How Much Do You Really Know About Earthquake-Ready Glazing

When an earthquake strikes, the most immediate threat inside a building is often not structural collapse but flying glass. Glazing failure accounts for a significant proportion of injuries, property damage, and post-earthquake water infiltration. Modern earthquake-ready glazing systems address this vulnerability through engineered frames, specialized laminates, and clearance gaps that allow buildings to sway without […]

How Well Do You Know Steel Curtain Walls

Steel curtain walls form the backbone of countless modern building facades, yet their design, performance characteristics, and installation requirements are often misunderstood by building professionals. While aluminum dominates the curtain wall market in commercial construction, steel curtain wall systems offer distinct advantages in thermal movement control, structural span capacity, and fire resistance that make them

Portland Library Operations Center Demonstrates Adaptive Reuse and Net-Zero Energy Performance

An adaptive reuse project in Portland, Oregon has transformed a vacant 1995 grocery store into a state-of-the-art library operations center, demonstrating how sustainable design strategies can convert utilitarian commercial buildings into high-performance institutional facilities. The Multnomah County Library Operations Center, designed by Hennebery Eddy Architects, repurposes 4,831 square meters (52,000 square feet) of existing retail

Texture Takes Center Stage: 2026 Tile Trends Report: Surface Innovation and Material Specifications for Building Professionals

The Coverings 2026 tile trends report has identified texture as the defining characteristic of contemporary ceramic and porcelain tile design. Released on National Tile Day, February 23, 2026, the report outlines ten distinct trends that reflect a broader shift toward tactile surfaces, material honesty, and advanced manufacturing technologies. For building professionals involved in specifying finishes,

Air Barrier Tie-In Failures and Field Verification: A Practical Guide for Building Envelope Quality Assurance

Air barriers are critical components of modern building envelopes, responsible for controlling uncontrolled airflow through the building enclosure. However, an air barrier system is only as strong as its weakest connection. While membrane selection and material specifications receive significant attention during design, the real determinant of long-term performance lies in the quality of tie-ins at

Re-energizing Existing Structures: Adaptive Reuse Strategies for Modern Building Envelope Performance

Adaptive reuse projects are transforming the way building professionals approach construction in dense urban environments. Rather than demolishing aging structures and starting from a cleared site, adaptive reuse retains the embodied carbon, historical character, and structural fabric of existing buildings while upgrading their performance to meet modern standards. The Princeton Temple adaptive reuse conversion from

Vertical Visions: Selecting and Specifying Curtain Wall Systems for Modern Building Envelopes

Curtain wall systems define the visual identity and environmental performance of modern buildings. These non-structural cladding assemblies carry their own weight from floor to floor while protecting interiors from wind, rain, and thermal extremes. From low-rise commercial projects to supertall towers, the choice between unitized, stick-built, and hybrid systems affects construction schedules, thermal performance, and

Beyond Compliance: How Accessible Design Transforms Buildings into Inclusive Community Hubs

The University of California, Berkeley Creekside Center renovation demonstrates how accessibility-driven design can transform an existing building into a truly inclusive community hub. Designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects for the Disabled Students Program (DSP), this 817-square-meter retrofit goes far beyond minimum code compliance. It reimagines what a campus building can be when universal design

Stepped Terraces and Passive Design: How Stepwell Architecture Inspired Prestige University’s Campus Building in Indore

University campus buildings must balance diverse functions—administration, academics, social spaces, and student services—within a single cohesive structure. The recently completed Prestige University campus building in Indore, India, demonstrates how stepped terraces and passive design strategies, inspired by historic stepwell architecture, can achieve this integration while significantly reducing energy demand. Designed by Sanjay Puri Architects, the