The enduring appeal of masonry in modern construction continues to drive innovation in the tools used to design and detail it. Modern masonry design software has transformed how architects, engineers, and specifiers approach masonry walls, veneers, and load-bearing assemblies. Gone are the days of manual drafting and tedious takeoffs. Today, specialized software platforms integrate with […]
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
The Rise of Mass Timber in Tall Building Construction The construction industry is undergoing a fundamental shift as mass timber tall building construction moves from experimental prototypes to mainstream practice. Projects such as the 12-story Return to Form building in Denver’s River North Art District demonstrate how engineers and architects are leveraging cross-laminated timber (CLT)
The integrity of building inspection processes is fundamental to safe, code-compliant construction. When that integrity is compromised, the consequences ripple through the entire building industry. A 2023 case involving a senior building inspector at San Francisco’s Department of Building Inspection (DBI) who pleaded guilty to accepting illegal gratuities for approving building permits serves as a
As wildfires continue to intensify across North America, construction in wildland-urban interface (WUI) zones demands a fundamental shift in how buildings are designed, specified, and constructed. Communities situated at the edge of forests, brushlands, and grasslands face an escalating threat from fast-moving wildfires, yet development in these areas continues at a rapid pace driven by
Portland has been leading the way on integrating sustainability into affordable housing development. A new housing project in the Cully Neighborhood on Killingsworth Street demonstrates how building professionals can prioritize environmental performance without sacrificing cost efficiency. Developed through a collaboration between Portland Community College (PCC) and Home Forward, and designed by Hacker Architects, this four-story,
Historic buildings present unique challenges when it comes to maintaining their original character while ensuring long-term durability. One of the most overlooked yet critical components of historic building envelopes is the gutter system. The historic wood box gutter, a feature found in many 19th and early 20th century structures, frequently fails when reproduced with modern
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 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
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
