Curtainwalls Aren't Efficient-But They're Improving

Despite their drawbacks in terms of energy performance (see “Rethinking the All-Glass Building,” EBN July 2010), for many owners and designers curtainwall systems are an integral part of the design aesthetic for buildings large and small. Fortunately, curtainwall systems with higher thermal efficiencies, condensation resistance, and durability are increasingly available—and increasingly specified.

The largest curtainwall systems are typically custom-designed, site-assembled, and competitively bid, but at the medium to small scale, those seeking high-efficiency curtainwalls for projects may turn to companies that provide more standardized systems, whether factory-built unitized ones or site-assembled.