DESIGN/BUILDER PARTNER

DP Architects PTE LTD; Meinhardt PTE LTD.

PRODUCTS INSTALLED

Hufcor Weather Resistant Glass Walls

CHALLENGE

Dubai Mall is one of the world’s largest shopping malls, housing over 1000 stores and restaurants, an aquarium, a luxury hotel, and a movie theater. It offers an unparalleled retail mix combined with world-class dining, entertainment, and leisure attractions. Apart from the rich collection of brands, the interior ambiance is made of natural and community elements, with tree-lined walkways, cafés, restaurants, and much more.

Working with the client’s set criteria, Gibca’s movable glass walls team determined a system had to be created that could withstand Dubai’s extreme heat, maintain a temperature balance between the internal and external environment, and withstand high wind pressures and a highly humid corrosive atmosphere. The durability and long-lasting quality of the product were essential. Another aspect of this project scope was to design the system within the architectural boundaries of the space while blending with the existing interior and augmenting the prestigious brand of the Dubai Mall.

SOLUTION

Hufcor Weather Resistant Glass Wall has thermally broken profiles that break the internal and external thermal contact of the partition. Profiles are split from the center vertically and are joined with the help of a thermally insulating material that breaks the external and internal metal contact. This exceptional feature of the glass wall helps maintain optimal internal temperature. The weather-resistant frames are fully reinforced to withstand heavy and gusty wind pressures. The consultant’s requirement was for the partition to withstand wind pressure of 1.2kPa, however, when our team carried out the wind load test, the Hufcor Weather Resistant Glass Wall system withstood wind pressure of up to 3.5 KPa. All the frames & tracks are also triple PVDF coated. Polyvinylidene fluoride-based coatings are typically used in outdoor applications that require exceptionally high performance and excellent long-term exterior durability with minimal maintenance.

RESULT

A total of 52 partitions and 296 panels were installed in the waterfront atrium, fountain oasis, fashion island, terrace façade, and food court. Our client had a unique set of criteria for this project and our team worked diligently to provide the perfect solution. For instance, to meet the requirement of fixed and movable panels in one partition, our team created a track suspension system in a concealed bulkhead to support the structure. Attention to detail was given to the external finish matched the finish of the panels creating a visually seamless design. Gibca team carried out structural computations and steel stiffeners calculations along with the engineering calculations for screws, hinges, and carriers to ensure the structural safety of the partitions. We also provided modifications for the steel structure to support the Hufcor track suspension system. This phenomenal Hufcor Weather Resistant Glass Wall system was provided with a special 10-year warranty to give the client further assurance in our workmanship and product quality.