Ressources

Glass facades: solutions and variations available to architects

Understanding Glass Facades

A glass facade (or glass curtain wall) refers to a building that is enveloped in glass cladding on a frame. This non-load-bearing cladding protects the structure and gives it a modern look. Unlike an opaque facade, glass cladding is installed in front of the building shell and consists of glass panels fixed to a frame. Glass cladding offers transparency, natural light, and a contemporary aesthetic while protecting the facades from the elements. The main types of glass facades are:

  • Curtain walls: a non-load-bearing system in which an aluminum frame is attached to the structure and supports glazed or opaque units. Curtain walls create the illusion of full-height windows and transfer wind loads to the slabs.
  • The Multifaçades: a rain screen cladding system with ventilated or pressure-balanced cladding installed in front of an insulated wall. A ventilated space balances pressure and drains water, protecting the load-bearing wall and improving durability.

A glass facade offers many advantages: modern design, natural light, and sound insulation. However, the energy transmitted through glass remains higher than that of opaque materials; even high-performance double glazing lets more heat through than a masonry wall. This is why architects seek to combine glass with opaque areas in order to optimize comfort, performance, and aesthetics.

Key points to remember
A glass facade is a glass cladding fixed to a non-load-bearing frame, used to provide natural light and a modern look.
The three main types of glass facades are:
Curtain walls (STE-6000), available in cover, silicone, opening shutter, or prefabricated versions.
STE-4000 commercial windows, fixed or opening, designed for towers, hotels, and institutional buildings.
The Multifaçades system, a hybrid rain screen solution that combines glass and opaque panels in the same visual plane.
Curtain walls offer spectacular aesthetics but often require an opaque complement for optimal energy performance.
Multifaçades makes it easy to adjust the glass/opaque ratio to balance design and thermal performance.
STEKAR solutions are suitable for new construction and renovation projects, including prefabrication to speed up installation.
Key examples include: Marriott Brossard, T.-A.-St-Germain Library, Jefo Nutrition, Solar Uniquartier Tower.
Choosing the right glass facade involves evaluating climate, orientation, standards, glazing ratio, and design objectives.

1. Curtain walls: important variations

Curtain walls are the basic solution for creating fully glazed or hybrid facades. STEKAR offers a range based on the STE-6000 series, with four variants to meet specific needs.

Curtain walls with covers and pressure plates

The classic version uses covers and pressure plates to hold the glazing in place. The 65 mm mullions can be manufactured with depths ranging from 25 to 190 mm, and the standard 19 mm joints ensure visual continuity. The design is compatible with double, laminated, or triple glazing and offers superior thermal performance.

Facade of 300 Saint-Paul, TELUS building, curtain wall incorporating opaque panels in a Multifacades system, produced by STEKAR.

300 Saint-Paul (Quebec City). STEKAR combined a high-performance curtain wall with opaque panels from the Multifaçades system. The glass façade covers the upper floors and offers panoramic views, while the metal panels blend in with the heritage context.

Curtain walls with silicone joints

This variation on the STE-6000 series eliminates caps and pressure plates. The 65 mm uprights and depths ranging from 25 to 190 mm remain the same, but 19 mm silicone joints ensure a smooth, continuous appearance. The result is a visually uninterrupted façade that is perfectly suited to contemporary projects.

Saint-Hyacinthe Library with STE-6000 curtain wall facade by Stekar.

T.-A.-St‑Germain Library (Saint‑Hyacinthe): The library is defined by a two-story glass curtain wall. The glass façade, made with the STE‑6000 series, offers an open view of the city and floods the reading areas with natural light.

Curtain walls with opening shutters

To ensure natural ventilation without compromising aesthetics, STEKAR offers shutters integrated into its curtain walls. This option has no visible frame, uses casement or awning shutters and 45 mm subframes. It is integrated into the STE-6000 system, with the option of covers or silicone configurations. Thermal performance remains high and the range is available in double, laminated, or triple glazing.

Jefo Nutrition headquarters at sunset with hybrid curtain wall facade and Multifaçades panels.

Jefo Nutrition headquarters: This headquarters combines STE-6000 curtain walls and Multifaçades panels. Horizontal sunshades and integrated shutters control sunlight while maintaining a smooth appearance.

Prefabricated curtain walls

Large-scale projects can benefit from prefabricated modules. In these systems, the glazing is factory-integrated into the frame, simplifying and speeding up installation. The mullions measure 63.5 mm and the system depth varies between 165 and 210 mm. Configurations can use covers or silicone, and thermal performance is high.

Street view of Tower B3 Solar Uniquartier with curtain wall glass facade.

Tower B3, Solar Uniquartier: This 13-story tower is entirely clad in prefabricated modules. The full-height glass curtain wall provides a transparent envelope, while prefabrication allows for rapid assembly and consistent quality.

2. STE‑4000 commercial windows: integrating glazing into facades

For vision sections or occasional windows, STEKAR offers the STE-4000 series, a high-end commercial aluminum window suitable for multi-residential towers, hotels, and institutional buildings. This product offers two main configurations and can be easily combined with curtain walls and the Multifaçades system.

STE‑4000 fixed window

The fixed window is designed to offer maximum clarity and optimal thermal performance. It uses double or triple-glazed insulating glass and a thermal break aluminum frame to ensure perfect air and water tightness. Thanks to its excellent rigidity and dimensional stability, it is ideal for continuous facades or unventilated areas. It can be integrated into curtain walls and Multifaçades modules and can be assembled in a modular fashion for large glazed areas.

STE‑4000 opening window

The opening version of the STE-4000 allows ventilation and access to the outside while maintaining high performance standards. It is available in inward-opening (casement, tilt-and-turn, hopper) or outward-opening (casement, awning) versions. Extruded aluminum frames with thermal breaks, high-performance fittings, and uniform compression of the seals guarantee maximum watertightness and high resistance to wind loads. This window is compatible with Multifaçades facades and curtain walls and offers a wide range of configurations.

Advantages of the STE‑4000 commercial window

The STE-4000 portal offers several benefits:

  • Energy efficiency and comfort: double or triple glazing, thermal breaks, and weatherstripping ensure excellent air and water tightness.
  • Structural capacity and certified watertightness: the window is AW (Architectural Window) rated and meets ASTM and NFRC standards, guaranteeing its resistance to wind loads and stability.
  • Simple and adaptable installation: modular frames can be adapted to new constructions or renovations and easily integrated into Multifaçades panels or curtain walls.
  • Occupant comfort: the opening versions allow interior spaces to be ventilated without compromising aesthetics or performance.

3. Multifaçades: the new generation hybrid facade system

Beyond curtain walls and individual windows, STEKAR has developed the Multifaçades, a highly versatile rain screen cladding system. This system is based on the principle of pressure balance: a ventilated space behind the cladding equalizes pressure and prevents water from penetrating, thus ensuring excellent watertightness. The glazing is aligned with the insulation thanks to a patented flush window (SM160), so that the glazed and opaque panels are interchangeable.

Design & Versatility

Multifaçades is designed as a rain screen cladding that integrates several types of windows into a single design. It allows different materials (glass, aluminum, sintered stone, high-pressure laminate panels, or photovoltaic panels) to be integrated into the same module while maintaining the alignment of the glazing and cladding. The ability to combine several materials while maintaining a flat surface sets this system apart and offers great creative freedom.

Durability & Performance

Multifaçades panels are prefabricated from aluminum (AA6063 alloy) and composite materials, treated against corrosion. Each panel can be replaced independently, facilitating maintenance. The system exceeds North American standards for thermal insulation, air and water tightness, and wind resistance. Thanks to the continuity of the insulation and the elimination of thermal bridges, energy performance is optimized.

The Multifaçades page also highlights that the system is designed to withstand the most extreme weather conditions and can be adapted to any type of project, whether renovation or new construction. Its factory prefabrication and independent panels simplify every step, from design to maintenance, and reduce the risk of breakage.

Easy integration with other systems

One of the Multifaçades’ major advantages is its compatibility with various contexts:

  • Facade renovation: custom prefabrication accommodates the tolerances of existing structures. The system offers aesthetic versatility and allows for a modernized appearance while improving thermal and acoustic performance.
  • Glass/opaque combination: thanks to interchangeable panels, it is easy to reduce the proportion of glazed surface when energy efficiency requires it, while maintaining an appearance similar to that of a curtain wall.
  • Adaptability to different uses: Multifaçades can be integrated into commercial, institutional, or residential buildings, allowing architects to choose the shape (rectangular, trapezoidal, or curved) and size of the panels.

Examples of glass facades using Mulifaçades

Façade hybride du Courtyard Marriott avec alternance de vitrages et de panneaux isolants STEKAR.

Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Brossard: this hotel uses the Multifaçades system, alternating glass and opaque panels to create a prestigious envelope. The result shows how glass and insulating panels can coexist harmoniously.

Vue en angle du siège social de LG2 avec alternance de panneaux opaques et de vitrages issus du système STEKAR Multifaçades.

LG2 Headquarters: A building that has won several architectural awards for its design and incredible energy efficiency.

Conclusion: choosing the right solution

Glass facades remain a symbol of modernity and transparency. Curtain walls offer spectacular aesthetics and natural light, but their energy performance can be limited. STEKAR offers different variants to meet these challenges:

  • Curtain walls with covers, silicone, or opening shutters offer solutions tailored to design and ventilation requirements, while being certified to the highest performance standards.
  • Prefabricated modules enable large glass facades to be constructed quickly and with consistent quality.
  • STE‑4000 commercial windows complement these systems by offering high performance and integration flexibility.
  • Finally, the Multifaçades system meets contemporary requirements by combining glazing and opaque cladding to optimize energy performance without compromising on aesthetics.

For each project, it is essential to assess the climate, orientation, regulatory requirements, and design objectives. STEKAR’s solutions demonstrate that it is possible to combine elegance, energy efficiency, and sustainability, whether with sophisticated curtain walls or hybrid systems such as Multifaçades.