14...Brick: Available in Green
Fired brick masonry has become an oft-specified building enclosure system. New thinking about cavity walls as rainscreens, and research about lifecycle performance of brick compared to other wall systems, has furthered its popularity. Now, advances in manufacturing are improving product efficiency by reducing embodied energy and emissions burden, and increasing recycled content.
by Bill Kay and Michael Chusid, RA, FCSI

24...Capturing the Rain: Permeable interlocking concrete and stormwater
Stormwater management is becoming increasingly vital to commercial and residential projects. Permeable interlocking concrete pavements (PICPs) can provide one solution; these systems consist of solid units with joints filled with highly permeable aggregates placed over an open-graded base and sub-base.
by Julie Rapoport, PhD, PE, LEED AP

32...Solving the Mysteries of Bonded Abrasive Polished Concrete Floors
There is still a lack of knowledge over how to achieve bonded abrasive polished concrete floors with an exposed aggregate and glossy finish. One must understand the nature of these surfaces, explaining the aspects that should be considered for the concrete.
by Walter Scarborough, RA, CSI, CCA, CCCA, SCIP, AIA

42...Designing with Precast Concrete for Sustainable Offices
Using a LEED Gold project from Minnesota as a case study, this article explores how to design with precast concrete for office facilities. It specifically focuses on issues like fly ash, portland cement, and insulated wall panels, taking an in-depth look at lessons learned with sustainable design.
by Miles D. Britz, AIA, LEED AP

50...Searching for Rooftop Performance
A costly maintenance crisis facility managers are likely to face is premature roof failure. High-tensile modified bitumen (mod-bit) roofing systems are emerging as the safest reliable substitute for coal tar built-up roofs (BURs).
by Patrick J. Sullivan, PE

56...Multilayer Composite Technology: Maximizing benefits of plastic and metal piping
Copper and other metallic materials once dominated the plumbing industry. However, since they are subject to increased scrutiny as budgets and construction schedules get tighter, a high-performance rigid thermoplastic was introduced. Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) offers numerous advantages.
by Domenic DeCaria