Transitions Between Diverse Envelope Systems

The Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California features an extremely diverse set of facade systems within one continuous building envelope. Systems used include: shading devices including gratings, fins, and louvers; rain screen elements including natural stone, GFRC, precast concrete, sheet metal and insulated metal panels; and glazing systems including point supported, punched window, structural silicone, storefront and curtain wall. The variety of systems used and their interfaces with one another required a wide range of joint detailing solutions. Designing and building the interface between myriad systems became one of the largest challenges for the design and construction teams. Joint systems for seismic joints, thermal expansion joints, system transition joints, penetration joints and anchorage joints all presented unique challenges. Designers and builders, working together through the Design Assist/Design Build delivery method, successfully tied many disparate systems together to a complete envelope using a variety of joints including: proprietary break away panels, sliding joint covers, double sealant joints, single sealant joints with concealed air and water barrier (AWB), foam infill joints, sacrificial crumple panel with concealed AWB, slotted/sheathed metal panel, single sealant and flashing covering waterproofing transition to gasket, single sealant and flashing covering waterproofing transition to AWB, chicken-head gasketing, rubber isolation gaskets and plastic separation shims.