I’ve been commissioned by the Quebec Wood Export Bureau to create a timber curtain wall family in Revit. This curtain wall project is within an openBIM initiative involving multiple wood producers and non-profit sources with the goal of creating high-quality content:

• Quebec Wood Export Bureau (QWEB) is a non-profit trade association with funding for openBIM initiatives from NRCAN and MEI. A BC Wood partnership is also in planning. https://quebecwoodexport.com/en/

• Unicel, the main creator of the timber curtain wall - https://unicelarchitectural.com/

• Art Massif, wood structure specialist - https://www.artmassif.ca/?lang=en

• Offsite Wood (free plugin for Revit) - https://apps.autodesk.com/RVT/en/Detail/Index?id=2282574255824847612&appLang=en&os=Win64

Download the free Revit container files by using this form

Timber Curtain Wall Examples

This technology has been successfully used on multiple projects in the US. Here are a few examples:

Private Residence in Long Island, NY - Featured in Architectural Record - Architect: Jerome Engelking

Image courtesy of Unicel

The Welcome Page Instructions

When you open the .rvt container file, you will see the Welcome Page. This page contains instructions to use the family. Make sure to read the guide to understand how to use the timber curtain wall.

4 Types of Curtain Walls

In addition to instructions, there is a set of views for each of the 4 types of timber curtain walls. There are two parameters that distinguish the families: the mullion width and the glazing depth. Here are the types:

• 80T (80mm mullions, Triple glazing)

• 80D (80mm mullions, Double glazing)

• 60T (60mm mullions, Triple glazing)

• 60D (60mm mullions, Double glazing)

Each type has a preview title block with multiple views:

Customize Mullion Depth

For each timber curtain wall, there are five parameters you can control:

• Vertical Wood Depth

• Bottom Wood Depth

• Top Wood Depth

• Intermediate Wood Depth

• Cap Depth

To customize these parameters, go to the Global Parameters menu in the Manage tab. Use the global parameter that matches the type you are using:

Note: the manufacturer limited the dimensions to certain values. The minimum wood depth is 160mm and the maximum is 340mm, in 20mm increments. The values you enter will automatically be rounded to the nearest acceptable value.

If you copy/paste the timber curtain wall to your project, the global parameters will also be copied.

Disclaimer: Wood mullion depth is a function of wind load on your project. Make sure to verify this value with an engineer and with the product manufacturer.

Changing the Level of Detail

Try switching the views from Coarse to Fine. The families each have nested detail components that only show up on a certain level of detail for both sections and plan views.

Switching Curtain Panels

A limitation of curtain walls in Revit is that you can’t have more than one material for mullions. Since this system has caps in aluminum and timber mullions, we had to use a workaround.

Therefore, the mullions only contain the cap, while the timber mullions are embedded directly in custom curtain panel families. That requires a little extra planning when modifying grids and panel positioning. Take a look at these interior elevations:

Refer to this legend when creating your own curtain grids layout so the panels properly match. You can also have a look at the Type Comments of each panel for a description of where the panel should go:

Corner Mullions

The mullions set in the system families are used for the straight conditions. If you want to use corner mullions, you will have to manually switch them. Here are the mullions you will have to use for each corner:

Sliding Door Family

The container file include a Sliding Door Family. There is a type for each of the curtain wall types (80T, 80D, 60T, 60D). The dimensions will automatically be adjusted to match the curtain wall sizing.

Again, use this link to download the timber curtain wall family for free.

Support

• Revit family support: [email protected]

• Technical questions about this system: [email protected]

Considering a wood option? Do you have ideas for more wood content? Contact the QWEB U.S. architectural liaison Eli Gould: [email protected]