Façade Design Stages: Issues and Considerations

Abstract

Building façades play an important role in building aesthetics and in protecting the structural system and contents from deterioration due to exposure to an aggressive environment. Well-designed façades can also help improve the durability and energy efficiency of the building as well as elevating the level of human comfort. In general, façade design and detailing have not received the same level of rigor and overall scrutiny as the load-bearing components of buildings. Current codes and standards require safety provisions for environmental separating elements of a building. However, there is an urgent need for the development of detailed procedures for the design of durable and sustainable building façades. This paper reviews the needed considerations in each stage of an optimal façade life cycle and compares them with the current available practices and discusses various safety-related issues, failure modes, and the risks involved throughout the system service life.