Attaching Awnings to Rainscreen Walls (CUT, NYC)

By Eva Dec-Prat

Our project, working on the outdoor dining space at Wolfgang Puck's CUT, NYC restaurant, particularly dealt with the combination of indoor comfort and practicality with outdoor complications. The incorporation of rainscreen walls—in order to prevent wall rot and encourage safe drainage of water—clashed with the need for awnings to prevent rainfall on diners. 

Rainscreen walls introduce cladding that separates the exterior from the structural framing, allowing water to drain by gravity through the gap, alongside enough upward airflow to dry out the structural frame. Thus, we embarked on a journey to find a solution for this conflict between long-term durability and aesthetics. 

To accomplish this, we needed to directly anchor the awning through the cladding into the structural framing using spacers. However, when done without proper sealing, this can continue to create a point of water infiltration. Therefore, after sealing all penetrations, a solid water-resistant barrier can be constructed alongside anchors that hold up the awning. All of these aspects ensure the durability of the awning's anchoring, as well as the structural integrity of the building itself, for years to come.

Crowe, Kris. Delta Academy, April 6th 2023, https://deltaacademy.dorken.com/resources/understanding-rainscreen-systems/