35th UAP National Convention
The Power of Architecture
DR E A M • CR E A T E • TRANSF ORM
Façade
Consultancy
Bridging
the Gap
Ron Bertoli
Over the past 20 years,
facades have developed and
emerged as one of the most
complex and costly aspects of
any building design. With the
advancement of computer
imagery and 3D graphics,
the emerging significance of
green technology, and the
ever increasing demand for
architectural ingenuity, façade
design has become a specialized
area requiring a combination of
multiple disciplines.
In this paper, we look at the
role of the facade consultant
and how they ‘bridge the gap’
between design and reality. By
advising the design team on types
of systems that will most benefit
each architectural scheme,
façade consultants assist to realise
the architectural visions that
are presented to clients at the
inception of any project.
The aim of this paper is
to briefly look at the history of
facades, the emergence of
façade engineering as a discipline
in its own right, the role of the
façade consultant and what they
bring to the project, and at what
time do you engage a façade
consultant. It will explain how
important the skills and experience
of a façade consultant are in
selecting the correct systems to
achieve the architectural concept,
selection of materials for not
purely aesthetic reasons but also
for long term durability, achieving
sustainable designs that reduce
operation and maintenance costs,
while maintaining building costs in
line with client budgets.
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