Ezra, Author at Building and Construction

Salem Public Library Renovation: Transforming Brutalist Architecture into an Inviting Community Space

The transformation of the Salem Public Library in Oregon demonstrates how a Brutalist concrete structure from 1970 can be reimagined as a welcoming, light-filled community hub. This renovation project, led by Portland-based Hacker Architects, tackled seismic resilience, accessibility compliance, and life-safety upgrades while fundamentally rethinking how the building serves its patrons. Building professionals involved in […]

Senior Project Architects in Modern Practice: Skills, Credentials, and Career Pathways for Building Professionals

The role of the senior project architect stands as one of the most consequential positions in any architecture firm. When a national design and build firm like KAI Enterprises hires a professional with more than three decades of experience as its newest senior project architect, it signals something important about the demands of modern building

Curtain Wall Restoration at Chicago’s Accenture Tower: Sealant Replacement Strategies for High-Rise Building Envelopes

The Accenture Tower Curtain Wall Restoration: A Four-Year Plan In 2021, real estate developer KBS contracted Western Specialty Contractors to undertake a comprehensive restoration of the original curtain wall at Accenture Tower, located at 500 West Madison Street in Chicago. The 42-story, 1.46 million square foot Class A office tower, completed in 1987, houses approximately

How the AIA Architecture Firm Award Raises the Bar for Design Excellence in Practice

The American Institute of Architects Architecture Firm Award represents the highest recognition the profession can bestow on a practice. Unlike project-specific honors, this award evaluates a firm’s entire body of work, its contribution to the field, and its sustained commitment to design excellence over at least a decade. Firms that receive this distinction set the

How LEVER Architecture Won the $100M Maine Museum Expansion and What Building Professionals Can Learn from Mass Timber Cultural Construction

When the Portland Museum of Art (PMA) in Maine launched an international design competition for its $100 million campus expansion, 104 teams from 20 countries submitted proposals. The winner, LEVER Architecture, brought a defining vision centered on mass timber construction, sustainable material strategies, and deep community integration. For building professionals, this project offers a revealing

Mithun AIA Architecture Firm Award: Design Excellence and Sustainability Lessons for Building Professionals

When the American Institute of Architects bestows its highest honor on a firm, the profession takes notice. In 2023, the AIA Architecture Firm Award went to Mithun, an integrated design practice founded in Seattle in 1949 by University of Washington Professor Omer Mithun. The award recognizes firms that have consistently produced distinguished architecture for at

Restoring vs Replacing Brick Facades: Assessment Criteria for Cracked, Spalled, and Displaced Masonry

Every building owner and construction professional eventually faces the same hard question: can a deteriorating brick facade be repaired, or has the damage advanced beyond the point of salvage? Restoring brick facades plays an essential role in reusing existing building stock, but knowing when restoration is viable and when full replacement is necessary requires a

Stone Wool Ceiling Acoustics for Commercial Offices: Material Performance and LEED Certification Strategies

Stone wool ceiling systems have become a defining material choice for commercial office projects pursuing superior acoustic performance alongside sustainability certification. As open-plan offices continue to dominate workplace design, building professionals increasingly turn to advanced ceiling solutions that address reverberation, speech privacy, and mechanical noise control. This article examines how stone wool ceiling panels deliver

Clearing Common Misconceptions About Lightweight Concrete for Building Construction

Lightweight concrete remains one of the most misunderstood yet valuable materials in modern building construction. Despite decades of documented performance across thousands of projects, many specifiers continue to hold reservations about its structural capacity, cost implications, and application methods. This article addresses the most persistent misconceptions about lightweight concrete and provides evidence-based guidance for building

How Insulated Metal Panels Deliver Protection and Aesthetics in Modern Building Envelopes

Building envelope design has become one of the most critical disciplines in modern construction. Architects and specifiers face mounting pressure to deliver enclosures that perform exceptionally across thermal efficiency, moisture management, fire resistance, and visual appeal. Among the most versatile solutions addressing all these demands simultaneously is the insulated metal panel (IMP). These composite panels