The façade design expresses the transformation from the grid language of masonry openings to the clear expanse of glazing made possible with curtain wall technology.

The most common method of assembling facades for high-rise buildings is the unitized curtain wall, which consists of prefabricated panels brought to the site and assembled on site. Because of their repetitive logic, unitized curtain walls can be built rapidly and easily, with few hands and low coordination. The system, however, was out of budget. We then researched more cost-effective ways to attain the desired architecture expression, choosing a hybrid system: exterior framed walls with window wall inserts.

This technology was cheaper but required a higher degree of coordination and risk, as it involved three different trades: three different bids, three different buys, and three different crews that needed to be managed. Bidding and buying these trades and onsite supervision enabled us to be directly involved in the building process, bringing the greatest benefit to the project.