FACADE SYSTEM FOR A BUILDING STRUCTURE AND SPANDREL WALL PANEL THEREFOR

Abstract

A facade system for a building structure, the system comprising: at least one spandrel wall panel securable in a vertical orientation to an outer edge of a corresponding horizontal floor slab of the building structure, the at least one spandrel panel including an outer shell and an internal frame disposed within the outer shell; and a plurality of vision wall panels, each vision wall panel being translucent to allow visible light to pass therethrough, the vision wall panels being distinct from the at least one spandrel wall panel and being mountable vertically and side-by-side on an upper spandrel panel end of the at least one spandrel wall panel, the internal frame of the at least one spandrel panel being sufficiently rigid to allow the vision wall panels to be supported solely by the spandrel wall panel.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field generally relates to facade systems for building structures and more particularly to facade systems including vision panels and spandrel panels.

BACKGROUND

In a number of building structures, such as high-rise buildings, the building's facade is made of a number of wall panels which are designed to offer thermal protection to the interior of the building, as well as to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the building structure. The wall panels typically include translucent vision panels which allow light to enter the building and which allow individuals inside the panels to view the exterior of the building structure from inside the building structure, and opaque spandrel panels which are disposed along the floor slabs to cover the floor slabs and elements disposed on or immediately below the floor slabs such as electrical cables or the like.

To secure the wall panels to the building structure, the wall panels are often suspended from the building structure using a curtain wall system. Some curtain wall systems include vertical and horizontal extrusions or sticks which can be assembled together to form support frames between the floor slabs, in which the wall panels are received. Other curtain wall systems include a plurality of sub-units which are usually fabricated off-site and which are then assembled side-by-side on the building structure. Typically, each sub-unit includes an outer support frame in which a single vision panel and a single spandrel panel are received. The vision panel and the spandrel panel may be made from a single continuous panel, such as a glass panel of which a portion has been obscured to form the spandrel panel, or can be provided as separate panels.

Unfortunately, both of these types of curtain wall system require an external support structure to support the wall panels. The support structure is exposed to the exterior of the building structure and therefore may undesirably form a thermal connection between the interior and exterior of the building, thereby reducing the energy efficiency of the building structure.

Furthermore, even if the support structure were shielded from the exterior of the building, the vision panels and support panels are typically all supported by a single support structure which may for example include vertical members extending continuously through rows of vision panels and spandrel panels along the side of the building structure. Unfortunately, this configuration further creates undesirable thermal connectivity between each row, and thereby further reduces the energy efficiency of the building structure.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, there is provided a facade system for a building structure, the building structure including a plurality of horizontal floor slabs spaced vertically from each other, each horizontal floor slab having an outer edge facing towards an exterior of the building structure, the system comprising: at least one spandrel wall panel securable in a vertical orientation to the outer edge of a corresponding horizontal floor slab, the at least one spandrel wall panel having an upper spandrel panel end and a lower spandrel panel end located opposite the upper spandrel panel end, the at least one spandrel panel including an outer shell and an internal frame disposed within the outer shell; and a plurality of vision wall panels, each vision wall panel being translucent to allow visible light to pass therethrough, the vision wall panels being distinct from the at least one spandrel wall panel and being mountable vertically and side-by-side on the upper spandrel panel end of the at least one spandrel wall panel, the internal frame of the at least one spandrel panel being sufficiently rigid to allow the vision wall panels to be supported solely by the spandrel wall panel.

In one embodiment, each vision wall panel has first and second vision panel side ends and a vision panel width defined between the first and second vision panel side ends and further wherein each spandrel wall panel has left and right spandrel panel side ends and a spandrel panel width defined between the left and right spandrel panel side ends, the spandrel panel width being greater than the vision panel width to allow the at least one spandrel wall panel to receive and support at least two adjacent ones of the vision wall panels.

In one embodiment, the at least one spandrel wall panel includes a first plurality of spandrel wall panels disposed adjacent each other along each other along the outer edge of a first horizontal floor slab to define a lower spandrel panel row.

In one embodiment, the system further comprises a second plurality of spandrel wall panels disposed adjacent each other along each other along the outer edge of a second horizontal floor slab located above the first horizontal floor slab to define an upper spandrel panel row.

In one embodiment, the vision wall panels extend vertically between the upper and lower spandrel panel rows.

In one embodiment, each vision wall panel includes an upper vision panel end securable to the upper spandrel panel row and a lower vision panel end securable to the lower spandrel panel row.

In one embodiment, the internal frame includes an upper horizontal frame member, a lower horizontal frame member parallel to the upper horizontal frame member and left and right side vertical frame members extending between the upper and lower horizontal frame members.

In one embodiment, the internal frame further includes a plurality of intermediate frame members disposed between the left and right side vertical members and extending between the upper and lower horizontal frame members.

In one embodiment, the upper and lower horizontal frame members, the left and right side vertical frame members and the plurality of intermediate frame members have a substantially rectangular cross-section.

In one embodiment, the intermediate frame members extend perpendicular to the upper and lower horizontal frame members.

In one embodiment, the plurality of intermediate frame members includes a left intermediate frame member located towards the left side vertical member and a right intermediate frame member located towards the right side vertical member.

In one embodiment, the system further comprises a plurality of vertical vision panel connecting members, each vertical vision panel connecting member extending between two adjacent ones of the vertical vision panels to connect together the two adjacent vertical vision panels, the vertical vision panel connecting members being distinct from the left and right side vertical members and from the intermediate frame members of the spandrel wall panel.

In one embodiment, each spandrel wall panel includes a spandrel anchoring assembly for anchoring the spandrel wall panel to the corresponding horizontal floor slab.

In one embodiment, the spandrel anchoring assembly includes an upper anchor plate configured to be secured against a top face of the corresponding horizontal floor slab and an upper hook member secured to the spandrel wall panel, the upper hook member being engageable with the upper anchor plate to secure the spandrel wall panel to the corresponding horizontal floor slab.

In one embodiment, the spandrel anchoring assembly further includes a lower anchor plate configured to be secured against a bottom face of the corresponding horizontal floor slab and a lower hook member secured to the spandrel wall panel below the upper hook member, the lower hook member being engageable with the lower anchor plate to further secure the spandrel wall panel to the corresponding horizontal floor slab.

In one embodiment, the shell includes an inner shell wall disposed towards the outer edge of the corresponding horizontal floor slab when the spandrel wall panel is secured to the corresponding horizontal floor slab and an outer shell wall spaced away from the inner shell wall to define an inner spandrel panel cavity therebetween, the internal frame being received in the inner spandrel panel cavity.

In one embodiment, the internal frame abuts the inner shell wall and is secured thereto.

In one embodiment, the spandrel wall panel further includes a layer of insulating material secured to the inner shell wall and extending towards the outer shell wall.

In one embodiment, the layer of insulating material is spaced from the outer shell wall to define an insulating air gap therebetween.

According to another aspect, there is also provided a method for assembling a facade system to a building structure, the building structure including a plurality of horizontal floor slabs spaced vertically from each other, each horizontal floor slab having an outer edge facing towards an exterior of the building structure, the method comprising: securing at least one spandrel wall panel to the outer edge of a corresponding horizontal floor slab such that the at least one spandrel panel extends vertically against the outer edge, the at least one spandrel wall panel having an upper spandrel panel end and a lower spandrel panel end located opposite the upper spandrel panel end, the at least one spandrel panel including an outer shell and an internal frame disposed within the outer shell; providing a plurality of vision wall panels, each vision wall panel being translucent to allow visible light to pass therethrough; placing the plurality of vision wall panels side-by-side on the upper spandrel panel end of the at least one spandrel wall panel such that the vision wall panels are solely supported by the at least one spandrel panel.

According to yet another aspect, there is also provided a spandrel wall panel for supporting a plurality of vision wall panels of a facade system, each vision wall panel being translucent to allow visible light to pass therethrough, the spandrel wall panel comprising: an upper spandrel panel end for receiving the plurality of vision wall panels thereon; an outer shell; and an internal frame disposed within the outer shell, the internal frame being sufficiently rigid to allow the spandrel wall panel to support the at least two adjacent ones of the vision wall panels.

In one embodiment, the spandrel wall panel further comprises left and right spandrel panel side ends and a spandrel panel width defined between the left and right spandrel panel side ends, the spandrel panel width being greater than a width of the vision panels to allow the spandrel wall panel to receive and support at least two adjacent ones of the vision wall panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the embodiments described herein and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings which show at least one exemplary embodiment, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a facade system for a building structure, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the facade system illustrated in FIG. 1, with spandrel wall panels disposed to form upper and lower spandrel panel rows and with the outer shell wall, layer of insulating material and tie members of the lower spandrel panel row removed to show details of the internal frame of a spandrel wall panel;

FIG. 3A is an elevation cross-sectional view, taken along line 3A-3A, of the façade system illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3B is a further enlarged portion, taken from area 3B, of the elevation cross-sectional view of the façade system illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3C is another enlarged portion, taken from along line 3C-3C, of the façade system illustrated in FIG. 2, with the layer of insulation material removed to better show details of the internal frame;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged portion, taken from area 4, of the elevation cross-sectional view of the façade system illustrated in FIG. 3B;

FIG. 5 is a plan cross-sectional view, taken along line 5-5, of the façade system illustrated in FIG. 1, showing details of the lower spandrel panel row and with the layer of insulation material removed from within the lower spandrel panel row;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged portion, taken from area 6, of the plan cross-sectional view of the façade system illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is another enlarged portion, taken from area 7, of the plan cross-sectional view of the façade system illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged portion, taken from area 8, of the elevation cross-sectional view of the façade system illustrated in FIG. 3C;

FIG. 9 is another enlarged portion, taken from area 9, of the elevation cross-sectional view of the façade system illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is another plan cross-sectional view, taken along line 10-10, of the façade system illustrated in FIG. 2, showing details of the vision panels mounted side-by-side on the lower spandrel panel row;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged portion, taken from area 11, of the plan cross-sectional view of the façade system illustrated in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is an elevation cross-sectional view of a facade system for a building structure, in accordance with another embodiment.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although the embodiments of the facade system and corresponding parts thereof consist of certain geometrical configurations as explained and illustrated herein, not all of these components and geometries are essential and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense. It is to be understood, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art, that other suitable components and cooperation thereinbetween, as well as other suitable geometrical configurations, may be used for the facade system, as will be briefly explained herein and as can be easily inferred herefrom by a person skilled in the art.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 3C, there is shown a portion of a facade system 100 for a building structure 50, in accordance with one embodiment. The building structure 50 includes a plurality of vertical beams, not shown, and a plurality of horizontal floor slabs 52 secured to the vertical beams and spaced vertically from each other to define a plurality of floors of the building structure 50. Each horizontal floor slab 52 includes a top slab face 56, a bottom slab face 58 opposite the top slab face 56 and an outer edge 54 extending between the top and bottom slab faces 56, 58 and facing towards an exterior of the building structure 50.

The facade system 100 includes a plurality of spandrel wall panels 200 which are securable to the horizontal wall slabs 52. In the illustrated embodiment, each spandrel wall panel 200 is secured to the outer edge 54 of a corresponding horizontal floor slab 52 such that the spandrel panel 200 extends in a vertical orientation against the outer edge 54.

Still in the illustrated embodiment, the spandrel wall panels 200 are disposed in vertically spaced-apart horizontal spandrel panel rows 200a, 200b extending horizontally along corresponding horizontal floor slabs 52. In the portion of the facade system 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3A, the spandrel wall panels 200 are disposed in a lower spandrel panel row 200a and an upper spandrel panel row 200b above the lower spandrel panel row 200a.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 to 3C, the facade system 100 further includes a plurality of vision wall panels 300 disposed side-by-side to form vision panel rows 300a, 300b between the spandrel panel rows 200a, 200b. Each vision wall panel 300 is translucent to allow visible light to pass therethrough. More specifically, each vision wall panel 300 could be transparent to define a window of the building structure 50 to allow a user standing inside the building structure 50 to see the exterior of the building structure 50 through the vision wall panel 300. The transparent wall panel would further allow light from the exterior of the building structure 50 to enter the building structure 50. Alternatively, each vision wall panel 300 could instead be translucent, but not fully transparent. In this embodiment, the user in the building structure 50 may not see the exterior of the building structure 50 through the vision wall panel 300, but light from the exterior of the building structure 50 may still enter the building structure 50 through the vision wall panel 300.

In the portion of the facade system 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3A, the vision wall panels 300 define a lower vision panel row 300a disposed below the lower spandrel panel row 200a and an upper vision panel row 300b extending between the lower and upper spandrel panel rows 200a, 200b.

It will be understood that the portion of the facade system 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3A is merely provided as an example and that the facade system 100 may include more than two spandrel panel rows and more than two vision panel rows. In another embodiment, the facade system 100 could include exactly two spandrel panel rows and more than two vision panel rows, or could include a single vision panel row disposed on a single spandrel panel row.

In the illustrated embodiment, each spandrel panel row 200a, 200b includes a single, elongated spandrel wall panel 200. It will however be understood that this configuration is merely provided as an example and the upper and lower spandrel panel rows 200a and 200b could each comprise more than one spandrel wall panels 200 disposed side-by-side and adjacent each other.

Still in the illustrated embodiment, each vision panel row 300a, 300b includes four vision wall panels 300. For example, the upper vision panel row 300b includes first, second, third and fourth vision panels 302a, 302b, 302c, 302d disposed adjacent each other. In other embodiments, the upper vision panel row 300b could include less or more than four vision wall panels 300.

In the illustrated embodiment, the vision wall panels 300 are not secured to the floor slabs 52 or to any type of vertical supports members, but are instead positioned on the spandrel wall panels 200 such that they are solely supported by the spandrel wall panels 200. Specifically, each spandrel wall panel 200 includes an outer shell 210 which is generally hollow and an internal frame 212 disposed within the outer shell 210, as best shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C. The internal frame 212 provides rigidity to the spandrel wall panel 200, while the outer shell 210 contributes to the thermal insulation provided by the spandrel wall panel 200 by preventing the internal frame 212 from being exposed to the exterior of the building structure 50.

It will be understood that the present facade system 100 therefore eliminates the need for a separate, external mounting structure to mount the spandrel wall panels 200 and the vision wall panels 300 to the building structure 50. Instead, the spandrel wall panels 200 both act as standard spandrel panels to cover the outer edge 54 of the horizontal floor slabs 52, as well as supports for the vision wall panels 300. This contributes to providing an aesthetically pleasing, continuous appearance to the building structure. Furthermore, since the internal frame 212 is housed in the outer shell 210, the internal frame 212 is not exposed to the exterior of the building structure 50, and thermal losses which may be incurred in exposed support frames of conventional curtain wall systems may be minimized or even eliminated.

In the illustrated embodiment, the internal frame 212 is further sufficiently rigid to allow each spandrel wall panel 200 to support more than one vision wall panel 300. Specifically, the first, second, third and fourth vision panels 302a, 302b, 302c, 302d are supported by the lower spandrel panel row 200a which includes a single spandrel wall panel 200. The internal frame 212 of the spandrel wall panels 200 is therefore sufficiently rigid to allow each spandrel wall panel 200 to support all four of the first, second third and fourth vision wall panels 302a, 302b, 302c, 302d. In an alternative embodiment, the spandrel wall panel 200 may be used to support more or less than four vision wall panels. It will be understood that regardless of the number of vision wall panels to be supported by the spandrel wall panel 200, the internal frame 212 would be sufficiently rigid to allow the spandrel wall panel 200 to support the vision wall panels received on the spandrel wall panel 200.

It will be appreciated that the use of the spandrel wall panels 200 as structural support elements allows the spandrel wall panels 200 to be made substantially longer than the spandrel panels used in conventional curtain wall systems. This allows a fewer number of spandrel panels to be used on the width of the building structure 50. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the spandrel wall panel 200 spans the entire width of the upper vision panel row 300b and therefore eliminates the need to use four separate spandrel panels 200 to support the first, second third and fourth vision wall panels 302a, 302b, 302c, 302d of the upper vision panel row 300b. It will be understood that fewer spandrel panels further implies fewer breaks between adjacent spandrel panels in a spandrel panel row, which further reduces thermal losses from between the spandrel wall panels 200 and thereby improves the thermal efficiency of the building structure 50.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 9, each spandrel wall panel 200 is generally rectangular and includes an upper spandrel panel end 202, a lower spandrel end 204 opposite the upper spandrel panel end 202 and left and right spandrel panel ends 206, 208 extending vertically between the upper and lower spandrel panel ends 202, 204.

In the illustrated embodiment, the outer shell 210 includes an inner shell wall 226 and an outer shell wall 228 spaced away from the inner shell wall 226 towards the exterior of the building structure 50 to define an inner spandrel cavity 234 within the shell 212.

As best shown in FIG. 3B, the outer shell wall 228 includes a plurality of elongated slats 230 which extend substantially horizontally between the left and right spandrel panel ends 206, 208. Each slat 230 includes a top end 231, a bottom end 232 and a front face 233 which is angled rearwardly such that the bottom end 232 is spaced further away from the inner shell wall 226 than the top end 231. In this embodiment, the slats 230 are stacked on top of each other to form a louver-type arrangement which may provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the outer shell wall 228, as well as facilitate the circulation of air between the exterior of the building structure 50 and the inner spandrel cavity 234 and the evacuation of water from the inner spandrel cavity 234 towards the exterior of the building structure 50.

It will be understood that instead of having the configuration described above, the outer shell wall 228 may be configurated according to one of various alternative configurations. For example, FIG. 12 shows a facade system 100′, in accordance with another embodiment. The facade system 100′ is substantially similar to the facade system 100 except that instead of including a plurality of elongated slats, the outer shell wall 228 of the outer shell 210 includes a single continuous planar wall 500 which extends generally parallel to the inner shell wall 226. Alternatively, the outer shell wall 228 could include a plurality of outer shell wall portions disposed so as to form the outer shell wall 228, and each outer shell wall portion(s) could be shaped, sized and oriented according to a configuration that a skilled person would consider to be suitable.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 to 9, the internal frame 212 is disposed within the inner spandrel cavity 234 and is thereby entirely encased inside the outer shell 210. In the illustrated embodiment, the internal frame 212 is disposed against the inner shell wall 226 and is secured to the inner shell wall 226.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the internal frame 212 includes upper and lower horizontal frame members 214, 216 extending parallel to each other generally along the upper and lower spandrel panel ends 202, 204, and left and right side vertical frame members 218, 220 extending between upper and lower horizontal frame members 214, 216 generally along the left and right spandrel panel ends 206, 208. The internal frame 212 further includes a first or left intermediate vertical frame member 222a and a second or right intermediate vertical frame member 222b extending between the upper and lower horizontal frame members 214, 216 and disposed between the left and right side vertical members 218, 220. More specifically, the left intermediate vertical frame member 222a is spaced from the left side vertical frame member 218 towards the right side vertical frame member 220 and the right intermediate vertical frame member 222b is spaced from the right side vertical frame member 220 towards the left side vertical frame member 218. It will be appreciated that this arrangement of the frame members generally defines a Vierendeel truss configuration which provides the internal frame 212 with resistance to bending, which allows the spandrel wall panel 200 to be substantially long while still supporting the weight of the vision wall panels 300 received on the spandrel wall panel 200.

In one embodiment, the upper and lower horizontal frame members 214, 216, the left and right side vertical frame members 218, 220 and the left and right intermediate vertical frame members 222a, 222b all have a substantially rectangular cross-section. Alternatively, the upper and lower horizontal frame members 214, 216, the left and right side vertical frame members 218, 220 and the left and right intermediate vertical frame members 222a, 222b could have a circular cross-section, or have any other shape that a skilled person would consider to be suitable.

It will be understood that the internal frame 212 described above is merely provided as an example and that in an alternative embodiment, the internal frame 212 could have a different configuration. For example, the internal frame 212 could have more or less than two intermediate vertical frame members, or could even have one or more intermediate horizontal frame members or diagonal frame members.

As best shown in FIG. 3B, each spandrel wall panel 200 further includes a layer of insulation material 236 for limiting or preventing undesirable thermal losses between the exterior and the interior of the building structure 50 through the spandrel wall panel 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the layer of insulation material 236 is disposed within the inner spandrel panel cavity 234 and secured to the inner shell panel 226. The layer of insulating material 236 may be shaped to conform to the interior of the inner spandrel panel cavity 234.

In the illustrated embodiment, the layer of insulation material 236 extends towards the outer shell wall 228, but not all the way to the outer shell wall 228. Specifically, the layer of insulation material 236 extends between the inner shell wall 226 and a mesh barrier 227 which extends in the inner spandrel panel cavity 234 generally between the upper and lower spandrel panel ends 202, 204. The mesh barrier 227 is connected to the internal frame 212 using a plurality of tie members 229 which extend substantially transversally through the layer of insulating material 236. The tie members 229 may be sized and shaped such that the mesh barrier 227 abuts the layer of insulation material 236 such that the layer of insulating material 236 is snuggly held between the mesh barrier 227 and the inner shell wall 226. The tie members 229 may include one or more thermal break sections to limit or prevent undesirable thermal losses between the exterior and the interior of the building structure 50 through the tie members 229.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the mesh barrier 227 is spaced rearward from the outer shell wall 228 towards the inner shell wall 226 such that the layer of insulating material 236 is spaced from the outer shell wall 228, thereby defining an insulating air gap 238 therebetween. Both the layer of insulating material 236 and the insulating air gap 238 contribute to preventing thermal losses through the spandrel wall panel 200. Alternatively, the spandrel wall panel 200 may not include an insulating air gap 238 and the layer of insulating material 236 may instead extend from the inner shell panel 226 all the way to the outer shell panel 228. In another embodiment, the layer of insulating material 236 could instead be secured to the outer shell panel 228 and be spaced from the inner shell wall 226 such that the insulating air gap 238 is adjacent the inner shell wall 226. In yet another embodiment, the spandrel wall panel 200 could include a plurality of insulating material layers made from different insulating materials, and could further include one or more insulating air gaps between adjacent insulating material layers.

As best shown in FIGS. 3B to 7, each spandrel wall panel 200 is secured to the corresponding horizontal floor slab 52 via a spandrel anchoring assembly 400. In the illustrated embodiment, the spandrel wall panel 200 is secured to both the top and bottom slab faces 56, 58 of the horizontal floor slab 52 so as to maintain the spandrel wall panel 200 perpendicular to the horizontal floor slab 52 as the spandrel wall panel 200 supports the weight of the vision wall panels 300 received on the upper spandrel panel end 202.

The spandrel anchoring assembly 400 includes an upper anchor plate 402 and the upper hook member 404 configured to engage the upper anchor plate 402. More specifically, the upper anchor plate 402 is disposed against the top slab face 56 and is secured to the horizontal floor slab 52 by a plurality of anchoring fasteners 416. The upper anchor plate 402 includes an upper lip 418 which extends upwardly and towards the exterior of the building structure 50. The upper hook member 404 is secured to the spandrel wall panel 200 to engage the upper lip 418 of the upper anchor plate 402. More specifically, the upper hook member 404 is secured to one of the intermediate vertical members 222a, 222b and the left and right side vertical members 218, 220. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 3B to 7, the upper hook member 404 is secured to the left intermediate vertical member 222a through the inner shell wall 226. Additional hook members similar to the upper hook member 404 may further be secured to the right intermediate vertical frame member 222b, to the left side vertical member 218 and to the right side vertical member 220 and corresponding upper anchor plates similar to the upper anchor plate 402 may be aligned with the additional hook members and secured to the top slab face 56.

In the illustrated embodiment, the upper hook member 404 includes a base plate 412 which extends vertically against the inner shell wall 226 and a central receiving barrel 414 extending generally vertically and projecting from the base plate 412 towards the horizontal floor slab 52. As best shown in FIG. 5, the central receiving barrel 414 is generally horizontally centered relative to the base plate 412 and is configured for receiving a cylindrical engagement portion 410 of the upper hook member 404 when the upper anchor plate 402 is aligned and centered with the corresponding one of the one of the intermediate vertical members 222a, 222b and the left and right side vertical members 218, 220 to which the upper hook member 404 is secured. For instance, in the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the base plate 412 is secured to the left intermediate vertical frame member 222a, the cylindrical engagement portion 410 is received in the central receiving barrel 414 and the left intermediate vertical frame member 222a is generally aligned with the upper anchor plate 402.

Still in the illustrated embodiment, the upper hook member 404 further includes a lateral receiving barrel 416 extending generally vertically and projecting from the base plate 412 towards the horizontal floor slab 52, similarly to the central receiving barrel 414, but laterally offset from the central receiving barrel 414. The lateral receiving barrel 416 is configured for receiving the cylindrical engagement portion 410 when the upper anchor plate 402 is laterally offset from the corresponding one of the one of the intermediate vertical members 222a, 222b and the left and right side vertical members 218, 220 to which the upper hook member 404 is secured. For instance, in the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the right spandrel panel end 208 is secured to a lateral mounting structure 60 which extends perpendicularly to the spandrel wall panel 200 and which intersects the horizontal floor slab 52. In this configuration, the right side vertical frame member 220 of the spandrel wall panel 200 is located adjacent the lateral mounting structure 60, such that the lateral mounting structure 60 would interfere with the upper anchor plate 402 if the upper anchor plate 402 was centered relative to the right side vertical frame member 220. Instead, the upper anchor plate 402 is therefore offset laterally relative to the right side vertical frame member 220 towards the left side vertical frame member 218, and the cylindrical engagement portion 410 is received in the lateral receiving barrel 416 instead of the central receiving barrel 414.

In another embodiment, the upper hook member 404 could include additional lateral receiving barrels offset relative to the central receiving barrel 414, or may not include any lateral receiving barrels. In yet another embodiment, the upper hook member 404 may not comprise a central receiving barrel 414, a base plate 412 and/or a cylindrical engagement portion 410 and may instead be configured according to any alternative configuration which a skilled person would consider to be suitable.

In the illustrated embodiment, the spandrel anchoring assembly 400 further includes a lower anchor plate 406 secured to the bottom floor face 58 using a plurality of anchoring fasteners 420. The lower anchor plate 406 is substantially similar to the upper anchor plate 402 and includes a lower lip 422 which extends generally downwardly and towards the exterior of the building structure 50 for engaging a lower hook member 408 secured to the spandrel wall panel 200. Specifically, the lower hook member 408 is substantially similar to the upper hook member 404, but vertically inverted, i.e. upside-down, relative to the upper hook member 404.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lower hook member 408 extends away from the base plate 412 of the upper hook member 404 towards the horizontal floor slab 52. Specifically, the base plate 412 extends below the bottom floor face 58 and thereby allows the lower hook member 408 to be positioned below the bottom floor face 58. Alternatively, the lower hook member 408 could include a separate base plate secured to one of the intermediate vertical members 222a, 222b and the left and right side vertical members 218, 220. In this embodiment, each lower hook member 408 could be aligned vertically with a corresponding upper hook member 404 or could be horizontally offset relative to the upper hook member 404.

It will be understood that the spandrel anchoring assembly 400 described above is merely an example of an assembly which can be used to secure the spandrel panel 200 to the floor slab 52 in a vertical orientation and that various alternative assemblies could instead be used. For example, in one embodiment, the spandrel anchoring assembly 400 may not include lower hook members 408 and may be fully secured to the floor slab 52 using one or more upper hook members 404 as described above.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 8 and 9, each vision wall panel 300 is generally rectangular and includes an upper vision wall panel end 304, a lower vision wall panel end 306 opposite the upper vision wall panel end 304 and left and right vision wall panel ends 308, 310 extending vertically between the upper and lower vision panel ends 304, 306.

As explained above, each spandrel wall panel 200 is adapted to receive more than one vision wall panels 300. Specifically, each vision wall panel 300 has a vision panel width Wv defined between the left and right vision wall panel ends 308, 310 and each spandrel wall panel 200 has a spandrel panel width Ws defined between the left and right spandrel wall panel ends 206, 208, with the spandrel panel width Ws being greater than the vision panel width Wv. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the spandrel panel width Ws is about four times greater than the vision panel width Wv of the vision wall panel 300 to allow the spandrel wall panel 200 of the lower spandrel panel row 200a to receive the first, second, third and fourth vision wall panels 302a, 302b, 302c, 302d of the upper vision panel row 300b.

Moreover, when each vision wall panel 300 is supported by a corresponding spandrel wall panel 200, the lower vision panel end 306 of the vision wall panel 300 is received on the upper spandrel panel end 202 of the corresponding spandrel wall panel 200.

As best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the lower vision panel end 306 is connected to the upper spandrel panel end 202 of the spandrel wall panel 200 below by a lower horizontal connecting member 312 which extends generally horizontally along the spandrel wall panel 200. More specifically, the lower horizontal connecting member 312 is disposed generally above the upper horizontal frame member 214 of the spandrel wall panel's internal frame 212 and is generally supported by the internal frame 212.

In the illustrated embodiment, the vision wall panel 300 includes outer and inner glass panels 318, 320 which are disposed on a setting block 324 received on a supporting chair member 322 which extends away from the lower horizontal connecting member 312 towards the exterior of the building structure 50. The outer and inner glass panels 318, 320 are therefore supported in a cantilevered configuration by the supporting chair member 322.

Referring specifically to FIG. 9, the upper vision wall panel end 304 is further connected to the lower spandrel panel end 204 above by an upper horizontal connecting member 314 which extends generally horizontally along the spandrel wall panel 200. The upper horizontal connecting member 314 is disposed generally below the lower horizontal frame member 216 of the spandrel wall panel's internal frame 212 and is generally connected to the lower horizontal frame member 216. The upper horizontal connecting member 314 is configured to hold the upper vision wall panel end 304 in order to maintain the vision wall panel 300 in a vertical orientation.

Turning now to FIGS. 10 and 11, the façade system 100 further includes a plurality of vertical vision panel connecting members, or mullions 316, extending between the lower and upper horizontal connecting members 312, 314 and disposed generally between adjacent vision wall panels 300 to connect together the adjacent vision wall panels 300. Specifically, the adjacent vision wall panels 300 are slightly spaced from each other and the vertical vision panel mullions 316 provide a sealed connection between the vision wall panels 300. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the second and third vision wall panels 302b, 302c are adjacent each other and the right vision wall panel end 310 of the second vision wall panels 302b is spaced from the left vision wall panel end 308 of the third vision wall panel 302c. The second and third vision wall panels 302b, 302c are connected together by a vertical vision panel seal 330 which extends from the vertical vision panel mullion 316 towards the exterior of the building structure 50. The vertical vision panel seal 330 further extends between the second and third vision wall panels 302b, 302c such that it contacts and abuts both the right vision wall panel end 310 of the second vision wall panels 302b and the left vision wall panel end 308 of the third vision wall panel 302c, thereby sealingly connecting the second and third vision wall panels 302b, 302c together.

It will be understood that in this configuration, the vertical vision panel mullions 316 are distinct from the internal frame 212 of the spandrel wall panel 200 supporting the vision wall panels 300 and are not provided to support the vision wall panels 300. More specifically, since the upper vision panel row 302b includes four vision wall panels 300 in the illustrated embodiment, the vertical vision panel mullions 316, being disposed between adjacent vision wall panels 300, are not aligned with the intermediate vertical frame member 222a, 222b and the left and right side vertical frame members 218, 220 and therefore do not form an extension thereof. This configuration thereby further prevents thermal connection vertically between the vision panel rows 302a, 302b and the spandrel panel rows 200a, 200b.

In the illustrated embodiment, each vertical vision panel mullion 316 is made of a left vertical mullion portion 326 and of a right vertical mullion portion 328 which are generally mirror images of each other and which are connected together to form the vertical vision panel mullion 316. Alternatively, the vertical vision panel mullion 316 could be made of a single, unitary body instead of being made from two distinct portions.

It will be appreciated that the arrangements described above are merely provided as examples, and that various alternative configurations may be considered. For example, in the above description, each one of the lower and upper spandrel panel rows 200a, 200b includes a single, elongated spandrel panel 200. It will be understood that in other embodiments, each spandrel panel row 200a, 200b could instead include a plurality of spandrel wall panels 200 disposed side-by-side, adjacent each other, to form a continuous spandrel panel row supporting a corresponding vision wall panel row disposed above the spandrel panel row.

While the above description provides examples of the embodiments, it will be appreciated that some features and/or functions of the described embodiments are susceptible to modification without departing from the spirit and principles of operation of the described embodiments. Accordingly, what has been described above has been intended to be illustrative and non-limiting and it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that other variants and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A facade system for a building structure, the building structure including a plurality of horizontal floor slabs spaced vertically from each other, each horizontal floor slab having an outer edge facing towards an exterior of the building structure, the system comprising: at least one spandrel wall panel securable in a vertical orientation to the outer edge of a corresponding horizontal floor slab, the at least one spandrel wall panel having an upper spandrel panel end and a lower spandrel panel end located opposite the upper spandrel panel end, the at least one spandrel panel including an outer shell and an internal frame disposed within the outer shell; anda plurality of vision wall panels, each vision wall panel being translucent to allow visible light to pass therethrough, the vision wall panels being distinct from the at least one spandrel wall panel and being mountable vertically and side-by-side on the upper spandrel panel end of the at least one spandrel wall panel, the internal frame of the at least one spandrel panel being sufficiently rigid to allow the vision wall panels to be supported solely by the spandrel wall panel.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each vision wall panel has first and second vision panel side ends and a vision panel width defined between the first and second vision panel side ends and further wherein each spandrel wall panel has left and right spandrel panel side ends and a spandrel panel width defined between the left and right spandrel panel side ends, the spandrel panel width being greater than the vision panel width to allow the at least one spandrel wall panel to receive and support at least two adjacent ones of the vision wall panels.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one spandrel wall panel includes a first plurality of spandrel wall panels disposed adjacent each other along each other along the outer edge of a first horizontal floor slab to define a lower spandrel panel row.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a second plurality of spandrel wall panels disposed adjacent each other along each other along the outer edge of a second horizontal floor slab located above the first horizontal floor slab to define an upper spandrel panel row.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the vision wall panels extend vertically between the upper and lower spandrel panel rows.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein each vision wall panel includes an upper vision panel end securable to the upper spandrel panel row and a lower vision panel end securable to the lower spandrel panel row.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal frame includes an upper horizontal frame member, a lower horizontal frame member parallel to the upper horizontal frame member and left and right side vertical frame members extending between the upper and lower horizontal frame members.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the internal frame further includes a plurality of intermediate frame members disposed between the left and right side vertical members and extending between the upper and lower horizontal frame members.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the upper and lower horizontal frame members, the left and right side vertical frame members and the plurality of intermediate frame members have a substantially rectangular cross-section.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the intermediate frame members extend perpendicular to the upper and lower horizontal frame members.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the plurality of intermediate frame members includes a left intermediate frame member located towards the left side vertical member and a right intermediate frame member located towards the right side vertical member.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a plurality of vertical vision panel connecting members, each vertical vision panel connecting member extending between two adjacent ones of the vertical vision panels to connect together the two adjacent vertical vision panels, the vertical vision panel connecting members being distinct from the left and right side vertical members and from the intermediate frame members of the spandrel wall panel.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each spandrel wall panel includes a spandrel anchoring assembly for anchoring the spandrel wall panel to the corresponding horizontal floor slab.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the spandrel anchoring assembly includes an upper anchor plate configured to be secured against a top face of the corresponding horizontal floor slab and an upper hook member secured to the spandrel wall panel, the upper hook member being engageable with the upper anchor plate to secure the spandrel wall panel to the corresponding horizontal floor slab.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the spandrel anchoring assembly further includes a lower anchor plate configured to be secured against a bottom face of the corresponding horizontal floor slab and a lower hook member secured to the spandrel wall panel below the upper hook member, the lower hook member being engageable with the lower anchor plate to further secure the spandrel wall panel to the corresponding horizontal floor slab.

16. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shell includes an inner shell wall disposed towards the outer edge of the corresponding horizontal floor slab when the spandrel wall panel is secured to the corresponding horizontal floor slab and an outer shell wall spaced away from the inner shell wall to define an inner spandrel panel cavity therebetween, the internal frame being received in the inner spandrel panel cavity.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the internal frame abuts the inner shell wall and is secured thereto.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the spandrel wall panel further includes a layer of insulating material secured to the inner shell wall and extending towards the outer shell wall.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the layer of insulating material is spaced from the outer shell wall to define an insulating air gap therebetween.

20. A method for assembling a facade system to a building structure, the building structure including a plurality of horizontal floor slabs spaced vertically from each other, each horizontal floor slab having an outer edge facing towards an exterior of the building structure, the method comprising: securing at least one spandrel wall panel to the outer edge of a corresponding horizontal floor slab such that the at least one spandrel panel extends vertically against the outer edge, the at least one spandrel wall panel having an upper spandrel panel end and a lower spandrel panel end located opposite the upper spandrel panel end, the at least one spandrel panel including an outer shell and an internal frame disposed within the outer shell;providing a plurality of vision wall panels, each vision wall panel being translucent to allow visible light to pass therethrough;placing the plurality of vision wall panels side-by-side on the upper spandrel panel end of the at least one spandrel wall panel such that the vision wall panels are solely supported by the at least one spandrel panel.

21. A spandrel wall panel for supporting a plurality of vision wall panels of a facade system, each vision wall panel being translucent to allow visible light to pass therethrough, the spandrel wall panel comprising: an upper spandrel panel end for receiving the plurality of vision wall panels thereon;an outer shell; andan internal frame disposed within the outer shell, the internal frame being sufficiently rigid to allow the spandrel wall panel to support the at least two adjacent ones of the vision wall panels.

22. The spandrel wall panel as claimed in claim 21, further comprising left and right spandrel panel side ends and a spandrel panel width defined between the left and right spandrel panel side ends, the spandrel panel width being greater than a width of the vision panels to allow the spandrel wall panel to receive and support at least two adjacent ones of the vision wall panels.