Brick by Brick: Traditional and Unconventional Masonry Restoration Strategies August 02, 2024 Exterior masonry walls are designed and constructed using a variety of strategies to limit air movement into and out of buildings, manage moisture, and provide thermal control. Given the number of masonry restoration strategies possible, no two exterior masonry walls will be exactly the same. Read More
Code Changes Affecting the Building Enclosure in the 2024 International Building Code July 11, 2024 system that incorporates photovoltaic modules and functions as a component an integral part of the building envelope, such as roof assemblies and roof coverings, exterior wall envelopes and exterior wall coverings, and fenestration.” New definitions for ground-mounted and elevated photovoltaic support structures were added: • “PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) PANEL SYSTEM, GROUND MOUNTED. An independent photovoltaic (PV) […] Read More
A Project Profile: Benefits of Front-End-Heavy Due Diligence July 11, 2024 Do building owners and the overall project charter benefit from information derived from a reasonable level of due diligence on the front end? We think so. This article will impart our recent experience in delivering a multimillion-dollar restorative effort for a student dining facility at the University of Chicago. Bartlett Dining Hall, originally built in […] Read More
Reviving a Historic Landmark: Restoration and Monitoring of “Detroit’s Largest Art Object,”, the Iconic Fisher Building July 11, 2024 THE FISHER BUILDING, an iconic example of Art Deco architecture, stands as a National Historic Landmark and a symbol of Detroit’s rich architectural heritage from the golden age of the automobile. Although it is often called Detroit’s “largest art object,” neglect and deferred repairs have taken a toll on its magnificent facade in recent years. […] Read More
Glass Distortion: Not Such a Clear View May 15, 2024 GLASS DISTORTION When utilizing heat-treated architectural glass, reflected images on the glass surface will have some degree of distortion. High-quality glass fabricators strive to produce “flat” glass, but achieving perfection is not possible. Glass distortion is inherent to the fabrication process and is discussed in ASTM C1048, Standard Specification for Heat-Strengthened and Fully Tempered Flat […] Read More
Credentials: No Free Rides April 12, 2024 WHEN I WAS about 11 years old my brother and I were given a Soap Box Derby car—one of those classic stream-lined kinds from the 1940s and ’50s. We called it the Silver Streak. It had been built by a man named Herbert Yates, who worked for my dad. We used to push that heavy […] Read More
Lessons Learned from Building Enclosure Delegated Design Disasters April 12, 2024 INTRODUCTION As a means of achieving higher quality control, expedited installation, and adapting buildings for their next phase of use, more and more building enclosure systems are prefabricated and consolidated, and their designs require higher performance than ever before. Simply put, the building enclosure is no longer simply keeping water (liquid and vapor) out and […] Read More
Unlocking Carbon Savings with Plastic Insulation Materials April 12, 2024 PLASTIC INSULATION IS typically composed of a plastic polymer, such as polyurethanes or polystyrenes, a blowing agent, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a surfactant, and other flame retardants or additives. The application of insulation in homes evolved from hay to fiberglass in the 1930s, followed by the shift to plastic insulation in the 1970s.1, 2 The […] Read More
The Future of Sustainable Building Restoration with Deep Energy Retrofits March 15, 2024 AS THE GLOBAL focus on sustainability and climate change intensifies, the United States is seeing a new trend in building restoration— deep energy retrofits. The largest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the US, buildings account for approximately 40% of energy consumption and 75% of electricity use nationwide.1 Therefore, existing structures have been targeted […] Read More
Evaluation of Vapor Retarders in Roof Decks in High Humidity Environments by Hygrothermal Simulation March 15, 2024 IN COLD WEATHER, high-humidity indoor environments such as indoor pools pose risks of moisture condensation in building enclosures, which in turn can cause mold, decay, buckling, corrosion, and eventually structural issues of durability. Most swimming pools are treated with chlorine, resulting in chloramines that off-gas into the pool’s air space, irritating skin and eyes and […] Read More
