Past Meetings

Please note that this meeting will occur on a Thursday

Architectural Aluminum Framing Systems can be broken down into a number of subcategories. These are: Storefront, Curtain Wall, Window Wall, Overhead or Sloped Glazing, Windows, Entrances, Interior Frames and Sliding Storefronts. The first three categories: Storefront, Curtain Wall and Window Wall are most commonly used for fixed exterior glazing on commercial applications. Each shares some common characteristics but for the most part, each is very different and designed for specific applications.

In this presentation we will focus on these first three systems, reviewing the unique features and characteristics of each; advantages and disadvantages of each and review examples of applications each was designed for. Upon completion of this presentation, you will have an appreciation for the uniqueness of each system and understand how to select the correct one based upon each specific project.

Henry earned a degree in Marketing and English from Georgia State University and an MBA in Management from Kennesaw State University. Beginning his career in commercial construction, he has been with Kawneer for 28 years.

A regular speaker at industry and trade association meetings, Henry has several articles published and is Chairman of the largest Division 8 trade association.

1 AIA LU/HSW

For our October 1, 2024 Portland BEC meeting, we have arranged for a unique opportunity to tour the ongoing construction of the OHSU Hospital Expansion Project (OHEP). This 14-story, $540M immediate care facility features approximately 500,000 sf of programmed space and parking, planned accommodations for up to 192 beds, 250,000 sf of unitized curtain wall, 10,000 sf of vegetated roof, and three (3) bridge connections to adjacent campus buildings. The exterior enclosure that will be visible and discussed during the tour is composed of aluminum and glass unitized curtain wall, panelized framed walls with exterior metal panel, hot-rubberized asphalt vegetated roofing, and single-ply roofing.

Since this is an active construction site, our tour will need to start at 3:30pm after most trades have left the site. The tour will be approximately 1-hour long starting with a brief intro to the project, then breaking into three groups each visiting three stations in various locations throughout the building to view/discuss the variety of enclosure systems and detailing. With any luck, folks will be able to observe unitized curtain wall being actively installed! At each station, a representative from NBBJ (Project Architect), Morisson Hershfield (Enclosure Consultant) or RWDI (Enclosure Commissioning Provider) will lead a discussion and brief Q&A on the systems being installed at those stations.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) will be required to be worn during the tour. Additionally, transportation up to the site will be provided by shuttle bus from/to the South Waterfront trade parking lot as parking at the site is a challenge. More information regarding PPE requirements and parking will be distributed in the days before the tour.

Due to space and safety constraints, this tour is limited to 35 attendees.  Please follow the link below to register for the event.

Building science is a dynamic field that integrates age-old practices with cutting-edge research, offering critical insights into the design and construction of buildings. While some principles have been established for centuries, our understanding of building science continues to evolve as new research and industry experiences emerge. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of its value, especially in addressing the complexities of modern construction and mitigating risks. Our local Building Enclosure Community (BEC) is a leader in this field, with a vibrant network of professionals dedicated to advancing building science knowledge. Given the breadth and ongoing development of the field, grasping the fundamentals is crucial for project success. In this session, we will explore core concepts of building science and use real-world examples to illustrate their practical application.

Casey McDonald is an Associate, Sr. Project Manager with RDH Building Science. He has a wealth of experience in a variety of enclosure-related disciplines including complex façade systems, mass timber construction, thermal and hygrothermal analysis, and air tightness control. Casey's strong technical proficiencies, cooperative approach, and committed focus on helping make buildings better has earned him a reputation as a valued figure in the local building community.

1 AIA LU/HSW

Mass timber is both an innovative building material and a fundamentally familiar material. This course will cover some of the challenges which can be encountered when using this material with an emphasis on the construction process. This course will address the nature of wood material and how it reacts to moisture and relate that to the practical use of mass timber as a construction material. The standards applying to mass timber moisture content during both manufacturing and fabrication and then erection and construction in general will be reviewed. The course will identify the portions of mass timber elements at greatest risk of damage from moisture exposure during the construction process and the variable conditions not directly related to mass timber which make weather protection more difficult. Finally from a practical standpoint a contractor’s basic Weather Protection Plan will be described along with a discussion on cleaning processes for mass timber.

Bill Melrose has spent 45 years in the construction industry in all roles on site for both contractors and a subcontractor. He is a Licensed Civil Engineer in Oregon and has been the Oregon Division Quality Manager for Swinerton Builders for the last 5 years. During his time at Swinerton Builders he has been directly involved in over 15 Mass Timber Projects in the Portland Area, and has assisted with other projects in other locations. Bill visits active projects 2 to 3 time per week to assess the effectiveness and adjustments of the weather protection plans as it relates to both mass timber and the final roof installations.

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Blower door testing in Oregon is relatively new and the requirement has created a fair amount of questions for compliance and how the test is performed. Learn the ins and outs of how the test is performed and how the ASHRAE 90.1 criteria is applied in order to satisfy the energy code.

Mike Poirier is the Vice-President of QED LAB, Inc, an AAMA accredited testing laboratory and field testing agency headquartered in Troutdale, Oregon. QED LAB has tested over 900 buildings for airtightness in both commercial and residential configurations, equating to over 45 million square feet of air barrier and over 3,100 residential units. Mike is a Level 2 certified infrared thermographer and a Level 3 certified blower door testing technician with over 20 years experience in the building science industry. He has tested projects across 12 states in the US, as well as in Mexico and Thailand, including projects for the US Army Corps of Engineers. Mike was a presenter at the 2023 ABAA Building Enclosure Conference and is scheduled to present at the 2024 conference in May.

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As jurisdictions across North America introduce more stringent building energy performance standards (BEPS)—such as the BC Step Code and Seattle 2018 update—developers, architects, and contractors are left wondering the best way to meet the new benchmarks while controlling costs. This balance can seem daunting, especially when it comes to incorporating manufactured components, such as windows. Fortunately, a general understanding of the impacts of high-performance fenestration can help keep a project on track.

This presentation delves into modern high-performance fenestration products, providing a high-level overview of what makes a product ‘high-performance’, benefits of high-performance fenestration in the world of emerging BEPS, plus real-world project examples.

Through a review of window materials and configurations, this presentation outlines the impacts of fenestration on a building envelope’s overall performance, as well as opportunities to cost-optimize high-performance fenestration.

Michael Bousfield, technical director at Cascadia Windows & Doors, is one of North America’s most well-versed technologists in fiberglass window and door technology. Involved in developing the world’s first Passive House certified fiberglass window as well as the world’s first fiberglass window wall, Michael works closely with Cascadia’s commercial and residential clients creating custom solutions for high-performance fenestration systems.

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In new and existing building envelope inspections, Torrance has observed the results of severe catastrophic decisions regarding air barrier design and installation procedures.

This presentation will be a highly-visual lesson on what can happen when some of these choices are made. You will learn from the mistakes of others (including Torrance), and hopefully avoid at least a few of these costly mistakes of your own. Learn the benefits of early third-party plan review and onsite inspections. See twenty years of some of the biggest air barrier flubs from someone who has seen things from the slab to the roof, from inspection to install.

Torrance Kramer is a Certified Energy Manager, Building Envelope Commissioning Professional, amongst other certifications. He is passionate about reducing energy cost and increasing building integrity for his clients. He has completed thousands of comprehensive energy audits on all types of buildings over the last 20 years. Through this it became evident that there was a lack of understanding in the field of building envelope integrity. This led Torrance to focus on specializing in air barrier testing, repairs, and general envelope commissioning for the last 15+ years. For the last 10 years, he has managed and operated Accurate-Airtight Exteriors which provides consulting, training, testing, and repairs building air and thermal barriers.

1 AIA LU/HSW

The Commissioning process has historically attached itself to the active systems, leaving the primarily passive envelope systems undefined and unchecked. However, due to the significant changes in City and State Energy Codes across the US which are addressing envelope design requirements to meet air leakage control and thermal performance targets, a new light has been directed at the importance of commissioning the passive systems. The code changes are requiring designers and contractors to deliver higher performance of their buildings, especially from the building envelope. Building Envelope Commissioning (BECx) is a topic that will enable designers to be prepared for not only the new changes being implemented in LEED v4, but also to stay current on how certain building envelope assemblies perform related to energy performance while ensuring long term durability. Commissioning the building envelope is progressively recognized as an important element in achieving optimal building performance.

Stevan Vinci is a building science and sustainability specialist with over 19 years of experience who focuses on passive design, material resiliency and energy efficiency which help create sustainable and durable buildings that give more than they take. He is a LEED Fellow and serves as the Building Envelope Commissioning Practice Lead for Morrison Hershfield and has provided Building Science expertise on high performance building projects in the US, Canada, South America, Europe and China. His experience in building envelope contributes to a better understanding of whole-building energy systems enabling project teams to see the connection between the passive and active energy systems of a building. Steve was also a key contributor to the USGBC for the education component of the online reference guide for LEED v4 in regards to the new Building Envelope Commissioning requirements and is part of a committee developing the training modules for IIBEC’s Certified Building Enclosure Commissioning Provider Certification. Stevan is on MH’s LEED Certification Review Team, and he has completed over 120 LEED project certification reviews on behalf of the CaGBC to date. He serves as a Living Building Challenge Ambassador and served as Faculty for the CaGBC and USGBC.

Nick McElmurry graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 2014. He has worked in the field of building science for the last eight years with projects throughout the US, including Florida, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Washington, California and Oregon. Nick joined Morrison Hershfield in 2017. He is involved in all stages of project development, from the initial building assessment, through design and value engineering, to contract negotiation and project oversight.

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