Which statement best describes Curtain Wall construction?

Which statement best describes Curtain Wall construction?

• A. It reduces exterior finishing time by using an independent façade system
• B. It relies on interior load-bearing walls
• C. It uses heavy timber framing
• D. It has no exterior cladding

Answer: (A)

Curtain wall construction centers on an exterior façade system that is independent from the building’s structural load path. The façade is attached to the building’s frame and does not carry gravity loads, which means the interior structure bears the loads while the curtain wall provides weatherproofing, insulation, and appearance. This setup can speed exterior finishing because the façade is designed as modular units (panels and mullions) that can be manufactured off-site and installed as a unit after the frame is in place, reducing coordination and on-site work required for finishing the exterior. Other descriptions don’t fit because curtain walls aren’t load-bearing elements of the structure, they aren’t built with heavy timber framing as the primary method, and they do constitute exterior cladding rather than omitting exterior cladding altogether.

Curtain wall construction centers on an exterior façade system that is independent from the building’s structural load path. The façade is attached to the building’s frame and does not carry gravity loads, which means the interior structure bears the loads while the curtain wall provides weatherproofing, insulation, and appearance.

This setup can speed exterior finishing because the façade is designed as modular units (panels and mullions) that can be manufactured off-site and installed as a unit after the frame is in place, reducing coordination and on-site work required for finishing the exterior.

Other descriptions don’t fit because curtain walls aren’t load-bearing elements of the structure, they aren’t built with heavy timber framing as the primary method, and they do constitute exterior cladding rather than omitting exterior cladding altogether.