News & Insights
The Clear Advantage of Structural Glass Designs
In order to dive into structural glass systems, first we must discuss what glass structures are. Structural glass, broadly, is glass that takes on a portion of the structure’s load. The nature of the load the glass maintains depends on its positioning and purpose; for example, a glass floor is created to withstand people walking…
The Architect’s Guide to Exposed Structural Steel (AESS)
When considering different structural design options, Architecturally Exposed Structural Steel stands out to many architects since it boasts both aesthetic appeal and structural integrity. This post explores all you need to know about the method if you plan to integrate it into your designs. Background: What is AESS? Exposed Structural Steel (AESS) refers to a…
8 Facade Designs to Inspire Your Next Architecture Project
All the elements of a design come together to create truly remarkable buildings. Novum Structures provides system solutions to your design intent while providing an accurate budget for the engineering, fabrication, and installation bringing an architect’s vision to life. If you’re looking to incorporate a facade into your next building design, let this guide act…
The Glass Facade Guide for Architects
A glass facade has the power to transform the aesthetic and function of a building. Glass has the ability to cast light with precision while creating inviting and stunning spaces. Beyond appearance, glass serves a vital role in thermal and energy regulation, as well as a building’s security and functionality. This article offers a comprehensive…
10 Canopy Structures to Inspire Your Next Architecture Project
Well-constructed canopies create an inviting feeling of protection from harsh elements like sun and rain, while still being able to stand or sit outside. They can also serve to invite pedestrians to enter a building. Finally, beautiful canopies create a unique architectural feature on buildings that create dimension and allure. This post explores 10 unique…
10 Architectural Projects Featuring Skylights to Inspire your Next Design
Skylights blur the barriers between outside and inside. Admire 10 awe-inspiring international skylights that push the boundaries of modern architecture. 1. Mall of Africa: Gauteng, South Africa At 46,000 square feet, we’ll start this skylight saga with an expansive display of exposed architectural steel in the shape of trees. The plans for the mall, which…
Reticulated Structures on Free Form Surfaces
Reticulated Structures: Are They Structurally Sound? Free form envelopes became more and more popular in recent years, after being promoted by buildings like the DZ-Bank in Berlin (Frank Gehry), the Arts Center in Singapore (Vikas Gore), the British Museum in London (Norman Foster) and recently the New Fair in Milan (Massimiliano Fuksas) with its roofs…
How to Design a Free Form Structure with Grid Shell Technology
Creative architecture can evoke both emotion and wonder. Grid Shell technology has helped advance and expand the world of creative architecture. Free form structures created with grid shell technology are a great example of this unique style of design and have become more popular over the last decade. The main reason for their rise in…
Node Connectors and Their Influence on Free Form Structures
Introduction to Double Layer Structures There are two main concepts involved in the realization of free form structures – single layer structures and double layer structures. Double layer structure design has been well known for many years. Comprehensive comparisons of node connectors for double layer structures are published in [EBE75] [LAC77] [OCT02]. The classical node…
How We Won a KIWI Award for Our Cable Stayed Portal in Chicago
Did you know that to visit the largest convention center in America, you enter a portal? Not just any portal, but an award-winning cable-stayed portal. Novum engineered a cable-stayed portal (17 meters tall and 55 meters long), clad in stainless steel and laminated windows. The predominant cable structure system welcomes visitors who enter from the…
