'duplicated plane'

Health Department Headquarters
Bilbao, Spain
Daniel Gutiérrez Zarza

The duplicated plane wrapping this building serves to meet the energy, acoustic and fire codes of Bilbao. Dual walls have long been implemented in European architecture. Europe clearly has a greater concern for resources than the United States. With rising energy costs, we will soon see this technology here. There are some buildings in the U.S. with dual walls. The Walker Art Center, in Minneapolis has a a feature dual wall on Hennepin Avenue. Comcast Center in Philadelphia has a dual wall surrounding the winter garden.