Skin Metrics: The Wicked Problem of Façade System Assessment

Abstract

Building facades are key to the building systems integration necessary to realise critical health, carbon,resilience, and sustainability goals in buildings and urban habitats. In addition, facade system designand delivery may be the most rapidly developing building technology, with novel materials, assembliesand techniques introduced in the marketplace frequently. However, these developments are occurringin the long-running absence of an appropriate framework for facade system performance evaluation.There has been no general convergence on the assessment criteria nor, for the most part, on the metricsto accompany those criteria. The convergence of myriad and often competing variables that characterisethe building facade mark the development of a comprehensive integrative assessment framework asa wicked problem, The lack of such a framework inhibits meaningful development and adoption ofinnovative facade technology, leaving aesthetic considerations to drive application and compromisingthe evolution of performative system behaviour. It prohibits a meaningful comparison between facadesystems, or of new techniques with prior applications. Adoption of new facade technology is constrainedas designers, building owners, and, most importantly, authorities with jurisdiction at the level of citygovernment are unable to accurately value its performative contribution to occupants, to a buildingproject, or to the urban environment.Very early efforts and thinking in the development of a comprehensive Integrative Facade AssessmentFramework by the Facade Metrics Working Group of the Facade Tectonics Institute are documentedhere. A preliminary review of existing facade system metrics and assessment strategies reveals theyare fragmented, too narrowly focused, and lack the comprehensive integration to provide an accurateevaluation. With a strong focus on energy performance in new buildings, deep and vital considerationslike retrofit and renovation strategies, passive survivability, durability and service life, and resilience areoften neglected entirely. We outline some new directions that begin to address these gaps and suggesta data-rich, visual framework and knowledge-sharing platform to advance progress with enhancedmetrics and facade systems evaluation and comparison.