Façades

Balancing aesthetic, environmental and structural issues is key to creating building façades that provide an effective interface between the exterior elements and interior spaces. From design to construction and maintenance, we help create building façades that reduce energy costs, improve indoor comfort and minimise environmental impacts.

Performance and aesthetics

WSP’s façade experts work closely with building services designers to optimise the building envelope. In collaboration with our clients, we focus on creating economically viable solutions that can be built safely and within the context of environmental sustainability.

Our expertise covers all phases of a project, from inception to completion. We work both on new buildings façades and on existing buildings for restoration, analysis and evaluation of impacts of HVAC systems, heat, air and moisture on the building enclosure.

Sustainability and comfort

As the primary barrier between the occupants and the elements, the facade system must be strong, fire, water and windproof, but also energy-efficient. Our designs include solutions that make façades more responsive to climate.

With regulations governing energy use and environmental sustainability on the rise, we are seeing a huge shift in the way that façades are designed. Improved passive solar control, with a strong emphasis on external shading, together with active measures to make façades more responsive to the climate are no longer just desirable, they are legal requirements.

Multidisciplinary approach

Designing a façade system encompasses structural engineering, building physics, materials science, weatherproofing technology, architectural detailing, production engineering, construction management and buildability.

Our façade experts collaborate with architects and other professionals – including structural engineers, MEP engineers, fire engineers, acoustics professionals, lighting designers, interior designers, security consultants and sustainability experts – to solve all interfacing problems, while maintaining high sustainability standards and cost-effectiveness.

Façade engineering for high rise

The façade is by far the most significant component of a tower. High-rise façades are increasingly complicated as architects design more intricate forms, including details such as multi-sloped surfaces, cantilevers, chamfers, lanterns and canopies. WSP has extensive experience with complex façade systems for tall buildings, allowing us to provide the best possible advice to developers and architects.