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Circadian Curtain Wall

A finalist in Metals in Construction Magazine's Design Challenge, HOK’s Circadian Curtain Wall concept draws on biophilic design to offer building occupants abundant natural light while minimizing solar heat gain.

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The Circadian Curtain Wall draws on the very real connection humans—and all living organisms—have with the daily cycle of daylight and darkness. The facade’s bubbled glass offers wide-angled views to the outdoors and brings natural light deep into the building. As key components of biophilic design, natural light and views have been shown to boost performance and general happiness.

The Circadian Curtain Wall draws on the very real connection humans—and all living organisms—have with the daily cycle of daylight and darkness. The facade’s bubbled glass offers wide-angled views to the outdoors and brings natural light deep into the building. As key components of biophilic design, natural light and views have been shown to boost performance and general happiness.

2/6

The design team led by HOK facade specialist John Neary imagined the Circadian Curtain Wall for a building with an ovoid floor plate that creates a flower-like, organic geometry. The circular geometry of the windows and floor plan follows the cycle of the circadian rhythm. North and south atriums (green) could include areas for experiencing plant life and fresh air.

3/6

The concept's bulged windows provide external shading even on sides of the building exposed to full sun. At any given moment the tower to the right is 75 percent self-shaded, the one on the left 50 percent. This design allows more natural light to enter the building and reduces the reliance on view-limiting window shades to control glare.

4/6

A cavity between the facade’s exterior and interior glazing creates a Trombe Wall effect allowing solar-warmed air to heat the building during the winter or be siphoned off in warmer months to reduce cooling loads. The six-inch space between glass also provides a clean, maintenance-free housing for automatic shades that would raise and lower depending on the position and intensity of the sun.

A cavity between the facade’s exterior and interior glazing creates a Trombe Wall effect allowing solar-warmed air to heat the building during the winter or be siphoned off in warmer months to reduce cooling loads. The six-inch space between glass also provides a clean, maintenance-free housing for automatic shades that would raise and lower depending on the position and intensity of the sun.

5/6

Daylighting analysis and energy modeling by WSP Built Ecology found that the Circadian Curtain Wall system could reduce energy use for a 30-story building by 16 percent, peak cooling load by 24 percent and peak heating load by 27 percent. Wind-load analysis found that the convex glass panels (stronger than flat-panel glass) would reduce the need for supportive aluminum mullions (a major source of embodied carbon) by 300 to 400 tons per 300,000 square feet of building skin.

6/6

A finalist in Metals in Construction Magazine's Design Challenge, HOK’s Circadian Curtain Wall concept draws on biophilic design to offer building occupants abundant natural light while minimizing solar heat gain.

1/6

The Circadian Curtain Wall draws on the very real connection humans—and all living organisms—have with the daily cycle of daylight and darkness. The facade’s bubbled glass offers wide-angled views to the outdoors and brings natural light deep into the building. As key components of biophilic design, natural light and views have been shown to boost performance and general happiness.

The Circadian Curtain Wall draws on the very real connection humans—and all living organisms—have with the daily cycle of daylight and darkness. The facade’s bubbled glass offers wide-angled views to the outdoors and brings natural light deep into the building. As key components of biophilic design, natural light and views have been shown to boost performance and general happiness.

2/6

The design team led by HOK facade specialist John Neary imagined the Circadian Curtain Wall for a building with an ovoid floor plate that creates a flower-like, organic geometry. The circular geometry of the windows and floor plan follows the cycle of the circadian rhythm. North and south atriums (green) could include areas for experiencing plant life and fresh air.

3/6

The concept's bulged windows provide external shading even on sides of the building exposed to full sun. At any given moment the tower to the right is 75 percent self-shaded, the one on the left 50 percent. This design allows more natural light to enter the building and reduces the reliance on view-limiting window shades to control glare.

4/6

A cavity between the facade’s exterior and interior glazing creates a Trombe Wall effect allowing solar-warmed air to heat the building during the winter or be siphoned off in warmer months to reduce cooling loads. The six-inch space between glass also provides a clean, maintenance-free housing for automatic shades that would raise and lower depending on the position and intensity of the sun.

A cavity between the facade’s exterior and interior glazing creates a Trombe Wall effect allowing solar-warmed air to heat the building during the winter or be siphoned off in warmer months to reduce cooling loads. The six-inch space between glass also provides a clean, maintenance-free housing for automatic shades that would raise and lower depending on the position and intensity of the sun.

5/6

Daylighting analysis and energy modeling by WSP Built Ecology found that the Circadian Curtain Wall system could reduce energy use for a 30-story building by 16 percent, peak cooling load by 24 percent and peak heating load by 27 percent. Wind-load analysis found that the convex glass panels (stronger than flat-panel glass) would reduce the need for supportive aluminum mullions (a major source of embodied carbon) by 300 to 400 tons per 300,000 square feet of building skin.

6/6

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