Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1477248
The Chelsea, Vancouver, B.C. S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 | 25 Curtain Wall & Window Wall P H OTO G R A P H Y BY PAU L G R D I N A / CO U RT E S Y C A S C A D I A W I N D OWS & D O O R S Efficiencies of curtain wall and window wall systems far exceed previous expectations by NATALIE BRUCKNER I n many ways the window wall and curtain wall industry has fully recovered from the hard knocks brought on by the pandemic and is once again full steam ahead. So much so in fact, that it is facing a plethora of other challenges including the dreaded supply chain issues and sky rocketing prices. However, thanks to having the foresight to envi- sion these potential problems, many in this sector are navigating those challenges beautifully and enjoying the changes being experienced within the industry. In the window wall sector, there is still a trend toward greater energy efficiency but, Michael Bousfield, technical director at Cascadia Windows, says the change he is seeing is that the driving force behind that in B.C. has gone from being ideological (customers opting to do it) to now being driven by regulatory compliance. "Enforcement in some areas like B.C. is con- sistent and mature enough now to make the new regulations extremely effective," Bousfield explains. As Bousfield rightly points out, one manufacturer with one product isn't going to solve the industry's problem – it takes a village! One product offered by Cascadia, the Universal Series Fiberglass Window Wall, continues to grow in popularity. The reason this product is attractive in the face of more strin- gent energy regulations is because it preserves the designer's ability to have more glazed area. The product is both Passive House Institute (PHI) and Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) cer- tified, Living Building Challenge Declare Red List Free, and Energy-Star rated. It also has the highest recognized water resistance rating (15 PSF) and is available with double and triple-glazed Low-E insu- lated glass units (IGUs). "This product got on a few early projects that have now been completed and are gaining occupancy, and the results show the prod- uct works," explains Bousfield. One of those projects is a multi-family residential project in Vancouver called the Chelsea by Cressey Development Group. "After that project we put that same window wall system on its first ever full-scale rehabilitation application, the 29-storey Pacific Point 2 Tower in Vancouver. That same system was also put on a new condo development by British Pacific Properties in West Vancouver. The results have been very impressive," says Bousfield. Of course, when it comes to the supply chain challenges and price increases, Bousfield says Cascadia "is not an island" when it comes to experi- encing those issues, but the team had the foresight to successfully navigate the challenge. "Glass short- ages are a reality, but our executive team anticipated DEBUNKING THE ENERGY MYTH