Why apartment buildings use aluminum, what the thermal break does, how units are configured and how to control the cost.
Walk past any new apartment building in New York above about six stories and the windows are almost certainly aluminum. There are good reasons for that, and a few trade-offs worth understanding before the package is specified. This article covers aluminum windows for multifamily new construction: why the material is chosen, what to specify, how the units are configured, and where the money goes.
The historic weakness was heat loss, because aluminum conducts heat readily. Thermal breaks solved that.
A thermally broken frame is built as an inner and an outer shell joined by insulating polyamide struts, so no metal runs from outside to inside. The wider the break, the better the frame insulates. Better systems add foam inserts between the struts and extra gaskets around the glass. Two systems that look the same from the street can differ a great deal in U-factor, and the energy code is met by the whole window, frame and glass together. Ask for the rated values of the actual configuration you are buying.
Tilt-and-turn suits apartments because the tilt position ventilates securely and limits the opening, and the turn position lets residents clean the outside from indoors. See tilt-and-turn windows.
| Thermally broken aluminum | uPVC | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Building height | Any | Low- and mid-rise |
| Largest unit sizes | Larger | Limited |
| Sightlines | Slimmer | Wider |
| Colors | Almost any | Limited; dark colors need care |
| Thermal performance | Good to excellent, depends on the break | Very good as standard |
| Fire | Non-combustible frame | Combustible |
Many developers use both: uPVC on affordable and low-rise rental projects, aluminum on taller buildings and condominiums. See uPVC windows and aluminum windows.
For multifamily work we supply European systems such as Cortizo and Reynaers, Alutech, and our own Everest line, which we fabricate. The choice depends on the performance class required, the sightlines the architect wants and the budget. We price alternates side by side so the developer can see what a narrower frame or a higher rating costs.
Apartments on avenues, near elevated trains or under flight paths need windows that keep noise out, and many development sites carry a stated attenuation requirement. Aluminum frames with compression seals perform well here, because the sash closes tightly on gaskets all round. The glass does the rest: laminated lites, panes of unequal thickness and a wider air space each raise the sound rating. The figure that matters is the tested rating of the complete window, so ask for a report on a unit of similar size and glass, not a rating for the glass alone.
Anodizing gives a hard, metallic finish in clear, bronze and black tones and is very durable. Powder coating offers any color, matte or textured surfaces, and different colors inside and out. For buildings near the water, ask for a coating class intended for marine exposure. Dark frames are the fashion on new buildings; they are no problem in aluminum, which does not distort in the sun the way dark plastic can.
On a masonry or concrete building the windows are block-frame units anchored into the opening, set on a sloped sill pan and flashed into the air and water barrier. Decide early where the frame sits in the depth of the wall: in line with the insulation is best thermally. Receptor or subframe systems let the facade close before the windows arrive, which helps a tight schedule. And test the first floor before fabricating the rest. See new construction window installation.
Aluminum is strong enough for large glass and upper-floor wind loads, it does not burn, its finishes last, and it gives slim, modern sightlines.
Thermally broken aluminum windows with low-E insulated glass meet the NYC energy code. Performance depends on the width of the thermal break and the glass.
A fixed lite combined with a tilt-and-turn sash, which gives a large view, secure ventilation and cleaning from inside.
Yes, but it suits taller buildings, larger openings and a wider range of colors and shapes.
It depends on the building height and exposure. The architect specifies the class and design pressure; taller buildings generally need CW or AW rated products.
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About this page. Written by Alex GC Inc. d/b/a Alex Glass Construction and reviewed before publication by Aleksandr Chernovolenko, Managing Partner, with our design and estimating lead and a field foreman. Our foremen hold the NYC DOB Site Safety Training supervisor card and our crews the 40-hour worker card; we are certified to fabricate, install and service Alutech and Everest aluminum systems. Facts are drawn from our own projects, manufacturer test data and the applicable codes; where we are giving an opinion, we say so. Last reviewed September 2026. Credentials
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