The use of timber curtain walls (TCWs) as a building façade offers a range of benefits, from unmistakable design flair to sustainability and ease of installation thanks to prefabrication.

But there’s another, lesser-known advantage of TCWs: design and functional versatility, specifically around façade openings, due to their exceptional strength.

This inherent strength enables TCWs to accommodate a variety of façade openings and applications in diverse shapes and sizes, including:

• Wood entry doors
• Aluminum or wood door inserts (including sliding doors)
• Aluminum or wood window inserts
• Vision Control® insulating glass units with integrated, precision louvers
• Sloped glass roofs with an inclination as low as 2°, for a skylight effect

Unicel Architectural TCW building façades aren’t just stunning displays of rich wood and sleek, large glass panes—they’re also customizable and highly functional. Building specifiers can further enhance TCWs by requesting specialty glazing options, such as:

• Hurricane-resistant glass
• Fire-rated glass
• Bullet-resistant and security glass
• Laser protective glass
• Low-E or tinted glass

Strength and Materials

The strength of Unicel Architectural TCW comes from a combination of structurally rated glulam mullions, high quality glass and high-quality EPDM gaskets. This combination allows architects to design load-bearing façades with expansive glass panes. TCWs are available in a variety of wood species, including Douglas fir and black spruce.

See it in action:

Discover the impact of Unicel Architectural TCWs through these projects:

• Chibougamau-Chapais Airport Terminal Building
• Heart Lake Road residence
• Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles Wildlife Sanctuary
• Osler Bluff Ski Club

Key features of Unicel Architectural Timber Curtain Wall:

• Available in a range of custom wood species, including Black Spruce, Douglas fir, white oak, Alaskan yellow cedar and southern yellow pine
• Prefabricated at Unicel Architectural’s manufacturing center, with mullions fully assembled and equipped with all anchors and membranes for easy and safe installation on-site
• Superior thermal insulation, wind resistance, and air-tightness compared to standard curtain walls
• Support spans of up to 30 feet (9 m) and single mullions up to 46 feet (14 m)
• Load-bearing capability for ambitious designs, including entire walls or ceilings made predominantly of glass