Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe across North America, placing unprecedented stress on the built environment. From hurricanes and tornadoes to wildfires and prolonged heatwaves, buildings must withstand forces that were once considered beyond normal design parameters. While structural framing and foundation systems bear the primary loads, it is often the protective […]
High-Performance Building Demands and the Role of Precast Concrete The construction industry has shifted its focus from first-cost-driven decision-making to long-term performance optimization. High-performance buildings must integrate sustainability, energy conservation, safety, security, and durability into every phase of design and construction. These structures must also demonstrate resilience, meaning the ability to withstand natural and man-made
Insulated Metal Panels Transform Educational Facilities: Lessons from the Apollo Career Center Expansion When the Apollo Career Center in Lima, Ohio, needed to expand beyond its 1970s-era footprint, the project team turned to insulated metal panels (IMPs) to solve multiple challenges simultaneously. The $53 million renovation added 100,000 square feet of space while completely updating
Flagpoles are a distinctive architectural element on commercial, institutional, and municipal properties, yet they are frequently specified with errors that compromise both aesthetics and structural performance. Proper flagpole specification requires understanding of the relevant standards, mounting methods, material options, and common pitfalls that specifiers encounter. This article covers the key specification standards and material selection
Understanding the thermal performance of building envelope components is essential for architects, specifiers, and construction professionals who design energy-efficient structures. Among the lesser understood but highly effective insulation strategies are reflective insulation systems (RIS), which use low-emittance surfaces and enclosed air spaces to resist heat transfer. These systems have been employed in building construction across
Cross-Laminated Timber in Tall Buildings: Material Properties That Make Mass Timber a Viable Structural System Cross-laminated timber (CLT) has moved from experimental curiosity to a legitimate structural framing system for mid-rise and high-rise construction. Architects and engineers are specifying CLT for buildings that push well beyond the traditional height limits of wood construction, leveraging its
Roofing Design Process: Key Considerations for Smoother Installations and Long-Term Performance The success of any roofing installation depends on decisions made long before the first membrane sheet is laid. Architects, specifiers, and engineers who invest time in the roofing design process reduce field conflicts, improve contractor coordination, and deliver roofs that perform reliably through years
Every roof will eventually leak; the question is when and where. For new roofing installations, the objective is to verify watertightness before the building is occupied and before the assembly is concealed beneath ballast, insulation boards, or a vegetated growth medium. Field verification of roof watertightness goes beyond a manufacturer’s visual inspection for warranty issuance.
Understanding the Differences Between Paints, Coatings, and Liquid-Applied Membranes When a roof needs repair or retrofit work, specifiers and contractors face multiple material options that are often poorly understood. Paints, coatings, and liquid-applied membranes are all polymer-rich materials used on roof surfaces, but each serves a fundamentally different function. Understanding these differences is critical for
Mixed-use developments combine retail, office, dining, and residential spaces within a single structure, creating unique challenges for door hardware specification. The door hardware chosen for these facilities must simultaneously serve different user groups with varying security needs while meeting accessibility requirements and building code standards. Getting the balance right requires understanding how different opening types,
