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Howard L. Hawks Hall, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) College of Business building, uses a custom unitized curtainwall, solar-control insulating glass and exterior shades to pursue daylight, comfort and lower cooling loads. The 240,000-square-foot facility opened for the fall 2017 term as an $84 million, privately funded project. Its façade was designed around a LEED Silver target, but the sources available do not verify certification or publish measured energy savings. The most accurate reading is therefore one of documented design intent and specified systems—not a post-occupancy performance claim.
What is Hawks Hall, and what does its curtainwall project include?
Hawks Hall is UNL’s home for the College of Business. The university identifies the building as 240,000 square feet and says it opened for the fall 2017 academic term. UNL describes the project as an $84 million building funded privately. The university’s building profile and its historical account of the opening establish the project identity and timing.
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| Project fact | Documented detail |
|---|---|
| Building | Howard L. Hawks Hall, UNL College of Business |
| Size | 240,000 square feet |
| Opening | Fall 2017 term |
| Reported cost | $84 million |
| Funding | Privately funded |
| Lead design team | Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA), lead architect; Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture (APMA), associate architect |
| Builder | Hausmann Construction |
| Façade scope | More than 60,000 square feet of Wausau curtainwall |
Prices checked November 2026.
The façade account published by Building Enclosure describes a custom, unitized curtainwall. Wausau’s INvision system formed the basis of design, with 8750-UW and 6250i-HRX Series curtainwall named in the project description. The assembly also incorporated Wausau ClearStory exterior shades, Viracon VNE solar-control low-e insulating glass, and thermal improvements and finishes from Linetec.
Those are commercial, project-specific building-envelope components. They should not be interpreted as consumer products or as a universally applicable package for every office, classroom or institutional building.
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How does the curtainwall convey sustainability?
The sustainability strategy is layered: reduce unwanted solar heat before it reaches the interior, admit useful daylight, and use thermally improved framing and insulating glass to support occupant comfort and energy goals. The project account presents these as design objectives and specified features; it does not provide measured operating data proving a particular energy reduction.
Exterior shades intercept heat before the HVAC system sees it
ClearStory exterior shades were intended to stop a portion of solar radiation outside the glass. Exterior placement matters because the shade can intercept sunlight before that energy passes through the glazing and becomes interior heat. The account says the shades were selected to limit unwanted solar heat gain before it affected HVAC loads, while redirecting natural light deeper into occupied spaces.
This approach addresses a common curtainwall trade-off. Large glazed areas can provide views and daylight, but they can also increase cooling demand and glare if solar exposure is uncontrolled. A fixed or operable exterior shading strategy can reduce that burden while preserving more usable daylight than simply darkening the interior with blinds. Actual results depend on orientation, control settings, weather, occupancy and commissioning—none of which are reported for Hawks Hall.
Solar-control low-e glass balances light and heat
Viracon VNE solar-control low-emissivity insulating glass was specified for the façade. A low-e coating is designed to manage infrared heat transfer, while the insulating-glass construction adds a sealed cavity between panes. Solar-control formulations can limit solar heat gain while still transmitting a useful portion of visible light. The project narrative links that combination to daylighting, comfort and energy efficiency, but it does not publish the glazing’s U-factor, solar heat-gain coefficient or visible-light-transmittance values for this installation.
Those missing values matter when comparing curtainwalls. A lower U-factor generally indicates less conductive heat flow through the glazing and frame, while solar heat-gain coefficient describes how much incident solar energy enters the building. Visible light transmission helps predict daylight potential, but a high value can increase glare or cooling loads unless shading and controls are coordinated. Without the exact make-up and orientation-specific calculations, the Hawks Hall description should be treated as a system narrative rather than a complete energy model.
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Thermal improvements support comfort at the frame
Linetec supplied thermal improvements and finishes, according to the project account. In a curtainwall, frame conductivity, edge-of-glass conditions and transitions to opaque construction can create cold interior surfaces, condensation risk or localized discomfort even when the center of the glass performs well. Thermal breaks, insulated components and carefully detailed anchors are intended to reduce those paths. The available sources do not disclose condensation-resistance ratings, thermal simulations or post-occupancy comfort measurements for Hawks Hall.
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A unitized curtainwall is assembled into factory-built panels that arrive at the site largely glazed and finished, then connect to the building floor by floor. By contrast, a field-glazed system is assembled and glazed on site. The project’s unitized approach can improve sequencing and quality control when the panel dimensions, transportation plan and structure are coordinated early.
Doug Laffin, a Wausau architectural sales representative, said, “Using INvision unitized curtainwall, installation time is a fraction of what’s necessary for field-glazed systems.” That is a supplier representative’s claim, not a comparative installation study supplied with the project account. The account provides no quantified schedule, labor-hour or cost comparison, so the statement should be read as the manufacturer’s rationale for the system choice.
Unitization also changes how a design team manages tolerances and movement. Panels must accommodate floor-to-floor variation, structural drift and thermal movement through their anchors, stack joints and gaskets. Factory glazing can protect interior finishes from some weather exposure during installation, but it increases the importance of shop drawings, mock-ups, delivery logistics and damage inspection. A unitized system is not automatically more sustainable; its benefits depend on fabrication quality, efficient installation and long-term seal and gasket performance.
What façade performance issues should be checked?
The Hawks Hall account identifies the relevant evaluation axes but does not publish a complete performance schedule. Designers assessing a similar system should request documented values and details for each of the following:
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- Solar heat gain: Confirm the glazing solar heat-gain coefficient by orientation and pair it with shade geometry, spacing and control assumptions.
- U-factor: Review whole-assembly thermal transmittance, not just center-of-glass performance. Mullions, spandrels, anchors and edge conditions can dominate heat flow.
- Visible light and glare: Balance visible-light transmission with interior illuminance targets, view requirements and glare-control strategies.
- Condensation resistance: Check interior-surface temperatures and condensation-risk calculations for the project’s winter design conditions.
- Structural response: Verify wind pressures, glass bite, anchor capacity, floor movement and inter-story drift assumptions for the actual structure.
- Air and water control: Require laboratory and field test procedures for infiltration, water penetration, gaskets, seals and interfaces with adjacent walls and roofs.
- Durability and maintenance: Define access for cleaning and shade maintenance, replacement paths for insulating glass, and inspection intervals for seals and coatings.
- Installation method: Compare factory panelization, site access, crane or hoist needs, storage limits and weather constraints against a field-glazed alternative.
These checks help prevent a common mistake: selecting a high-performance glass label while overlooking the frame, perimeter seals, shading controls or installation tolerances that determine whole-wall behavior.
Was Hawks Hall certified LEED Silver?
The project account reports that the design targeted LEED Silver criteria. The sources reviewed for this article do not establish that the building received LEED Silver certification. It is therefore accurate to describe LEED Silver as a target or design criterion, not as an awarded credential.
That distinction is important because a LEED target describes an intended point strategy, while certification requires documentation, review and a formal outcome. Curtainwall features can contribute to credits related to daylight, energy performance, thermal comfort or materials, but the façade alone does not determine a project’s certification level.
Are there measured energy savings from the curtainwall?
No measured post-occupancy energy savings or independent operating assessment appears in the supplied sources. The Building Enclosure project account and a substantially similar public-relations account explain the intended relationships among shading, daylight, glass and HVAC load; they do not publish utility data, calibrated energy models or before-and-after comparisons.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThat evidence limit does not negate the design logic. It means readers should separate three kinds of statements: a specified product or assembly, a design intent such as reducing solar heat gain, and a verified outcome such as annual energy use. Only the first two are documented here. Claims that Hawks Hall “outperforms” another façade, saves a specific percentage of energy or delivers a measured payback would require comparative evidence not provided in the project record.
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How should owners compare curtainwall approaches?
Start with the building’s climate, orientation, occupancy and maintenance capacity rather than with a product name. For a project pursuing the same goals as Hawks Hall, use this sequence:
- Set performance requirements. Establish whole-wall U-factor, solar heat-gain limits, visible-light and glare criteria, air and water test requirements, acoustic targets and condensation-resistance expectations.
- Model each orientation. North, south, east and west elevations receive different solar exposure. Test glazing and shade combinations against peak cooling, winter heating, daylight and glare conditions.
- Coordinate structure and movement. Provide the curtainwall engineer with floor deflection, drift, seismic and thermal-movement criteria before panel dimensions are finalized.
- Detail interfaces. Resolve transitions to roofs, opaque walls, slabs, fire safing, interior finishes and waterproofing. Many failures occur at perimeter conditions rather than in the vision glass.
- Plan installation and quality control. Decide whether unitized or field-glazed sequencing fits site access and schedule. Require approved shop drawings, a representative mock-up, factory inspections where appropriate, and documented field testing.
- Commission shading and controls. Exterior shades only deliver their intended benefit when geometry, automation, occupant overrides and maintenance procedures are defined.
- Document operation. If sustainability claims matter, establish a measurement plan for energy, comfort, glare complaints and maintenance so design intent can be checked after occupancy.
This framework keeps the comparison evidence-based. It also recognizes that a façade is a system: glass, frame, shade, anchors, seals, controls and adjacent construction must work together.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What does “openness and permanence” mean in this project?
The project account says the Wausau curtainwall was intended to “provide a sense of both openness and permanence.” Openness refers to the visual and daylight benefits of extensive glazing, while permanence describes the durable, institutional character expected of a major university building. Those are stated design intentions, not independently measured user outcomes.
The building’s ceremonial opening generated similarly positive language. UNL system president Dr. Hank Bounds said, “When you have a facility like Hawks Hall, where the learning spaces are second to none, anything is possible.” That statement reflects the importance the university placed on the facility; it is not a performance test or post-occupancy evaluation.
What are the key lessons for building-envelope teams?
Hawks Hall demonstrates how a large glazed façade can carry a sustainability narrative when its parts are coordinated. Exterior shading addresses solar exposure before it reaches the glass, solar-control insulating glass manages heat and daylight transmission, and thermally improved framing supports interior comfort. A unitized installation strategy can support repeatable panel fabrication and faster site sequencing, provided movement, tolerances and interfaces are resolved in advance.
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The project also illustrates why careful wording matters. The documented facts are the building’s size, opening, suppliers and specified systems; the documented goals are daylight, comfort, solar-heat control and a LEED Silver target. Certification, measured energy savings and superiority to another façade remain unverified in the available record. For owners and designers, that distinction is a practical guide: specify measurable criteria, test the completed envelope and report operating results separately from design intent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much curtainwall was installed at Hawks Hall?
The project account reports more than 60,000 square feet of Wausau curtainwall. That figure describes the reported façade scope, not the total exterior-wall area or the amount of glass alone.
How many stories does Hawks Hall have?
The available sources use different counting terms: the Building Enclosure account calls it five stories, while a 2017 UNL publication describes six floors. Because the sources do not explain the counting convention, the building’s verified 240,000-square-foot size is the safer comparison figure.
Who designed and built Howard L. Hawks Hall?
Robert A.M. Stern Architects served as lead architect, with Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture as associate architect. Hausmann Construction built the facility.
Can a unitized curtainwall be repaired or reglazed after occupancy?
It can be maintained, but access and replacement procedures should be planned during design. Owners should confirm how insulating-glass units, gaskets, shades and finishes can be reached and replaced without removing large areas of the façade.
