Patent ID: 8875459

Claim:
A building, comprising: a foundation comprising a stop; a substantially rigid, load bearing frame supported by the foundation, the frame including a beam comprising at least a first channel therein that is downwardly turned and a plurality of posts supporting the beam; a curtain wall having a lower edge supported on the foundation, and an upper edge captured within the first channel, the curtain wall comprising a plurality of wall panels; at least one first retainer disposed on an outer surface of the curtain wall and attached to the foundation; and at least one second retainer comprising a plate for drawing the curtain wall against the plurality of posts and at least one fastener attaching the plate to at least one of the plurality of posts, wherein the lower edge of the curtain wall is captured between the at least one first retainer and the stop, and wherein the curtain wall is free-floating in at least the vertical direction with respect to at least the load bearing frame once the at least one first retainer and the at least one second retainer are in place, wherein portions of adjacent ones of the plurality of wall panels overlap each other and one or more pairs of mutually aligned vertical slots defining a passage through each of the adjacent ones of the plurality of wall panels, and wherein the at least one fastener for at least one of the at least one second retainer passes through one of the pairs of mutually aligned vertical slots, the pairs of mutually aligned vertical slots allowing the adjacent ones of the plurality of wall panels to move vertically relative to the at least one fastener.