How is a curtain wall different from a window wall?

While both curtain walls and window walls offer glazed façades, their structural and installation methods differ—important distinctions for projects in Abu Dhabi or Doha. Curtain walls are full-height, non-loadbearing assemblies that attach to slab edges via mullions and anchors; they span multiple floors and provide uninterrupted glazing. Window walls, by contrast, fit between floor slabs like large windows, linking only at head and sill. This makes window walls simpler to install but limits design flexibility and thermal performance. Curtain walls allow continuous aluminum ceiling integration at soffits, concealing suspension systems and yielding a uniform interior finish. Additionally, curtain walls often include pressure-equalized rain screens, enhancing water management—critical for coastal buildings in Bahrain. Designers in Saudi Arabia prefer curtain walls for skyscrapers, whereas mid-rise office blocks may employ window walls for cost savings.