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How suitable are glass exterior walls for airports, shopping malls, hotels, and mixed-use developments?
Glass exterior walls are highly suitable for public and commercial venues where daylight, visibility, and aesthetic impact are priorities. In airports, large glazed atria promote wayfinding and passenger comfort but require stringent acoustic control, blast or impact considerations, and robust thermal performance due to high internal loads. Shopping malls benefit from transparent façades and skylights for retail display, but must manage solar heat gains and glare; laminated, low-E IGUs and fritting balance daylight and thermal control. Hotels prioritize views and façade prestige; privacy, acoustic isolation, and operable windows for guest comfort are typical considerations. Mixed-use developments require careful zoning of façade performance—residential zones emphasize acoustic and thermal comfort, while commercial zones focus on visibility and branding—often achieved via variable façade strategies within a single envelope (e.g., higher SHGC retail glazing vs. lower SHGC residential glazing). In all case types, safety, egress, fire rated assemblies (where needed), and maintenance logistics (access for cleaning) are key. Properly engineered glass systems fulfill functional and aesthetic needs across these building types when matched to occupancies and operational expectations.