"Optimising façades means balancing performance, cost and buildability without compromising the project."
01
THE CHALLENGE
The project initially presented significant uncertainty due to high level performance-based specifications and unclear façade requirements, making it difficult for contractors and suppliers to produce consistent technical and commercial proposals. The client also faced substantial budget pressure, with façade costs exceeding the expected financial targets. The challenge therefore became not only technical, but also strategic, requiring clarification, optimisation and alignment between design intent and procurement feasibility.
02
THE SOLUTION
Frame Projects supported the contractor through an extensive technical review and value engineering phase, redefining façade strategies and developing alternative systems capable of aligning the project with the client’s budget expectations while maintaining the required performance standards. The engineering process included façade analysis, specification rewriting, preliminary structural validation and the development of procurement-ready documentation capable of generating comparable and reliable supplier quotations.
03
Balancing performance and cost through engineering strategy. Turning façade ambiguity into procurement clarity.
The introduction of mullions in the façade systems in place of fully frameless solutions enabled a substantial reduction in glazing complexity and overall façade costs, while maintaining architectural consistency and required performance levels. By clearly defining façade typologies, glazing specifications, coatings and structural parameters, the project team successfully transformed an initially ambiguous façade package into a coordinated and commercially viable procurement process.
04
From value engineering to delivery control.
The appointment evolved into full construction-phase technical support, including drawing reviews, testing coordination, façade inspections and quality control activities during installation. This ensured that the optimised façade solutions developed during the early stages remained consistent throughout procurement, fabrication and construction, maintaining technical control across the entire delivery process.
05
CONCLUSIONS
Kering Eyewear Headquarters demonstrates how façade consultancy can become a strategic tool for aligning design intent, procurement efficiency and construction control. The project highlights the importance of combining technical expertise with commercial awareness in order to optimise complex façade packages without compromising quality, performance or architectural consistency.
"The best optimisation improves the project, not only the budget."
Projects.
Projects.
