Projects


New Curtainwall Makes the Grade at UM
The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, designed by Kohn, Pedersen, Fox Architects, is a six-story structure that utilizes three separate versions of the recently introduced Uni-Wall curtainwall system to create its unique design, while meeting the firm’s high standards for construction. A key design goal was to ensure that sightlines of curtainwall joints match up meticulously with adjacent brick and stone joints. 

The curtainwall supplier, AGT, developed unique, structurally glazed, thermally broken extrusions for each of the three curtainwall systems. The systems passed testing for air and water infiltration at AGT’s test facility. Factory glazed panels and preassembled corner units speed the installation process on the job.The most unusual aspect of the job is that the unitized curtainwall is integrated with complex, stick-built skylights. The head of the curtainwall becomes the curb and structure for the skylight. 

AGT provided an integrated stick-built skylight to seamlessly tie into the curtainwall. “AGT’s approach to building a flexible curtainwall system relies on three areas of design and manufacturing,” says company president Adrian Ayotte. 

“To begin, Uni-Wall was designed with base components that can be easily scaled to meet the size and complexity of the job. Next, we design the entire project in a 3D environment to see where the opportunities for efficiency are. “This allows us to design the system for each job’s unique requirements in aesthetics, installation, and even transportation. 

Finally, we manufacture and assemble everything in-house. Our 5-axis CNC milling centers provide near-perfect accuracy, using electronic parts files imported directly from our design documents.”

Soaring in Miami
Construction of Concourse J at Miami International Airport (MIA)–a new 310,000-square-foot, 15-gate facility that will house both domestic and international passengers–is part of a $4.5-billion airport overhaul and expansion, and its steel casing is strikingly visible to commuters traveling on the 836 Dolphin Expressway. The U-shaped terminal visible to drivers and air travelers mimics an airplane’s fuselage. 

Through the use of modern materials, primarily steel and glass supplied by Permasteelisa, fluid design elements were achieved in this seven-story, 1,000-foot by 120-foot structure. The design includes high-tech systems and innovative equipment with a vaulted roof structure finished with an aluminum standing seam roof. 

Glass is included in both the interior and exterior design of the concourse. On the interior, glass is used to separate international arriving passengers from domestic arriving passengers. Additionally, the arriving gates at the concourse are glass swing gates, which allow both international and domestic passengers to arrive through the same gate. The balcony rails in the concourse also are made of glass to allow transparency.

On the exterior of the concourse, curtainwalls maximize views of the airfield. The insulating glass construction controls heat gain to achieve the energy requirements of Miami-Dade County’s building code.

The multi-million dollar project was designed keeping the traveler in mind by focusing on the convenience and practicality of facilities, including moving walkways at the departure and sterile levels. MGE Architects was the architect of record for the concourse project. 

Architects' Guide to Glass & Metal
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