Façade design and engineering: complexity made simple

About this course

The building façade forms the interface between outside conditions and the habitable indoor climate, where we spend most of our time. So its design and construction seriously affect the performance of our buildings in terms of sustainability, energy efficiency, aesthetics and comfort.

Façade technology has advanced rapidly in the last decades and has become a key component of the modern building process. Understanding the complexity of façade construction is crucial for architects, engineers and building professionals in order to keep control over the design and engineering processes, to keep within budgeted construction costs and to support the creation of modern looking, energy efficient, sustainable and comfortable buildings.This course will provide a first insight into façades and the technology involved in their construction, from a grounded and practical perspective. It focuses on key aspects to address the complexity of façade design and engineering: its general principles, construction systems, details and tolerances, materials, geometrical complexity, sustainability and construction site processes. Consequently, learners will gain general knowledge of façade engineering, backed with technical information, which will give them the tools to explain façadedesign decisions and their potential impact on the overall performance of the building.