PEAK PERFORMANCE | 53W53
PEAK PERFORMANCE | Five years ago, it was a crisp December morning in Midtown, 34° F, calm winds, precisely what the crew of Enclos superintendents, engineers, and Local 580 Ironworkers had ordered. The team gathered in preparation to execute a plan that was months in the making.
The challenge: lifting a 44,000 lbs metal-clad wedge known as Apex 1 to 1,100´ above Midtown Manhattan, and ultimately into its final crowning position at 1,050´ atop @Jean Nouvel’s 53W53 tower. Due to its size, Apex 1 was shipped from Texas in two preassembled sections, merged on 53rd St, and staged for its big day... Read the play-by-play at enclos.com/feature-articles/peak-performance
The design of 53W53 utilizes a concrete primary structure to form the diagrid skeleton. This diagrid is expressed in the metal panel portions of the aluminum curtainwall system, slanting across the vision glass portions at many unique angles. The inclusion of the diagrid along with the various slopes, 40+ paint colors and numerous glass colors required extreme coordination between the project team. The facade consists of many unique unit modules, many trapezoidal at intersections of walls, and include large units up to 7´ x 28´6˝ tall. Installing large units in the middle of Manhattan at such great heights in front of a unique structure required several equipment innovations that continue to aid the field crews in safe installation.
Learn more about the project at enclos.com/project/53w53
Hines
Lendlease
Jean Nouvel
WSP in the U.S.
The journey from concept to reality is a meticulous process. Mock-ups play a crucial role in bringing facades to life. Here's why mock-ups matter:
🔹 Visual Validation: offer a tangible representation of the design, and ensure alignment with the intended aesthetic and functional goals
🔹 Quality Assurance: assess materials, finishes, and construction techniques firsthand, identify potential issues, and fine-tune the design for optimal performance and durability
🔹 Contextual Integration: facilitate a contextual review, enabling adjustments to ensure seamless integration within the environment
🔹 Client Confidence & Satisfaction: instill confidence in stakeholders, reassuring them of the project's direction and their investment
There are many different types of mock-ups in facade construction, and, except Acoustical and NFRC Testing, many projects will include the following mock-ups at different stages of preconstruction:
🔹 Material Samples: guide material and finish selection
🔹 Table-top Mockup: evaluate assemblies’ fit and function, often with 3D printing and simulated materials
🔹 Glass Selection Mockup: select from a variety of manufacturers and/or coating treatments
🔹 Visual Mock-Up (VMU): evaluate the system’s composition and joinery
🔹 Performance Mock-up (PMU): subject specimen to air, water, and seismic testing
🔹 Acoustical Mock-Up (AMU): evaluate the Sound-Transmission Class (STC) and/or
Outdoor/Indoor Transmission Class (OITC) ratings of a facade assembly
🔹 NFRC Test: Standardized testing procedure for energy performance ratings of doors and windows includes U-factor, air-leakage, solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), and visible transmittance (VT).
This video features visual mock-ups from Adobe North Tower and performance mock-ups from Case Western Reserve University, the Amazon Spheres, and Allegiant Stadium. Learn more about these projects at enclos.com/projects
WORK SAFE, HOME SAFE
WORK SAFE, HOME SAFE | The most valued asset at Enclos is our people, and nothing is more important than providing them with a safe environment to work. The health and safety of our people are beyond a priority for us; it is a core value deeply rooted in our culture and reflected in every aspect of operations. It is an all-encompassing mindset that includes workplace safety, employee well-being, and environmental protection in every employee action. Our goal is nothing short of zero incidents on all our worksites daily. We believe such performance is achievable with the uncompromising commitment and diligence of every Enclos employee in everything we do.
Our employee-based safety program supports our safety culture – a culture based on the belief that every incident and injury is preventable.
While Work Safe, Home Safe may mean something different to everyone, learn what it means to us at enclos.com/expertise/safety
Chester Shop Fabrication
For projects where domestic supply is advantageous or desired, Enclos has both dedicated fabrication and assembly facilities, as well as qualified domestic suppliers. It is not uncommon for the final assembly to occur within regional proximity to the building site. This layered manufacturing approach provides unparalleled flexibility in delivery.
In #curtainwall, fabrication refers to making and modifying materials, primarily the floating of glass lites, extruding aluminum for frames, and CNC modification of those extrusions. Enclos limits its in-house fabrication to the latter, utilizing a collection of sophisticated CNC machines that allow for a direct file-to-fab workflow.
Following fabrication, assembly occurs when multiple pieces and materials unify into a modular composition. This process includes the fastening of aluminum extrusions to one another to form a frame, structurally silicone glazing of glass to the aluminum frame, integration of other materials such as metal panels, and integration of dry gasket seals that provide air/water performance when interlocked with adjacent modules on a building elevation. Assembly is paramount to the long-term performance of the building envelope system. For this reason, Enclos maintains multiple facilities and talented shop crews across the country to execute this work.
For over 12 years, Enclos has been at the forefront of delivering exceptional solutions with our in-house manufacturing capabilities. Our Chester, Virginia facility has over 100,000 square feet of shop space and 10+ acres with ample room to fabricate, assemble, and safely store materials.
Concept to Reality: Amazon Spheres – Celebrating 5 years
2023 marks 5-years since The Spheres opened its doors. Located on a half city block at Amazon's Seattle's headquarters campus, the building draws inspiration from conservatories around the world to create a home to more than 40,000 plants from over 30 countries. The final design called for three conjoined spherical domes, ranging from 80 to 95 feet in height, each with a different diameter. Providing appropriate daylight levels through the #facade was critical for the plants’ livelihood, so providing a high-performance glass that permitted specific wavelengths of light to penetrate to the interior was paramount. Achieving a complex geometry with an organic, nature-inspired structural pattern called for a collaborative process between the design team and facade contractor.
The organic architectural vision has repetition within each sphere’s surface, but the challenge to Enclos was to resolve atypical conditions, construct with precision, and install efficiently. From the onset, the relationship between the facade system and the attachment to the primary structure was identified as a key coordination item for both transfer of structural loads and the accuracy of interfacing in construction.
The sequence of operations for the field crew was to conjoin subframes into mega-frames, mount the glazed aluminum cassettes, and lift large pentagonal sections (weighing upwards of 18,000 lbs!) onto the primary structure. As a result of meticulous upfront planning, multiple practice lifts and mock-ups, and the use of laser scanning technology, all frames unified on-site to each other without a hitch.
The completed structure is a fascinating combination of organic inspiration and computational design, bringing a whole world of horticulture to the heart of Seattle.
Learn more about our approach, challenges, and results of The Spheres at enclos.com/project/the-spheres-at-amazon
Sellen Construction
NBBJ
Magnusson Klemencic Associates
Special Olympics Minnesota 2023 Summer Games
We are committed to making a positive impact, so we've chosen to focus our corporate philanthropy efforts on an organization at a national scale. The Special Olympics provided the perfect opportunity for us to launch this initiative, starting with the Summer Games in Minnesota.
Our recent volunteering experience at the Special Olympics Minnesota was incredible! Seeing the determination and excitement of the athletes was genuinely inspiring, and we were honored to play a small role in making the event a resounding success. It was a day filled with support, inclusion, and pure joy as our team came together for this meaningful cause.
We look forward to continuing our partnership with Special Olympics and working together to foster a more inclusive and supportive world for all. Stay tuned for more updates on our journey with #CorporatePhilanthropy and #SpecialOlympics
It's hard to believe we are coming up on the 10-year anniversary of the Sky Reflector-Net © — an interior atrium shaped by a double-curved tensioned cable net clad by perforated metal panels. This integrated artwork for the transit hub in New York City reflects natural light down into the station servicing more than a quarter million passengers daily through twelve subway lines and six stations.
The Advanced Technology Studio of Enclos created an animated sequence to educate field crews on installation and safety tactics prior to construction in Lower Manhattan. Photography stills and timelapse video were later added to the animation sequence to show the Net’s realization – from concept to reality.
Learn more about Fulton Center's Sky Reflector-Net © at enclos.com/project/fulton-center and jcdainc.com/projects/sky-reflector-net
Metropolitan Transit Authority
Plaza Construction
Schiavone Construction Co. LLC
James Carpenter Design Associates
Schlaich Bergermann and Partners
Grimshaw
ARUP
Carpenter Norris Consulting
TriPyramid Structures
It’s hard to believe we are coming up on the 10-year anniversary of the Sky Reflector-Net © — an interior atrium shaped by a double-curved tensioned cable net clad by perforated metal panels. This integrated artwork for the transit hub in New York City reflects natural light down into the station servicing more than a quarter million passengers daily through twelve subway lines and six stations.
The Advanced Technology Studio of Enclos created an animated sequence to educate field crews on installation and safety tactics prior to construction in Lower Manhattan. Photography stills and timelapse video were later added to the animation sequence to show the Net’s realization – from concept to reality.
Learn more about Fulton Center’s Sky Reflector-Net © at enclos.com (link in bio).
@metropolitantransportauthority
@plazabuilds
@jamescarpenterdesign
@schlaichbergermannpartner
@grimshawarch
@arupgroup
@tripyramid
FROM BILLET TO BUILDING
The construction of high-performance building envelopes is a multi-step process, starting with raw materials such as aluminum billets and glass silica, and results in prefabricated #curtainwall unit assemblies that hang from the building structure, most often the floor slabs. This process requires a network of material vendors, processors, fabricators and installers to coordinate diligently.
In the five-part video series #FromBilletToBuilding, the Advanced Technology Studio of Enclos will animate each step, culminating in several installation strategies.
PART 4 – CURTAINWALL ASSEMBLY
• Insulated glass unit (IGU) installed into aluminum unit frame
• Sealant quality is carefully documented for Quality Assurance
• Insulated glass units are sealed to the aluminum frame
• Final details attached to unit frame
• Completed units are bunked for storage while awaiting shipment to project site
@enr.news Best of the Best Projects competition recently announced its 20 winners after a year-long effort involving nearly 100 industry experts. Over 600 teams submited their best work to regional Best Projects competitions. The top winners in each category from each region then moved up to the national competition, with a new group of judges selecting the best of the best in terms of teamwork, safety, overcoming challenges, innovation, and quality. The projects represent the pinnacle of design and construction achievement in their respective categories from across the US, for work completed between May 2021 and May 2022.
415 Natoma won the award for Best Office/Retail/Mixed-Use Building. Located in the SoMa District in San Francisco, the 25-story structure is the largest in the 5M mixed-use development.
The building’s massing includes two stepped and intersecting volumes which respond to the surrounding neighborhood. All building elevations include vertical and horizontal textural expressions that give the building a unique visual depth.
Enclos’ scope of work included over 290,000 SF of vertical and sloped unitized #curtainwall, guardrails, storefront systems, soffit panels, fire-safing and smoke seal, visual mock-ups, performance mock-ups, acoustical mock-ups, and NFRC certification.
Learn more about 415 Natoma at enclos.com (link in bio)
FROM BILLET TO BUILDING
The construction of high-performance building envelopes is a multi-step process, starting with raw materials such as aluminum billets and glass silica, and results in prefabricated #curtainwall unit assemblies that hang from the building structure, most often the floor slabs. This process requires a network of material vendors, processors, fabricators and installers to coordinate diligently.
In the five-part video series #FromBillettoBuilding, the Advanced Technology Studio of Enclos animates each step, culminating in several installation strategies.
PART 2 – FLOAT GLASS
• Raw materials heated to a molten state
• Molten glass floats atop a bath of molten tin before proceeding down the float line
Located at 18 Fremont Street, Circa is the first casino to be built from the ground up in downtown #LasVegas since 1980. Atop the casino, the hotel rises 480´ tall and consists of 35 floors above ground. The resort is also home to the largest stadium-style sportsbook in Las Vegas.
Enclos provided design, engineering, procurement, assembly, and installation of the tower’s #curtainwall #facade. This included sourcing materials from four countries before arriving to site in Las Vegas as complete units. Unique considerations were required for integrating the lighting within the facade scope.
Learn more about the project at enclos.com/project/circa-18-fremont
GC: McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.
Architect: Steelman Partners
Engineer: DeSimone Consulting Engineers
FROM BILLET TO BUILDING
The construction of high-performance building envelopes is a multi-step process, starting with raw materials such as aluminum billets and glass silica, and results in prefabricated #curtainwall unit assemblies that hang from the building structure, most often the floor slabs. This process requires a network of material vendors, processors, fabricators and installers to coordinate diligently.
In the five-part video series #FromBillettoBuilding, the Advanced Technology Studio of Enclos will animate each step, culminating in several installation strategies.
PART 1 – MANUFACTURE AND FABRICATION
• Aluminum billet to extrusion
• Extrusion stretching
• Paint treatment
• Anodizing treatment
• Part fabrication and machining
Watch the full animation on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/177728328
Facade contractors are responsible for the construction of the building enclosure. On custom, high-performance projects, it is critical to include the contractor’s input earlier in design than normal. For that reason, Enclos employs technical designers and engineers to support the most challenging #facade projects in the United States.