| The traditional glazed building façade assemblies lack effectiveness in meeting the rapidly evolving and more restrictive building energy code. The requirements to adhere to envelope performance standards are becoming increasingly difficult with an all glass façade that employs a double pane glazing assembly.;This led to the pursuit of less conventional double-skin façade assemblies in situations that require high-performance envelopes. Double-skin façade (DSF) systems allow higher energy performance standard to be met. These systems also allow a greater degree of system controllability. However, the systems proved to be prohibitive due to the considerable increase in the use of materials, cost, and time needed to assemble. One solution is to use a unitized assembly instead of using a stick-built curtain wall.;This thesis will examine the proposed design of a unitized double-skin façade (UDSF) assembly and how it can resolve many of the current construction and performance issues that can limit DSF assemblies from entering the market as a comparable cost alternative façade to stick built curtain wall assemblies.;The unitized façade assemblies are a practical building assembly that allows off-site manufacturing with benefits. The façade components permit rapid on-site erection and a reduction of the material through and effective use of materials during fabrication of the assemblies. The idea of the aforementioned UDSF, reviews the potential for a substantial leap forward to the double-skin façade assemblies provided by a unitized multistory assembly in order to reduce the cost and the time required in these systems while achieving a reduction of materials and labor used to produce these systems. |
