FAÇADES PROFESSIONALS
Façade engineering Specialism cuts across disciplines and fosters integration
T
he boundaries between the many disciplines involved in the process of design,
supply, installation, testing and operation of building façades is becoming blurred. For buildings to achieve high levels of energy efficiency and create a comfortable environment for users, there must be appropriate dialogue between architects, façade engineers, building services engineers, structural engineers and contractors. It is generally accepted that
collaboration from the early design stages is a prerequisite for integration and successful design. The term façade engineering has been used for the past 25 years to describe specialist services not usually covered by the more traditional disciplines but, rather, bridging across them. The impact of the building envelope on building performance and architectural expression – together with the fact that the building envelope easily represents up to 25% of construction costs – means that the focus on this field is increasing. Clients and investors need to manage risk and control costs, while meeting the energy performance standards set out by ever-stricter regulations. The building envelope
has an unparalleled impact on the perceived qualities of architecture – in terms of both aesthetics and performance. The envelope represents very considerable risks in terms of all the things that can go wrong and delay the construction and/or lead to costly problems during the in-service life of the building. The value of assets is affected significantly by the building envelope so its durability is of paramount importance to owners of building portfolios and owner-occupiers. Integrated design takes on
different meanings depending on context. It can be taken as shorthand for integration of
36 CIBSE Journal October 2011
disciplines and the aspiration not to try and engineer an architectural vision, but rather to develop solutions that work well at every level. For instance, the shape of a roof may be driven by a certain ventilation strategy, while at the same time working well structurally and generating a beautiful space. Another example is
The hope is that more people in our industry will recognise the importance of façade engineering as a means of delivering integrated design
the way building design should be sustainable – integrated within the urban context as well as focusing on the use of resources and energy – aspects requiring a range of skills not necessarily pertaining to traditional building engineering disciplines. Traditionally, façade engineers
have ended up in this specialist field after being involved in the design of building envelopes as structural engineers, building physicists, architects, or as technical personnel involved with the design of systems. While the specialist field appeals to
many technically minded young engineers and architects, the apparent lack of a home institution and a route to chartership has often caused problems in terms of professional development and career opportunities. In the past, few academic
institutions have offered courses in façade engineering at Masters level. In recognition of the importance of the field, and in response to the growing need for skills in this area, more institutions are starting to offer Masters courses, which can be followed by students or professionals seeking formal training as part of their professional development. In recent years, the façade engineering discipline has been offered as an optional specialist service, potentially adding value to projects. Hence, demonstrating individual credentials and capabilities is a natural part of commercial activities of the specialist practices. The relatively recent introduction of professional accreditation by the Society of Façade Engineering (SFE) now offers an objective set of standards as a measure of professional competency. The SFE Membership classes (Associate; Member; Fellow) provide a measure of professional experience in a field, not covered by other existing
institutions. Members of the SFE can use their membership certificate to demonstrate competence, which is one of the main benefits of membership. The designatory letters MSFE or FSFE help clients and employers of specialists to distinguish between accredited individuals and those operating without formal accreditation. It is now clear that façade engineering cuts across a number of conventional disciplines and potentially both overlaps and integrates them. The successful integration in sectors such as the construction industry is a big ask by any standard, but as benchmarks are changing, the hope is that more people in our industry will recognise the importance of façade engineering as a means of delivering integrated design; that more young professionals will see a possible career in this exciting field; and that more clients will come to expect and begin to request – as a matter of course – that accredited professionals work on the delivery of their projects.
l DR Mikkel kRagh is an associate at Arup in Milan and is chairman of the Society of Façade Engineering
www.facadeengineeringsociety.org
www.cibsejournal.com
Dmitriy Shironosov/
shutterstock.com
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