The Why and How of BIM Implementation

Building Information Modeling continues to become the industry standard, with many projects now requiring the delivery of BIM files. However, considering the implications of a BIM workflow only after starting said projects can lead to serious issues, which is why this presentation will expand upon the planning processes needed to adopt BIM in your firm. Attendees will also examine what a successful BIM transition looks like in practice through example case studies, exploring both why and how firms are already growing their businesses with BIM.

Radon Gas Barriers – The SPF Advantage

Radon gas is the number 2 cause of lung cancer in North America behind smoking and is prevalent in the vast majority of homes at some level.

Local codes are now demanding radon gas testing and mandating the inclusion of some form of radon mitigation strategy in all residential new construction. Home sellers are now having to provide a radon evaluation to the home buyer. But what do we do if our home has high levels of Radon or the plot of land we intend to build on contains high levels of Radon gas?

Everything you need to know about Testing Rainscreens to AAMA 508 & AAMA 509

The purpose of this webinar is to educate manufacturers, architects/ specifiers, as well as authorities having jurisdiction and the building inspection community, about the differences between rainscreen systems, and how they are tested within a laboratory environment. This webinar is designed to provide participants an overview of the AAMA 508 and AAMA 509 standards, with specific details addressing the testing requirements found within these standards.

THE PHOENIX IS ON FIRE: How Your Firm Can Rise From the Ashes

Navigating yourself and your firm through the COVID-19 conundrum.

What the heck happened? There you were, thriving in a growing economy with unprecedented unemployment and enough work to keep your firm busy for months if not years. In a flash, it all evaporated.

Using BIM Software to Work While Social Distancing

This course will introduce tools available in building information modeling (BIM) software that enable architects to collaborate virtually with the other members of their design team and their clients. Best practices will be explored and interviews with Alex Hughes from KURV Architecture and Joe Vance from Joe Vance Architects will share their first-hand experiences working in and managing a virtual office.

Functional Creativity with Ornamental Metals in Public Buildings

Ornamental metals have purposes that enhance both visual aesthetics and building functions. In high-profile urban projects, from retrofits of landmarked buildings to new components of transportation infrastructure, steel and aluminum components allow dramatic gestures, novel geometries, optimization of the materials’ properties, and purposeful contrasts in texture and form. The practical complications of combining customized metal pieces with other materials, particularly on retrofit projects, call for an understanding of those properties and hands-on experience with the details of construction.

Understanding the impact of transitions on façade performance

As the title would suggest, what owners want (need) out of their BIM is worlds away from what the architects, engineers and contractors need to build the owner’s building.

Understanding the impact of transitions on façade performance

This course will explore the challenges on air and water tightness, thermal continuity, constructability and accountability caused by changes in geometry, materials, systems and gaps in scope allocation using completed interface examples. Using at-grade, in-plane, overhead and parapet transition details from one project as a baseline, the importance of careful interface detailing for high-performance envelopes and the responsibility of the architect in this process will be discussed.

FEVE Architectural Coatings: High Performance Coatings for Expansive, Sustainable Design

In this one-hour course, we will discover the strengths and advantages of FEVE fluoropolymer topcoats. We will evaluate coating performance tests including accelerated weathering and real-time weathering and what the implications are for the life of different coatings.

Is Your Architecture Firm Prepared for the AI Revolution?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing industries across the board. By utilizing tons of data, the computer system can perform behaviors associated with human intelligence, such as speech recognition, decision-making, and learning.

Your Employees: The Most Important Asset You’re Neglecting

Business leaders often declare that employees are their most important assets. But few employers truly define what that means in their workplace.

Understanding Applications of Storefronts, Window Wall and Curtain Wall

Storefronts, window walls and curtain walls are all have distinctive differences that dictate where they should be installed on a building. This course looks at performance attributes of each system and shares the basic assembly and installation procedures. This course also explores the latest design concepts to meet more stringent energy codes and reviews which system to specify on your next project.

Selecting Ceramic Tile for Green Building Projects

Today ceramic tile is being used a multitude of architectural applications that take advantage of the products unique characteristics and features. This course will review the environmental benefits of ceramic tile and how it contributes to green building standards.

An Architects’ Guide to Daylighting with Dimensional Materials within Insulated Glass

This course will discuss how to best utilize dimensional materials in insulated glass to optimize interior daylighting.  The course will review the benefit and features of dimensional materials and how to integrate these insulated glazing units into project to achieve energy efficiency and enhanced indoor environmental quality.

Understanding powder and liquid FEVE coatings for curtainwall and architectural applications

This course will review the features and benefits of FEVE fluoropolymer topcoats for bridge and curtainwall applications. The course will examine the various uses on new and existing structures and will detail a number of performance tests both real and accelerated to determine the life of the coatings. Lastly this course will assess the life-cycle costs and sustainability benefits of using FEVE topcoats despite their initial higher cost.

The Principles of Glass Selection for Facades

This course will introduce the various glass options for commercial building facades while explaining the different types of glass options. The course will explore the aesthetic and performance differences in low emissivity coatings and explain how to customize glass through color, textures and patterns.

Frameless Glass Railings: Designing Stunning, Code-Compliant Systems

Glass railings can be a beautiful addition to your residential and commercial projects, adding value to your portfolio and raising your profits; however, specification questions, code changes and misinterpretations can stand in the way of a successful glass railing project. In this session, attendees will learn about design considerations, code requirements, installation methods, testing standards, cap rail requirements, and laminated glass guardrail requirements. They will also walk away with a sound understanding of 2015 IBC updates—along with their impact— and the important role of the International Code Council (ICC).

Advanced Detailing for High Performance Envelopes

The Advanced Detailing for High-Performance Envelopes webinar is an interactive educational experience that will offer cutting-edge techniques in developing exterior envelope details. This webinar is perfect for all experience levels, from emerging professionals who will gain insights into the fundamentals of detailing to intermediate and expert practitioners who want to explore advances in building tectonics. The webinar will be divided up into three parts: a presentation on opaque assembly detailing principals, a presentation on advanced glazing details, and a presentation on detailing for complex geometries.

Understanding Architectural Low-E Coatings

This course will help you understand the solar energy spectrum, common glass performance measures and performance features and benefits of Low-E coatings. You’ll also have a basic understanding of how to prioritize and balance the unique aesthetic and performance needs of your project—no matter how big or small.