Brian Nelson

Brian Nelson is Director of Sales Engineering & Marketing for Knight Wall Systems, a premier supplier of rainscreen attachment solutions. A 17-year veteran of the building envelope industry, Nelson is named in several patents and developed some of Knight’s flagship products, some of which were winners of Building Green “Top-10 Green Building Product” awards. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Oregon State University.

Why We’re Overthinking Z-Girt Materiality

The Great Thermal Divide

Brian Nelson

July 6, 2026

High-performance design isn't about choosing the most expensive, or newest, material; it's about finding the "sweet spot" where physics, budget, code compliance and constructability meet.

Envelope-first: Designing for Performance, Compliance, and Aesthetics

An envelope-first approach begins with fundamental questions, such as: What are the thermal requirements of the opaque walls?

Brian Nelson

February 25, 2026

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.

Credits: 1 AIA LU/HSW ; 1 IIBEC CEH; 0.1 IACET CEU

On-Demand Designing a high-performance building enclosure requires more than just surface-level protection; it demands a rigorous, performance-based mastery of below-grade water and gas mitigation. This discussion will provide an expert-level analysis of below-grade waterproofing within the comprehensive framework of the high-performance building enclosure.

Credit: 1 AIA LU/HSW; 1 IIBEC CEH; 0.1 ICC CEU

On-Demand This course provides visual examples of actual field conditions. Some good, some not so good; along with design suggestions that can cut installation costs and reduce construction change orders. Upon completion of this course, you will have a better understanding of the requirements the roofing contractor must meet to provide the specified roofing system warranty, and long-term value to the owner.

Brian Nelson

ARTICLES

Why We’re Overthinking Z-Girt Materiality

Envelope-first: Designing for Performance, Compliance, and Aesthetics

Enhance your expertise with unparalleled insights.

Join thousands of building professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?