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Structural Use of Glass in Modern Façade

Design

Conference Paper · January 2003

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Structural Use of Glass in Modern Façade Design

Wilfried Laufs
Whitby Bird & Partners
Façade Engineering Group
60 Newman Street
London W1T 3DA
UK
email: wilfried.laufs@whitby-bird.co.uk

Keywords

1=structural use of glass 2=Glazing specification 3=innovative glass supports 4=pre-stresssed cable glass façade
5=structural glazing calculations 6=glass testing

Introduction

Modern glass structures have evolved from the traditional single-layered framed window glazing to load-
carrying, high-performing structural elements with key impact on aesthetic qualities of modern architecture. Due
to the complexity of the use of glass elements, contemporary projects involve numerous façade consultancy
aspects (Figure 1), which need to be considered to derive a high quality result. Whitby Bird & Partners Façade
Engineering group therefore takes a multi-disciplinary approach for the development of glazing envelopes,
offering various specialist consultancy aspects from the early design stages through the tender process up to
construction on site. The following paper presents innovative use of glass elements to reflect this integrative
design process in order to support the architectural intention as well as clients requirements, illustrated by current
WBP projects with structural use of glass in modern facades.

Figure 1: areas of WBP consulting with regard to modern glazing structures

Integrated structural façade design

WBP Façade Engineering combines analysis, specification, the customising of commercial systems, bespoke
design and detailing. The group is an experienced part of the supply chain, providing expertise in procurement,
manufacture, testing and installation. Projects are developed using the most advanced 3D modelling
environment, ensuring the facades’s integration with the building’s energy strategy, structural frame and services
installation. Integral façade consultancy from the early project stage has proven to deliver the better results.

Example 1: Hurlingham Club West London, Steel-Glass Roof

With reference to the historic glazed roof structure (Figure 2), a facetted glazing with offset horizontals propped
to a minimised steel sub- structure (curved arches) has been designed to achieve a continuous and transparent
dome (diameter ~11m) and barrel vault (diameter ~6m, length ~32m) structure [1]. A 3D computer model was
created for both general geometric layout as well as structural calculations (Figure 3). No diagonal bracing was
used throughout, as the usual torsional buckling failure mode of a free-standing dome structure is prevented by
the last barrel vault intersection arch in combination with frame action of adjacent dome arches. Ventilation
louvres and motors are fully hidden within the bottom and top cupolae, where the double- curved top glazing can
be lifted up as a whole in one piece to allow for sufficient ventilation (Figure 4). In order to limit deflections for
serviceability, on-site load testing was performed by WBP and Tuchschmid AG with the steel structure alone
and then compared to the smaller deflections of the fully glazed roof- glass clearly acting as a structural in-plane
diagonal stiffener. Particular attention was given to the special insulated and soft solar- coated safety glazing
details with respect to safety, insulation, drainage and erection method. Overhead glazing tests proof sufficient
post-failure security for more than 48h after possible severe breakage of the lower laminated safety glazing layer.
An extruded aluminium hinge was developed, which solves all geometry changes throughout the glass roof
(Figure 5). The glass is structurally bonded to the aluminium, factory- welded to an adjustable prop which is
bolted to the curved arches on site.

Figure 2: historic dome and palm court near the river Thames

Figure 3: 3D model of proposed dome and barrel vault steel-glass-structure

Figure 4: construction shot of dome cupola (diameter ~2.5m) with hidden push-up motors

Figure 5: WBP and Tuchschmid AG glazing detail of support with alu- extruded hinges

Example 2: DS8 Canary Wharf East London, cable- suspended west façade

The atrium to a retail building is revealed by a transparent façade [2] with maximised transparency (Figure 6).
Glazing self- weight is top- hung by structurally bonded hangers, while wind loading is taken by vertically pre-
stressed cables (diameter 30mm, pre-stressed 250 kN each), which free up the linear form previously deemed a
requirement (Figure 7). An entrance cone is shaped into the vertical façade without interrupting the regular
laminated safety glazing grid in elevation (~ 2m x 2m). This transition is achieved by use of partially curved
glazing for the intersection of cone and façade (Figure 8). Stainless steel castings were designed to clamp around
the cables and attach the glazing. This friction attachment was load-tested on site (Figure 9). Pre-manufacture
testing was carried out on the fail- safe connections for all cable connections below ground.

Figure 6: west end façade glazing (width x height ~ 48m x 24m)

Figure 7: Cone intersection with partially curved glazing panels

Figure 8: principle of vertically pre-stressed cables

Figure 9: on-site slippery testing of stainless steel castings connecting the glazing to the cables
Example 3: BBC Redevelopment Central London, triple glazed glass-stone facade

The new BBC headquarter in the heart of London on Regent Street consists of the existing 1920’s portland stone
building Old Broadcasting House and a newly built Egton Wing with a new large Broadcasting House extension
[3]. It will have the largest 24h newsroom of the world, TV and radio studios. In order to unite all buildings and
accentuate the main entrance, a triple-glazed point supported glazing curtain is currently designed (Figure 10).
Due to its special geometry, a wind tunnel test was performed in order to determine the façade cladding wind
loading (Figure 11), giving lower results than BS 6399 would have given. Also, side- wind loading within the
cavity was determined, which was found to be very low. Following this, a structural concept is proposed, where
both inner and outer façade are hung from top main cantilevers and propped back to the floor slabs. No diagonal
bracing is used, as the lateral restraint for the outer glazing is provided by the horizontal props that are vertically
hinged, but horizontally restraint (Figure 12). An invisibly adjustable, new point support fixing developed by
Mero will attach the laminated safety glazing to stainless steel brackets and hangers, which also support glazing
canopies at the bottom of the façade. To fulfill building heritage committees requirements, the glazing will be
partially acid etched on the outer face 1 and patterned frit to face 3 to give the glazing some similarity to portland
stone appearance (Figure 13). An additional frit and soft solar coating of the inner facades were specified in such
a way that no additional blinds within the cavity are required. A lighting concept within the sealant joints was
incorporated into the design at an early stage.

Figure 10: animation of new triple glazing façade, partially curved with portland stone

Figure 11: wind tunnel testing model (bmt Teddington)

Figure 12: structural façade principle, 6-storey hung, max hanger spacing ~3m
Figure 13: point- supported, partially acid etched low-iron glazing, PVB- laminated onto ceramic fritted glazing,
with enhanced security requirements

Example 4: Notting Hill Central London, all-glass cantilevering stair

Concept, details, structural calculations and testing of an all-glass stair for the private house of Mr Chris Shirley
[4] have been recently developed by WBP (Figure14). This uses a compound inverted U- section, cantilevering
out of an adjacent brick wall, reinforced by invisible steel- hollow section profiles, supporting individual
adjustable steel- shoes. Each glass tread side consists of two sheets of 10mm toughened laminated bonded
glazing with mitred and polished glass edges maximising transparency of the initial design idea. The use of a
special bonding technique as well as a high degree of pre-fabrication allow for a new type of staircase, which is
only supported by glass. Both ultimate limit state (partial failure at P = 10 kN point load at the free tread end) as
well as serviceability limit state (500000 dynamic load cycles to assure durability and long-term strength) were
tested with 1:1 samples using original support details (Figure 15). Sufficient post- failure security was demon-
strated, when even after a failure of both vertical tread sides a person was still able to use the tread (Figure 16).

Figure 14: all- glass stair, cantilevering laminated (bonded) glass treads

Figure 15: post- failure security testing (still stable with both flanges broken)

Figure 16: detail with mitred and polished glazing edges (during construction)
 Summary

A façade is a key element of any building design strategy. It is a significant aspect of structure and informs
services design through its capacity to influence energy use. Whitby Bird & Partners Façade Engineering group
supplies all the engineering and architectural skills needed for the design and installation of high value facades
[5, 6]. The above examples show how modern glazing might be used structurally in addition to its classical
benefit of transparency and insulation. This glazing potential seems best to be utilised by means of an integrated
approach within the full building façade performance requirements.

Reference

[1] Hurlingham Club roof; structural and façade engineer WBP Façade Engineering, architect Michael Squires &
Partners London, steel contractor Tuchschmid AG Frauenfeld, glazing sub-contractor Okalux / Glas Troesch

[2] DS8 Canary Wharf Facades, structural and façade engineer WBP Façade Engineering Will Stevens, architect
Zeidler Grinnell Toronto, steel contractor Eiffel Paris, glazing sub-contractor Favilor / Cricursa

[3] BBC Redevelopment Facades, structural and façade engineer WBP Façade Engineering, architect McCormac
Jamieson Prichard London, steel contractor Mero Wuerzburg, glazing sub-contractor BGT Bretten / Eckelt Steyr

[4] Notting Hill Chris Shirley House, all-glass cantilevering stair, structural and façade engineer WBP Façade
Engineering, architect Jenny imago, glazing sub-contractor Hourglass Hampshire

[5] Will Stevens: “Theme: cladding and curtain walling”, aj focus, February 2003

[6] Wilfried Laufs / Andreas Luible: “Introduction on Use of Glass in Modern Buildings”, ICOM rapport 462,
EPFL Lausanne, January 2003

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