Two systems dominate commercial facades, and tenants building out a new space are often handed drawings without a clear explanation of which one they have. The difference affects cost, schedule, and how the interior meets the glass.
Curtain wall
Curtain wall hangs on the outside of the floor slabs as a continuous skin. It spans multiple floors, carries only its own weight, and handles structural and water loads as an engineered assembly. It is the right call for full facades, high performance requirements, and taller elevations.
Window wall
Window wall sits between slabs, floor to floor, and is anchored at the top and bottom of each opening. It is lighter, less expensive, and faster to install, which makes it common in mid-rise and tenant-driven re-skins.
Why it matters for your build-out
The system dictates sill heights, perimeter detailing, and how partitions and ceilings die into the glass. Getting the interior framing right depends on knowing which system is on the drawings before layout starts.
Not sure what your space has? Share your elevations and we will walk you through the implications.
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