Curtainwall: not just another pretty facade.(THE BUILDING ENVELOPE: CURTAINWALL)

Buildings,  November, 2006  by Sanders, Russell M.

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They're unique, aesthetically pleasing, and provide a barrier to the elements: Curtainwall systems have not only evolved, they've grown increasingly popular in building construction. In a nutshell, a curtainwall literally hangs from a structure like curtains hang on a wall. A curtainwall system is any exterior wall that is attached to the building structure (but is not load-bearing).

A curtainwall is the facade element that forms the weather barrier for the building without supporting the structure. It can have many different appearances, but typically has narrowly spaced ...

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