June 23th, 2022
Guest Speaker: Robert Gerard, PE - Coffman Engineers
Navigating the Building and Fire Codes: Exterior Wall Compliance
Building and Fire Code requirements can be confounding for architects and designers alike, especially when selecting exterior wall assemblies and specifying products that are code-compliant based on unique project details and jurisdiction requirements. Topics include the form and function of 1-hour and 2-hour Fire-Resistance Rated exterior wall assemblies, set back requirements, material, and design options for Construction Types I-IV, NFPA 285 compliance, construction materials testing, soffit design, Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) requirements.
Robert Gerard, PE
Many of Robert's projects have involved complex fire safety issues, often utilizing advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and finite element modeling (FEM), peer review teams, and engagement with approvalauthorities.
Speaker's Website: www.coffman.com
February 24th, 2022
Guest Speaker: Steve Easley - Building Science Expert
Best Practices for Water Management for Walls with Exterior Insulations
New energy efficient construction requirements and codes are moving towards requiring exterior insulation. This can create conditions where wall systems have much slower drying potential and reduced capacity for inward and outward drying. The result is a greater potential for expensive moisture related wall defects and failures. Steve Easley explains best practices for water management and how to use rain screen systems that provide simple, cost effective solutions to prevent water related damage and how to reduce costly defects. Steve uses pictures from his forensic experience to examine field failures of a variety of cladding systems.
Steve Easley
Steve Easley & Associates LLC
Construction Consultants
Steve Easley is an internationally recognized construction consultant specializing in solving building science-related problems and helping builders reduce costly callbacks.
Speaker website: www.steveeasley.com
October 21st, 2021
Guest Speaker: Ajla Aksamija, PhD,LEED AP BD+C, CDT
Sustainable and High-Performance Facades
This 1.5-hour presentation will cover methods for designing sustainable, high-performance facades, and the necessary steps in ensuring that the environmental factors and energy-efficiency strategies are integrated with the design process. The facade is one of the most significant contributors to the energy budget and the comfort parameters of any building. High-performance facades use the least possible amount of energy to maintain a comfortable interior environment, which promotes the health and well-being of building’s occupants.
Ajla Aksamija, is a Professor and Chair of the School of Architecture at the University of Utah. Her research expertise includes building science, high-performance buildings, facade systems, emerging building technologies, and innovations in architecture.
July 20, 2021
Guest Speaker: Fawn Chang - Interior Designer, Color Marketing & Feng Shui Expert
Color Trends & Color Psychology
Color and design trends reflect emerging human needs. This course explores and reveals global trends being re-evaluated in light of the global pandemic and influence upon the health, safety and wellbeing.
Not a disconnected event, color is intimately and intricately connected to our habits, behavior, physiology and ultimately our health and well-being. We explore color psychology and the impact design and color have in creating behavior and purchases, individually and collectively.
This course will define the role of color and design in the interface driving health and well-being for humans in the built environment.
Fawn Chang, Interior Designer, Color Marketing & Feng Shui Expert and author, has been on the leading edge of design for Health & Wellbeing for over 30 years.
Speaker website: www.fawnchang.com
April 20, 2021
Guest Speakers: Ralph Tavares, PE and Pedro Tavares
Building Modular: Considerations in Off-Site Construction
Various considerations for off-site construction for those interested in learning more about this emerging discipline.
Ralph Tavares, PE
Pedro Tavares
R&S Tavares Associates have consulted with internationally known corporations in bringing overseas prefabrication technologies to the US. Ralph currently holds professional engineering licenses in 43 States. His son, Pedro, leads the firm’s infill development project team.
Speaker website: www.rstavares.com
October 20, 2020
Guest Speaker: Steve Easley - Building Science Expert
Preventing Moisture Failures in Walls Using Rain Screens and Ventilated Cladding Systems & Building High-Performance Walls
Selecting and properly installing rain screen systems to create ventilated cladding systems that integrate with exterior insulation; Understanding the pros & cons of the 3 most common approaches to water managed wall systems.
Steve Easley
Steve Easley & Associates LLC
Construction Consultants
Steve Easley is an internationally recognized construction consultant specializing in solving building science-related problems and helping builders reduce costly callbacks.
Speaker website: www.steveeasley.com