There is perhaps no building element that typifies contemporary architecture more than the curtain wall. Lightweight and flexible, these glazed assemblies not only allow more usable floor space within a building, but also epitomize upscale, modern construction.
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Each year, curtain walls continue to soar higher, form angles that are more challenging, and push the building envelope closer to total transparency. A case in point is the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC’s) Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station.
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For decades, fire-rated glass meant one thing—small, wired-glass lites. Common throughout Canada, these installations are usually windows within doors, or narrow sidelights or transoms. The crisscross wires give this glass a distinctive institutional appearance, as it is frequently used in schools, hospitals, and other public buildings.
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Today, more and more architects are literally thinking outside the box. Modern buildings are taking on unique shapes and forms, and structures are reaching staggering new heights. This shift means the purpose of the building envelope is also expanding.
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Adoption of the North American Fenestration Standard (NAFS) has resulted in big changes in the fenestration industry. However, does this signal changes for exterior wall materials, as well? Extruded aluminum—aluminum alloy which has been pressed through a die to create building components with unique cross-sectional shapes—is commonly used in curtain wall framing and other fenestration elements.
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