Tell us about USGBC and its role in the ratings and certification of buildings. For more than 25 years, the U.S. Green Building Council has been dedicated to building an awareness of the impact buildings have on the environment and human health. With the evolution of LEED and the incredible support of our partners, we have established an entire community of sustainability leaders around a common cause: better buildings equal better lives. [caption id="attachment_44809" align="alignright" width="362"] Hearst Tower, New York City, New York, LEED Platinum[/caption] Over the last two decades, the LEED plaque has become the symbol of green building leadership. Today, people know that if they are in a LEED-certified building, they are using less energy and water, avoiding waste, saving on maintenance costs, improving indoor air quality, offering comfort to their occupants, and creating a less environmental burden on their community. With 110,000 registered and certified LEED commercial...

When designing the building components such as the facades, windows, and doors, we need to ensure that the products don’t just look great but perform to the highest possible standards without the risk of deterioration. Efficient, productive applications need adhesives that provide high durability in a cost-effective, easy-to-use manner. 3M™ bonding technology is a high-strength, reliable and affordable alternative to traditional fastening methods and is a reliable alternative to screws, rivets, welds and other mechanical or thermal bonding solutions. 3M™ adhesive technology creates a stronger bond while weighing less and giving a clean design and consistent appearance. The façade is the most important part of the building envelope responsible for a range of functions, most importantly the primary weather defence and architectural aesthetics. Metal has been included in architectural façade designs, windows & doors for the routine smooth skin design for commercial and residential buildings. The designers have embraced metal...

By 2050 it is anticipated that there will be an extra two billion city dwellers across the globe and the general consensus is that sustainability can only be achieved by minimising the negative environmental impact of buildings by efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, development space and the ecosystem at large. A more sustainable approach to future façades is needed. There must be a common global goal, rather than individual agendas, and innovation of new energy efficiency products and optimisation of current façade space to create more sustainable buildings. This year World Environment Day on June 5 marked the formal launch of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), a decade which efforts in preventing a major climate change and assisting the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded or destroyed, as well as conserving the ecosystems that are still intact. It seems logical that the...

Building envelope forms a critical component of our built environment. This is the medium that communicates with nature around. Lighting, ventilation, thermal comfort and safety are the attributes, in addition to aesthetics that have challenged architects since the beginning of civilisation. Insulation from heat, cold and noise, indoor air quality, longevity and maintainability are primarily contributed by the fenestration set-up or façade of the buildings. Elements of Design [caption id="attachment_43904" align="alignleft" width="300"] Façade glazing that turns into skylight at V-Club, Vaishnavi Commune[/caption] This article is an outcome of my personal search for solutions, and I hope that this serves as a simple reckoner to architects while designing, to assess possible solutions for building envelopes, façade and fenestration. Establishing an unhindered connection with nature possibly is the most desired design element for all architects. Collapsible or sliding-folding mechanisms of a wide variety for near 100% opening are now possible, thanks to...

The building industry consumes maximum fossil fuels and contributes most to global warming. Over usage of conventional building materials not only causes global warming but also adversely affects natural resources. The façade is one of the most important contributors to the energy consumption and comfort parameters of any building. So the use of efficient façade material has a big role in optimising the requirement of operational energy and other functional parameters desired in buildings. This paper presents a unique building material named Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC). AAC is a building material which consists of various sized elements that form a complete building system. E.g., walling blocks, reinforced wall & roof panels can be made out of AAC. AAC is also recognised as a Green building material and is used commonly for the buildings conforming to TERI–GRIHA, ECBC and IGBC–LEED rating systems. No other single building material can provide such a...

Façade lighting alters the appearance of a cityscape, draws attention, and attracts big crowds of tourists. It increases revenue and improves reputation. It also provides an economic incentive for investors to gentrify real estate and increase property utilisation, making it more appealing to them. Façade lighting also adds cultural value to a building. Façade lighting is a modern instrument that may be utilised to improve the appearance of a cityscape or a business building. [caption id="attachment_43759" align="alignright" width="150"] Erin Slaviero Senior Lighting Designer, Nulty Lighting[/caption] Façade lighting fulfils both functional and aesthetic needs, generates new urban areas, and gives buildings a distinct appearance at night. Façade lighting attracts attention from afar, making it easier for passers-by to locate themselves. There is a lot more to learn about façade lighting. We interviewed a few façade lighting experts and presented their thoughts in this cover story to know more about effective façade...

Canadian Wood hosts a webinar on Door Industry as part of its WOODINNOVATIONS series. In continuation with the WOODINNOVATIONS webinar series, recently conducted the second webinar focused on the ‘Door Industry’, by emphasizing its relevance to the Indian woodworking industry. Forestry Innovation Consulting India Pvt. Ltd., popularly known as Canadian Wood has been actively involved in promoting the concept of building with wood sourced from the sustainably managed forests of B.C., Canada. In the doors segment, wood has been a very popular raw material especially in the traditional and luxury markets where it has been widely used for the manufacturing of doors, doorframes, and door jambs (chaukhats). The natural warmth, elegance, and beauty of the wood when used in developing doors, instantly elevates the look of a space and adds character, which cannot be replicated by any other material. As wood has been a preferred building material for doors, the...

Glass has made its way as a wonder material and deep inroads in the building industry. It has revamped itself hugely and the industry has broken the conventional fears and norms of breakage, safety, security and several other factors and addressed them head-on. The technological innovations in glass and glazing have helped and rewarded the industry with substantial growth in volumes and adding diversity and versatility in usage. Façade glazing contributes to the aesthetics of a building and reduces the visual and physical weight of a building. It presents design opportunities to architects, where they can explore different geometric configurations and shapes of glass with customised module design and its assembly. Architects are still exploring its creative applications. [caption id="attachment_43466" align="alignnone" width="774"] Blu by BES Consultants[/caption] Window/Façade Glazing - Why is it Important? [caption id="attachment_43467" align="alignleft" width="150"] Dwayne Sloan Director Principal Engineering, Built Environment, UL[/caption] The building façade refers to...

Like all passionate projects, this one too has an interesting backstory. For one, this pertains to the brand Fundermax, for their own office, a new one. Two, it is an affirmation of their ambitious plans for the new decade. The location – an expansive building in the far suburbs of Bengaluru provided the right setting to show the rich possibilities with Fundermax products. [caption id="attachment_43334" align="alignright" width="217"] Office Building - East and North Elevation[/caption] Away from the congestion of Bengaluru’s central business district, the new place was the canvas on which we could unleash our dreams. This case study is about the conception of the new office cum Experience Center and how Fundermax panels can bring life to, even the most complicated design ideas of architects. “Experience” as a Feature in B2B Selling The basic idea of the new office was to mould it into an Experience Center for Fundermax...

RSP is a well-known name in the architecture field. What makes you one of the leaders in the field? What is your key success mantra? RSP has been successfully in operation for 65 years and managed to complete over 2,500 projects worldwide. When we set up the design studio in 2009 we brought with us the expertise, skill-set, and creativity of the RSP legacy combined with our talented team on the ground that adds the local know-how and individual talent. RSP has been a global leader in educational, hospitality, mixed-use, and master planning projects for decades thanks to the vast in-house talent pool and exceptional clients that continuously push the boundaries and help us to excel. Our mantra is very simple - 1. Understand the client's brief 2. Produce a world-class design on time and budget 3. Deliver a sustainable and value adding project to our client’s portfolio. What are...

Please tell us about your company Fenesta, and yourself? How long the company has been in this business in the Indian market? Having pioneered the design, manufacture, installation and service of precision-engineered, 100% customized uPVC and Aluminium windows and doors, Fenesta is a part of Rs. 7771 crore, 1889 established, DCM Shriram Group. Fenesta has managed to harness a deep knowledge of the Indian market and global technologies to produce and install over 2.5 million windows. Furthermore, the diverse capabilities of Fenesta have helped launch distinctly innovative product series. Establishing itself as India's no. 1 brand for windows and doors, Fenesta has a presence in more than 327 cities in India, Bhutan, and Nepal. With regards to myself, I joined DCM Shriram 21 years back and Fenesta 7 years back. I strongly believe that People are the biggest asset of Fenesta and I am proud of the Fenesta Team. I...

Efficient buildings are designed to provide occupants with a comfortable, safe, and healthy living and work environment. This requires superior architecture and engineering designs, quality construction practices, and intelligent operation of the structures. According to a study in the USA, the major areas of energy consumption in buildings are heating, ventilation, and air conditioning—35% of total building energy and lighting consumes —11%. Façade and fenestration is often considered the biggest hurdle in achieving higher levels of energy efficiency in buildings. Building owners opt for the most efficient façade and fenestration system which contributes to energy conservation, thereby operational costs. This edition cover story on “Effective Fenestration Through Improved Designs & Systems” discusses key factors such as characteristics and main features of sustainable and efficient façades and fenestration, ideal wall-window ratio, and improved acoustics and thermal comfort through proper design and installation of fenestration. It also throws light on the ways...

Quality comes with a price. A good quality aluminium window could be more expensive than other material windows. But the issue is not the price, the issue is about the possibilities in aluminium. The life cycle of aluminium could be more than the life cycle of the building itself. Its high strength-to-weight ratio, flexibility and formability guarantee virtually unlimited design potential. It can be shaped, welded, screwed and cut into dynamic 3D shapes. The extrusion process offers an almost infinite range of forms and sections, allowing designers to integrate numerous functions into single profiles. The incredibly high strength-to-weight ratio of aluminium makes it possible to design light structures with exceptional stability. The use of aluminium provides architects with the means to meet required performance specifications while minimising expenditure on foundations. Due to the metal’s inherent strength, aluminium window and curtain wall frames can be very narrow, maximising solar gains forgiven...

Fires cause over 300,000 deaths annually and are the fourth-largest cause of accidental injury globally after road accidents, falls, and drowning. Burn injury risk is strongly associated with urban areas with crowded regions, which are growing rapidly in an urbanising world. Fires in high-rise buildings and residential complexes are one of the major urban disasters due to the high population density, and high economic value of buildings and land. The high concentration of people and property makes firefighting and evacuation operations very difficult in case of a fire event. Team WFM discussed the factors affecting fire occurrence in highrise buildings with many experts including architects, engineers and consultants, and found that the main factors influencing the fire risks and spread of fire in buildings are fire safety evacuation ability, building fire prevention capability, and building fire safety management status. Fire Safety In High-Rises In Dense Urban Areas [caption id="attachment_42363" align="alignleft"...

In a conversation with Window & Façade Magazine, Kidwai talked about his journey in the industry, the offerings and achievements of Gulf Rubber Industries L.L.C, etc. Here are the excerpts… Please brief us about your Gulf Rubber Industries’ journey. Gulf Rubber Industries L.L.C has been established as one of the pioneers of the rubber manufacturing industries in the Middle East. Our company is formed by experienced professionals who have been in this business for more than 20 years. We are the first of its kind in the entire Middle East that have phenomenal range and capabilities of processing synthetic and silicone rubbers to manufacture profiles that comprise of multi durometer hardness, multi-material colour extrusion, profile pre-cut, TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer), vulcanised frames, corners and various other combinations depending upon the customer requirements. In addition to the above products, we also provide additional service to customers such as testing, analysis, design and...

The façade of a building is an architectural feature with functionality. Along with the function of keeping the weather and environment out, it also fulfils an important need of a building, that is to differentiate itself from others. It is rare to find a façade designer/contractor wanting to create a building envelope exactly like another one. And if it is being re-created; you can never find the exact same combination of materials and workmanship! This need to differentiate combined with the driver of ‘the economies of scale’ challenges the architects, engineers and businesses in almost every tall building which is susceptible to a façade fire. The challenge is to minimise the cost and time to build it and ensure it complies with all the expectations of performance. Let us dig deeper to view the understanding that has developed so far to ensure fire safe façades and why so many people...