RDH served as facade structural engineering consultant, engaged by the Kawneer Collaborative, a specialized team within Kawneer Company, Inc. Our scope included design-assist support, structural and thermal calculations for submittals, and shop drawings for a project marked by significant geometric and material complexity. Enclosure performance depended on how the large-format unitized curtain wall accommodated building movement and atypical support conditions. Further complexity arose from the integration of triangular glazing and GFRC diagonal and spandrel elements, connected to full-story steel trusses using highly customized anchors designed to handle differential live load deflections along the top chord of the truss and significant seismic movement.
RDH developed a tailored support strategy that included a mid-span rocking dead-load anchor with corner keyhole wind load anchors. This approach managed building movement, supported seismic resilience, and maintained continuous air, water, and thermal performance. Although the architectural drawings suggested repetition, the BIM model revealed substantial variation across the enclosure. RDH collaborated with the design team, Kawneer, and glazing contractor Aragon Construction to align performance, constructability, and design intent, producing a comprehensive set of shop drawings with hundreds of details tailored to variable conditions.
The Robert Day Sciences Center demonstrates how precise enclosure design can enable ambitious architecture while supporting long-term durability. The project led to a subsequent commission to develop a new window wall system for Kawneer, reflecting the technical partnership RDH established through the work.
