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The Circadian Curtain Wall by John Neary
- Article by Mic Patterson, Ambassador of Innovation & Collaboration
Material Matters: Embodied Carbon Considerations Impacting Design Practices for Facade Systems, Buildings, and Urban Habitat
- Article by Mic Patterson, PhD, LEED AP BD+C, Ambassador of Innovation and Collaboration
3rd Annual ACAW Ceramic Workshop 2018 Recap
- Article by Mic Patterson, PhD, LEED AP BD+, Ambassador of Innovation and Collaboration
Bridging Aesthetics and Technology: Balancing Building Concept with Details in the Design Development Process of the Facade System
- Article by John Neary, AIA LEED AP, Senior Facade Specialist
Enhancing an Icon: 71 Above at the US Bank Tower
- Article by Amanda Weko
Beyond Glass (literally or metaphorically): Trends, drivers, and future trajectories
- Article by Mic Patterson, PhD, LEED AP BD+C, Ambassador of Innovation and Collaboration
Architectural Glass Institute Sponsors Second Annual Architectural Glass Student Design Competition
- Article by Stephanie Staub, CSI, CDT, LEED Green Associate, Marketing Director
Digital Designers in NYC Providing a Unique Facade Procurement Experience
- Article by Mic Patterson, PhD, LEED AP BD+C, Ambassador of Innovation and Collaboration
Facade Futures 2018: Considering long-term trends in curtainwall technology
- Article by Mic Patterson, PhD, LEED AP BD+C, Ambassador of Innovation and Collaboration
MODESTEhouseTEST: August 7-17, 2017
- Article by W. Geoff Gjertson, Architect, AIA, Professor of Architecture and Co-Director of the Building Institute
Drawdown: Paul Hawken Gets Real with Climate Change
- Article by Mic Patterson, PhD, LEED AP BD+C, Ambassador of Innovation and Collaboration
Remembering Peter Rice
- Article by Mic Patterson, PhD, LEED AP BD+C, Ambassador of Innovation and Collaboration

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Circadian Curtain Wall

Article by Mic Patterson, Ambassador of Innovation & Collaboration

The Circadian Curtain Wall by John Neary

Float Glass Production

Article by Mic Patterson, PhD, LEED AP BD+C, Ambassador of Innovation and Collaboration

Material Matters: Embodied Carbon Considerations Impacting Design Practices for Facade Systems, Buildings, and Urban Habitat

ACAWorkshop 2018

Article by Mic Patterson, PhD, LEED AP BD+, Ambassador of Innovation and Collaboration

3rd Annual ACAW Ceramic Workshop 2018 Recap

Bridging Aesthetics and Technology Figure 8

Article by John Neary, AIA LEED AP, Senior Facade Specialist

Bridging Aesthetics and Technology: Balancing Building Concept with Details in the Design Development Process of the Facade System

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The Circadian Curtain Wall by John Neary
- Article by Mic Patterson, Ambassador of Innovation & Collaboration
Reviewing John Neary's Circadian Curtain Wall, one is confronted with an insistent question: why hasn't anyone started construction on this intriguing building design yet? John has provided FTI with a presentation to explain the thinking behind the Circadian Curtain Wall in greater detail.

March 12, 2019
Material Matters: Embodied Carbon Considerations Impacting Design Practices for Facade Systems, Buildings, and Urban Habitat
- Article by Mic Patterson, PhD, LEED AP BD+C, Ambassador of Innovation and Collaboration
Awareness of embodied carbon impacts is surging like hurricane-driven floodwaters and altering the landscape of everything in its path. What are the implications for buildings, the facade system and urban habitat? FTI is taking this on with its 2019 Forum series.

October 29, 2018
3rd Annual ACAW Ceramic Workshop 2018 Recap
- Article by Mic Patterson, PhD, LEED AP BD+, Ambassador of Innovation and Collaboration
2018 teams included; Morphosis, SHoP Architects, Sasaki/Studio NYL, University at Buffalo, AECOM, and Radical Matter. The ACAWorkshop is an outstanding model of industry-academia partnership aimed at the ongoing education of students and practitioners alike.

September 28, 2018
Bridging Aesthetics and Technology: Balancing Building Concept with Details in the Design Development Process of the Facade System
- Article by John Neary, AIA LEED AP, Senior Facade Specialist
NYCCT Architecture Program Chairman Sanjive Vaidya, asked HOK facades architect John Neary to give a design studio focused on detailing the building skin system. With HOK designer Michael Miller, Neary led a group of students through the facade system design development process.

August 27, 2018
Enhancing an Icon: 71 Above at the US Bank Tower
- Article by Amanda Weko
The 71Above restaurant on the 71st floor of the U.S. Bank Tower features 192 electrochromic windows installed by Giroux Glass, Inc. Explore the sensory experience made possible by glazing choices and why we’re apt to see more tech-driven smart window installations in the future.

July 11, 2018
Beyond Glass (literally or metaphorically): Trends, drivers, and future trajectories
- Article by Mic Patterson, PhD, LEED AP BD+C, Ambassador of Innovation and Collaboration
The age-old trend of more and larger lites of glass in the building skin dates back to the Roman Empire. Despite the challenges of highly glazed facades, it appears we just can’t get enough. Is there a “beyond” glass? If so, what does it look like?

July 10, 2018
Architectural Glass Institute Sponsors Second Annual Architectural Glass Student Design Competition
- Article by Stephanie Staub, CSI, CDT, LEED Green Associate, Marketing Director
The Architectural Glass Institute (AGI) of Philadelphia, Pa., sponsored its second annual Architectural Glass Student Design Competition in January, where third-year Jefferson University architecture students competed to design glass learning pods.

July 9, 2018
Digital Designers in NYC Providing a Unique Facade Procurement Experience
- Article by Mic Patterson, PhD, LEED AP BD+C, Ambassador of Innovation and Collaboration
A small team of digital designers at the Schüco Virtual Construction Lab (VCL) in NYC is developing a new way for clients to experience and evaluate facade products. The VCL will be demonstrating the technology at the conference in Los Angeles on March 12-13.

February 23, 2018
Facade Futures 2018: Considering long-term trends in curtainwall technology
- Article by Mic Patterson, PhD, LEED AP BD+C, Ambassador of Innovation and Collaboration
Mic Patterson unpacks his crystal ball and looks ahead to the forces that will shape buildings over upcoming decades. Expect some surprises down the road…

February 23, 2018
MODESTEhouseTEST: August 7-17, 2017
- Article by W. Geoff Gjertson, Architect, AIA, Professor of Architecture and Co-Director of the Building Institute
A design-build class at the University of Louisiana explores the territory of the “tiny-house.” Professor Geoff Gjertson describes the 216 square foot MODESTEhouse and shares his personal experience of living small.

January 15, 2018
Drawdown: Paul Hawken Gets Real with Climate Change
- Article by Mic Patterson, PhD, LEED AP BD+C, Ambassador of Innovation and Collaboration
Drawdown is an inspiring new effort to manage atmospheric carbon and the resulting climate impacts. This brief reveiw discusses the book, the movement, and the potential.

January 12, 2018
Remembering Peter Rice
- Article by Mic Patterson, PhD, LEED AP BD+C, Ambassador of Innovation and Collaboration
What does an engineer do? An engineer imagines. What are your sources of inspiration? Mic Patterson remembers Peter Rice and discusses his enduring legacy.

January 12, 2018
The Graduate Building Science program at USC is outstanding. Join us!
- Article by Douglas E. Noble, PhD, FAIA, Director of the Chase L. Leavitt Graduate Building Science Program, Chair of the Ph.D. Program and Co-Founder of the CLIPPER Lab School of Architecture
Performance attributes are gradually eclipsing those of appearance as people-centric and zero-impact design comes to dominate practices of buildings and urban habitat. Doug Noble has a message for those interested in preparing for a leadership role in the emerging future of the built environment.

December 11, 2017
RECAP – Facade Tectonics Forum: NYC! Expands and Amplifies the Better Buildings Dialogue
The recent Forum— Outside the Lines: Building Facades Redefine Urban Living in NYC —hosted by the Ornamental Metals Institute of New York was a rousing event that featured what is certainly among the best speaker programs ever organized by the Facade Tectonics Institute.

November 14, 2017
Observations on Collaborative Process and Materiality from the Architectural Ceramic Assemblies Workshop
As an industry, we talk a lot about collaboration but the walk, not so much. This ceramics workshop is a stellar example of industry/academic/professional collaboration and worthy of the highest praise. We need more of this!

November 6, 2017
Bridging the Gap Between Industry and Academia
- Article by Jeffrey Vaglio, PhD, PE, AIA
Fundamentals of Facade Technology: Jeff Vaglio, a proud Facade Geek and lifelong learning proponent, reports on a hands-on industry/academic collaboration at USC. Education is a core mission of the Facade Tectonics Institute, serving both academia and the building profession.

July 17, 2017
building HEALTHY building(s)
Healthy buildings were explored in a recent conference in Germany. Hosted by Schuco International, participants from 18 universities, representatives from research institutes, and political and business leaders shared a spirited 2-day exchange of ideas.

June 15, 2017
Recap – Facade Tectonics Forum: CHICAGO
Attendee survey results are in for the recent Façade Tectonics Forum: Chicago! with 100% reporting they will attend another event and recommend FTI events to others, and 96% reporting that speakers and presentations met or exceeded expectations.

May 30, 2017
building HEALTHY building(s): PhilaU Places 5 in the top 10 Finalists in International Student Competition
Architecture students from Philadelphia University took five of the top ten spots in the building Healthy building(s) competition. The student competition was conducted as a precursor to an upcoming conference...

April 18, 2017
New <i>Curtainwall Engineering</i> Short-course for Architects and Engineers with 150 AIA CEU Credits
Augsburg University has announced a new curtainwall engineering compact program designed for the architect or engineer practicing internationally...

February 27, 2017
Mic Patterson Named FTI’s Ambassador of Innovation & Collaboration
Patterson is a co-founder and former President of the Institute, and accepted this posting after passing the mantle of presidency to President Elect Dr. Helen Sanders.

January 12, 2017
Dr. Helen Sanders Steps into the Role of FTI President for 2017
Dr. Helen Sanders has donned the mantle of leadership as President of the Facade Tectonics Institute. Dr. Sanders replaces Mic Patterson, the Institute’s inaugural President since its founding.

January 9, 2017
Impact of Climate Change: Thermal and Energy Performance of Facade Types in Different Climates copy
As global temperatures continue to rise, researchers are examining the building envelope’s impact on climate-specific guidelines to create a more sustainable built environment.

September 30, 2016
Structural Skin: Integrating Structure and Cladding
From gothic masonry to the sculptural building facades of today, exposed structural surfaces are often the most defining element of architecture. Increasingly, however, designers sit at a nexus of these aesthetic considerations and performance-driven design.

September 26, 2016
Reglazing Modernism: The American and European Experience with Steel Frame Assemblies to Date
Metal-framed glazed enclosures define contemporary architecture. But as our 20th century building stock continues to age, the restoration, rehabilitation and replacement of underperforming facades has created a specialized field of physicists and preservationists.

September 15, 2016
Wherefor Aluminum: Materiality of Curtain Wall Systems
Historically, the material advantages of aluminum have resulted in its widespread application as curtain wall framing. But amidst the 21st century push for increased energy performance, aluminum is also characterized by problematic thermal properties and a high-embodied energy profile.

September 12, 2016
Q&A with StudioTJOA, Creator of the Award Winning Thermalswitch Facade
- Article by Matt Elder
Inspired by the President’s Climate Action Plan and Architecture 2030 Challenge, Metals in Construction magazine and the OMINY tapped designers in late 2015 to create an eco‐friendly, highly transparent enclosure that preserves the aesthetic integrity of 200 Park Ave.

April 26, 2016
Jurors Select Winning Redesigns of 200 Park Avenue Facade
Metals in Construction magazine and the Ornamental Metal Institute of New York named six winning teams for its 2016 Design Challenge yesterday at the Times Center in New York City. “Reimagine a New York City Icon” challenged designers and engineers to reclad 200 Park Avenue in New York.

March 1, 2016
The Millennium IGU: A Regenerative Concept for a 1000 Year Insulated Glass Unit
The Millennium IGU: A Regenerative Concept for a 1000 Year Insulated Glass Unit is an ongoing series published by the Advanced Technology Studio of Enclos examining the undesirable lifecycle impacts associated with conventional IGU production, use and disposal.

February 4, 2016
Should We Save Mid-Century Modern Icons That Hurt the Environment?
In a feature posted on fastcodedesign.com yesterday, architect James Timberlake charts a course for making ethical decisions about unsustainable modernist architecture.

December 18, 2015
The Poetry, Pitfalls and Potential of Kinetic Facades
The Poetry, Pitfalls and Potential of Kinetic Facades is an ongoing series published by the Advanced Technology Studio of Enclos examining kinetic components in building envelopes — often eye-catching, occasionally gimmicky, and almost always a technical and economic challenge.

November 24, 2015
RECAP – CTBUH 2015 Host Room Assembles World-Class Lineup of Building Facade Specialists
On October 26th and 27th, the Facade Tectonics Institute assembled a world-class lineup of building facade specialists at the CTBUH 2015 International Conference in New York City.

October 29, 2015
Bending Glass in the Parametric Age
Manipulations of glass that have long seemed speculative are becoming possible with combinations of hot or cold bending, thermal or chemical tempering, and lamination.

May 29, 2015
HPDs for Facade Glass: How Transparent is Transparent?
"HPDs for Facade Glass: How Transparent is Transparent?" is an article published by the Advanced Technology Studio of Enclos examining chemical content reporting for glazed products.

March 26, 2015

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