Curtain Wall and Glass Facade Installation in New York City

A curtain wall system is a non-structural exterior glazing assembly anchored to a building's floor slabs or structural frame. It carries its own weight and resists wind and weather, but it does not carry floor or roof loads. Liberty Door Supply designs, fabricates, and installs curtain wall and glass facade systems for commercial buildings across all five New York City boroughs - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.

What types of curtain wall systems does Liberty Door Supply install?

We work with two primary system types: stick-built and unitized.

Stick-built systems are assembled piece by piece on site. Vertical mullions and horizontal transoms are set individually, then infill glass panels are glazed into the frame. This approach suits mid-rise renovations and projects where staging space is tight - common in dense neighborhoods like Midtown Manhattan, Downtown Brooklyn, or Long Island City. We use Kawneer 1600 Wall System 1 and YKK AP YCW 750 XT profiles as our primary stick systems. Both carry AAMA 501 performance ratings and meet New York City's energy code under ASHRAE 90.1.

Unitized systems are factory-assembled into floor-height panels that stack and interlock on site. Installation is faster and quality control is tighter because fabrication happens in a controlled shop environment. We source Kawneer 1600 Wall System 1T unitized panels and Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope custom unitized units for larger projects. Unitized systems are the right call on new construction and full facade replacements in the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island where crane access is more manageable.

We also install structural silicone glazed (SSG) facades, which use silicone adhesive rather than visible pressure plates to bond glass to the frame. The result is a flush, all-glass exterior. SSG work requires precise shop fabrication and controlled cure times - both handled in our facility before panels ship to the site.

What does curtain wall installation cost on a New York City commercial project?

Curtain wall is priced per square foot of glazed area, including aluminum framing, glass, hardware, anchors, and installation labor. Realistic budget ranges for commercial projects in New York City:

• Stick-built systems, standard clear or low-e insulated glass: $85 to $140 per square foot installed
• Unitized systems with custom finishes or spandrel panels: $130 to $220 per square foot installed
• Structural silicone glazed facades: $150 to $250 per square foot installed, depending on glass specification

NYC-specific costs - DOB filings, special inspections, sidewalk shed permits, and union labor requirements - are real line items. We account for all of them in our quotes so there are no surprises at requisition time. Glass specifications such as Guardian SunGuard SNX 62/27 or Vitro Solarban 90 add cost but deliver meaningful energy performance gains that satisfy Local Law 97 compliance planning for building owners.

We do not quote specific prices without reviewing drawings and site conditions. Every facade is different.

How does Liberty Door Supply handle DOB compliance and NYC code requirements for curtain wall projects?

Curtain wall installations on existing New York City buildings require DOB filings. Depending on the scope, that means an Alt-1 or Alt-2 application, engineered anchor calculations stamped by a licensed PE, and special inspections for the structural connections. New construction facades are covered under the base building permit but still require approved shop drawings and third-party inspection sign-offs.

Liberty Door Supply prepares detailed shop drawings for architect and engineer review. We work with your architect of record or a DOB-approved special inspection agency. Our fabrication meets AAMA 101 and AAMA 501 performance standards, and we provide test reports on request.

We also design curtain wall openings to meet ADA accessibility requirements where entrance assemblies are incorporated into the facade. That includes proper maneuvering clearances, threshold heights, and hardware mounting heights per ICC A117.1 and NYC Building Code Chapter 11.

Energy code compliance is part of every design. We specify glass with appropriate U-factor and SHGC values to meet NYC's current energy conservation code, and we document the performance data for your filing package.

If your building has an existing facade that needs emergency repair - failed sealant joints, cracked infill panels, or water infiltration - we handle emergency glass repair and board-up on commercial facades throughout all five boroughs while a permanent repair is planned.

To discuss your curtain wall or glass facade project, call Liberty Door Supply at (347) 928-7349. We serve commercial property managers, general contractors, building owners, and architects across New York City.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a curtain wall installation take on a typical NYC commercial building?

Most mid-size projects - four to ten floors - run four to ten weeks from approved shop drawings to final glazing. Larger facades or phased occupancy schedules extend that timeline. Liberty Door Supply coordinates with your GC's super to minimize interference with active floors.

Do curtain wall systems need NYC DOB permits?

Yes. Curtain wall work on existing buildings typically requires a DOB Alt-1 or Alt-2 filing depending on scope, plus a special inspection for the anchor connections. Liberty Door Supply prepares shop drawings and coordinates with your architect of record or expediter to keep filings on track.

Can you match an existing curtain wall system on a building addition or renovation?

Often yes. We stock Kawneer, YKK AP, and Oldcastle profiles in standard mill and anodized finishes. For discontinued extrusions we source custom fabrication through our mill partners. Bring photos and any existing specs and we will assess compatibility at no charge.