There may have been a time when exterior louvers and grilles were strictly functional, with little to no contribution to the architectural design of a building. In fact, these products, critical to the operation of a building’s HVAC and mechanical systems, are often relegated to alleyways or the back of the building along with other unsightly systems. But architects may be surprised to know that this product category has evolved considerably, so much so that architectural louvers and grilles can now offer as much aesthetic value to a project as they provide function.
“There’s a common misconception about the possibilities for design in this category: that the more functionality a product holds, the less sophisticated the design can be,” says Sean Carver, senior business development manager at Construction Specialties. “With recent product initiatives bent on elevating the design possibilities, a louver’s functionality and aesthetic go hand-in-hand, instead of being mutually exclusive.”
In today’s architectural landscape, louvers are making a journey from the back of the house to front and center, even serving as architectural features. They can be illuminated with LED lighting, using one solid color or creating patterns and displaying different colors. While they can be covertly hidden behind perforated sheet goods, they can also present very clean horizontal or vertical lines (frameless), having shed the big, bulky framework of the past. These varied custom features now available to architects can make louvers a focal point on the building while still allowing for necessary airflow and HVAC connections.
An example is Rose Hill, a residential building in New York City. This tall, thin, mid-block building presented a unique challenge as to where to put the louvers and how to make them fit the design aesthetic. With buildings on either side, and the need to preserve space for windows, project designer Charles Thomson, LEED AP, senior associate at CetraRuddy, located the louvers at entry level, near the occupant entrance.
“We needed to design a way to make sure the mechanical components would be hidden, even to the most discerning eye,” says Thomson. “In some ways we were trying to hide the louvers, but you could also say we turned it into an opportunity to emphasize the detail at the top and bottom of the building.”
A chevron pattern served as a leading design theme, from the railings to the crown of the building. To ensure the louvers blended in, they were covered with a custom, perforated metal screen that coordinated with the crown design.
While exploring these sorts of custom options, architects should note some key considerations. First, regardless of the level of function or aesthetic, louvers are still highly technical products that should be analyzed, engineered, and even tested according to their intended project-specific application. When any manufacturer customizes a louver system, parameters such as structural calculations, wind loading and snow loading should be considered.
Another consideration is avoiding dual specification. Louver specs can appear in either Division 8 or Division 10, but there is often a mechanical specification associated with louvers in Division 25.
Louvers can also be dual specified if they form part of a curtainwall exterior. The important thing to remember is either avoid dual specification or make sure those specifications are extremely well coordinated so there isn’t conflicting information. The best practice is to specify them in only Division 8 or 10, depending on which format is being used, and then refer to that specification from the other places where it’s applicable.
The Rose Hill project exemplifies another key consideration. When exploring the design possibility of a louver system that combines multiple products, it’s important that they are all supplied by the same manufacturer, as the louver manufacturer needs to test the assembled system as a whole. The very specific air and water performance associated with the louver in the back of the assembly isn’t the same once the other materials are installed front of it. Therefore, it’s critical that it is air and water tested by the manufacturer as a combined full system.
Eric Sposito serves as director of architectural louvers, grilles/shading and Explovent business units at Construction Specialties Inc., Lebanon, N.J. To learn more, visit www.c-sgroup.com.