An Architect’s Perspective on Building Envelope Commissioning (BECx)
Designs for today’s building envelopes are more complex in design and construction as influenced by trends in new materials and manufacturing,
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No timid steps: Be bold and generous!
...the design and construction industries are notoriously resistant to change, putting them on a collision course with the many cities, states, and provinces that are moving ahead of national standards in keeping with declared intentions to dramatically cut their carbon emissions this decade.
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Spandrel Glass Design
Currently, most spandrel glass in commercial curtain walls comprises insulating glass fabricated using an interior heat strengthened glass lite that
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Simulation vs. reality: Measurement and verification
This article explores the need for measurement and verification of building envelope and mechanical systems.
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Energy conservation code updates promise to reshape the way facades are designed
Ever-increasing performance requirements in the latest version of the energy codes are compelling project teams to consider the thermal performance of the building envelope more rigorously than ever before.
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Bringing an Icon Into the Future: Willis Tower
Few buildings are as iconic as Willis Tower. Generations have a collective memory of this building playing a role in their lives, but time had caught
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Designing with Photovoltaics
Photovoltaics (PV) have been utilized in buildings for decades, especially in Europe where legislative support has largely driven the market. With
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FTI DIALOGUES: Pushing Change
Pushing Change: R&D Innovation Processes in Construction Building Products, the second installment of the FTI Dialogues: Suppliers & Contractors Series, took place virtually on Friday, March 26th.
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FTI DIALOGUES: Collaborative Project Delivery Reloaded
The Facade Tectonics Institute kicked off their first installment of FTI Dialogues: Suppliers & Contractors Series virtually on Friday, March 19th. High-performance facade systems are recognized as a key element in achieving sustainable building performance while also being tasked with providing
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Skin Deep: Health, Wellness, and the Facade System
Here we are, a full year after the initial COVID-19 surge rocked the United States. It’s hard to believe we’ve been living through the pandemic for a full year at this point; and yet it also feels like it’s been multiple years. We are beginning to see glimmers of hope on the horizon as more people..
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Episode 05: 2020 World Congress Series | Put Your Sweater On!
Dive deeper into the top papers from the 2020 World Congress! We invite you to tune in to the second episode of the series with Eric Haas, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal at DSH // Architecture, who will be speaking about his winning paper, "Put Your Sweater On! A Case for Low Performance."
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Episode 04: 2020 World Congress Series | The First Triple Certified Facade
Dive deeper into the top papers from the 2020 World Congress! We invite you to tune in to the first episode of the series with Stephen Katz, AIA, LEED AP BD+C who will be speaking about his winning paper, "The First Triple Certified Facade: Merging sustainability and Building well-being."
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Net Zero Tower
John Neary describes a collaborative Advanced design Studio at City Tech that involved Permasteelisa, Skanska and Onyx Solar, with links to the published student works.
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A Study on the Impact of Hospital Facade Opening Focusing Outdoor Exposure on Waiting Room Experience
The paper will try to study the impact of window opening on waiting room experience of patients in an eye hospital along with their attendants. As
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Vintage Vinyl
Mid-century through 1980’s buildings with lock-strip or “zipper-gasket” glazing systems are an ever present part of the urban landscape in many
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Thermal Analysis of Complex Glazing
The use of bidirectional scattering distribution function incorporated in a transient systems simulation program, allows engineers to accurately
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Specifying Commercial Aluminum Finishes
Many factors will influence coating selection, but to achieve the desired performance level for a given situation, coatings must be specified based
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Silicone Spandrel Glass Opacifiers
Curtain wall design commonly uses insulating glass units for vision and spandrel glazing to provide better visual harmonization of building facade
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Parametric Facade Design
Parametric Design has become an invaluable tool for complex tasks like designing energy efficient buildings when joined to performance-based
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Determining the Optimal Opening for Multi Skin Facade with External Ventilation
The envelope of the Harbin Bank Building in Beijing has a Multi-Skin Facade where the outer cavity is naturally ventilated. During the design the
