{"id":452,"date":"2015-12-28T15:20:07","date_gmt":"2015-12-28T15:20:07","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2021-07-06T16:09:59","modified_gmt":"2021-07-06T16:09:59","slug":"blog-facades-for-the-future-exterior-window-shades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insyncsolar.com\/Staging\/blog\/blog-facades-for-the-future-exterior-window-shades\/","title":{"rendered":"Facades for the Future – Exterior Window Shades"},"content":{"rendered":"

Interview with Tali Mejicovsky<\/span><\/p>\n

During a recent presentation I gave at the Architectural and Engineering firm ARUP and leader in fa\u00e7ade design, I had the pleasure to sit down with Tali Mejicovsky, a fa\u00e7ade engineer to discuss the roll of building envelopes and exterior window shades<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

NG: What does the Facade Team at Arup do? <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TM: Arup provides specialist advice on all aspects of building fa\u00e7ades. Our aim is to assist our clients to realize their objectives for appearance, performance, durability, quality, cost and schedule. We seek to optimize fa\u00e7ade solutions for our clients on every project. Our fa\u00e7ade 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s construction cost \u2013 the neile as the structure \u2013 a fa\u00e7ade 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 fa\u00e7ade and roof elements.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s design, technical and commercial expertise helps to achieve the key to the success of building projects down to the smallest detail.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Exterior<\/span><\/p>\n

NG: What is your role? <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TM: I am an Associate within Arup New York\u2019s Facades group.  As a senior person my role is to win work, mentor the younger fa\u00e7ade engineers and provide technical advice on projects.  I also project manage fa\u00e7ade projects and work to grow the group and our business.<\/span><\/p>\n

NG: How has designing Facades changed over the years? <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TM: During my career, the fashion in facades has changed from designing cable-supported facades to framed glazing with larger and larger sizes.  There is a trend to eliminate the framing as much as possible, both to increase daylight openings and reduce frame effects on lowering the U value, but mostly from an aesthetic point of view.  Increasingly we are seeing all glass facades with minimal metal connectors laminated into the glass thickness thereby hiding all structural connections. At the neile time, there is also an increased understanding of the facades contribution to energy savings and code mandated thermal and solar criteria that the fa\u00e7ade must meet, so this driver is mediating the desire to go to an all glass fa\u00e7ade.<\/span><\/p>\n

NG: How has Engineered Shading Solutions become an integral part of today’s facades? <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TM: In order to efficiently address energy savings and occupant comfort shading solutions are employed. This is not a new phenomenon, particularly in very hot climates where screens have traditionally be an architectural solution to mitigate the sun.  Depending on the architect\u2019s aesthetic, the shading solutions may be internal, external, fabric, metal or glass.   <\/span><\/p>\n

NG: Can you tell me some of the projects you have done or are working on now that include window coverings? <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TM:<\/strong> Current and recent project with exterior window coverings include:<\/span><\/p>\n