Building Envelope

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For more than 30 years, a quiet revolution has been taking place in the building materials industry. 

Rising above Interstate 5 in Tacoma, Washington, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians’ glamorous new Emerald Queen Casino is about to become an entertainment mecca that will beckon drivers to experience a bit of Las Vegas, Pacific Northwest-style.

Resilience is a newer design concern within the construction industry. With the apparent increase in natural disasters, such as hurricanes and wildfires, the desire for more resilient buildings is on many people’s minds. However, what is resilience and how do gypsum panel products factor into this new way of thinking?

When we look at the modern building environment, one of the hottest topics on many people’s minds are weather barriers and moisture control.

Perhaps there’s more money in saving our resources than there is to burn them up recklessly for profit as we have done throughout time.

Water is a mystery. It bends all of the rules, it baffles and confounds, it flows where it wants to flow, and although often used as a symbol of renewal, it is also associated with destruction.

Energy efficiency, durability, resiliency and a healthier indoor environment, are all key goals when optimizing the enclosure.

Commercial building design is increasingly taking a cue from the residential market as natural elements are used to convey a feeling of warmth and strength in exteriors, as well as interiors.

By maintaining a space between a building’s cladding and exterior wall, rainscreen systems help protect the enclosure against the ravages of rain and moisture infiltration.

Once buzzwords within the building industry, phrases such as “zero net energy,” “sustainable energy,” and “energy conservation,” are now commonplace.