Building Material

Slumped Glass Facade and Historic Preservation Drive OMA’s Tiffany & Co. Flagship Renovation

Slumped Glass Facade and Historic Preservation Drive OMA’s Tiffany & Co. Flagship Renovation The transformation of Tiffany & Co.’s flagship store at 727 Fifth Avenue in New York City represents a significant case study in how luxury retail construction can harmonize historic preservation with innovative building materials. Architecture firm OMA partnered with Tiffany & Co. […]

Acoustic Stone Wool Ceiling Panels in University Center Construction: Material Performance and Acoustic Design Standards

University centers serve as the social and academic heart of campus life, housing dining halls, study lounges, event spaces, and collaborative work areas. In these high-occupancy environments, acoustic comfort directly affects student concentration, speech intelligibility, and overall wellbeing. The Christine E. Lynn University Center at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, demonstrates how thoughtful material

Loyola University Seville Sets a New Benchmark with the World’s First LEED Platinum Integrated Campus

In August 2020, Loyola University in Seville, Spain, achieved what no other higher education institution had accomplished before: the world’s first LEED Platinum certification for an integrated campus. Designed by international architecture firm Luis Vidal + Architects, the 28,986-square-meter (312,000-square-foot) campus demonstrates how sustainable design principles can be woven into every aspect of a university

Avoiding Galvanic Corrosion with Dissimilar Metals in Construction

Modern building design increasingly incorporates a diverse palette of metals, including stainless steel, aluminum, galvanized steel, copper, weathering steel, and painted steel, to achieve distinctive aesthetic effects and structural performance. However, when different metals come into direct contact in the presence of moisture, the electrochemical process known as galvanic corrosion can lead to accelerated deterioration

World’s First LEED Platinum Integrated Campus: Design Strategies from Loyola University Seville

Loyola University in Seville, Spain, has achieved a historic milestone in sustainable construction by earning the world’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification for an integrated campus. Designed by international architecture firm Luis vidal + architects, the 28,986-square-meter campus demonstrates how comprehensive sustainability strategies can be applied across an entire university

How to Prevent Galvanic Corrosion When Using Dissimilar Metals in Building Construction

Modern building construction increasingly relies on a mix of metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, hot-dip galvanized steel, copper, and weathering steel to achieve aesthetic goals and structural performance. When these dissimilar metals come into contact in the presence of moisture, the resulting electrochemical reaction can cause accelerated corrosion of one metal while protecting the

Polyiso Insulation and Moisture Management: How Polyisocyanurate Controls Water, Air, and Vapor in Building Envelopes

Polyiso Insulation and Moisture Management: How Polyisocyanurate Controls Water, Air, and Vapor in Building Envelopes Polyisocyanurate (polyiso) insulation combines high thermal performance with vapor-retarding capabilities, serving as both a thermal control layer and a moisture management tool. Yet this dual role creates confusion among specifiers. In a given assembly, polyiso can either protect against moisture

XPS Insulation Performance in Below-Grade Applications: R-Values, Moisture Resistance, and Long-Term Durability

When designing foundations, roadways, and airfields in cold climates, specifying the right insulation can mean the difference between a structure that lasts decades and one that requires costly repairs within a few years. Extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation has emerged as a preferred choice for below-grade applications where moisture exposure and thermal performance are critical concerns.