Neil Gordon

Interview with Tali Mejicovsky

During a recent presentation I gave at the Architectural and Engineering firm ARUP and leader in façade design, I had the pleasure to sit down with Tali Mejicovsky, a façade engineer to discuss the roll of building envelopes and exterior window shades.

NG: What does the Facade Team at Arup do? 

TM: Arup provides specialist advice on all aspects of building façades. Our aim is to assist our clients to realize their objectives for appearance, performance, durability, quality, cost and schedule. We seek to optimize façade solutions for our clients on every project. Our façade group is part of the worldwide Arup. We are a networked business based in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco and in 15 other international offices.

Our international team is over 150 strong. From this broad base we deploy our resources effectively to meet demands, whether they be a tight schedule or a requirement for specific areas of expertise.

Arup undertakes design work for architects, project managers, developers and subcontractors, and also has an extensive experience in building diagnostics and remediation for a wide range of building owners. Typically accounting for around 15% of a building’s construction cost – the neile as the structure – a façade is an important consideration for any project. Arup provides impartial advice to owners and managers to help them to manage the technical, commercial and program risk associated with façade and roof elements.

Our expertise encompasses an extensive range of materials and systems, including curtain wall consultancy, building physics assessment, daylight management and glare control, energy and building envelope performance optimization, forensics and remedial, microclimate weather analysis and parametric modeling. Arup’s design, technical and commercial expertise helps to achieve the key to the success of building projects down to the smallest detail.

 

Interview with Renato Borsato, CEO Model System Italia

In my many years in the industry I have met inspiring people and companies. At the top of my list is the man I met when I traveled to Treviso, Italy: Renato Borsato, the CEO of Model System Italia manufacturer of Exterior Window Shades. His company creates the most incredible Engineered Shading Solutions that I had ever encountered. Below is my interview with him that I conducted during one of my visits.

NG: What is the history of Model System?

RB: Model System is a multi-generational family business, founded in 1964 by my father Egidio Borsato and my uncle Leopoldo Borsato. My father has since past away, but my uncle still heads our company. My brother Stefano is the Engineering Manager and Leopoldo’s two sons Flavio and Roberto are very involved in the business. Flavio is the Production Manager, and Roberto is the Manager of Domestic Markets.

Last week we installed 3 aluminum Exterior Louver Rack Arm systems by Draper in New York City. These motorized exterior louvers are able to rotate in open or closed position. The client selected a clear anodized finish to match their exterior facade, however the Rack Arm comes in a number of standard finishes to match any preference.

 

We just installed manual solar shades at the newly opened Central Kitchen in Englewood Cliffs NJ.

Specifying on our custom line of interior solar shades and aluminum fascias (headboxes) matched to the mulions, we were able to provide a truly beautiful product for Central Kitchen.

 
Tensioned Exterior ZIP Shade: In the time of the Roman Colosseum, the clever Roman engineers devised a retractable awning system they called The Velarium. Constructed nearly 2000 years ago, this covering was a very effective engineered shading solution that protected the spectators from the unforgiving summer sun.

If you’re looking for a motorized solution to cover your skylight, the ZIP Skylight Shade by InSync Solar will exceed your expectations in shading efficiency. What we love so much about using the ZIP Skylight system over the typical skylight systems is that you can go long distances and not need intermediate support bars to prevent sagging. 

The ZIP Skylight shade comes in standard finishes and is available as a custom RAL finish to match any design feature.

 

We are excited to announce our new 1.0 Credit AIA Lunch and Learn entitled “Exterior Shading Solutions the Next Generation in Window Coverings” available starting January 2016. If your firm is interested in booking a program, please contact us by emailing neil@insyncsolar.com.

AIA/CES Registered Provider Program Summary

Provider:  InSync Solar, LLC

Program: Exterior Shading Solutions – The Next Generation in Window Coverings 

Program # : SS1024

Length: 1 Hour

Credits: 1 LU/HSW

Description:
Exterior Shading Solutions are beginning to makes its way across the pond from our European friends. With the sudden rise in sustainable and energy saving technologies such as Passive House, Exterior Shading Solutions are now at the forefront of protecting our buildings from excessive solar heat gain and glare. This presentation called Exterior Shading Solutions, the Next Generation in Window Coverings provides the participant with an overview of this exciting new trend. 

 
In the spring of 2014, I received a phone call from an Architect inquiring about exterior shades for his new building. He explained that he was planning a sustainable corporate headquarters for his firm Aufgang Architects where his intention was to install the latest technologies such as a geo-thermal heating system. He thought exterior shades would be a great complement to his wish list of sustainable solutions.

As we continued to talk on the phone, he told me the building’s location and to both of our surprises it was only 15 minutes away. Without hesitation, I jumped into my car and was sitting in his office moments later. 

I met Ariel Aufgang that day and was impressed with his busy architectural firm. While in his office, Ari showed me the rendering of the brick façade building with black mullion windows. He explained that he wanted to provide solar heat gain protection to the southern street facing façade. Not only was he concerned for reducing the amount of solar energy entering the space he was also worried about the need for glare control due to the generous daylighting.

Building Rendering

I immediately knew the ideal solution to address Ari’s specific needs as well as how to complement the design of the building with an exterior shading solution. My recommendation was our cable-guided exterior shade from Model System Italia the FM41. This is a simple motorized gravity assist shade with a 6” round aluminum enclosure with 6mm side cables and a Serge Ferrari fabric the Soltis 86 Exterior Shade Fabric.

Model FM41