AIA-CES · 1 LU/HSW · One hour
1 LU/HSW
60 minutes
Your office or online
No cost
Learning objectives
01
Understand the basic principles of semi-unitized rainscreen systems and how they differ from traditional and fully unitized facades.
02
Understand how to achieve project cost and labor time savings with a semi-unitized rainscreen.
03
Understand the unique design possibilities that can only be achieved with semi-unitized rainscreen construction.
04
Recognize how factory pre-assembly reduces on-site risk, rework and weather exposure on dense urban jobsites.
What we cover
01
What a rainscreen really is
Ventilated cavity, drainage and evaporation, thermal performance and the components of the assembly.
02
Semi-unitized, defined
Factory-assembled modules combining curtain wall quality control with rainscreen design flexibility.
03
From laser scan to install
The six-step process: field scanning, facade engineering, CNC fabrication, shop assembly, logical crating, install.
04
Cost and labor comparison
Traditional vs. semi-unitized on design freedom, factory assembly, install speed, maintenance and cost.
05
Design freedom
Invisible riveting, mixed materials, complex patterns and chamfered edges on HPL and fiber cement.
06
Built work
Case studies with Gensler, Mackenzie, TSK, Constandi Studio and Nelligan & White.