What curtain wall is

A curtain wall is a non-load-bearing exterior wall of glass and aluminum that is attached to the building’s structure, usually at the floor slabs, and runs past several floors as a continuous facade. It carries its own weight and the wind load on it back to the structure, but it does not hold up the building. That is what lets a facade be almost entirely glass.

It differs from storefront, which is set within an opening and typically covers one or two stories at street level. Many buildings use both: storefront at the ground-floor retail, curtain wall above.

Stick-built vs. unitized

There are two main ways a curtain wall goes up. The choice depends on building height, schedule, site access, and budget, and it is usually settled with the architect and GC early in the project.

• Stick-built: vertical mullions and horizontal rails are installed piece by piece on the building, then glass is set into the frame. It suits low- and mid-rise buildings and projects with irregular geometry, and it allows adjustment in the field. More of the labor happens on site.
• Unitized: framed and glazed panels are assembled in a factory, shipped to site, and lifted into place floor by floor. More work happens in controlled conditions and installation on site moves faster, but it needs more lead time for engineering and fabrication, plus hoisting and staging space.

Multi-story facades in a hurricane region

On a tall facade, wind pressure varies by height and is highest at corners and edges, so one elevation can need several glass and anchor configurations. Every system has to carry a valid approval for where it is installed:

• Broward County is in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ). Systems must be approved for HVHZ use, typically shown with a Miami-Dade NOA.
• Palm Beach County is outside the HVHZ. A Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA is accepted, and each opening must meet its required design pressure.

Beyond wind and impact, a curtain wall has to manage water, accommodate building movement, and meet the energy and appearance goals of the design. Glass makeup, frame finish, and spandrel treatment at the slab edges are all chosen with that in mind.

Engineering, shop drawings, and submittals

Most of the work on a curtain wall happens before anything is installed. A typical package includes:

• Shop drawings showing elevations, sections, anchor locations, and how the system meets adjacent walls, roofs, and slabs
• Structural calculations for the wind loads on the project, prepared by a licensed engineer
• Product approvals for the framing and glass
• Samples of frame finishes and glass for the architect’s review

We review the drawings, recommend approved systems for each elevation, prepare takeoffs, and manage submittals through architect review and permitting. Questions about slab edges, embeds, and tolerances are raised early, when they are cheap to solve.

How a project runs

1. Bid review, takeoff, and system recommendation
2. Engineering, shop drawings, and submittals
3. Field survey of the structure as built
4. Fabrication and delivery sequenced to the GC’s schedule
5. Installation, inspections, and closeout

We handle permits, product approvals, and inspections, with one point of contact from bid through closeout and project status in our client portal. Builders and architects can read more on how we work with project teams, or see all architectural and commercial glass services. We work across Broward and Palm Beach counties, including Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and Palm Beach.

Curtain wall questions

Should my project use stick-built or unitized curtain wall?

Stick-built is common on low- and mid-rise buildings and irregular facades. Unitized makes more sense when the building is taller, the facade repeats, and site installation time matters. We review the drawings and schedule with your team before recommending one.

When should the glazing contractor get involved?

As early as design development if possible. System choice affects slab edges, embeds, and mullion spacing, and those are easier to coordinate before the structure is built.

Does curtain wall in Broward need HVHZ approval?

Yes. Broward is in the HVHZ, so the system must be approved for HVHZ use, typically shown with a Miami-Dade NOA.