This thesis includes a basic discussion on the evolution and basic anatomy of the mid-century curtain wall through an analysis of early precedents and historic construction catalogues. Typical deterioration mechanisms are discussed, especially those specific to poor thermal performance. A basic discussion is included on the foundational principles of thermal patterns exhibited in fenestration systems, which leads the informed reader into the case study simulation discussions. The simulation studies were conducted with THERM and WINDOW software developed by the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, which operates under the auspices of the United States Department of Energy for the purpose of advancing building science technology. The results of this study strongly suggest that poor envelope performance should not be categorized as an impossible obstacle – it is a technical issue that can be resolved through reasonably minimal interventions. The thermal simulations reveal substantial improvement over the existing baseline, and in many cases, exceed modern energy code. / 0 / SPK / specialcollections@tulane.edu