Building Envelope

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The days of designing the look of a building and "figuring out the details later" are over. The demands of energy efficiency and fire safety require a holistic, integrated approach.

With a nonstop sea of choices, fast-casual restaurant design must keep up with new technology and trends to cater to evolving consumer needs.

With its durable qualities and malleable form, copper is currently experiencing a renaissance. Its ability to bridge historic restoration with contemporary design — and its unparalleled resilience — puts copper at the forefront of current architectural trends. 

Integrating firestopping with air barrier systems is no longer an optional “best practice”- it is a necessity for the modern, high-performance educational building.

Neurodiversity-affirming design expands optionality within the learning environment and the ability to adapt to a user’s sensory balance from day one.

Gale Associates, Inc., a consulting engineering firm, announce the completion of the comprehensive building enclosure renovation of the iconic Josiah Quincy Elementary School, which occupies a full block in Boston’s Chinatown.

To eliminate the thermal bridge, the specification must introduce a thermal break between the existing structure and the new roof system. A Metal-over-Metal recover system achieves this through a three-component assembly: Flute-Fill Insulation, Tall Clips, and an Air Gap.

Many lessons can be drawn from recent severe weather events in 2025, yielding actionable design recommendations for building envelopes.

Only time will tell if nascent technologies can close the gap on these challenges to realize economically viable solutions that will usher a breakthrough in the market and catalyze efforts to decarbonize the building sector.