In conversation: the façade engineer who rewrote a city’s wind-load rules
Dr. Leena Prabhu on cyclones, glass thickness and why codes lag behind the skyline.
When a cyclone stripped panels from three coastal towers in 2021, Dr. Leena Prabhu was asked to explain why. Her answer led to a revision of the regional façade guidelines that is now cited in tenders across the coast.
We spoke to her about what changed, what still worries her, and why she thinks glass is rarely the weak link.
Glass gets blamed because it is visible on the pavement. The real story is almost always in the bracket.
Most failures she investigated began at the fixing, not the pane. Brackets designed for typical wind speeds were installed at heights where gusts were far stronger than the drawings assumed.
What it means for specifiers
For architects and façade consultants, the practical message is to involve the glass processor earlier. Coating choice, unit size and handling limits all shape what can be built, and late changes are expensive once a façade package is tendered.
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Why Mumbai’s new towers are turning to triple-silver low-E
Higher glazing ratios and stricter energy codes are pushing specifiers towards coatings that were niche five years ago.
Hydrophobic coatings promise fewer cleaning cycles for tall façades
Self-cleaning glass is back, with better durability claims.
