Architect
As the architect you have developed the building concept and design.
We bring in our knowledge, pay attention to the design intent and draw up the facade solution that fits.
Stay true to your design
We provided
Consultancy
We are happy to get involved as early as we can.
We love competitions, regardless of whether we can be creative facade experts in the team of architects or experts on the client side.
We support innovative and future-oriented concepts, new technologies and solutions with realistic cost calculations.
We provided this Service for:
We design different variants based on the strategic objectives, we identify their advantages and disadvantages and keep on developing the preferred solution.
- Sketches of concepts drawn by hand
- Taking into account different options for materials and the construction
- Inclusion of structural and thermal loads
- Dependencies in the building structure are taken into consideration
- The physics of the building and acoustic requirements are taken into consideration
- Fire protection and smoke extraction are taken into consideration,
- Cleaning and maintenance plan, access at heights
- Outlining solutions, costs and timings
- Inclusion of existing solutions to clarify the design
- Support during the initial sampling
- Documentation in report form
- Ongoing updating or further development of the design
We provided this Service for:
Priedemann develops the facade concept for planning ready for approval – taking into account all planning principles and requirements determined up to that point, e.g. the climate plan, building technology and building statics.
- Detailed hand-drawn sketches
- CAD-based layout plans and CAD-guided details
- 3-dimensional analysis of the shell of the building for complex facades
- Selection of the materials and type of facade
- Drafting of the facade plan on the basis of the building physics and acoustic specifications
- Integration of fire safety and smoke extraction plans
- Security requirements are taken into consideration
- Collaboration on the overall design so that it can be approved
- Joint design, joint width and depth in accordance with the building movements identified and relevant tolerances
- Documentation in report form
- Ongoing updating and further development of the design, cost estimate and construction scheduling
- Support in the planning and implementation of 1:1 facade samples to ensure that the design is progressing as intended, e.g. in design-and-build processes
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Priedemann sees the implementation planning as a precise simulation of the construction process and the building – in detail, digitally and, depending on the complexity, as a 3-dimensional model.
- Guide-detail planning as CAD drawing on a scale of 1:1 with all connections to adjacent components
- Detailed representation of the layers, components and individual components of the facade solution supplemented by material descriptions and dimensioning
- Planning on the basis of static pre-dimensioning for the relevant facade components – glass, profiles, fixings
- Advanced planning for the building physics and acoustics
- The specified security and fire safety requirements are taken into consideration
- Planning and integration of control and operating components
- Updating costs and the construction schedule
- Agreed plan for the materials
- Glass specifications
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For tendering and awarding contracts Priedemann defines and specifies the planned facades and details as well as the connections to adjacent components.
- Summary of technical requirements as well as client and user specifications for construction and materials as “Technical Preliminary Remarks”.
- Compilation of the design and additional technical criteria in coordination with the planning team
- Drafting of the service description
- Individual quantities and components are recorded
- Differentiation of the various trades when awarding contracts to different contractors, clear definition of the interfaces
- Collation of all documents in a single set of documentation
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Priedemann provides clients with comprehensive advice independent of individual manufacturers and systems when selecting the best award procedure and the most suitable manufacturer.
- Comparison and evaluation of the tenders that have been submitted
- Creation of price comparison lists
- Evaluation of alternative providers
- Evaluation of the qualification certificates of the facade manufacturers
- Assessing the capabilities and capacities of potential contractors
- Involvement in the discussion when contracts are awarded
We know the market: Our experience from hundreds of projects with various manufacturers is incorporated into our consulting services.
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The first phase after the award of the contract is of particular importance. Often some time has passed since planning and a number of changes may have occurred, the planning team has changed, user requests have been added or additional requirements are putting pressure on the budget. Priedemann checks and assesses whether all of the documents are up to date, complete, feasible and if any improvements can be made, coordinates change management and is the contact for all questions of the planning team concerning the facade.
Before the work is planned- Checking that the documents provided are complete
- Comparison with possible project changes and updates
- Determining the status quo for the start of construction
- Checking the system components to be implemented
- Clarification of unresolved questions, communication with the planning team
- Priedemann checks and comments on the contractor’s structural assumptions as well as the performance in terms of energy and acoustics
- Checking and evaluating the contractor’s work schedule
- Checking relevant facade elements and how they interface with other trades
- Evaluation of the contractor’s planning and system design
- Checking of technical specifications for materials such as glass, stone etc. as well as data sheets for sealing and insulating materials, surfaces, system descriptions etc.
- Checking and assessing the facade supply chain for compliance with the applicable guidelines as well as technical and quality standards
- Comparison of test data with specified or actual performance data
- Updating change management
- Investigation of options for production, materials and technology, if necessary making improvements whilst retaining the agreed qualities, costs and dates for implementation
- Evaluation of facade materials that the facade manufacturer provides as an IFC (issued for construction) alternative
- Statement on the suitability, quality and equivalence of alternative material proposals in relation to the materials in the original plans
- Assessment and evaluation of the behavior of the products when processed
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Scale does not just changes the perspective and the proportions, only in the 1:1 model can the loads a component is exposed to be tested realistically.
Usually, mock-ups are only created after being awarded to the manufacturer of a facade. We support the planning and implementation already during the planning phase in order to ensure greater reliability of planning, design and implementation at an earlier point in time.
- Support and advice when carrying out facade tests
- Control of the standards and requirements to be met, involvement in tests
- Evaluating and commenting on the test reports
- Recommendations for potential improvements
- Support and advice on the construction of a facade sample to match the design requirements
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The supervision of assembly and installation is particularly important for us, to ensure the agreed quality. Our principle is that deviations from the agreed planning must be identified at an early stage, documented and the implementation corrected. This controlling refers both to production and manufacturing as well as to the assembly on the building site:
Regular inspection of production and assembly in the factory- Verification of compliance with the approved design, ensuring compliance with the agreed qualities, standards and test series
- Regular reporting on production progress; the reports contain recommendations for possible improvements as well as a list of unfulfilled services, performance arrears, defects identified
- Verification of compliance with the approved design, ensuring compliance with the agreed qualities, standards and test series
- Inspection of examples of facade sections as reference values for determining the quality of workmanship – benchmark inspections
- Involvement in performance tests on the facade on the building site (water impermeability, sound insulation, blower door test, etc.)
- Random inspection of the installation work on the building site
- Regular reporting on the installation work including the identification of discrepancies with the original planning
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At Priedemann, we schedule all relevant issues and cost points right up to the handover. For acceptance, we can compile a complete package of all important documents to ensure operation and maintenance of the facade as well as a detailed digital documentation of the final performance or to check its completeness.
- Final acceptance inspection with developers, architects and the project management team
- Documenting the final inspection with concluding observations and further recommendations
- Documenting the final facade details with all construction drawings and calculations of the statics and building physics
- Handing over and compiling the operating and maintenance manuals
- Checking that all of the documents are complete
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Specials
The aim of Priedemann’s thermal-structural planning is to minimise heat losses and undesirable heat input through the exterior of the building and to avoid damage caused by weather conditions. The range of services includes identifying all influences and values relevant for the facade structure as well as the exact dimensioning and determination of the materials for the layer structure of the facade.
- Thermal insulation: On the basis of local and specific project requirements and after evaluation of the technical building plan, we determine the necessary values for thermal insulation in the summer and winter.
- Energy standards: We take into account which energy standards and objectives must be met – such as KfW requirements, low and passive house standards or requirements of green building labels such as LEED, BREAM or DGNB.
- Materiality: We calculate the necessary U-values and resulting insulation thicknesses, make specific material suggestions, give advice on the correct wall structure and determine the g-values taking into account the measures selected to provide protection from the sun.
- Overall energy performance: We determine the necessary values from building services and the facade to work out the overall energy performance of the building. An important component, especially in residential buildings, is the calculation of the transmission heat loss of the entire exterior of the building.
- Isothermal profile and thermal bridges: We analyse the isothermal profile within the planned or implemented construction, calculate 2 or 3 dimensional thermal bridges and give recommendations to avoid condensation forming
- Component construction with layer construction: Depending on the commission, we draw up a catalogue for the entire building or selected components, which shows the scale of each individual component in its layer structure and specifies the material qualities in order to give those involved in planning certainty about the structural-physical qualities of the planned construction.
- Advice throughout every phase: This is the basis on which we advise architects and builders, general contractors and facade manufacturers, whom we assist in all planning and implementation phases.
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- Calculating and adjusting noise level values: We determine the noise-level values that occur locally as the basis for planning the necessary noise protection and the required noise protection values for individual rooms, taking into account the planned use. We compare the values obtained with the legal and project-specific requirements.
- Determination of the requirements for the facade components: From this we can deduce the requirements for the facade components and recommend suitable constructions and material qualities. We take into account the flank transmission over adjacent components and spaces and influence the arrangement and design of the substructure, the choice of window and glazing types as well as the selection of materials and sensible arrangement of joins
- Ambient noise level: We determine the ambient noise level and reverberation times in the room and give recommendations on sound absorption and the distribution of sound-absorbing elements and surfaces.
- Preparation of sound- and noise protection reports: We prepare sound and noise protection reports as part of the approval process.
- Evaluation of internal emissions: We evaluate the emissions of technical installations and give recommendations for compliance with the prescribed noise level values.
- Sound pressure: We define the structural conditions for the maximum permissible sound pressure level in rooms where protection is required.
- Sound absorption: We calculate the sound-absorption surfaces required and propose suitable sound-absorbing materials and surfaces as well as their positioning within the framework of a spatial concept.
Improving the intelligibility of speech: We develop ways to make speech intelligible and to avoid disturbing echoes in the room. - Improving the intelligibility of speech: We develop ways to make speech intelligible and to avoid disturbing echoes in the room.
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Buildings, their functions and methods of construction and their technical systems are becoming increasingly complex. Standardised calculation methods are often no longer adequate to determine building physics values. Here Priedemann relies on various computer-based simulation tools. We feed our simulation programs with the planned overall concept consisting of building services, the building structure and the facades and climate data in order to determine the achievable comfort values according to ISO 7730 or the heating and cooling loads.
The absolute, relative (perceived) and maximum room air temperature or the maximum number of hours in which these values are exceeded are often the main factors.
To this end, particularly critical rooms in a building are identified and analysed so that recommendations can be made for further specific planning. When we need to analyze particularly complex systems or processes, we use a range of 3-dimensional flow simulations (CFD Computational Fluid Dynamics). For this purpose, we convert the given three-dimensional building structure into CFD-readable data sets and enter the energetic, building physics and weather data into the program. For example, statements on flow velocities, temperature distributions in the room air and on surfaces can be determined.
We also use CFD programs for the verification of smoke extraction scenarios as well as necessary or planned smoke extraction and post-flow cross-sections. Cross-sections or the number of conventionally determined smoke extraction openings can thus be optimised and often reduced.
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Priedemann produces energy saving certificates based on the existing building data, which represent the most important energy consumption data and characteristic values in accordance with local legal requirements. For Germany we are also authorized to assess such evidence.
For completed projects or ongoing projects – depending on local regulations and the determination of specific building data – we can issue energy efficiency certificates that illustrate the energy consumption of the building as a whole, i.e. in the interaction of building services, facade and use.
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Saving fossil fuel, reducing operating costs, increasing efficiency.Around a third of the world’s primary energy is used to operate buildings. Fossil, non-renewable fuels are used for more than 80 percent of this, while the demand for energy is growing at the same time. Energy is usually generated in large central power plants, and the energy is provided via wasteful supply networks. Decentralized energy generation seems more than logical. In addition to solutions to use energy more efficiently and reduce consumption, renewable energy sources must increasingly be developed. Priedemann considers locally usable solar energy in particular to be one of the most sensible solutions.
- Both heat and electricity can be collected with today’s facade systems.
- With both forms of energy, all types of energy required in a building can now be adequately provided.
- Facade surfaces are often larger than roof surfaces: We can harness the potential of solar energy using suitable systems available on the market.
- While the residential sector mainly needs heating energy, the commercial sector mainly needs cooling energy and industry needs energy for processing.
- The highest demand for cooling occurs, when solar radiation is at its highest. With solar cooling systems we can use this inexhaustible source of energy, save fossil fuels, reduce operating costs and increase efficiency.
- We determine the energy demand, evaluate the potential on the basis of local weather data, the building location and orientation and, together with the specialists involved, develop concepts and solutions for energy generation integrated into the facade.
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- Architectural 3D models are often created as surface or node models. We analyze this data and transform it into realistic volume models on the basis of which facade components can later be produced.
- We provide information on details that would pose special challenges during implementation or could not be built, e.g. if tested systems or approved products are not applicable, or connections would be so delicate that they could not absorb the loads.
- So that we can react flexibly to the different system environments, we are equipped with the current programs such as Rhino, Grasshopper, Archicad, Revit, AutoCad, Athena or Solid Works and are familiar with many other programs.
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The digital, 3-dimensional simulation of the complete building with all trades involved, including the design, construction and construction processes as well as building operation – that is the idea behind BIM. More and more clients and investors are relying on integrated planning as a BIM model. Priedemann has taken up this challenge.
A facade model designed by us is a complete parametric-digital representative of the facade. Views, sections and additional data can be generated from this information to help determine decision-relevant information and to optimize the manufacturing process of the facade. The data is programmed individually for each project, so that it can be adapted to the specific requirements of the project.
Before we enter a BIM environment, we agree the formats and communication standards for the exchange of data with the parties involved. These standards are specified, tested and confirmed during a kick-off meeting. In this way we ensure that all of the information can be incorporated in the main model right from the start. We know that starting a BIM project without these communication standards involves a considerable risk.
We know that planning is a living process accompanied by change. Parametric data models allow us to react flexibly to changing conditions or situations. Parametric planning can be an integral part of a BIM process or an independent part of planning and implementation. Using different 3D software, we design individual facade components, elements or entire assemblies and use them to generate CIM (computer integrated manufacturing) and DFM (design for manufacture) compatible data sets.
These data sets can be transferred to CNC data (Computer Numeric Control) for production. Parametric planning is an efficient and reliable tool for consistent planning and accuracy, especially for complex facade geometries – from design to manufacture and installation. Our parametric data models provide us with a reliable basis for tendering, awarding and implementation.
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The facade is the “face” of a building,a surface and a medium, which the building uses to communicate with its surroundings. The arrangement of open and closed surfaces, the materials used – all this reveals something about the interior life of a building and how it relates to its surroundings.
However, the metaphor of the “medium” can also be translated directly onto the facade by turning it into a “media facade”. Depending on the sharpness of detail and type of message, as well as the viewing distance, the facade surfaces differ in the size and number of pixels required. One of these pixels may be the size of a light-emitting diode or take up an entire facade or window element, depending on whether graphic animations, lifelike images, video sequences or texts are to be shown.
Priedemann plans all types of media facades and integrates them into the overall design. It is our aim that the media facade is part of the whole, including operation and maintenance, and is not reduced to the level of an appendage or a technical gimmick. For example, we develop concepts in which the energy needed to operate is generated by the facade itself. We take care of the necessary planning and performance data and create a feasible facade design. In the Facade-Lab area we develop transparent media facades together with industrial partners from the glass industry.
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Facades have to cleaned and maintained. What sounds trivial is a component of facade planning and maintenance, which ensures the long-term value of a project, so it should not be underestimated. Priedemann keeps operating costs low by making the logistics of maintenance and cleaning an integral part of the planning right from the start. This is not only about equipment for maintenance and cleaning, the type and design of the facade itself can make a decisive contribution. Facade solutions that do not take this into account during planning and construction make maintenance more expensive over the entire service life.
- Moving components: Facades today contain a large number of movable and electrical components. Individual components require regular maintenance. This needs to be taken into account right from the start.
- Glass: Glass can be damaged, replacing glass must be possible at any point with reasonable effort. Today, individual panes weigh several hundred kilos, floor-to-ceiling triple glazing weighs up to one ton and more. We plan the right solutions for this.
- Cleaning: Glass cleaning and the cleaning of horizontal surfaces are part of regular operating expenses. We provide simple, secure access with as little technical effort as possible. We make cleaning recommendations and create complete cleaning plans right up to the choice of cleaning agents and necessary intervals with which cleaning can be carried out most effectively.
- Facade development: We plan all facilities for the development of the facade areas, determine the loads of fall protection systems, walkways and access systems and consider the points of contact and passage through the facade to the building shell during planning.
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Facade-Lab
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