Best Practices for the Design and Installation of Thermoplastic Roofing May 15, 2021 In the roofing industry, several everyday design practices and jobsite tasks can, and typically do, have a major impact on the proper completion of a roof system. Read More
Building Enclosure Disclosures: Insights from a Survey of Recent Architecture Graduates April 25, 2021 Building enclosure consultants need to understand the capacities, and lack thereof, of the emerging professionals they hire. With my colleague Peter Ozolins, I conducted a survey of alumni of the Bachelor of Architecture program graduating in 2015-2017 from Virginia Tech to find out how prepared these students were for the profession. Our survey was inspired […] Read More
Composite Precast Concrete Sandwich Wall Panels: Get More From Your Wall System Using Less April 25, 2021 Precast concrete insulated sandwich wall panels, or sandwich wall panels, are composed of two concrete panels, or wythes, separated by a layer of insulation and connected by wythe connectors. These panels can be broken into two primary design categories: non-composite and composite. This article defines composite and non-composite design, reviews the evolution of the sandwich […] Read More
A Modern Makeover – A Failed, Tired Masonry Façade Gets a New High-Performance Look April 25, 2021 BACKGROUND Occasionally, building renovation projects present an opportunity to renovate old, tired, worn out, or outdated features and totally transform the facility into something completely new or different. Such is the case with the transformation of a circa-1980s office building and research facility into a modern, more energy-efficient, transformed structure (Figures 1, 2, and 3). […] Read More
What (Not) to Expect When You Are Expecting New Fenestrations – A Case Study April 25, 2021 When working in a particular industry for an extended length of time, an individual may begin to think that they have seen it all. The knowledge gained over valuable years of experience comes through a variety of circumstances and trying projects. But at times, there are those projects that leave even the most experienced and […] Read More
Cool Roofs for a Warming World: Why We Need Cool Roofs and What to Consider When Planning to Install Them March 26, 2021 Rising temperatures are fast becoming the key challenge for our cities and urbanized areas. The effects of heat have negative outcomes for people’s health and well-being, social equity, energy use and peak demand, resilience of health, transportation and electrical infrastructure, crime, education outcomes, and productivity.1 A study of nearly 1,700 cities found that these combined […] Read More
NFPA 285-Extending Data with Comparative Engineering Analysis March 26, 2021 Exterior wall assemblies have become increasingly complex and are critical elements of the building enclosure. Advancements in our understanding of building science, coupled with the need to improve the energy efficiency and resilience of buildings, have led to innovative solutions in both building products and construction methods. Many of the innovative products available to the […] Read More
Exceeding the Bounds of Expert Reason and Credibility – Case Studies March 26, 2021 In construction defects litigation, opposing parties often present widely divergent assessments of the nature, cause, and extent of purported deficiencies. Such conflicting presentations may well be founded on reasonable analyses by impartial experts who simply have honestly differing perspectives of the underlying facts and logic of the case. Alternatively, some consultants simply may not truly […] Read More
