C. Keith Boswell, technical director of the San Francisco office of architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), recently released a new book called “Exterior Building Enclosures: Design Process and Composition for Innovative Facades.” Released in June, the book was written to serve as a resource for architects, engineers, facade consultants, and green design consultants working on commercial building projects.

“Exterior Building Enclosures” is focused on the design process for architects and related professionals, addressing the design and execution of sophisticated exterior building enclosures for a number of commercial building types and in a variety of building materials, including glass. It covers all of the factors that affect the design of a building enclosure, including function, visual aesthetics and performance requirements, among many others. Case studies of projects of various scales, types, and climate conditions illustrate the successful implementation of exterior wall enclosure solutions in various materials including glass and metals, according to the book’s description.

Boswell has worked on numerous architectural projects around the world, including the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, Calif., Rice University Bioscience Collaborative Center in Houston and the China World Trade Center in Beijing.