Curtain walls are some of the most incredibly versatile components to a building envelope. Lightweight building materials reduce construction costs and increase opportunities for architectural creativity. Without the literal burden of having to support the weight of the structure, curtain walls are free to provide a variety of other useful benefits to any building design:
Function: curtain walls can improve building stability and preserve foundational integrity in a number of ways, such as by preventing water from infiltrating the building and mitigating external wind loads. Curtain walls can even mitigate seismic disturbances and make a crucial addition to any building located near a fault line.
Aesthetics: a well-drawn curtain wall sets the architectural tone for the entire building. Curtain walls can be crucial for helping a building stand out, creating modern art in a concrete jungle. The freedom in potential material allows these innovative envelopes to obscure the steel and cement that would otherwise be visible as the primary components of traditional, load-bearing external walls.
Light: predominantly made of glass, curtain walls are a great way for letting natural light into a building. This reduces heating and cooling costs, connects people to their surroundings, and creates a sophisticated, modern feel.
Servicing a client that wants a curtain wall may be intimidating. Even experts in load-bearing structural analysis may hesitate to take a client who requests a curtain wall. The pressure of adding an innovative component to a traditional building design may deter builders from accepting a job they would otherwise perform admirably. However, a curtain wall CAD drawing from the INDBIM may be the perfect way to affordably outsource a building component you are less familiar with, allowing you to broaden your clientele and maximize customer satisfaction.
If you want to see how a curtain wall shop drawing could expand your business, contact us to see how we can work together to give you a whole new competitive edge!