By presenting the basics of building science along with a prescribed set of details, Designing the Exterior Wall helps architects and students understand why buildings fail and how they can be made more durable through design. The book connects the science and aesthetics of building envelopes through the examination of a variety of construction and cladding types. * Helps architects reduce their liability by showing why building envelopes fail and how they can be designed to endure. * Moves from theory to actual construction by including hundreds of building envelope details from a broad array of projects and climates. * Integrates numerous contemporary case studies, including Frank Gehrys Experiential Music Center in Seattle (thin skins), Renzo Pianos Rue de Meaux housing in Paris (terra cotta cladding), and Mario Bottas San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (prefabricated brick panels)