Building Tall with Wood in the Future
In North America, wood in multi-story structures is becoming a hot topic—some are expecting to see high-rise within their lifetime. Today’s building codes, coupled with advances in building technology, have driven options for engineered wood construction and hybrids to new heights.
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G8WAY DC
G8WAY DC is a new open-air, multi-use facility in the nation’s capital. Among its features is a thin, 44-mm (1¾-in.) lightweight, ultra-high-performance-concrete roof. What do design professionals need to know about this emerging material, which combines structural strength with potential for precise aesthetics?
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Introducing Siphonic Roof Drainage
Roof collapses typically occur because water accumulation exceeds the assembly’s structural capacity. With proper water drainage in place, many major causes of failure are eliminated. Now, a new type of system based on siphonic technology has made its way across the Atlantic.
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Sounding Off on Acoustic Sealants
In the February issue of The Construction Specifier, we published the article, “Using Gypsum Wallboard for Acoustical Control,” by Ashwin L. Himat. The piece dealt with new drywall products designed to reduce noise. However, one reader was concerned there was a bigger picture to keep in mind. Steven Zalben, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, wrote:
The use of acoustical sealant to reduce sound transmission was only cursorily mentioned. Using an appropriate sealant on both top …Continue reading
XPS, EPS, and Dock Flotation
After the feature, “Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind: Specifying Thermal Insulation Below-grade and Under-slab” ran in our December 2013 issue, we received a letter from retired architect, Joseph S. Bond. Mr. Bond wrote that the article in question “seems to reverse the findings” from both his personal and professional experience with expanded and extruded polystyrene (EPS and XPS):
I am a retired architect, and may not have the best current information on EPS …Continue reading
Re-examining Paver Performance
In the November 2013 issue of The Construction Specifier, we published the article, “Controlling Stormwater at the Source,” by Katie McKain, ASLA, MLA, MUD. David R. Smith, CSI, of the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI), wrote in about what he felt were some inaccuracies; we then shared his comments with the author.
I read with interest Ms. McKain’s article. She made some inaccurate statements about permeable interlocking concrete pavement (PICP) that require correction. This …Continue reading