A curtain wall is a non-structural exterior wall system, typically glass, metal, or a combination of materials, attached to a building’s structural frame but carrying no load beyond its own weight and the wind pressure acting directly against it.
This term is more commonly associated with commercial and high-rise construction, where glass curtain walls create the sleek, glazed exteriors common on modern office buildings, though the underlying concept can apply to lighter-weight residential applications as well.
Because the curtain wall doesn’t carry structural building loads, it can be designed with considerably more flexibility for appearance and daylight access than a load-bearing wall would allow.
What Does a Curtain Wall Involve?
- Glass, metal, or composite exterior panels
- Attachment to the building’s structural frame
- Design focused on weather resistance and appearance
- Engineering for wind load resistance despite non-structural status
Why Are Curtain Walls Important?
By separating the exterior cladding from the structural frame, curtain wall construction allows architects considerably more design freedom for glazing, appearance, and daylight access than would be possible if the exterior wall also needed to carry the building’s structural loads. This separation of function has enabled much of the glass-heavy architecture common in modern commercial and institutional buildings.
Despite carrying no vertical structural load, curtain walls still require careful engineering to resist wind pressure and maintain a weathertight seal, making them a specialized system distinct from either standard structural walls or simple decorative cladding. This specialized engineering reflects the unique demands of a wall system that prioritizes appearance without sacrificing weather performance.
Curtain Wall vs. Structural Wall
A curtain wall carries no structural building load, existing purely as exterior cladding attached to the frame. A structural wall actively carries vertical or lateral loads as part of the building’s overall structural system, a fundamentally different role despite both being exterior wall types.