1. Requirement Capture
Architect's geometry, performance targets, local code and budget envelope are translated into an engineering brief — what the surface must do, not just how it looks.
Custom Curtain Wall Systems
Curved, free-form, oversized panels, mixed materials, one-off geometries — when a standard system ends, Hanart's custom curtain wall capability begins. Engineered, fabricated and installed under one contract, from concept geometry to site erection.
Free-Form & Curved
Full Revit Workflow
Factory Mock-Up Before Production
Since 1995
The Custom Workflow
From Concept Geometry to Installed Facade
A custom facade is only as good as the process behind it. Our five-stage workflow keeps geometry, engineering and fabrication synchronized from first sketch to final panel:
2. Revit Model & Rationalization
The free-form surface is rationalized into buildable panels in Revit: panelization, curvature analysis, and tolerance strategy that keeps fabrication and erection predictable.
3. Mock-Up & Test
A full-scale or representative mock-up is built and tested for air, water and structural performance before mass production — the same standard Hanart applies to its standard systems.
4. Factory Production
Custom dies, CNC bending and precision assembly in our Shanghai factory, with QC checks per panel and a digital record tied to the shop drawing.
5. Installation & Handover
Dedicated site team, flexible crane plans and as-built documentation. One Hanart contract covers every stage — one party to hold accountable.
Reference
Custom Curtain Walls We Have Delivered
Zhejiang Art Museum, Hangzhou
A landmark museum envelope with curved and free-form surfaces — proof that Hanart builds geometry, not just grids. Rated a landmark project with Luban-level quality control.
View the case study →Six National Landmarks
A portfolio of Luban Prize landmark projects including stadiums, airport terminals and cultural buildings — each with custom geometry, demanding performance and public scrutiny.
View the landmark portfolio →166 Perry Street, New York
North American delivery demonstrating custom unitized systems meeting strict US code, logistics and quality requirements across an ocean — the same discipline applies to your geometry anywhere.
View the case study →See also how curved & free-form systems are engineered, or browse the BIM & Revit families Hanart publishes for its standard and semi-custom systems.
Choosing
Standard System or Custom — Which One Is Your Project?
| Consideration | Standard System (Unitized / Stick) | Custom Curtain Wall |
|---|---|---|
| Geometry | Planar or low-complexity surfaces | Curved, twisted, free-form, mixed angles |
| Lead time | 8–12 weeks after shop drawings | 12–20 weeks (tooling + mock-up added) |
| Tooling cost | Minimal — existing dies and profiles | Custom dies, CNC bending, one-off fittings |
| Cost per m² | Lower — volume and repetition | Higher — justified by architecture |
| Performance evidence | Validated system test reports | Project-specific mock-up test required |
| Best choice when | Budget-driven, repeatable modules, fast track | Landmark value, signature geometry, brand image |
Not every project needs full custom engineering. If your envelope is planar but still needs early design input, design assist & value engineering may save more than a custom system costs. If the geometry is fixed and expressive, custom is the only honest answer — and it is exactly what Hanart's engineering and factory are set up for.
Complex custom work also benefits from the same turnkey delivery model: one contract from engineering to handover, so the geometry risks never become interface disputes.
FAQ
Why Custom
Risks a custom facade avoids
Standard catalogue systems struggle with non-orthogonal geometry, deep returns, thermal movement at mixed interfaces and one-off opening patterns. The risks are cumulative: a small error in panel rationalization multiplies through fabrication, packing and site adjustment.
Engineering a single-source custom package removes that accumulation. The Revit model is the contract geometry; rationalization, fabrication drawings and site setting-out all read from it. What is reviewed at design stage is what arrives on site, panel by numbered panel.
- Free-form and double-curved panel rationalization
- Thermal and seismic movement at mixed-material interfaces
- Oversized units, deep mullions and non-standard opening systems — see oversized glass curtain wall systems
- Sequence risk across multiple facade trades on one elevation
Handover
Documentation and handover
Every custom package closes with a documented handover: as-built Revit and CAD sets, fabrication and approval revisions, test certificates, maintenance and cleaning schedules, spares lists and a structured warranty with remote and on-site support.
For arquitectural landmark projects this record is the basis of lifecycle management — re-glazing, cleaning access, sealant renewal and future extension works all reference it.
Pricing
How a custom facade is priced
Custom facades are priced from the rationalized model: panel count, complexity of geometry, material and finish, testing regime and logistics. After the engineering review Hanart returns a fixed price with three breakpoints — design freeze, mock-up approval and fabrication release — so the cost is controlled at the points where scope actually changes.
Custom Curtain Wall Questions, Answered
Pricing
How a custom facade is priced
Custom facades are priced from the rationalized model: panel count, complexity of geometry, material and finish, testing regime and logistics. After the engineering review Hanart returns a fixed price with three breakpoints — design freeze, mock-up approval and fabrication release — so the cost is controlled at the points where scope actually changes.
Any envelope that cannot be built from a standard system kit without modification: curved or twisted surfaces, free-form panels, oversized or non-standard modules, mixed materials in one system, or special structural conditions such as long spans and point-supported glass.
As a rule, 20–50% over an equivalent standard system per m², driven by custom tooling, engineering and project-specific testing. The premium is recovered in architectural value and repeated projects — many of our landmark clients standardize their custom solution after the first building.
Yes. Every custom system receives a mock-up test program (air, water, structural — and thermal/fire when specified) before mass production, executed at accredited laboratories. The tested sample is documented against the project's performance budget.
The full engineering workflow runs in Revit, and the approved model, shop drawings and fabrication data are handed over with the project. For standard systems, free Revit families are published on the BIM downloads page.
Have a geometry that needs an engineer?
Send the 3D model or facade drawings. Hanart's engineers will confirm feasibility, panelization strategy and a cost framework — usually within 24 hours.