Facade panel with integrated window system

Abstract

A prefabricated construction element for use in construction of multi-storey buildings. The construction element is a mass timber exterior wall panel, integrating building assemblies such as windows, exterior wall finishes, and connectors to other building components. The construction element comprises: an envelope subpanel; a feature element such as a window or door; an insulation layer; and a cladding layer, wherein the envelope subpanel comprises an upper beam along its top edge and a lower beam along its bottom edge, and a plurality of spacers disposed between the upper beam and the lower beam, defining one or more openings for receiving the feature element; wherein the insulation layer is attached to the envelope subpanel and provided with one or more openings corresponding to the feature element; wherein the cladding layer overlies the insulation layer and is attached thereto.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An integrated construction element for constructing a curtain wall for a multi-storey building, comprising:
 an envelope structural subpanel;   one or more feature elements;   an insulation layer; and   a cladding layer,   
       wherein the envelope structural subpanel, has a top edge and a bottom edge, and comprises an upper beam disposed substantially along the top edge and a lower beam disposed substantially along the bottom edge, and a plurality of spacers disposed between the upper beam and the lower beam, wherein the upper beam, lower beam and plurality of spacers define one or more openings for receiving the one or more feature elements; 
       wherein the insulation layer is attached to the envelope structural subpanel, and wherein the insulation layer is provided with one or more openings corresponding to the feature elements; and 
       wherein the cladding layer overlies the insulation layer and is attached thereto. 
     
     
         2 . The construction element of  claim 1 , wherein the feature elements are windows, doors or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The construction element of  claim 1 , additionally comprising a plurality of attachment means connected to the envelope structural subpanel for attaching the construction element to a floor or ceiling of a building. 
     
     
         4 . The construction element of  claim 3 , wherein the attachment means consists of a clip and cleat system. 
     
     
         5 . The construction element of  claim 3 , wherein the attachment means consists of a bracket system. 
     
     
         6 . The construction element of  claim 1 , additionally comprising a plurality of strapping elements for keeping the insulation layer in place. 
     
     
         7 . The construction element of  claim 1 , wherein the envelope structural subpanel is made substantially from mass timber. 
     
     
         8 . The construction element of  claim 1 , wherein the spacers abut the upper beam and lower beam. 
     
     
         9 . The construction element of  claim 1 , additionally comprising an engagement means disposed substantially along one or both of a top edge of the construction element and a bottom edge of the construction element, wherein the engagement means is adapted to matingly engage with a second construction element, when said second construction element is disposed vertically adjacent to the construction element, thereby facilitating the engagement of the construction element With the second construction element. 
     
     
         10 . The construction element of  claim 9 , wherein the engagement means is a tongue-and-groove joint comprising:
 a tongue or groove disposed substantially along one or both of a top edge of the construction element and/or of a bottom edge of the construction element; and   a corresponding groove or tongue, as the case may be, disposed on an edge of the second construction element.   
     
     
         11 . The construction element of  claim 9 , wherein the engagement means is a chicken head joint. 
     
     
         12 . The construction element of  claim 1 , additionally comprising one or more integrated building features for providing the multi-storey building with one or more selected from the group consisting of: a soffit; a setback, a balcony, a parapet, a canopy and railings. 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising a plurality of the construction elements of  claim 1  installed on a multi-storey building in a grid-like configuration, wherein a first of the plurality of construction elements is provided with one or more connectors disposed proximate to a periphery thereof, wherein the connectors secure the first construction element to a second of the plurality of construction elements that is disposed horizontally or vertically adjacently thereto.