Facade Consulting

Manufactured cladding materials include an assortment of metals such as steel, aluminum and zinc in a range of painted or anodized finishes. Metal materials can be intended to patina naturally as they age gracefully or maintain their original color and gloss over the years.

SOCOTEC has years of experience in sourcing such products from around the world, developing options and guiding our Architects and Developers through a selection process. We have meaningful specification and performance parameters to ensure the right quality material is bought and installed.  We have traveled the globe and seen metal cladding systems being fabricated and installed. The supply chain, the differences in standards between countries and sustainability regulations are just some of the challenges that we are very capable of navigating to ensure a fast track delivery to a satisfied client. 

Other opaque materials include glass products such as channel glass, spandrel glass or glass block with opaque or translucent coatings, custom frit patterns and interlayered materials like mesh. The interplay of reflectivity and absorption of light off the glass and patterned surfaces during the day or artificially at night sets the tone of the building. Our experience with visual mock-ups including lighting mock-ups helps our clients ensure that the right effect is achieved.

Natural cladding materials include natural stone, and we have supported some of the largest exterior and interior stone installations, including prominent lobby applications. Whether selecting a proven material or an exotic stone new to a project's location and climate, we follow a rigorous evaluation process to assess performance, durability, opportunities, and limitations. We collaborate with our construction materials testing experts and laboratories worldwide to conduct petrographic analysis, structural and durability testing, and source block sampling to ensure informed material selection.

Hybrid cladding systems include concrete and simulated stone facades in precast, handset, GFRC, as well as terracotta and brick masonry systems used in both hand-set and unitized shop-installed systems. The versatility of a custom bespoke fabricated facade element using natural materials like clay and stone allows for the cost-efficiency, reliable performance, and long-term durability of such systems.  

Our facade engineering team assists designers in the development and execution of complex and abstract structures.  We work on all types of projects ranging from skylights, vaulted roofs, suspended structures, complex trusses, porte-cohères and atriums to large, cantilevered assemblies in glass metal and a myriad of other materials. 

Our Specialty Structure services include: 

• Concept sketch service 
• Develop proposed design for general component sizing and materiality 
• Perform initial structural analysis 
• Perform finite element analysis of proposed design to verify validity of proposed design 
• Provide technical specifications and details for proposed systems