Innovating a Contemporary Terra Cotta Cladding: Affordable Solutions for Historic Preservation
Upcoming Webinar: Restoring the Future: Rainscreen Cladding in Historic Terra Cotta Assemblies
Thursday, September 19, 2024
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Eastern Time
SOURCE: WJE News
DATE: September 10, 2024
The architectural terra cotta industry faces challenges due to the rise of alternative materials perceived as more cost-effective for façade restoration. Boston Valley Terra Cotta is committed to encouraging innovation in the industry, whether through fabrication efficiencies or more sustainable façade assemblies. As such, we were thrilled to host and work with Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE) on their initial exploration of this prototype in the ACAW 2022 cohort!
WJE has continued their research and are sharing their development with the architectural industry. In a one-hour webinar, WJE engineer Brett Laureys and architect Amanda Marshall will present their research on a new, contemporary terra cotta rainscreen cladding system designed to replicate a historic cornice assembly more affordably and with quicker fabrication times. Attendees will learn about the differences between historic and modern terra cotta, challenges in restoration, and benefits of the new lightweight system. Attendees are eligible for one AIA Learning Unit.
Profile view of WJE’s rainscreen cladding system. Photo ©Dan Cappellazzo
WJE’s terra cotta rainscreen system. Photo ©Dan Cappellazzo
Brett Laureys, Amanda Marshall, and WJE are frequent participants at the Architectural Ceramic Assemblies Workshop (ACAW). The 2022 team included Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates and Central Building and Preservation, L.P.
“For our next steps, we have an in-house research project going on, so we’re going to build another prototype back at our lab and then we’re going to do some testing – we’re doing impact testing, load testing on some of the components to make sure that everything works on a facade… and hopefully we’ll get it on one of our projects in the future.” ~ Brett Laureys, Principal and Director of Business Development at Wiss Janney Elstner, speaking on ACAW2022 Team WJE’s plans for further development.
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates at the 2022 Architectural Ceramic Assemblies Workshop. Photo ©Dan Cappellazzo
