The precast assembly that surrounds the envelope of One Commercial Place shields the window walls from the weather. Rain travels to the inboard side of the precast network to channels that convey the water to drains.
Under most weather conditions the system prevents water from reaching the glass. Wind driven rain that does make it to the windows runs down to the channels in the precast exoskeleton. Loose, concrete slabs occupy the drainage channels displacing volume that would otherwise be occupied by water during heavy downpours or if a drain is clogged. Sand and bird droppings also accumulate in the channels and the slabs limit the ultimate amount of those materials that remain as well.
The drainage channels are lined with a butyl sheet that is captured by the bottom of the window frame on the inboard edge and by a reglet in the vertical wall of the channel at the outside. Drains penetrate the butyl sheets at intervals. In numerous places throughout the system the displacement slabs and the hypalon components are damaged. This report details and quantifies that damage.
One Commercial Place, Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
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(If you zoom in far enough you can see the drainage features that are the subject of the report.)
