Ezra, Author at Building and Construction

Concrete Longevity in Corrosive Water Environments: Material Selection and Corrosion Prevention Strategies

Understanding Corrosion Risks in Concrete Water Handling Structures Reinforced concrete structures exposed to corrosive water environments face unique durability challenges that require careful material selection and protection strategies. From swimming pools and seawalls to desalination plants and wastewater facilities, building professionals must understand how chlorides, humidity, and chemical exposure accelerate reinforcement corrosion and shorten service […]

Bio-Based 3D-Printed Homes: A New Era in Sustainable Construction

The Rise of Bio-Based 3D-Printed Homes in Sustainable Construction The construction industry is undergoing a fundamental shift as bio-based 3D-printed homes emerge as a viable solution to the intersecting challenges of housing affordability, material shortages, and climate change. Recent breakthroughs, including the University of Maine’s BioHome3D prototype, demonstrate that 3D printing with renewable biological feedstocks

Carbon-Absorbing Building Design: How Urban Sequoia Technology Is Making Net-Zero Construction a Buildable Reality

For building professionals accustomed to watching carbon emissions climb with every new project, the idea of a building that actually removes carbon from the atmosphere has felt like science fiction. That fiction may soon become code-ready reality. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has spent the past year refining the Urban Sequoia NOW concept, a carbon-absorbing

Buffalo AKG Art Museum Expansion: OMA and Cooper Robertson Design for Transparency, Inclusivity, and Porousness in Cultural Building Construction

The Buffalo AKG Art Museum expansion represents one of the most significant cultural building projects in the United States, bringing together the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) and Cooper Robertson to redefine how art museums engage with their urban and natural surroundings. Stretching alongside Frederick Law Olmsted’s Delaware Park in Buffalo, New York, the expanded

Minimalist Architecture for Arts Education: How SOM Designed Loyola Marymount Universitys School of Film and Television

Loyola Marymount University (LMU) has completed two new structures on its Westchester campus: a School of Film and Television facility and an outdoor performance stage, both designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). These buildings embody a minimalist architectural approach that prioritizes functionality while using rich materials to create inspiring spaces for arts education. The

Aluminum-Framed Interior Wall Systems: A Comprehensive Guide for Architects and Specifiers

Aluminum-framed interior wall systems have become a defining feature of modern commercial architecture, offering architects and designers a versatile solution that balances visual transparency with spatial division. These systems allow natural light to penetrate deep into building interiors while providing the acoustic separation and privacy that tenants demand. Whether specifying for corporate offices, healthcare facilities,

Hirshhorn Museum Revitalization: Design and Construction Strategies for Cultural Institution Renovation

The Smithsonian Institution’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is embarking on the most ambitious revitalization project in its history. For building professionals, this project offers valuable lessons in cultural institution architecture, phased construction delivery, sustainability upgrades for aging structures, and collaboration between world-class design firms. The three-phase modernization

Stucco Casing Beads in Modern Building Construction: Specifications, Installation, and Performance Standards

Understanding Stucco Casing Beads and Their Role in Building Envelope Performance Portland cement-based plaster, commonly known as stucco, remains one of the most durable and widely specified exterior cladding systems for both residential and commercial buildings. However, the long-term performance of a stucco wall assembly depends heavily on how its edges are detailed and constructed.

Shotcrete Construction Methods for Museum and Institutional Buildings: Material Specifications and Application Standards

Understanding Shotcrete as a Structural and Architectural Material Shotcrete, also known as sprayed concrete, has evolved from a niche repair technique into a primary construction method for complex architectural forms. Unlike conventional cast-in-place concrete that requires extensive formwork, shotcrete is pneumatically projected onto surfaces at high velocity, compacting the material in place and allowing builders

How UW Founders Hall Uses Mass Timber for Long-Term Carbon Storage in Building Construction

The University of Washington’s Founders Hall at the Foster School of Business demonstrates how mass timber material specifications can achieve long-term carbon storage while delivering high-performance academic spaces. This six-story, 84,800-square-foot building uses cross-laminated timber (CLT) floors with glulam post-and-beam construction to store over 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide for the lifetime of the structure.