Are the buildings we design today ready for the complex challenges of tomorrow?

Recent evolution of building codes across Canada has certainly raised awareness of effective thermal value for building enclosures, and accurately determining this value for various assemblies is becoming a hot topic. Thermal performance requirements in building codes are generally well defined, but the industry is still learning how best to incorporate these requirements into the design process. Ever-changing and increasingly stringent code requirements also mean the goal posts are not set: regular adaptation is required. This presentation will provide clarity on these issues by answering the following questions:

• WHERE in Canada are there established enclosure thermal performance requirements?
• WHAT standards and codes have been adopted in different Canadian jurisdictions?
• WHEN should effective thermal performance be introduced in the design process?
• WHO is responsible for confirming that the thermal design is code-compliant?
• HOW is compliance confirmed and documented? This will include discussion surrounding the available methods of determining effective thermal performance (i.e., 1D calculations, 2D and 3D computer modelling, and physical testing) and their comparable levels of accuracy.
• WHY does all this even matter?

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Energy, light, and comfort – these three elements are directly linked to glazing design and remain a benefit or a liability for a building’s entire life. In an era of highly-glazed building enclosures and increasingly stringent energy and building codes, it is important to understand how design decisions affect building energy use, daylighting, and occupant comfort. This GBCI-accredited and OAA CE eligible session will explore each of these elements – energy, light, and comfort – in detail with real world examples ranging from simulation studies to existing building retrofits and provide participants with a thorough understanding of glazing design principles and building performance.

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Look (up) around your city and you’ll notice that building shapes are increasingly complex and that cladding systems often soar high above the roof level or beyond adjacent facades. Parapet extensions, wing walls, soffits, and other appurtenances, whether used as a design statement or to conceal mechanical or rooftop components, create many challenges for design and construction teams. Successful parapet and soffit design means knowing “How to Stop”. Case studies from several newly- and recently-constructed mid- and high-rise buildings will be used to demonstrate the detrimental effects of poorly conceived or constructed assemblies, design guidelines, and proven methods for achieving durable assemblies. This session will also include an overview of retrofit strategies to address chronic parapet performance issues such as water leakage, air leakage, and occupant discomfort.

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North American urban centres contain hundreds of mid-20th century mid- and high-rise buildings, many of which have cladding systems approaching the end of their design service life. There are many options available to building owners, including: continued maintenance; selective repair or replacement; large scale systems replacement, or; whole-building renewal and re-cladding. This session will explore typical symptoms of deterioration and options for maintaining, repairing, or upgrading common high-rise cladding systems.

What if I have bigger renewal plans with my capital? The second part of this session will analyze the building renewal ‘decision arc’ for existing building owners using case studies and will assess factors leading to building renewal such as risk mitigation, measured and predicted envelope deterioration, revenue generation, and improved aesthetics. This session will include information on the steps and processes used to move building renewal from an idea to implementation.

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Buildings age, energy efficiency and carbon standards become more stringent, and our climate changes. Within this context, owners are looking for solutions that address both the skin and core of their buildings. Architects and consultants must provide holistic solutions that are beautiful, perform efficiently, and help buildings respond to a changing climate. Facade retrofits (re-cladding or over-cladding) often proceed in response to deteriorating cladding elements, inefficient envelopes (thermal, moisture, etc.), aged materials and/or a desire for a new aesthetic. These types of large-scale projects present unique opportunities to incorporate core (HVAC & electrical) upgrades that benefit from a renewed enclosure and delivery a more energy efficient, comfortable building with a lower carbon profile.

This session will use case studies to analyze the renewal ‘decision arc’. We will highlight factors leading to and opportunities arising from large scale building renewal, including various retrofit strategies and their impact on energy and carbon reductions. This session will include information on the steps and processes used to move building renewal from an idea to implementation and will provide useful information to designers exploring opportunities in the building renewal market.

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North American urban centres contain hundreds of mid-20th century mid- and high-rise buildings, many of which have cladding systems approaching the end of their design service life. There are many options available to building owners, including: continued maintenance; selective repair or replacement; large scale systems replacement, or; whole-building renewal and re-cladding. These interventions typically provide opportunities for extending the useful life of a building, addressing ongoing performance concerns, reducing energy consumption, improving occupant comfort, and updating a building’s aesthetic.

Building renewal projects are subject to an array of market challenges: the ‘Class’ ceiling, static revenues, existing tenants and lease agreements, rent pressures, vacancy rates, capital expenditure forecasts, leasing partnerships, etc. Further, there are very few examples in the marketplace that demonstrate whether whole-building recladding projects have an attractive return on investment.

This session will provide an overview of the existing buy, hold, and sell approach – or “real estate hot potato” – that can leave buildings in a deteriorated state and owners at risk. We will analyze the building renewal ‘decision arc’ for existing building owners using case studies and will assess factors leading to building renewal such as risk mitigation, measured and predicted cladding deterioration, revenue generation, and improved aesthetics. This session will include information on the steps and processes used to move building renewal from an idea to implementation and will provide useful information to owners, designers, and contractors exploring opportunities in the building renewal market.

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The Building Envelope Commissioning (BECx) sector is maturing and can provide the framework for conversations about increasingly stringent envelope-related standards, codes, and performance requirements. BECx provides a process to ensure performance is embedded in project requirements and is delivered through construction completion.

This session will use project examples demonstrating commissioning principles on new and existing buildings or individual enclosure elements. We will discuss typical design, tender, and construction practices that track and test enclosure performance while keeping project teams informed of how value engineering, changes, or substitutions may affect performance. Lastly, we will connect these to guidelines and standards such as LEED, BOMA BEST, NIBS, ASHRAE, CSA, and ASTM to highlight recent trends in standardization and harmonization.

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Canadian and International code authorities have been discussing air tightness in buildings for years though few have opted for implementation until recently. Toronto Green Standard version 3 includes a requirement to conduct air tightness testing for whole buildings regardless of size or use though stops short of identifying a target. How does this trend toward whole building air tightness testing affect your design and construction process? What have we learned from the first generation of air tightness testing and how can we use these lessons to improve current practices?

This session will focus on design decisions that may affect air tightness, strategies for embedding air tightness goals into your project delivery model, and methods for performing air tightness testing in large buildings.

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