Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/885333
OCTOBER 2017 | 11 PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSICA REDLARSKI MEDIA/COURTESY NORAM ENTERPRISES Curtain Wall & Window Wall T Curtain wall and window wall systems take inspiration from the European market by NATALIE BRUCKNER-MENCHELLI Face Off This year has been an interesting one for those in the curtain wall and window wall sector. Unitized and pre- glazed systems have become increasingly popular, there has been increased performance of glazed systems due to advancements being made in low-E coatings and there has been an improvement in thermal break tech- nology and higher quality products due to pre-glazing. Increasing regulatory – in particular the amend- ments to Part 5 of the National Building Code of Canada and the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) Standard Test Method for Water Penetration of Windows, Curtain Walls and Doors Using Dynamic Pressure – as well as customer demands are also driving the implementation of greener tech- nologies and eco-friendly approaches like those seen in Europe. Over the past couple of years Noram Building Systems has implemented a number of these now pop- ular features in its project designs, including glass sunshades at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, perfo- rated sunshades on a Westbury project in Mississauga, adjustable sunshades at Peel Paramedics in Brampton, graduated frit pattern at the Vaughan Civic Centre Resource Library, an integrated blind system at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, and high-performance insulated structural glazing at McMaster University in Hamilton, Queen's University in Kingston and Brock University in St. Catharines. "Our high-performance, top-of-the-line unitized curtain wall systems [Noram wall] have a rich list of available options to customize building facades in order to achieve the look and high-performance demands of numerous designs," says Ted Redlarski from Noram. "These include sunshades [glass, solid aluminum, or perforated aluminum] used for decreasing solar heat- ing, frit pattern and special graduating frit pattern that achieve the same goal as sunshades by limiting and decreasing solar heat gain, an integrated blind system that features fully adjustable blinds integrated into the building facade and high-performance insulated struc- tural glazing, creating a particular frameless esthetic, while offering high-energy performance." When it comes to current challenges, Redlarski says expectations continue to rise for neutral and transparent appearances of building facades that offer ever-increas- ing energy efficiency and minimize sound transmission. "Overcoming these challenges will have to be tack- led by utilizing the technology that already exists and tapping into the solutions that are inspired by the European market, while readily exploring new and exciting advancements to help create more technically integrated and eco-friendly systems and products, all while maintaining the beauty, natural transparency and integrity of glass," he adds. Peel Paramedics, Brampton, ON