The facade of a building is significant in its aesthetic value and its overall performance. An envelope of a building, designed correctly, may increase its energy efficiency, reduce noise, and create a striking visual effect.
A unitised curtain wall system is one of the most contemporary and effective methods for designing and building facades. This new cladding method offers many advantages, such as fast installation and improved performance, making it an attractive option for urban buildings worldwide.
This blog will elaborate on the unitised curtain wall system, its functionality and why it is becoming a popular system in the architecture world.
What Makes a Unitised Curtain Wall System Different?
Unitised curtain wall systems differ from traditional curtain wall systems in how they are assembled and installed. A unitised system means that instead of having to put together the entire facade on-site, unit by unit, a large pre-assembled panel, or unit, is built in a factory environment. The units are then moved to the construction location and installed.
The unitised curtain wall system comprises prefabricated units that include the frame, and glazing. These panels are engineered to interlock on the job, minimising on-site time during construction. Some of the benefits of this method include improved quality control, reduced labour costs, and shorter installation time.
The unitised system is quicker and more precise to assemble than traditional curtain walling systems, in which each element (frame and glass) is installed separately. The factory production cycle ensures that every unit is manufactured to specifications, resulting in a high-quality, uniform finish.
Understanding the Purpose of Curtainwalling in Architecture
Curtainwalling plays a vital role in contemporary architectural designs, especially in high-rise buildings and other vast urban buildings. A curtain wall is a non-structural exterior usually composed of lightweight materials such as Glass, aluminium, and other metals. The main idea of curtainwalling is to protect the building’s interior from weather conditions such as wind, rain, hot/cold air while allowing as much natural light as possible to enter.
The curtain walls are designed to be independent of the building’s structural frame, offering flexibility in design and construction. This enables architects to create beautiful facades with expansive windows and few vertical support structures.
The unitised curtain wall system has all the above functions, with the added advantages of being faster to install and providing better thermal insulation. Not only are prefabricated panels easier to install, but they also make buildings more energy-efficient by significantly reducing cooling costs.
How Reinforced Walling Enhances Building Performance
The use of glass is one of the most memorable aspects of the unitised curtain wall system, and this feature of the wall system improves the performance of the building tremendously. Glass curtain walling enables a lot of natural light to flow into the inner part of the structure, eliminating the use of electric lighting during the day. Not only does this reduce energy usage, but it also makes the building environment more enjoyable and productive for occupants.
Additionally, unitised curtain wall systems are normally energy-efficient, with the use of modern Glass. Glass curtain walls may be fitted with superior finishes, including Low-E (low-emissivity) glass, which can reduce heat gain to a minimum. This helps control the building’s temperature, keeping it cooler in summer and warmer in winter, and generally improves the building’s overall energy performance.
Soundproofing is another property that glass curtain walling provides; hence, this structure is widely used in urban buildings that can be characterised as noise polluters. Glass can also be used to absorb and block external noise, creating a more comfortable, quieter interior.
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Design Freedom with a Unitised Curtain Wall System
The unitised curtain wall system provides architects with a level of design freedom never before seen. The prefabricated units can be fabricated as per the design in the facility, allowing designers to produce very detailed and elaborate facades that are hard to achieve with conventional methods. This consists of complex geometrical designs, distinct forms and a more expansive glass cover.
The unitised system is modular, allowing the architects to be more flexible in completing their work and to alter the size, form, and structure of the panels to meet project-specific design demands. This adaptability can be especially useful in cities where building appearances must be both attractive and practical.
Also, pre-assembled units can be constructed off-site, thereby decreasing on-site workload and enabling shorter construction schedules. As a result, a unitised curtain wall system is ideal for high-rise and commercial buildings, where time and accuracy are paramount.
Why Urban Buildings Prefer a Unitised Curtain Wall System
High-rise offices, residential towers, and commercial complexes are the primary forms of urban buildings that are increasingly adopting the unitised curtain wall system for its functionality, cost-efficiency, and aesthetics. The unitised system has proved to be an ideal solution in crowded urban areas, where construction timeframes and sound need to be minimised while maintaining high quality.
The rate at which the unitised curtain wall system can be erected is also beneficial, especially in cities with tight construction timelines. The panels are prefabricated in a controlled environment, so installation is much faster than the conventional process. This is very necessary in cities where time is a significant factor and wasted time can be expensive.
The other reason unitised systems have been preferred in urban structures is that they can withstand the extreme weather conditions prevalent there. Cities tend to experience powerful winds, pollution and changes in temperature. These challenges can be easily managed by the unitised curtain wall system, which features a robust structure and high glazing levels, guaranteeing long-term performance and durability.
The unitised system also enables a sleeker, more modern look, which is an attractive feature for architects and developers involved in high-profile urban development. The smoothness of the panels complements the current architectural style, giving the buildings a classy, modern appearance.
Conclusion
Looking at where things are headed, unitised curtain walls have pretty much won out for modern high-rises. And honestly, it makes sense. They’re faster to install, they’re built in controlled factory conditions, so quality’s more consistent, and designers have way more freedom to work with but speed and flexibility aside, the practical stuff is what really matters. These systems actually lower your energy bills. They bring in natural light without turning the building into a greenhouse. And they handle the punishment of city life, pollution, wind loads, and temperature swings better than older approaches.
Cities aren’t slowing down. Buildings are getting taller, climate targets are getting stricter, and nobody wants to deal with a facade that needs constant repairs. Unitised curtain walls check those boxes, which is why they’re not going away anytime soon. If anything, they’ll just get better as materials and techniques improve.
Right now, if you’re wrapping a building that needs to last and perform, this is one of the most innovative options out there.
FAQs
Think of traditional “stick” systems as building a car in your driveway, while unitised systems are built on an assembly line. With unitised systems, we manufacture the entire panel, Glass, frame, and seals, in a controlled factory environment. We ship them to the Site ready to hang. This cuts out the headache of weather delays, speeds up the schedule significantly, and guarantees a quality of finish you just can’t get when sealing Glass 40 floors up in the wind.
It does a lot more than just look expensive. High-performance Glass is a legitimate energy strategy. By flooding the floor plate with natural light, you slash your artificial lighting costs. But the real value lies in the thermal breaks and coatings; they act as a shield, keeping heat out in summer and trapping it in winter. It also doubles as a solid acoustic barrier, which is non-negotiable in a loud city centre.
In a dense city, you don’t have the luxury of space or time. Stick systems require scaffolding and dry weather; unitised systems just need a crane and a crew. They go up incredibly fast, which gets the building watertight sooner (allowing interior work to start earlier). Plus, they are engineered to handle the massive wind loads and shifting movements that high-rises face, making them the safest bet for skyscrapers.