We’ve all seen beautiful buildings that grab our attention. It is likely the first thing you saw was an amazing facade. After all, it is one of the main focal points of the aesthetics. But, that is not its only function. It actually has several more, particularly when it is large commercial architecture. We want to take a look at the main ones here.

Stop water ingress

All buildings need to be watertight. The roof is the main focus here, but the external walls also need to ensure they won’t let water seep through into the structure and the interior. Ideally you want a sealed system across the whole property. That can be tricky to do though, especially with complex interfaces and varying construction materials.

A good facade can tackle the water ingress issue. It can create an external skin that is impermeable. Or, in some cases it can be the primary layer of defence with a secondary layer behind for extra protection.

Address air permeability

Water is not the only thing you need to think about seeping into a property. You also need to look at how much external air can get in. This flow can have a big impact on heat gain and loss. In some cases it can also influence air quality. Both can be big issues, especially with commercial architecture.

A good facade can be airtight and limit how much external air can get into a building. This can have a big impact on heating and cooling, ensuring you don’t need to rely on HVAC systems as much. It can also keep dirty air out, ensuring it is clean air circulating in the building. Plus, it can reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the property.

Wind resistance

All buildings are at the mercy of the wind. The external walls have a major role here to protect inhabitants from the wind and any debris it may pick up. Facades can have an even greater role here. They need to maximise wind resistance and effectively transfer wind loading to the main structure.

Thermal insulation

The external temperature can have a big impact on the interior conditions if you aren’t careful. Some materials allow heat or cold to seep into the property. This can mean you need to use more air con or heating to keep the spaces comfortable. That can be expensive and bad for the environment.

A better option is to choose a facade with great thermal insulation. What it can do is reflect solar radiation to ensure it does not warm up the interior. You can also design it to retain heat within the property.

Acoustic insulation

Commercial settings can get incredibly noisy, whether it is a busy city centre, a business park, or even an industrial facility. The noises can get really distracting, especially if they can easily reach work areas in a building.

Luckily, you can tackle the issue with a good facade. Just like reflecting solar radiation, you can choose a design that can reflect noise.

Choose an award winning designer to create your commercial architecture

At Coffey Architects we appreciate just how fantastic the right facade can be. In fact, we recently won an award for on 22 Handyside Street. The Facade Awards celebrate excellence in the industry, so it is wonderful that our project got recognised.

If you are thinking about facades and commercial architecture, you should speak to us. We can help you to create the perfect design, ensuring it will deliver all the key functions you need it to.