Facade design and engineering

The facade is the meeting point of almost every other building discipline integrating with the structure, building services and others.

The V & A Dundee - parametric modelling was used to optimise the facades pre-cast panels, while maintaining the random appearance, making their manufacture and transportation more economical. All 2,429 elements were compiled into a schedule of cladding panel lengths and shapes.

By understanding the strategic aims of the project in its earliest stages, we can define how the building envelope can achieve the best outcome. We specialise in facades that are easily assembled and can be procured with minimum impact to cost and risk factors.

Arup invests in research, developing ideas such as design for disassembly and recovery, and finding ways to apply resource saving, circular economy principles. Our research encompasses predicted future weather patterns and changing definitions of comfort and discomfort. We apply this research to our work, providing comprehensive guidance for successful delivery of our clients’ projects.

Digital design and data powered tools

Tools like Arup Solar, Inspect, Maintain, and Street are part of our evolving digital platform, helping us to define and document the facade’s design and operation in a more collaborative way.

Tool

Arup Inspect

We develop these digital tools to ensure that facades work harder – they also help to bring clients into a collaborative design process. They allow us to carry out early analysis of massing, orientation, views and energy use, and can guide discussions and provide real-time demonstrations of a proposed facade. They also record every detail about the facade for future reference, information that can be used for modelling and future maintenance strategies.

Prolong, upgrade or replace?

There are critical moments in a building's lifecycle when strategic decisions need to be made. Should you prolong its life through performance or fabric upgrades or transform the facade entirely? We advise our clients on how to adapt existing building envelopes to perform for contemporary and future use.

In certain jurisdictions, listed buildings present highly specific planning and legal requirements. Our heritage experts provide conservation services to assess the significance of facade details and specify appropriate programmes of work.

Analyse, reveal, improve

We also offer a comprehensive diagnostic and survey service. This includes system and materials failure investigations, facade fire safety audits and leakages or thermal performance issues, pre-purchase or due diligence, change of lease, defects liability, condition surveys and maintenance planning. And what we learn from each project feeds back into our designs for both new build or improvements to existing buildings.

Case study

Futurium

In collaboration with architects and other industry partners, Arup has developed a modular façade system consisting of prefabricated cassettes, combining translucent textured glass on the front with a folded metal reflector on the back. The optical interplay of reflective, translucent and transparent surfaces results in a smooth and shimmering skin transforming continuously over the course of the day depending on the lighting conditions and viewing angle.