Building Envelope

Why High Performance Means More Than Strength and Durability

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

For construction and design companies, high performance and innovation can no longer be treated as a specialized offering reserved for select applications.

Why We’re Overthinking Z-Girt Materiality

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400

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.

What Architects Need to Know About Managing Noise in Adaptive Reuse Projects

lewisl@bnpmedia.com (Lindsay Lewis) — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Mike Amaral, QuietRock Product Manager for PABCO Gypsum, discusses why acoustics are a critical consideration when converting commercial buildings into residential or mixed-use spaces, explaining the limitations of relying solely on STC ratings and the impact of flanking paths and structure-borne noise.

The Role of Prefabricated Building Systems in Sustainable Building Enclosure Design and Building Science

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Over the next five years, prefabricated building systems are expected to grow from a $91.25B market to $130B worldwide. While this substantial growth is often attributed to prefabrication schedule and quality advantages, it is also driven by its ability to deliver meaningful sustainability benefits.

Pushing the Envelope

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Closing a building’s exterior is one of the most expensive and time-consuming jobs on a construction site. It also needs to be done right.

A Breakdown of Air Leakage Testing in LEED v5 BD+C

djoverbey@bsu.edu (Daniel Overbey) — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

For most of LEED's history, systematic field testing of air leakage was optional – something advanced teams did voluntarily, not something the rating system demanded.

How Air Barriers Support Healthier Indoor Air

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The case for air barriers in healthy building design rests on thinking about the envelope as a system rather than a collection of individual layers.

Five Years After Surfside: The Work of Condominium Safety Continues

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 01:00:00 -0400

Five years ago, 98 lives were lost when Champlain Towers South partially collapsed. The tragedy forever changed families, a community, and our nation's understanding of condominium safety.

LEED v5 Is Changing the Sustainability Conversation — And Roofing Is Becoming a Critical Design Strategy

lewisl@bnpmedia.com (Lindsay Lewis) — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:06:22 -0400

This discussion with Jay Saldana of Amrize/Elevate explores building enclosure commissioning, the upcoming LEED v4/v4.1 sunset, and Elevate's new LEED v5 Credit Guide for building professionals.

Devin Bowman on School Safety, Sustainability and the Future of Glazing Design

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Technical Glass Products General Manager Devin Bowman shares insights from the National Glass Association’s Advocacy Days in Washington, D.C., where industry leaders met with lawmakers to discuss issues shaping the future of the built environment.

Industrial Buildings Abandon the Industrial Look Through IMPs

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

IMPs fold insulation, structure and finish into a single component to meet those competing demands and support the increase in industrial building construction activity.

Designing for Legacy with The Obama Presidential Center

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Materials installed behind the 225-foot museum tower’s impressive granite façade include 130,000 square feet of continuous insulation.

Building Science Survival Guide

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 02:00:00 -0400

Learn how you can revitalize the performance of a variety of commercial roofs and earn new business with these valuable silicone and acrylic products.

LEED v5 and the Cost Impacts of ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019

djoverbey@bsu.edu (Daniel Overbey) — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

By hitching their wagon to the horse of Standard 90.1, LEED-related hard costs are rising and becoming increasingly misaligned with low-margin project cost models based largely on minimum energy standards within the project’s regulatory context.

Construction Industry Revolts Over New CSI Licensing Plan

lewisl@bnpmedia.com (Lindsay Lewis) — Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The construction industry is facing mounting backlash over a controversial licensing and software initiative tied to the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and its widely used classification systems, including MasterFormat, UniFormat and OmniClass.

What Designers Need to Know: Specifying Polyiso Insulation Products in Commercial Roofing Projects

mpazera@pima.org (Marcin Pazera) — Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Polyisocyanurate (polyiso) roof insulation stands as one of the most widely used insulation products for low-slope commercial roofing systems.

From Fragmented Design to Integrated Performance in Healthcare Facilities

Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

As healthcare design responds to climate pressures, aging infrastructure, and increasingly complex renovation cycles, the industry must move beyond fragmented specification toward integrated, continuous envelope design.

How Sports and Entertainment Venues are Redefining Development

Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

If done right, the next generation of sports infrastructure will not just host events—it will help shape the economic, social, and cultural trajectory of healthier and more vibrant cities for generations to come.

Architectural Considerations for Scaling and Expanding Retail Spaces

Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

For brands and companies of all sizes, there are several key factors to consider when undergoing a rapid retail expansion, according to the retail design experts at Lawrence Group.

A Conversation on Material Performance and the Evolving Campus

Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

As schools and universities rethink what their campuses need to offer in an AI-driven world, two experts from Carnegie discuss how surfaces, acoustics, and material choices play a defining role in making those spaces work.

Quiet Rooms and Healthier Air: A Second Look at What Goes Inside the Wall Cavity

Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Walls influence more than structure and sound. They quietly shape how a building feels to the people who use it: how it sounds, how the air smells, how a child with asthma sleeps at night, how a worker feels finishing the day. Insulation is part of that story.

Building Safety Month 2026

lewisl@bnpmedia.com (Lindsay Lewis) — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 23:59:00 -0400

Building Safety Month is a global initiative held each May to highlight the importance of safe, resilient buildings and communities.

5 Building Envelope Trends for 2026

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Some of factors Benjamin Obdyke is seeing have an influence on the design and construction of multifamily building envelopes this year—and how to navigate changes

Reducing Risk Through Integrated Rainscreen Design

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This article explores the significant design, engineering, and long-term performance benefits of an integrated rainscreen system compared to a non-integrated component assembly.

LEED Silver Multifamily Project Highlights Envelope, Heat Island Strategies

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Green Ideas® Building Science Consultants has announced that The Pomeroy, a 293,346-square-foot multifamily development in Mesa, Ariz., has achieved LEED® Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council on March 5, 2026.

Welcoming the New IIBEC President

lewisl@bnpmedia.com (Lindsay Lewis) — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 23:59:00 -0400

IIBEC President Chris Dawkins helps us welcome incoming President Jennifer Hogan for a conversation on leadership and the future of the association.

Using Building Science to Design a High-Performing Building Envelope

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Modeling and evaluating envelope performance during the design phase can help identify potential issues early, while thoughtful material selection allows designers to balance performance, aesthetics, and long-term value.

Q&A with USGBC California Leaders for National Women's Month 2026

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Hear from three women leaders at USGBC California and why they and women generally are the movers and shakers.

Feeding People in Need with New Cold Storage Facility

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Kingspan’s insulated metal panels (IMPs) were selected by Industrial Refrigeration & Design, Inc. as the building envelope to deliver the high level of thermal performance required for freezer and cooler applications.

Photos From IIBEC's 2026 Convention and Trade Show in Saramento

lewisl@bnpmedia.com (Lindsay Lewis) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

More than 1,500 professionals gathered at IIBEC’s premier event to share insights and advance building science. Experience the highlights, and start planning for San Antonio next year.