Engineering Services

Application Support for your Project

YKK AP’s Engineering team partners with architects and glazing contractors early in the project cycle to address unique application challenges.

We evaluate project requirements and recommend the best-fit products. In unique cases, we can modify standard systems to create tailored solutions. By combining technical expertise and in-depth knowledge of our product portfolio, we help you make confident, informed decisions—setting your project up for success from the start.

Engineers or architects are meeting a team to design the architectural structure in the design with blueprints and model buildings in working site, Technological structure and construction Concept.

Services Available

Product Selection Assistance

Provide expert guidance in selecting the best-fit systems to meet your specifications, performance goals, and design vision.

Structural Calculations

Analyze system performance under load and determine the optimal approach to meet project-specific façade challenges.

Proposal Drawings

Develop concept and proposal drawings for customized solutions, helping you visualize and validate your design intent.

Thermal Analysis

Model and assess system thermal performance to help meet energy efficiency and code compliance requirements.

Blast Analysis

Conduct specialized analysis to determine system performance under blast conditions, supporting safety and security objectives.

Value Engineering

Evaluate alternative design approaches to identify cost-effective solutions without sacrificing performance or aesthetics.

Special Project Solutions

Some projects require solutions beyond our standard product portfolio—that’s where our Engineering team shines. The examples below showcase custom or modified designs originally created to meet unique conditions for past projects. These available solutions demonstrate what’s possible when your vision meets our engineering expertise.

Note: These project solutions require consultation with the Engineering Center. Contact your YKK AP rep to learn more.

Glass Slab Edge Cover for Window Wall

A custom-designed glass slab edge cover for a clean, all-glass transition and high-end esthetic

Airfoil (Vertical & Horizontal)

Single-blade airfoil sunshade designs in both vertical and horizontal configurations can be customized to meet specific shading requirements and aesthetic goals.

SSG with Sunshade

Specialized attachment solution designed to integrate sunshades with structural silicone glazed facades without disrupting the flush, all-glass appearance

YCW 750 SSG with 3M Tape

A structural glazing solution utilizing 3M tape offering a alternative to traditional wet glazing. 3M tape does not require cure time and can be stacked in a crate for immediate shipping (test report available)

Vapor Barrier Solution (YCW 750 OG)

Custom fabrication details designed for vapor barrier continuity to complex air and moisture management challenges at building envelope transitions

YES Storefront for Curved Heads

Custom details for installing YES Storefront systems into curved head openings
*YKK AP does not offer curved framing or metal bending inhouse

YCW 750 SplineTech SSG Corner

Custom male and female mullion designs create precision corner transitions for Splinetech SSG for an upgraded aesthetic

Dual Color Face Covers

A non-standard, dual-color face cover for window wall applications, enabling the use of multiple finishes to achieve specific architectural color-blocking or branding accents

Real-world Challenges, Solved

Wright State University –
Balancing Daylight, Heat, and Glare

CHALLENGE: Convey synergy between neuroscience and engineering through the facade design while maintaining occupant comfort.

APPROACH: Vertical glass fins paired with deep horizontal sunshades were engineered to manage solar exposure without compromising daylight or visual interest.

SOLUTION: A dynamic facade system that reduces heat gain and sun glare while reinforcing the building’s identity through color, rhythm, and performance.

James Clark Hall –
Solar Control for Transparency

CHALLENGE: A highly transparent facade required effective solar shading without disrupting the building’s environmental and sustainability goals.

APPROACH: Stainless steel sunshade brackets with PVC separators were developed to support the shading system while minimizing thermal transfer.

RESULT: A visually striking facade that highlights the sunshade geometry, improves solar performance, and contributes to its LEED Gold certification.

101 S. Marengo –
Transforming a Solid Facade

CHALLENGE: Convert a windowless travertine-clad building into a modern, healthy workplace with daylight and natural ventilation.

APPROACH: The facade was re-designed with large curtain wall openings and concealed operable SSG vents for floor-to-ceiling views.

RESULT: A complete facade transformation that delivers daylight, views, and operable ventilation with zero visible sightlines across floors.

110 East –
Expressing Vertical Movement

CHALLENGE: Create a facade that introduces vertical expression while integrating horizontal movement within a dense urban skyline.

APPROACH: Extended fin systems were engineered to weave vertical emphasis into the facade while maintaining structural alignment and constructability.

RESULT: A distinctive architectural addition that delivers depth, rhythm, and a contemporary profile to the Charlotte skyline.

Learn More

Structural Requirements

Y-view Design Tool

Make confident structural decisions—faster. Y-view Design puts 24/7 engineering support at your fingertips, helping you quickly determine if a YKK AP profile meets your project’s structural requirements. Evaluate deflection, stress, and anchor reactions for single-span and twin-span applications; it includes our design pressure calculator that uses ASCE 7 formulas.

MyTechLink Login Required

All Commercial Products

Architectural Windows

Sliding Balcony Doors

Curtain Walls

Entrances

Sloped Glazing

Sun Control

Storefronts

Window Walls

Finishes

Accessibility

Better Billet

ProTek

enerGfacade

Rapid Building