-skin aluminum panel by Pure + FreeForm is HPD-compliant, Red List– and VOC-free, and 100% recyclable. With a maximum dimension of 48" x 177", each panel can be custom finished and is suitable for interior or exterior applications.
NeuSkyns
Formulated to be fire-, water-, mold-, and toxin-resistant, this versatile nano-ceramic composite can be applied to buildings as a coating, binder, or solid surfacing. A patented new material made of minerals, recycled foams, farm waste, and sand, NeuSkyns can be sprayed on, troweled on like stucco, molded, and 3-D-printed.
Stonitex
Reinforced carbon-fiber-mesh backing gives these 0.39"-thick stone-veneer panels 10 times the flexural strength of thicker slabs, which also weigh, on average, 40% more. The thinner, lighter panels enable larger-format applications and greater design flexibility. Using a proprietary attachment technology, Stonitex is available in three finishes and 13 colors, and in sizes up to a maximum 4' x 8'.
UltraShield
BPA-free and 100% recyclable, this high-strength composite siding by NewTech Wood is fabricated from recycled plastic and wood pulp, which gives it the benefits of both materials. Unlike wood siding, UltraShield (shown in profile UH46) is resistant to staining, termites, and rot. Standard board dimensions are close to 4¾" x 1" x 16'; custom lengths, profiles, patterns, and colors are available.
3-D-Printed Mold for Architectural Precast Concrete
To realize custom, complex parametric forms in precast concrete, Gate Precast developed a 3-D-printed mold module that can range in size from 10' x 10' to 15' x 40' or larger. The printed mold, made of carbon-fiber-reinforced ABS, is an evolution from previous models made of high-density rubber with a 2' to 3' x 6¾' size limitation. 3-D printing also reduces the time needed to make each mold, from the 48–52 hours required by conventional hand-carpentry to a mere 14 hours.
Architectural Record presents the best building envelope products of 2019, from claddings and coatings to comprehensive systems. Click through the slideshow above to view each winner.
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