The building envelope is increasingly being called to deliver more: more access to daylight, better thermal performance, and a higher resistance to life safety threats. To support these goals while elevating design, modern façade materials and systems have evolved to expand what the building envelope can do.

This course introduces several modern façade solutions, including steel and timber curtain walls, fire-rated curtain walls, and channel glass systems.

After this session concludes, attendees will be equipped to evaluate and specify high-performance glazing systems that support both creative vision and project performance goals, including structural integrity, visual impact, and code compliance.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the difference between glazing systems that can be used in High Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVHZ) and those that cannot.
2. Explain how engineered wood framing systems deliver structural strength, thermal insulation and sustainability while contributing to biophilic design.
3. Recognize the fundamentals of fire-rated curtain wall systems and how they integrate life safety requirements without compromising architectural aesthetics.
4. Evaluate the impact of high-performance glazing systems in project case studies and apply those evaluations to future projects.

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