Building Envelope Case Study: From Initial Construction Through Occupancy Join me as I recount my building envelope journey with a large four-story CMU and masonry higher-educational building for a large university in the Midwest. We will start with the initial pre-bid constructability review and go through construction and turnover. We will review the air/vapor barrier, […]

Resolving Complex Geometries for Iconic Towers: Combining Unitized and Stick Built Curtain Walls Systems in High-Rise Designs This session will explore curtain wall detailing, fabrication, testing, and installation oversight strategies for resolving complex geometries involved in iconic high-rise tower design that combine stick-built and unitized systems. It will begin with a general overview of the […]

Peeling Back the Onion This presentation is an in-depth dive into a leak investigation at a high school Industrial Arts and Horticulture Building that snowballed into a remedial architecture project and then escalated further with discoveries that raised structural red flags and created an expansion to the original scope of work. While investigating water damage, […]

Designing Wall Systems for Specific Climate Zones Copying and pasting a wall or roof assembly that works in one part of our country into a project in another part of the country could be not just problematic, but potentially catastrophic. This presentation will use data and hygrothermal modeling to articulate what happens when tried and […]

Air Barrier Installation & Quality Control Fundamentals Join us for an informative presentation that emphasizes the importance of proper air barrier application in enhancing building performance. Properly installed air barriers are critical in preventing air leakage, which can lead to energy inefficiencies, moisture issues, and compromised indoor air quality. We will delve into best practices […]

Continuous Insulation Compared Within Eight Steel Stud Wall Assemblies Continuous Insulation, while required by the energy code, presents challenges integrating it with the overall wall-assembly’s design, performance and construction. This program at the intermediate to advanced level, comparatively studies eight steel-stud commercial wall assemblies with considerations including: Overview of the Assembly components, High-performance Net-Zero Energy, […]

 Saddle Up! Integrating Control Layers at Parapet to Rise Walls Conditions Water and air leakage, deterioration, and biological growth often occur at parapet terminations where adjacent rise walls lack proper integration of air and moisture control layers. These issues typically stem from missing or inadequate detailing, sequencing, trade coordination, and installation—compounded by limited industry standards […]

Navigating the Complexities of Expansion Joint System Installation for Stadium Construction The installation of expansion joint systems in stadium construction presents unique challenges due to the structural demands and operational requirements of these large-scale venues. This presentation will explore the technical intricacies associated with planning, coordinating, and executing expansion joint system installations with particular emphasis […]

Air Barrier Embodied Carbon: A Critical Review The session will start with a review of embodied carbon impacts applied to air barriers. This will include a comparison of published air barrier embodied carbon values, varying assessment methodologies, and their limitations. A recommended approach of evaluating embodied carbon impacts based on clear field and linear/point impacts […]

This presentation will review why enclosures are critical for energy efficiency, sustainability and durability, and explain how every building is unique.  We will then review and discuss the advantages/disadvantages of the various types of mock ups, using examples from actual projects, along with discussing various industry performance tests and standards typically performed on Functional or […]

Dispelling the Myths about Building Enclosure Warranties Building Envelope System Warranties are becoming more sought after and bring some real value to a building owner – they help manage risk and obtain peace of mind. What constitutes a building enclosure system warranty? Can such a warranty be attained under one umbrella of coverage? Our industry […]

Taking the Air (Barrier) Out of ASHRAE 90.1 - with a Taste of MN Hotdish The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) adopted ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019, which includes mandatory requirements for air barriers. This session will explore key topics such as Whole-Building Air Leakage and Continuous Air Barrier Design and Installation—both essential components of the […]