Curtain Wall Façades on the New Generation of Supertall Buildings Present and Future Directions

Beginning in the late 19th century, construction of skyscrapers spread throughout Chicago, New York City, and then the world as demand of space in buildings and increase of cost of land. With this change curtain wall systems have evolved to be more visually complex; these unique profiles of the skyscraper became powerful images and symbols of our cities. A curtain wall is defined as usually aluminum-framed wall containing in-fills of glass and metal panels. The framing is attached to the building structure and does not carry the floor or roof loads of the building.