The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) announced the winning entry for the CTBUH 2018 Student Research Competition, sponsored by Underwriters Laboratories. The winning research entitled, “Curtain Wall Façade for Water Collection on Tall Buildings” was submitted by Joseph Pinto, an undergraduate student at IIT Architecture, with Akram Maradni and John Paul, working under Patrick Loughran, Adjunct Professor, IIT Architecture, and Principal, Goettsch Partners.
The goal of the competition is to assist talented students, overseen by an instructor, in focusing on a relevant research question within the 2018 theme of “Façade Performance Against Climate or Risks.” Working with the advisor, the students will undertake research exploring the idea of capturing rainwater for use within the building. Whereas tall building façades are typically designed to keep moisture outside the building, their proposal would explore the idea of façades that collect and route rainwater into the building. Their objective is to look at optimal collection techniques, identifying where in the façade to deploy such systems, and studying the efficacy and feasibility of these systems in different climates. Rainwater collection would be coupled with storage and filtration systems located at mechanical or service floors. This approach would ultimately turn site runoff into a generative resource for tall buildings, particularly as water becomes scarcer. Learn More here.