I'm not a tree hugger, but this is cool!

[Fez Hammersticks]

Also keep in mind that this renovation is insanely expensive.

The building a block East costed less and it was a ground-up project.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Our firm owns over 200 properties. As a rule, we don't let any kind of plant other than a hedge get within 5'-8' of the foundation and nothing comes close to the curtain wall. It's just asking for trouble. We'll see how it works out for this property.

I would imagine ONE of the reasons for that 5" - 8' foot rule is plant roots damaging the building foundation and creating a safety hazard. You won't have that particular problem with the curtain wall (no below ground roots).

I don't know, but I would HOPE they have tried some expirements on a smaller scale before they commit to attempting this on such a large scale. At the very least, it should be easily removable if it causes more problems than it's worth.

BNM

 

[maxiep]

I would imagine ONE of the reasons for that 5" - 8' foot rule is plant roots damaging the building foundation and creating a safety hazard. You won't have that particular problem with the curtain wall (no below ground roots).

I don't know, but I would HOPE they have tried some expirements on a smaller scale before they commit to attempting this on such a large scale. At the very least, it should be easily removable if it causes more problems than it's worth.

BNM

It's also so nothing gets close to the curtainwall nor grows over the roof, affecting drainage. Specifically, you don't want to create an area with high humidity near the windows. Airflow is crucial.

See, one would HOPE they've tried it and it works, but architects believe a big part of their job is to be innovative instead of designing what works. The question is why would we spend more money than needed? It's our tax dollars at work. Let a private company try it first.

 

[Boob-No-More]

It's also so nothing gets close to the curtainwall nor grows over the roof, affecting drainage. Specifically, you don't want to create an area with high humidity near the windows. Airflow is crucial.

In the artists rendering the curtain wall does not overlap the roof and there is a fairly wide gap between the curtain wall and the building exterior. It also looks like the curtain wall is built in sections - perhaps to help improve airflow.

See, one would HOPE they've tried it and it works, but architects believe a big part of their job is to be innovative instead of designing what works. The question is why would we spend more money than needed? It's our tax dollars at work. Let a private company try it first.

How do you know, or do you just assume, a private company has not already tried it? Perhaps the concept has already been attempted and "debugged" elsewhere.

Regardless, I would like to see a real cost/benefit analysis. The article mentions the annual energy savings and the total cost of the project, but not specifically how much adding the curtain wall drives up the total cost and what additional maintanence costs will be involved. Basically, I want to know if the energy savings will be enough to cover the costs of implementation.

BNM

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Here's a thought. Plant grapes up the side of the building, have the window cleaners harvest them, make wine, and sell it to defray the cost of the project and associated lawsuites.

 

[Shapecity]

Chia Pet Building

 

[Colonel Ronan]

Here's a thought. Plant grapes up the side of the building, have the window cleaners harvest them, make wine, and sell it to defray the cost of the project and associated lawsuites.

No.

 

[maxiep]

In the artists rendering the curtain wall does not overlap the roof and there is a fairly wide gap between the curtain wall and the building exterior. It also looks like the curtain wall is built in sections - perhaps to help improve airflow.



How do you know, or do you just assume, a private company has not already tried it? Perhaps the concept has already been attempted and "debugged" elsewhere.

Regardless, I would like to see a real cost/benefit analysis. The article mentions the annual energy savings and the total cost of the project, but not specifically how much adding the curtain wall drives up the total cost and what additional maintanence costs will be involved. Basically, I want to know if the energy savings will be enough to cover the costs of implementation.

BNM

Yep. You're in favor of it; I'm not. I'm in commercial real estate, so I tend to look at buildings as assets. You're not, so you probably look at them simply in terms of urban art. We'll agree to disagree.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Yep. You're in favor of it; I'm not. I'm in commercial real estate, so I tend to look at buildings as assets. You're not, so you probably look at them simply in terms of urban art. We'll agree to disagree.

Where did I say I was in favor of it? I said it was a neat idea, but I'd like to see more details on the cost vs. benefit.

BNM

 

[maxiep]

Where did I say I was in favor of it? I said it was a neat idea, but I'd like to see more details on the cost vs. benefit.

BNM

You're defending the idea over any objection. You don't appear to have any experience in commercial real estate or architecture. To which other conclusion is a reasonable person supposed to arrive?

 

[Boob-No-More]

You're defending the idea over any objection. You don't appear to have any experience in commercial real estate or architecture. To which other conclusion is a reasonable person supposed to arrive?

I wasn't defending the idea over any objection - in fact, more than once I expressed my own concerns about the cost/benefit trade-off. I was simply offering possible solutions to the problem you posted concerning birds, spiders and dampness.

Because I contradicted some of your objections, you incorrectly jumped to the conclusion that I am blindly in favor of this project. I am not. And I said repeatedly that it's a neat idea, but I have reservations about the cost/benefit trade-offs. There are ways to get around the problems you mentioned, but solutions cost money. Are those costs more, or less than the cost of the energy that will be saved? It's impossible to tell from the article.

No, I am not in commercial real estate. I am an engineer. None of the issues you mentioned are technically insurmountable. In fact, they may have already been addressed by the designers (one would hope). The article provides no real details on the design. So, it's impossible to assess its feasability. Designing something like this isn't all that difficult. Designing something that is cost effective is where the challenge comes - something that meets the original goal of significant energy savings, but does not cost more to build and maintain than the cost benefit of the reduced energy costs.

Assuming it can't be done, is no more valid than assuming it can be. There simply aren't enough details in the article (not even close) to reach a conclusion either way.

BNM