Façade Engineering
Discipline Façade Engineering
Industry Leading
With over four decades of experience in façade engineering, we understand the ever-changing landscape of the Built Environment. The façade, or building envelope, is what makes a building’s interior habitable. It serves as a filter, welcoming in the positive aspects of the outside climate while shielding us from the less desirable elements, whilst also defining the aesthetics of a building’s appearance.
The façade plays a critical role in our construction projects, often seen as the highest risk element and accounting up to 30% of total build costs while being the most susceptible to failure. With industry and insurers reporting that a staggering 85% of building failures are façade-related, it is essential in the early stages of the project to get the design right the first time.
Throughout each stage of the project development process, our multidisciplinary team of specialist engineers provide a proactive and integrated approach to your project and help drive design excellence whilst reducing risk and cost. Whether navigating the BSA process, validating design, failure investigation or developing fully bespoke façade systems, we bring it all together.
Our façade consultants have built their knowledge, expertise and reputation by working on some of the most wide ranging and prestigious projects in the UK and Internationally. Through rationalised design, we can make even the most complex envelope achievable with established principles. From new build, sustainable developments to complex building refurbishments, we will consider the specific needs and constraints.
Façade Engineering Projects:
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( ↑ ) Four New Bailey, Salford
Façade System Design – Complex made simple
Delivering bespoke façade system development, tailored to meet unique market and client needs, meticulously designed by Wintech’s in-house specialist designers, engineers and sustainability consultants.
The development of both bespoke and standardised façade products is a highly specialised discipline requiring knowledge of market needs, materials, manufacturing technologies, supply chain, methods of assembly and installation, test methods and commercial matters.
Our engineers are experienced in the production of market-driven façade system designs and have been involved in the formative development of a range of systems which are now commonly available within the industry and prepared for clients on a confidential basis.
Not only are the concept and detailed designs created by Wintech, but we also provide rapid prototyping for complex components and assemblies, whilst advising on the supply chain and review the manufactured components such as extruded profile sections, gaskets and thermal breaks for compliance against engineering and environmental requirements.
The resulting façade system design benefits from knowledge and experience derived from years of development and testing aimed at achieving cost effective systems. The designs can be complemented by system-manuals containing instructions for assembly, installation, maintenance and future dismantling for responsible recycling
( ↑ ) Ryerson University, Toronto
( ↑ ) Prince of Wales Drive, London
Structural Analysis
The refined structural design of a façade system is essential to the delivery of best value for clients and ensuring safe, compliant and highly-performing façades.
Our in-house façade structural engineers are cornerstone of the façade engineering discipline and are integral to our design philosophy and approach.
Utilising various finite element software packages allows the design of components such as glazing, cladding, reinforced concrete, stonework, brickwork, framing elements and complex bracket assemblies.
( ↑ ) Olympia Exhibition Centre canopy
( ↑ ) Olympia Exhibition Centre. Canopy frame, vertical deflection
Balancing Form & Function
Contemporary state of the art buildings require advanced design techniques to successfully implement complex geometries and façade designs.
We believe that balancing form and function should not be a constrictive process. Our façade engineers provide a complete pallet of skills necessary to assist with the most ambitious façade designs, dealing with irregular façade surfaces, such as crystalline geometry, single curved, bi-curved, twisted or free-form surfaces.
Our research focuses on optimising complex surfaces, employing unique algorithms for efficient panelisation studies tailored to specific forms. By analysing gradient similarities and allowing controlled deviations, we enhance façade construction, enabling designs that harmonise architectural vision with practical, robust solutions, ultimately pushing the boundaries of the industry.
When coupled with our accurate laser-scanning surveying technology, we also produce tailored substructure and bracketry designs that can be coded to allow automated scheduling or manufacture.
Services
- Specification writing
- Concept façade design
- Full detailed façade design
- Thermal calculations
- Structural calculations
- Embodied carbon reporting
- Risk Assessment production
- Tender evaluation
- Sub-contractor design auditing
- Factory visits
- Site monitoring
- Test witnessing
- Failure investigation
- Condition surveys (acquisition/vendor/dilapidation)
- PPM surveys
- Expert witness
FAQs
Traditional structural engineering generally concerns the internal primary structure — focusing on the strength, stability, and load-bearing capacity of the building.
• Curtain wall (unitised, semi-unitised and stick)
• Rainscreen systems
• Double-skin façades
• Masonry (brick/stone)
• Pre-cast concrete and GFRC
• Metal/composite panel cladding
• Bolted-glass façades
• Green façades
• Specification writing
• Concept façade design
• Full detailed façade design
• Thermal calculations
• Structural calculations
• Embodied carbon reporting
• Risk Assessment production
• Risk Assessment production
• Design Team Meetings
• Structural Calculations
• Concept Design production
• Thermal Calculations
• Tender Review
• Façade Workshop Meetings
• Detailed Design production / Sub-contractor Design Audit
• Witnessing of Testing
• Factory Visits
• Site Monitoring
Wintech provides a range of services to help minimise the risk of failure, fault finding and identifying appropriate remedial measures:
• Production of performance specification
• Selection of materials, systems and construction methodology
• Detailed Design production / Sub-contractor Design Audit
• Witnessing of Testing
• Factory auditing
• Site Monitoring
• Failure investigation services
• Remedial scheme production
• Expert witness services
Explore Our Disciplines
Civil Engineering
Our Civil Engineering specialists have extensive expertise built up over 40 years with a full range of professional civil engineering services
Structural Engineering
Our Structural Engineering team design sustainable structures that bring architectural visions to life, enhancing communities and supporting a resilient future.
Fire Engineering
Wintech can provide expert specialist fire engineering consultancy and advice at every stage of the project - new build or existing.
Building Services (MEP)
Our Building Design (MEP) Consultants bring a depth of operational experience and coordinated expertise to our client’s projects.
Façade Engineering
Wintech is one of the UK’s leading façade engineering consultants, trusted by architects, developers, and contractors
Façade Access Consultancy
From concept to completion, our façade access consultancy team develop strategies that will provide safe access to all areas of the building envelope
Surveying
We are at the forefront of the profession, embracing the latest technology. We offer a complete surveying service and are equipped to tackle any job in the UK