Transforming 240 Markland Drive, Etobicoke: A Blueprint for Decarbonizing Multiunit Residential Buildings November 03, 2025 INTRODUCTION When the developer first laid eyes on the 1960s building (Fig. 1), the scene was far from inspiring. The building’s exterior was marked by aged masonry walls, aging single-pane windows, and a failing roofing system. The mechanical systems within the building were outdated and inefficient. The lack of capital investment from the previous owner […] Read More
Can You Feel the Heat? Cross-Typology Building Facade Performance Evaluations Using Infrared Analysis November 02, 2025 Can You Feel the Heat? Cross-Typology Building Facade Performance Evaluations Using Infrared Analysis THE AUTHORS’ TEAM was fortunate to conduct a study of 17 structures on a higher education institution’s campus in the northeastern US. The institution desired a deeper understanding of performance across its dormitory buildings on the main campus to inform master […] Read More
Best Practices for a Successful Natatorium Enclosure September 11, 2025 INTRODUCTION The indoor environment of a natatorium (indoor pool) presents one of the greatest moisture-related durability challenges to enclosures in cold climates. Temperature and relative humidity levels are elevated compared to typical commercial indoor environments (for example, living spaces and offices), resulting in a high indoor dew point. In high-humidity environments, the building enclosure is […] Read More
Finding the Leak September 11, 2025 WITH THE INCREASING complexity of modern building techniques, it is important for all members of the project team to understand how the various materials and systems being utilized are to be incorporated into the completed building. This was illustrated with a new-construction project in downtown Seattle, Washington, where an apparent roof leak developed while construction […] Read More
Airtightness: Ultimate Benefits and Decisive Stakeholders’ Interests September 11, 2025 Airtightness: Ultimate Benefits and Decisive Stakeholders’ Interests 1. INTRODUCTION A common performance motivation axiom by Lord William Kelvin is that “what cannot be measured cannot be improved.” Achieving airtightness performance (through whole-building testing) can initially appear demanding. Air-barrier assemblies and accessories are available, but integrating these into air-barrier systems, which comprise many connections, is […] Read More
Fall Exclusive: Simplifying Whole-Building Airtightness August 12, 2025 Simplifying Whole-Building Airtightness AIR BARRIERS, AIR infiltration, airtightness— these words may seem to have been around the industry forever, but in the timeline of buildings, they are relatively new concepts. The Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA) was founded in 2001 and air barriers were first called out as a requirement in the International […] Read More
Fall Exclusive: Conundrums in Stucco Codes and Standards August 12, 2025 Conundrums in Stucco Codes and Standards ESSENTIALS OF THE BUILDING CODE: 2021 IBC For this paper, references to the building code refer to the 2021 International Building Code1 (IBC), the model building code generally adopted and enforced in many states in the US. The building code both broadly and specifically establishes the minimum requirements […] Read More
Fall Exclusive: A Deep Dive into Hail-Caused Dents: A Study of Corrosion Resistance within Dents in Galvalume-Coated Steel Roof Panels August 12, 2025 FOR METAL ROOFS in hail-prone regions, such as the area stretching generally from Wyoming, through the Front Range, to Texas—commonly referred to as “Hail Alley”—the occurrence of hail-caused dents is more a question of “when” than “if.” Consequently, in recent years the insurance industry has been writing exclusions or endorsements that limit coverage to the […] Read More
Adaptation of Low-Slope Roof Assemblies Against Projected Climate Severities: Evaluation of a New Standard July 24, 2025 by the manufacturer. Low-slope roof assemblies, excluding protected roof membrane assemblies, are now required to resist the project-specific wind uplift loads of three different zones of a roof area: the field, edges, and corners. To meet this requirement, each of the project team members, including designers, manufacturers, and installers, must play a pivotal role. However, […] Read More
Modeling, Simulation, and Measurement of a Full-Scale, Integrated Energy Efficiency-Retrofit Prototype for Single-Family Attached Residences in Cold Climates July 24, 2025 INTRODUCTION In the United States, buildings contribute to 38% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, consume 73% of total electricity, and account for 39% of total energy usage.1 About 20% of that total energy is consumed by residential buildings. Residential buildings constructed before energy codes were established represent approximately 68% of all building stock in the […] Read More
