At AWSI, we don’t draw pretty pictures for the sake of it—we design building envelope systems that shrug off wind loads, soak up seismic drift, and stay watertight long after the ribbon-cutting photos yellow. The difference between a façade that merely meets code and one that keeps performing 30 years later is the difference between decoration and engineering. We live on the engineering side.
Visitors marvel at gleaming curtain walls, elegant metal panels, and story-high glass. What they don’t see is the web of structural members, anchors, gaskets, and waterproofing that work together to:
That hidden machinery is the first line of defense—and the last expression of architectural intent. Our role is to make sure both hold up.
“Engineer TRUE™” isn’t a slogan on a brochure—it’s our playbook. Every project starts with conditions on the ground, not a spreadsheet guess. Then we design the whole assembly as one organism.
We pour over drawings, geotech reports, and weather data to pin down real wind pressures, drift limits, connection tolerances—nothing assumed, nothing left fuzzy. That discipline slashes rework and keeps everyone honest.
A façade isn’t an a-la-carte menu. Mullions, anchors, waterproofing, and backup framing either share the load or they fail together. We model the entire path—from glass bite to structural slab—so no weak links hide in the details.
Padding steel “just in case” is lazy and expensive. Undersizing is worse. Our team runs every member through proprietary calc sheets and finite-element checks, then reinforces only where the numbers demand. Clients get lean, bullet-proof designs—no fat, no risk.
Our submittal sets are as organized as our calcs: title page, design narrative, explicit assumptions, crystal-clear tables. No buried formulas, no vague notes. Owners, GCs, and peer reviewers see exactly why each decision was made.
Consistency. You’ll work with the same engineers from kickoff to punch list. No hand-offs, no “who drew this?” moments. When you call with a question, chances are we have the answer in our notes—because we put it there.
Success for us isn’t a stamped drawing; it’s a leak-free, drift-tolerant wall tested in real weather.
What is a high-performance building envelope system?
A fully engineered assembly—curtain walls, cladding, insulation, waterproofing, and structure—designed to resist wind, water, and temperature swings while lasting decades.
Who designs curtain wall systems?
Specialty façade engineers like AWSI work with architects and contractors to translate aesthetics into systems that pass structural and performance criteria.
Why does façade engineering matter?
The right façade cuts energy bills, prevents moisture damage, and protects occupants during wind or seismic events.
How long should a curtain wall last?
With proper engineering, installation, and maintenance, modern curtain wall systems can perform 30–50 years before major refurbishment.