Large-format transparency
Floor-to-floor glazing and narrow aluminum sightlines create bright, open interiors.
Schüco & Reynaers · Made to Measure · USA
Schüco FWS 50 curtain wall reference · Explore Schüco façade systems
Aluminum Curtain Wall Systems
Custom glass curtain walls for residential and commercial buildings—engineered around architecture, wind, water, thermal performance, glazing and the exact project location.
Glass building envelopes
Commercial Aluminum Windows and Curtain Wall Systems.
Commercial aluminum windows typically form defined openings within a wall, while an aluminum curtain wall creates a continuous, non-load-bearing exterior envelope. Both solutions require the glass, framing, seals, anchors and perimeter connections to manage wind, daylight, air, water and heat as one coordinated system.
For multi-story façades, module geometry, glass thickness, mullion depth, building movement, drainage, integrated openings and anchoring are planned together. The correct choice depends on the architectural grid, performance brief, building height and installation sequence—not on appearance alone.
Integrated openings
Compatible windows, doors, vents and shading can be coordinated into the façade grid.
Performance by design
Air, water, wind, thermal, acoustic, solar and safety requirements are defined per project.
Assembly, glazing and shapeASSEMBLY 01 ASSEMBLY 02 GLAZING GEOMETRY
How should your curtain wall be built?
Start with the installation method, then choose the glazing approach and façade shape. Stick-built and unitized describe assembly; structural glazing describes glass retention and the exterior appearance. These decisions need to be coordinated for your building.
Stick-built curtain wall
The frame, glass and panels are assembled mainly on site. Mullions are the vertical frame members; transoms are the horizontal members between them. This approach can accommodate varied grids, with fabrication and site work planned together.
Unitized curtain wall
Larger façade modules are assembled in the factory and installed on the building. Repeated modules can help organize installation on multi-story projects. Module size, transport, lifting access and building movement still need to be checked.
Structural glazing
Structural glazing combines a glass-led exterior with a system-specific way of retaining the glass. It is a glazing choice rather than an assembly method. Suitable mullion-transom systems can use it; glass fixing, joints and opening units must be detailed together.
Custom and sloped façades
Roofs, atriums, segmented curves, inclined walls and project-specific grids require coordinated profiles, glass, drainage, structural support and fabrication details.
For a mullion-transom structural-glazing example, see the Schüco FWS 50 SG.SI system overview. Compare its appearance and glass-retention details with your project requirements.
Aluminum façade systems
Schüco and Reynaers curtain walls.
We compare the system family against the architectural grid and performance brief. The exact profile combination is selected only after the façade loads, glass and interfaces are known.
Choose a system providerThe entire provider card is clickable.
Schüco façade systems
FWS & SFC
Schüco FWS 50 provides a high-performance mullion-and-transom platform with a 50 mm face width for façades and skylights. FWS 50.SI adds a highly insulated option, while FWS 50 SG supports a flush or semi-structural-glazing appearance. Project-specific all-glass concepts can also draw on the Schüco SFC platform.
Reynaers façade systems
ConceptWall & ElementFaçade
Reynaers ConceptWall supports both architectural and performance-driven curtain wall design, including stick-built, roof, structural-glazing and project-specific solutions. Unitized ElementFaçade and ConceptWall variants support larger projects where prefabrication and repeatable modules shape the installation strategy.
Official manufacturer references
Curtain walls at architectural scale.
These labeled Schüco and Reynaers references illustrate how façade systems adapt to different grids, curves, opening units and building programs.
Frederick Douglass Centre
Newcastle upon Tyne · FWS 50 with AWS 114 façade windows · Completed 2020
Explore the Schüco curtain wall range
Barco One Campus
Kortrijk, Belgium · Custom ConceptWall 50 curtain wall · Completed 2016
Explore the Reynaers curtain wall range
THALES Bordeaux Garrigues
Bordeaux, France · FWS 50, SFC 85 and AWS 60 · Completed 2016
Explore the Schüco curtain wall range
Qatar National Convention Centre
Doha, Qatar · Project-specific ConceptWall 50 façade · Completed 2011
Explore the Reynaers curtain wall rangeReference projects illustrate façade scale, geometry and system application. Project-specific curtain wall planning remains subject to technical review.
Curtain wall performance
The façade is one connected system.
A curtain wall cannot be selected from one U-value or one profile image. Every layer and interface affects the result.
Wind and structure
Design pressure, mullion span, glass weight, deflection, anchors and building movement.
Air and water
Pressure equalization, drainage paths, gaskets, joints, perimeter seals and field testing.
Thermal performance
Frames, insulating glass, spacers, spandrels, anchors and perimeter transitions.
Solar and daylight
Glass coatings, visible light, solar heat gain, glare and exterior or integrated shading.
Safety and security
Glass type, fall protection, impact zones, opening restrictors, access and project risk.
Constructability
Tolerances, module size, transport, lifting, installation sequence and maintenance access.
U.S. curtain wall planning processSTEP 01 STEP 02 STEP 03 STEP 04 STEP 05
From elevation to coordinated façade.
Early information reduces redesign. We begin with geometry and performance, then narrow the system and glass choices.
Project brief
Location, building use, drawings, elevations, target appearance and schedule.
Performance brief
Wind, thermal, water, acoustic, solar, safety and applicable code requirements.
System concept
Façade type, grid, openings, glass, spandrels, profile depth and finish.
Interfaces
Anchors, slab edge, perimeter joints, drainage, fire containment and tolerances.
Quotation
Project-specific scope, quantities, assumptions, delivery and technical review.
Curtain wall FAQ
Before you request a façade quote.
What are mullions, transoms and sightlines?
Mullions are the vertical members of the curtain wall frame, and transoms are the horizontal members. The sightline is the frame width you see when looking at the façade. Profile depth is its front-to-back dimension. A narrow sightline does not tell you how deep a profile must be to suit the span and project loads.
Is structural glazing the same as unitized construction?
No. Unitized construction describes factory-assembled façade modules. Structural glazing describes the glass-retention approach and exterior joint appearance. A structural-glazing façade can also use a suitable mullion-transom system, such as Schüco FWS 50 SG.SI. Confirm the available glazing approach for the selected system before specifying it.
What is an aluminum curtain wall?
It is a non-load-bearing exterior building envelope made from aluminum framing, insulating glass and optional opaque zones. It transfers wind and its own weight to the primary structure while managing air, water, heat and daylight.
What is the difference between stick-built and unitized curtain wall?
Stick-built façades are assembled mainly on site from individual mullions, transoms, glass and panels. Unitized façades use larger factory-built modules installed floor by floor, which can improve repetition and installation speed on suitable multi-story projects.
Can Schüco and Reynaers curtain walls be used for U.S. projects?
Yes, subject to project-specific engineering and verification. The system, glass, anchors, perimeter joints and test strategy must be coordinated for the building location, design pressures and applicable local requirements.
What information is needed for curtain wall pricing?
Send elevations, façade dimensions, floor-to-floor heights, module grid, project location, desired systems, glass and finish, opening requirements and performance targets. Curtain wall cost cannot be estimated responsibly from square footage alone.
Custom curtain wall quotation
Start a Curtain Wall RequestSend us the façade elevation.
We will review geometry, system direction, glass, openings and project constraints before preparing the next planning step.