In September 2022, Hurricane Ian tore across Florida and its Gulf Coast before its final landing in South Carolina, resulting in the second-deadliest storm to strike the U.S. this century, just behind 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. As a Category 4 storm, Ian’s top maximum sustained winds were 155 miles per hour (mph), resulting in current damage estimates between 53 billion and 74 billion dollars.1
With extreme storms like this becoming increasingly routine each year, it’s growing more important for building professionals in storm-prone areas to adapt their projects to consider when, rather than if, severe weather strikes. It may seem like planning for hurricanes limits what is possible from a design standpoint, especially when it comes to glazed curtain walls and windows. However, with occupants spending upwards of 90 percent of their time indoors, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the need for balanced daylight and transparency has never been more valuable.