Agenda

Centers of learning are significant places within their communities and their designs are rapidly changing as innovation in building envelopes are demanded by clients. Join this stellar group of design-leaders as they present their collaborations on higher education facilities that inspire wonder and excellence through their beautiful and complex skins. Architect teams will present Calvin & Tina Tyler Hall at Morgan State and The Charles Library at Temple University

Institutions providing healthcare are crucial to every community, now more than ever. Not only has Penn Medicine introduced medical innovation to Philadelphia, the health system has also delivered a number of state-of-art facilities. From prefabricated construction to improvements in glazing, hear how Penn Medicine is transforming the face of healthcare in the region through deep-dives on The Pavilion and Penn Radnor projects.

As building technology continues to advance rapidly, designers are both innovating new envelope construction methods as well as modernizing traditional building practices. In Philadelphia, there have been a number of firms working towards optimizing the implementation of historic masonry and precast construction methods. Hear how experts from local firms are using technology to efficiently realize beautiful facades.

Off-site panelized construction is a growing and efficient method of production in commercial construction. Typically, panels are fabricated completely off-site and transported and installed on-site as a full wall system. However, due to potential irregularities in building materials, challenges with ensuring continuity of control functions between panels can arise, specifically related to air and water control. The Philly Live! Hotel and Casino opted for a hybrid approach combining pre-fabrication of the wall panels including the CFMF substrate, gypsum sheathing and air/water resistive membrane, allowing for appropriate sealing between panels on site prior to installation of the exterior insulation and cladding.

The off-site fabrication process was aided using Revit to design the panels and BIM to piece together the full building façade in real time. Using technology, complex detailing, the clashes in the panels were identified early in the design and modified accordingly, enabling a more precise fabrication. The result is a quicker installation of the building façade providing flexibility with design and construction schedule.  To ensure correct alignment between components, cloud scan modelling was used to survey sections of the building including the fascia and ceilings that had many compound curves and elevation changes. In addition, certain portions of the building elevations were procured by overlaying the CAD models to ensure lineup of the panels at spandrel locations.

Learning Objectives

• Differentiate the positives and negatives of typical ‘panelization’ versus hybrid ‘panelization’
• Recognize the sequence coordination involved in constructing a complicated exterior panel rainscreen wall system
• Examine virtual design tools and functionality needed to synchronize the installer and design team
• Appraise multiple virtual design tools in realistic scenarios in an actual case study during a pandemic

Many building owners are faced with complex decisions with regard to maintaining, preserving, or replacing aging building stock. Should we replace or repair the windows? Do I need to insulate my old masonry walls.. and is it ok? How much will that cost in first costs versus energy savings long term? And what about the embodied carbon? Does it meet code… what code do I follow, anyway? Maybe we should just tear it down!

This panel discussion and participant workshop are for anyone involved in designing and implementing existing building enclosure upgrades. We will begin with a short presentation followed by a panel discussion from each of the panelists: a building owner, an architect, an enclosure consultant, an energy modeler, and a sustainability consultant. Following a short break, participants will be divided into groups and will actively work through the prioritization process, weighing the owner’s criteria and evaluating upgrade or replacement options to determine the optimal path forward for an aging building. Teams will present their decision-making process and learn about various stakeholder values when designing a replacement and renovation approach.

Workshop led by Jillian Burgess, RA, Technical Director of RWDI and special guests