In response to the Center for Architecture’s competition “Open Call: Innovative Curtain Wall Design,” Adaptive Building Initiative teamed up with Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, and the Permasteelisa Group to create the HelioTrace façade concept.

The goal of this collaboration was to develop an advanced building enclosure prototype that could leverage contextual, environmental inputs to inform a responsive kinetic curtain wall system. Architects and enclosure experts at SOM envisioned a configuration that improves the wall’s performance relative to daylighting and glare, and that reduces solar heat gain by as much as 81%. The kinetic shading system was developed and integrated into the overall façade by the Adaptive Building Initiative, utilizing its patented Strata™ system.

SOM’s Sustainable Engineering Studio prepared ecological analyses that leveraged empirical data to inform the position and operation of the kinetic shading system.

The Permasteelisa Group, a curtain wall fabricator, worked with the team to engineer the system and resolve issues of constructability and performance. The final design utilizes an adaptive kinetic solution to respond to ecology, form, and function.

The HelioTrace concept received citations of merit from the 2010 R+D Awards and the Center for Architecture, and was featured in the CFA's exhibition 'Integrate: Innovate – building better together.'

Architect:
Skidmore, Owings & Merril

Façade consultant:
The Permasteelisa Group

Environmental and architectural integration animations and graphics were creaed by SOM.