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  • 1.  Where did you learn about building science and building performance?

    Posted 12-09-2025 02:02 PM

    I have been practicing Architecture for +/- 23 years and have a lot of experience in construction and learned alot of my understanding of building systems 'the hard way' - by making mistakes, asking questions even when I felt nervous and dumb asking them, seeing a lot of issues and how they were corrected. I have had the benefit of working all over the country, on a wide variety of project types and sizes, with various sustainability requirements (or lack thereof) and I would say experience is the best teacher but it took every bit of 23 years to get where I am and I still feel like there's always more to learn and topics I dont quite understand. 

    I certainly didnt learn about air barriers and thermal bridging and reservoir cladding in grad school. I learned it from watching a 100 webinars trying to figure things out and taking courses and reading white papers and joining organizations where I could hopefully learn from experts. So Im curious.. where did the BPKC members gain their expertise? Was it in school or elsewhere? Do architecture schools teach building science? Ill add some links below to resources and do my best to add them to our 'online resources' link on our main page as well but Id love to hear the community's thoughts on the future of architecture and building performance. Will we let engineers and specialty designers take over building enclosure details and design or will architects keep this in our realm of expertise?

    Joe Lsitburek's Building Science Fundamentals Class is a blast. Everyone should take it if you have the time and the means. 

    Basically all of BuildingScience.com is a treasure trove of white papers by Joe and John Straube and others on every topic you can imagine. 

    Also John Straube's book Building Science for Building Enclosures. 

    Getting involved with my local Building Enclosure Council chapter

    Reading William Rose's blog and his book 'Water in Buildings'

    Participating here in our amazing BPKC community

    Building Science Fight Club's fantastic instagram account also has a class series that is available on demand 



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    Jessica Saravia AIA
    DMAC Architecture
    Evanston IL
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    AIA26 San Diego June 10-13


  • 2.  RE: Where did you learn about building science and building performance?

    Posted 12-09-2025 07:02 PM
    Thanks for the question, Jessica.
    I have been practicing for over 40+ years and I will confess that I learned about temperature differentials, and thermal bridging in college.
    I learned the difference between vapor barriers and air barriers and specifically where they go after many years in practice - and as a result of the pendulum swing when buildings were designed with substantial infiltration in before the 1970's....then the energy squeeze came about and building envelopes were tightened, but then we ended up with sick buildings because the industry knowledge had not caught up with the need to concentrate on IAQ, balanced air supply/exhaust and controlling water vapor as well as liquid water.  While infiltration was reduced, indoor humidity rose and became problematic, particularly in the SE (hot, humid climate), so we had to go back to school in the late 1900's.  While I knew about thermal bridging, it did not become a significant issue until mandated by the building and energy codes.

    Now, as I am teaching Environmental Technologies as an Adjunct Instructor, these concepts are expected to be taught to students as they are gaining their formal education and split between the broad umbrellas of HSW in the Built Environment, Technical Knowledge, Design Synthesis and Building Integration.  These are broad umbrellas and we all know some schools lean more towards design and other schools lean more towards the technical aspects.  I guess that's why we still need a few years in "practice" until being allowed to be licensed and then really "practice."  After 40 years, I still spent the day in contuing education classes today..... 

    Stephen B. Lafferty, AIA MBA LEEDap bd+c  |  Director

    BRAILSFORD & DUNLAVEY, Inc.  




    AIA26 San Diego June 10-13


  • 3.  RE: Where did you learn about building science and building performance?

    Posted 12-10-2025 01:56 PM

    RE:  Jessica Saravia, AIA, "Where did you learn about building science and building performance?

    Jessica, when I had been "practicing architecture for +/- 23 years" I was chosen by my firm to head up its QA/QC program--presumably because I was perceived to be one of the "technical experts" in the firm.  When I got around to checking drawings, I realized that I knew nearly nothing about building performance, and most of what I did know was wrong (I was still calling for vapor barriers on the insides of stud walls in Zone 4).

    Realizing that "it was my job to know this stuff," I started reading up online, including a lot of Building Science dispatches).  I also took Lstiburek & Straub's class and swear by it (it's mostly a hoot, although Lstiburek's stand-up comedian schtick can get tiresome at times). 

    Did I learn any of this in school?  Absolutely not!  Did anybody teach me on the job?  Again, no!

    The one thing I will credit architecture school with is that you learn how to teach yourself, and that has been very useful in my (now 38-year) career.  Curiously, when I had to start researching building performance issues, I also drew on reporting techniques I picked up as a journalism undergraduate. 

    I'm based in NYC, so I also attend a lot of lectures given by Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger.  In fact, an early one I attended (on "The Four Barriers") gave me the framework on which I have hung everything else I've learned.  Since 2020, most of SGH's lectures have been given online, about two Fridays a month, and I highly recommend getting on its mailing list.  It is very rare that I come away from a presentation that does not teach me at least one new tidbit that I did not know before.  I think you may be able to get on the invitation list by writing to <events@sgh.com>.

     

    Paul E. Náprstek, AIA, Principal

    PEN Architectural Consulting

    347 320-9784

    paul@pen-architecture.com

     




    AIA26 San Diego June 10-13


  • 4.  RE: Where did you learn about building science and building performance?

    Posted 12-10-2025 06:33 PM

    Over my +/-25 years experience as a licensed architect, I have scoured several of the sources already listed by others in this thread...Lstiburek, SGH, BuildingScience.com. To add to that is Green Building Advisor and RDH white papers. RDH has an online technical library https://www.rdh.com/resources/.  Most recently I became a Certified Passive House Designer through the Passive House Network. Passive House is heavily rooted in building science and can apply to any type of building whether residential or non-residential. You can become certified through the Passive House Institute (original Germany-based organization) or PHIUS which is the US spin-off. They have the same design principals but somewhat different criteria. The Passive House Network offers many webinars and on-demand training year round (including how to calculate thermal bridging).



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    Rebecca Denio AIA
    El Cerrito CA
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    AIA26 San Diego June 10-13


  • 5.  RE: Where did you learn about building science and building performance?

    Posted 12-10-2025 07:37 PM

    Jessica and to all others

    Jessica brings up a topic that we all need to better understand and should be leading the charge in; but I am not sure we are.  More on that later.  I learned about this topic around 1994, yes '94!  I will not go into the details, but I will say at that time we in the US never heard the term Building Envelope Design or Building Enclosure.  After some reading and then some more reading from Trade organizations it led me to information from Canada, and then to Europe.  This uncovered a whole new branch of our profession for me.  Now I will say, some of our Northern States in the US (back in those days) started addressing this new topic in local Codes.  LEED help this a bit more with emphasis on energy saving MEP systems.  Over the years pioneers, like Joe Lsitburek, energy efficient equipment, and engineering on materials started collectivity creating an understanding the building's envelope is a living organism.  Now couple this with interior environment comfort and you get what is now becoming Building Science. 

    For those of you who have never heard of Joe Lsitburek, see Jessica's links for books and his web site.  Not only is he very knowledgeable, but entertaining in his seminars!  Please follow up.

     

    Now back to my earlier comment.  I am an Architect who works for (let's just say) a Government Agency and have reviewed building projects, and CA on at least 7 of them in recent years.  These projects are in the range of $800 million dollars.  Only one Architectural firm I have worked with fully understood Building Envelope Design and knew how to detail it.  By now, most of us know how to design an exterior wall; the perfect wall as Joe has phased it in his seminar classes.  But this is where many stop.  A building is a "six-sided box".  Slab-on-grade, foundation walls, exterior walls, windows/doors, and roof.  The detailing of these materials, components and assemblies must be fully understood as how they all come together and work.  Now add four other factors into this – Air, Water, Thermal, and Moisture (or vapor).  So you now have a six-sided-box that has to address four factors and each of the factors along with the materials, components and assemblies need to be fully understood and detailed!  Now let's not forget LEED and interior comfort and you get Building Science!  I have found that testing agencies, Mechanical Engineers and Contractors seem to know more about this topic then we Architects.  We as a profession should be ones leading this science.

     

    We have all heard of the phase "the devil is in the details"!  Believe me, the DEVIL is IN the details.  So yes, please see Jassica's post and the links she has provided and sign up for Joe Lsitburek's seminars.  Read and take seminar classes on this topic.  Just when you think you understand it, is when you have only have scratched the surface.  Believe me, I have been doing this for over 30-years and I am still learning.

     

    We as Architects need to take charge and be the leaders on this topic.  I get it, Design is important, but so is a well-designed holistic building for humanity to experience and enjoy that will not make them sick.  Good luck to all.

     

     

    C J Kirk, AIA

    Baltimore, MD




    AIA26 San Diego June 10-13


  • 6.  RE: Where did you learn about building science and building performance?

    Posted 12-12-2025 05:58 PM

    I'm glad this thread is elevating building science and enclosure performance. I'm an architect and have been an AIA member for about 30 years, and I'm also an active member of IIBEC (International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants), for over 15 years. IIBEC is an association of professionals who specialize in building enclosure consulting. As a former past president of the association, I may be a little biased and realize one may not want to toot one associations website on another association's forum, but IIBEC would be arguably the best place for education on building enclosure performance. I know both associations can benefit greatly from the support of each other, have partnered together on various initiatives and advocacy efforts, and I would encourage the partnership to continue.

    As noted by others there are a many other websites and resources one can look at as well. IIBEC offers a large annual convention and a more technical annual symposium, as well as numerous local chapter events where the local enclosure community can get together and discuss. They have several online resources, technical advisories, position statements, and a huge article database members can research just about any topic. They also offer a wide range of respected credentials for enclosure professionals.

    I would also recommend that an enclosure consultant be included as part of every project team. What you're describing - continuity across the "six-sided box" and the control layers (air, water, thermal, vapor/moisture) - is exactly the core of what IIBEC members work on every day. Many IIBEC professionals are architects and engineers, and our role is not to replace the architect-of-record. It's to bring focused, independent enclosure expertise that helps project teams deliver durable, buildable details and then verify performance in the field (mockups, testing, site observations, troubleshooting). Ultimately to build better buildings for our clients. The best teams I've worked with set enclosure performance requirements early, detail continuity with discipline, and back it up with mockups/testing and field verification.

    The website is www.iibec.org

    Christopher W. Giffin, F-IIBEC, RRC, AIA, NCARB
    Principal

    Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc.
    Engineers | Architects | Material Scientists

    2055 Sugarloaf Circle, Suite 250

    Duluth, Georgia 30097

    mailto:cgiffin@wje.com | www.wje.com



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    Christopher Giffin AIA
    WJE Associates, Inc.
    Duluth GA
    ------------------------------

    AIA26 San Diego June 10-13


  • 7.  RE: Where did you learn about building science and building performance?

    Posted 12-14-2025 02:03 PM

    Thank you for posting this because this is my exact question: are we as general practitioners going to take building science and building enclosure design as part of our day to day work and expertise or will we let it become a specialty that your average architect doesn't know beyond a cursory level? As Charles Kirk said above, if 7 out of 8 firms cant adequately detail an enclosure then it seems like the latter but that is a big problem in my mind. If you are drawing a fancy sketch and pointing at critical details and saying 'by others' Im not sure thats architecture. Shouldn't AIA members have the detailing and constructibility know how that IIBEC members do? All architects should be able to review an air barrier install and understand what is needed for your control layers in various climate zones. How do we call ourselves architects if we cant separate the cold, wet outside from the warm, dry inside? 



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    Jessica Saravia AIA
    DMAC Architecture
    Evanston IL
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    Original Message
    AIA26 San Diego June 10-13


  • 8.  RE: Where did you learn about building science and building performance?

    Posted 12-16-2025 06:42 PM

    I love this question, and is similar to the one I had around 5 years ago. This was after 15 years of mechanical engineering + energy modeling and load calculation design work... I found my way to a lot of the resources you all have mentioned above, got interested in passive house design, and also started to ask my architect friends and clients a lot of "why" questions. The answers I often got felt slightly unnerving, to be honest. That's when I recognized the education and expertise gap in the industry, because it's just not part of standard design practice (similar to how most mechanical engineers haven't actually read through ASHRAE standard 55). 
    From what I've seen in my time since then, it's really a focused specialty area - both in the consulting world - and of individual interest. So I wonder how to bring these knowledge sources more into routine conversations and 'typical' details and assemblies. 
    Do folks know if there are specific architectural programs or curricula that are teaching building science in educational institutions, now? 



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    Sarah Gudeman
    BranchPattern, Inc.
    Omaha NE
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    AIA26 San Diego June 10-13


  • 9.  RE: Where did you learn about building science and building performance?

    Posted 12-16-2025 08:45 PM
    Answering the questions by Sarah Gudeman (and Michael Fay),
    Your neighbor to the south, Kansas State University has classes in acoustics.
    Way back when, I took a 3-hr elective class in the architectural engineering department dedicated exclusively to acoustics. We delved deep into the topic, including how to manually calculate reverberation time at different frequencies, based upon absorption in the space and energy emitted and directionality.  I have used this information several times, including the design of a 250-person lecture hall that didn't need sound reinforcement, as well as several churches, auditoriums and even arenas.

    It appears K-State Architectural Engineering department still offers a 2-hour 500-level class entitled, "ARE-537 - Acoustic Systems" that focuses on Hearing and the ear, sound generation, acoustical correction, noise reduction, and sound transmission all as integral parts of architectural design.  

    In the Art department, K-State also has a class, "ART 380 - Introduction to Sound Art" that Includes digital, electronic, environmental, and acoustic sound in the visual arts context. Sound as component of a studio practice; fundamentals of recording, digital sound editing, electronics, time-based structures, and innovative presentation methods.

    I also know the University of Florida School of Architecture, Design and Construction has two classes in acoustics:  ARC 6643 Architectural Acoustics and ARC 6642 Architectural Acoustic Design Laboratory. They were originally developed by Gary Siebein, FAIA and are now being taught by someone else that has taken on Gary's mantle.

    And there is the Masters of Architecture program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute that has a graduate program specifically in acoustics and another one in lighting.

    Stephen B. Lafferty, AIA MBA LEEDap bd+c  |  Director

    BRAILSFORD & DUNLAVEY, Inc.  |  www.bdconnect.com





    Original Message
    AIA26 San Diego June 10-13


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