Cost estimation of curtain wall in early design stages

This note discusses only the cost that can be localized within a limited context. Global attributes such as type diversity and configuration complexity that might add on  cost in fabrication and installation are not included.

Consider three components,  the locking devices, supporting frames and panels. 

1. locking devices to the structure system
   Considering the entire facade as one piece, the locking devices that are required to firm the entire facade to the structure system are depend on the vertical loads caused by gravity and horizontal loads caused by wind pressure. For this, the cost estimation can be summarized as a function on the panel type and area of the curtain wall system. For each type of panel, consider its weight of unit area. However, this part of cost can be integrated to supporting frame and avoid double counting.
   
2. supporting frame
   Supporting frame is most likely coincident with the panel vertices and edges.  Edge length would be an important factor linearly related to the cost for material, fixation, seaming, insulation and so on. Panels are supported by the frames and the weight and wind load would be important factors to design profiles for the supporting frame. Vertices would add on some cost for cutting, joining or  locking devices that would take materials, machining and time for fabrication. The panel area and type would also contribute to the cost of supporting frame due to the weight and wind load. The construction cost of each panel can be linearly proportional to the edge length of each panel.
   
   I would consider summarizing the construction cost as a weighted linear sum of

   numberOfVertices

   totalEdgeLength

   panelSurfaceArea

   panelType: which is attributed with estimated weighting factors for the above parameters, and weight per unit area for the panel.

   The calculation also needs reference to windLoadContourMap , which is supposed to be derived by some simulation or regulations.

3. panel
   The panel type and surface area would be the most important factors. For each type of panels, the  cost of material, coating, paints, insulation, ... are proportional to area. Installation would takes one basic cost plus a part that is proportional to the weight and dimension. The dimension can be abbreviated with the sum of width and length for its bounding rectangle. Cost for fixation and seaming have been counted in the supporting frame and are ignored for panel. Wind load would add on some cost that is proportional to the surface area.
   
   I would consider summarizing the construction cost of each panel as a weighted linear sum of

   surfaceArea

   widthOfBoundingRectangle

   lengthOfBoundingRectangle

   panelType: , which is attributed with estimated weighting factors for the above parameters, and weight per unit area for the panel. The calculation also needs reference to windLoadcontourmap, which is supposed to be derived by some simulation or regulations.