Design method
1. Research:
University-based research of technologies which integrate facade, structures and MEP, conducted in house and through academic partnerships. This process is independent of project-specific time-scales and is aimed at both gathering knowledge on emerging technologies and developing new knowledge of experimental technologies.
2. Digital tools for design and analysis:
The use of high performing and calibrated digital tools to perform complex analysis at the early design stages, which is aimed at understanding behaviour. The capabilities of the commercially-available tools are often developed with the software provider as the design progresses.
3. ‘Agile’ management:
‘Agile’ techniques provide a method of delivering successful innovation in building design if projects are developed as a ‘product’ rather than being a process with drawn and written outputs only.
Application of design method:
- System Architecture: The arrangement of functions at the small-scale or large-scale of a single facade assembly type.
- System Engineering: The analysis and performance of a single facade assembly type.
Both ‘system architecture’ and ‘system engineering’ are developed through two phases:
1. ‘Differentiation’, where each system component is firstly analysed and designed in isolation.
2. ‘Integration’, where all components are finally made to converge into one design solution.
Design implementation
Limitations of the current method:
The performance specification does not capture how the various parts of the design are coordinated across the various disciplines. Consequently, there is no method to ensure that all design requirements are both compatible and coordinated. In the drawings, the specific method of assembly is not described. The drawings are organised as a hierarchy of general arrangement drawings, general assembly drawings and typical details, which describe only general design requirements at different scales.
Method applied at Newtecnic:
When the consequences of the proposed design during the construction phase are not fully understood, the emphasis turns to achieving a much higher level of design resolution where design documentation is needed for coordination, in a way that costs can be determined at a very early stage. In the following design phases that lead to tender, value is added to the design process by undertaking detailed analysis of specific design aspects.
The following additional outputs are provided for design implementation:
A full 3D model of the building envelope, which provides a full description of the detailed design, coordination between envelope and the other trades, a tool for a direct take-off of quantities. The 3D model is developed at early stages for cost certainty and then developed as the design evolves.
Results for proof-of-concept physical tests and documented testing procedures to be used by the contractor to validate specific design aspects.
Procedures for contractors to respond to the design at tender. These procedures include the documentation of any non-standard analysis process which is part of the proof-of-concept calculations, which are also provided as part of the design documentation.
Design validation:
Geometry definition
Material properties and testing
Structural design and safety factors
Project-specific testing
Prototyping
Performance mock-up and testing
Current technologies in facade engineering design
Current method:
The primary sources of information for current technologies for the design engineering of buildings are as follows:
Technical magazines, and associated compilations from magazines published as books.
Information is presented through specific projects.
Technical handbooks.
Current technologies are used in facade assemblies where the project design criteria are well understood, and where alternatives can be provided by the contractor to the solution proposed by the design team, while still meeting the same project-specific requirements.
Limitations of the current method:
These primary sources present information which is focused on the application of current technologies to specific materials or to specific building projects.
Method applied at Newtecnic:
A limitation of current technologies for use in facade engineering is the technical data is provided for specific products; data which cannot be interrogated. The design methodology developed by Newtecnic is focused on ensuring the appropriateness of any proposed current technology in relation to parameters that go beyond its specific technical application.
Emerging technologies in facade engineering design
Current method:
The primary source of information for emerging technologies are technical sheets and informal advice from specialist manufacturers and fabricators who are leading the development of a given emerging technology. This information is often used as the only basis for very generic calculations during the design stage. The detailed design is left to the specialist contractor providing the technology, who is able to develop the design which is adapted to his specific methods of fabrication, installation and understanding of the materials used.
Limitations of the current method:
Technical sheets from manufacturers rarely provide sufficient data to design with the given technology from first principles and to verify their suitability for a specific application. Often technical information is presented to satisfy commercial objectives and there is no method in place for the facade engineer to ensure the scientific correctness or completeness of the information utilised.
Method applied at Newtecnic:
The following steps are followed:
Background research
Analysis
Assessment of knowledge gained in relation to current design methodology.
Setting out of how this knowledge has been implemented for the specific project in the form of accompanying text in the engineering design report.
