Combining multiple esthetics is the standard rather than the exception in building exteriors. And since the days of monolithic design are long gone, architects are pushing the limits by integrating materials to create a modern, sophisticated look. At the same time, no designer can afford to sacrifice performance for an eye-catching look. Ever-evolving, stricter building codes, and heightened expectations from building owners now demand the right balance between beauty and durability.
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Thanks to the pioneering work of dedicated scientists, ornithologists, wildlife associations, and the glass industry, the future is looking brighter for the billions of birds which end up colliding with windows each year. While still in its infancy, the science of bird-safe glazing is emerging with creative new ideas and changing the way birds see and react to building glass.
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Smart buildings, and by extension smart cities, provide many benefits to end users and management alike. However, implementing interconnected systems into building design can be challenging and deciding which technologies to adopt presents its own difficulties as well.
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When integrating lighting into standard ceiling solutions, such as grid, drywall, and open-to-structure ceilings, traditional luminaire form factors, including troffers, downlights, recessed linear, and suspended products, are common and relatively straightforward to integrate. However, as specialty ceiling products have emerged, with often complex, three-dimensional, and organic form factors, so have the challenges associated with the design and installation of integrated, functional luminaire solutions.
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Security entrances play an important role in organizational risk management, safety, and security. Covering a range of factors and considerations for specifications will help make security entrance upgrades or retrofit project a success; however, there are additional factors which can make or break a retrofit project.
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Thermal bridges occur all over a building in transitions, terminations, and penetrations. Foundation to wall transitions, balcony projections, window and door openings, and roof parapets can all serve as thermal bridges. However, while identifying areas where thermal bridging can occur is a relatively straightforward process; some areas were harder to solve until recently, as they involved junctions where masonry loads are applied to the foundation below.
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Specifiers and architects seeking to ensure the mechanical equipment noise does not exceed the ceiling system’s ability to attenuate it can use a straightforward method defined in the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute’s (AHRI) Standard 885 (2008), Procedure for Estimating Occupied Space Sound Levels in the Application of Air Terminals and Air Outlets.
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Instead of overhauling the existing multi-zone rooftop units or replacing them with new versions of the same technology, the firm designed a multi-zone air handler for Victoria, B.C.’s heritage site, Rithet Building, which employed air-to-air heat pump technology exclusively.
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When it comes to shower installation and waterproofing, taking shortcuts can lead to disastrous results, especially when a floor is not properly sloped and/or a waterproofing membrane is carelessly installed. To avoid these issues, construction professionals should have a higher level of knowledge of waterproofing techniques and how they can accommodate jobsite variabilities.
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The push towards HFO-based sprayfoam technology is the latest step in an ongoing evolution to phase out the use of chemicals known to harm the ozone and climate. This article will explain the blowing agent shift and why it matters to those considering the specification of sprayfoam applications in commercial building projects.
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