Case Studies
Traditional Masonry Façade in Low-Raise Timber Frame Construction
This course is on a low-raise timber-framed façade clad in traditional masonry. As the most popular envelope assembly, the masonry-clad insulated timber frame is often seen in residential ‘one-off’ houses or terraces. The building has a high-performance envelope with feature openings and a traditional masonry outlook.
High-Rise Retrofit Project
This case study course explores the refurbishment of a high-rise building constructed in the late 1960s. The façade consists of aluminium rainscreen cladding panels, replicating the pattern of the building's original design. The openings are framed by a modern curtain wall system. The building features a highly efficient envelope with a signature rainscreen cladding system that emphasises the authentic appearance of the façade, complemented by modern, high-tech glazing.
Hybrid Precast and Brickslips
This course is on high-rise residential façade constructed with precast concrete panels. The precast units are covered with brickslip panels and glazed with full-height windows. The building has masonry outlook and decorative recesses. Unique appearance of the façade was achieved with all standard systems. Detail drawings, videos and models explain buildability, performance, compliance, as well as the assembly-specific aspects, such as recessed areas of panels and drainage.
Unitised Curtain Walling GFRC Façade with Balconies
This course looks at the unitised GFRC façade. The façade consists of standard and off-the-shelf spigot-based unitised curtain walling profiles without project-specific extrusions. The building has a high-performance envelope with signature piers and openings, as well as a monumental yet elegant outlook.
Fire Compartmentation of Ventilated Rainscreen Façades - 3 parts
Professional Membership Access. Basic Subscription accounts have limited access to the case study materials. This course explores a façade constructed with traditional, as well as the hit-and-miss brick bonds. The façade has protruding feature piers of a varying depth. The building has a high-performance envelope with elegant hit-and-miss zones and a traditional masonry outlook.
Storey-Height Precast Panel Façade with Masonry Outlook
This course is on a façade constructed with prefabricated concrete panels. The panels have a layer of brick veneers in a vertical stretcher bond installed under factory conditions. The panels have storey-height openings. The building has a high-performance envelope with monumental protrusions and a traditional masonry outlook.
Brick Façades - 3 Parts
Professional Membership Access. Basic Subscription accounts have limited access to the case study materials.
Stick Curtain Walling Façade in High-Rises
This course looks at a high-rise façade constructed with stick curtain walling. The building has a high-performance envelope with extensive glazing and a timeless modern outlook.
Preconstruction Design Programme and Documentation: Gateway-2
This case study provides a detailed overview of the preconstruction design process, focusing on the preparation timeline and the types of documentation required for a Gateway 2 submission. It includes a comprehensive programme of design works and offers regularly updated examples of the necessary design documentation. For additional context, please consult other case studies which provide specific examples of drawings and reports tailored to various types of facades.
Movement and Tolerances
A detailed multi-part case study exploring movement and tolerances in diverse facade types. It covers unitised curtain walling systems with and without spigots, stick curtain walling, and lightweight steel frame backing wall systems commonly used in rainscreens, brick masonry, and render build-ups. The case study is regularly updated based on member requests and feedback to ensure relevance and practical value.
Mid-Rise Retrofit Project - 3 Parts
This course explores the sandwich panel façade clad covered with expanded mesh. The façade consists of prefabricated insulating panels, curtain walling and mesh cladding. The building has a high-performance envelope with signature mesh coverage and a striking high-tech outlook.
Coming Soon
Protruding Feature Slabs in Masonry Facades
This course is on a façade constructed with traditional masonry in angular piers and embellished with feature slab protrusion clad in glass-reinforced concrete (GFRC) panels. The façade has full-height punched openings and recessed balconies with balustrades. The building has a high-performance envelope with feature slabs and a faceted yet traditional masonry outlook.
Openings and Cladding in Masonry Facades with Balconies
This course is on a façade constructed with traditional masonry, punched openings and stacked balconies with both opaque and see-through balustrades. The feature balustrade transitions into the feature window sill clad in glass-fibre reinforced concrete. The building has a high-performance envelope with continuous balcony glazing and a traditional masonry outlook.
Top Floor Standing Seam Cladding for Extensions and New-Builts
This course is on a façade constructed with standing seam cladding. Originating in roofing, the standing seam cladding has become increasingly popular in both extensions and new-builts. The building has a high-performance envelope with feature cladding and an iconic outlook.
Rainscreen Cladding with Brick Veneers and GFRC Feature Band
This course looks at the rainscreen façade with punched openings, brick veneers and feature glass-reinforced concrete (GFRC) banding in the slab zone. The façade has storey-height openings and features protrusions with a layer of mechanically-fixed brick veneers installed on-site. The building has a high-performance envelope with feature banding and a traditional masonry outlook.
Rainscreen Façade with Brick Veneers and Aluminium in Mid-Rises
This course is on a façade constructed with traditional masonry and aluminium cladding in spandrel zones and balconies. The full-height glazed openings are divided into vertical pairs with spandrel-zone cladding. The building has a high-performance envelope with feature aluminium zones and a traditional masonry outlook.