Services

Consulting

Architectural Value of a Curtain Wall Consultant

Balance Cost With Performance
Curtain wall cladding often comprises 20% of construction cost on new projects. Specialist consultants can increase your success in achieving design, budget, and performance targets.

Proactively Avoid Failures
Curtain wall cladding failures are the second leading cause of building construction problems. Bringing an expert onto the design team early in the design process is adding the best insurance against cladding pitfalls. Specialist consultants quickly pinpoint problem areas and can resolve tough issues before they become building failures.

Expert Design
Curtain wall technology changes rapidly. New materials, new finishes, and new systems are constantly being introduced to the designer's palette and can pose difficult value engineering alternatives. You need an expert on board who has been involved with the project evolution and can recommend expedient and prudent choices.

Technical Resources
Consultant familiarity with design solutions resulting from experience on hundreds of projects is like having a personal cladding resource library at your fingertips. CDC's curtain wall consultants will provide decisive and definitive answers to your toughest technical questions.

Conflict of Interest
Using a specialist consultant gets you an honest, independent answer, the best solution for your unique project. Answers obtained from curtain wall fabricators, suppliers, and installers can be influenced by sales, product availability, plant capacity or other limits, but CDC provides information that considers the best interest of your client and your project.

LEED Services
LEED® stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and, according to the U.S. Green Building Council, is a rating system that measures the sustainability of a building. Architects, engineers, designers, landscape architects, construction managers, and government officials all use LEED® to develop sustainable buildings.

LEED® Accredited Professionals (LEED® AP) are building professionals (architects, engineers, designers, etc.) that have demonstrated their knowledge and understanding about green building practices and principals. CDC has on staff LEED® Accredited Professionals who are available to assist the client with meeting their green building goals.

Many projects that CDC has consulted on and provided other services for are LEED® certified buildings. Below is a list of just a few projects.

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Headquarters located in Denver, Colorado. Certified LEED® Gold
  • Byron G. Rogers U.S. Courthouse located in Denver, Colorado. Certified LEED® Gold
  • Wayne L. Morse Courthouse located in Eugene, Oregon. Certified LEED® Gold
  • Applied Research and Development Facility for Northern Arizona University located in Flagstaff, Arizona. Certified LEED® Platinum.

For more information on the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED® Professional Accreditation, and information about applying for LEED® certification, please visit the USGBC's website: www.usgbc.org.

Forensic Services
Projects that have been recently completed and aging buildings experience problems, including air and water infiltration, condensation, frost, noise, failing glass, stone, brick, caulking and other elements. Forensic services offered by CDC include:

  • Review and evaluate the condition of the exterior building enclosure system and components installed, which is based on:
    • Observations at the site from the ground and any roof levels accessible.
    • Architectural drawings and shop drawing documents if available.
    • Review of any previous studies, reports, or other relevant documents
  • Examination of the exterior facade including curtain wall, windows, storefronts, panels, precast granite, marble, brick, caulking and other building elements for deterioration and performance issues.
  • Written photographic report of observations.
  • Written recommendations and specifications for repair.
  • Bid review and contract administration for quality assurance.
  • Site observations and written photographic reports as part of field quality control program

Laboratory Mock-Up and Test Services
In collaboration with the architect, CDC will ensure that the contractor's test program is properly planned and conducted according to the specified ASTM guidelines.

Review and comment on mockup drawings for technical merit, calculations, samples and other product information related to mockup components.

As part of our scope of services, CDC regularly attends, observes and witnesses the erection, pre-testing and final testing of mock-ups at the test lab facility.

Often CDC will provide a written report of observations and recommendations. CDC will also review and comment on the laboratory report and as-built mockup shop drawings.

Field Testing

As required by many project specifications, or by the contractor's quality control program, CDC can provide field testing services for water infiltration in compliance with the ASTM guidelines. The test observation report is also a part of the testing services CDC performs.

CDC can observe and report on testing performed.

Peer Review Services for Building Enclosures
Architectural Drawings

  • Provide thermal analysis of typical details; includes condensation analysis and determine R and U values of composite sections.
  • Review and comment on the architect's details of the exterior facade including the interface of different elements.
  • Provide evaluation on material and finishes, sealants, code requirements, wind and water penetration considerations, inclusive of any secondary barriers and subsequent discharge to the exterior.
  • Review and comment on technical details and specifications, lateral force and building frame movement factors, incorporation of thermal requirements.
  • Consult on maintenance issues associated with the exterior wall and incorporation of window washing attachments.
  • Review and provide analysis on wind tunnel studies.

Show Drawings and Submittals

  • Provide a technical review and comments.
  • Review and comment on contractor submittals to determine general conformance with the design intent as set forth by the Contract Documents.
  • Review and comment on structural calculations submitted by subcontractor to support their submittals.
  • Structural review and interpretation of as built conditions.
  • Review for provisions for internal drainage of water infiltration, thermal movement, building deflections, construction tolerances, fastening devices, sealing methods, fire resistance, and other pertinent information as necessary.
  • Review and comment on contractors job specific quality control checklist for shop assemblies and field installation.

Site Observations
Site observations can be provided during construction to assist in quality control. During site observations, CDC can/will:

  • Attend preconstruction meetings.
  • Perform observations during installation and report on conformance with the Architect's design intent, Subcontractor submittals, and Manufacturer's recommendations.
  • Maintain an on-going list of deficiencies.
  • Provide field testing services on witness testing provided by others.
  • Provide written photographic reports of observations and testing.
  • Review and comment on procedures.

Condition Survey Services
Condition survey services can include:

  • Review and evaluate the condition of the exterior building enclosure system and components installed, which is based on:
    • Observations at the site from the ground and any roof levels accessible.
    • Architectural drawings and shop drawing documents if available.
    • Review of any previous studies, reports, or other relevant documents.
  • Examination of the exterior facade including curtain wall, windows, storefronts, panels, precast granite, marble, brick, caulking and other building elements for deterioration and performance issues.
  • Written photographic report of observations.
  • Written recommendations and specifications for repair.
  • Bid review and contract administration for quality assurance.
  • Site observations and written photographic reports as part of field quality control program.

Stone Sourcing Services
CDC has been heavily involved in design consultation, engineering and drafting on many of the world's largest natural stone cladding projects. In addition, we offer full STONE SOURCING SERVICES to Owners, Architects, and Contractors to ensure that economical, aesthetically acceptable, and structurally sound material is secured for all architectural stone cladding applications. CDC Consultations provide:

  • Research and sampling of natural stone from worldwide quarries
  • Evaluation of stone quarrier and fabricator capabilities
  • Budgetary pricing for material acquisition and cladding installation
  • Pre-construction stone testing protocol and observation
  • Value enhancement stone alternatives and detail options
  • Stand-up slab mockup and record sampling coordination
  • Full-scale stone factory pre-fabrication visual mockup coordination
  • Contract shop drawings and calculations and subcontractor design peer reviews
  • Fabrication observation for aesthetic and structural conformance
  • Production stone testing protocol and observation
  • Field workmanship mockup review and commentary
  • Stone cladding installation and observation