Skins

A building’s skin is a critical interface between occupant comfort and the variations of season and climate. A high performance building requires a high performance envelope, tuned to the site conditions that can control for unwanted heat gain and loss. This session explores the design and technology approaches to wall and window assemblies, from low cost methods to minimize thermal bridging to advanced double skinned wall approaches, as well as addressing the need to address moisture issues in concert with insulation approaches.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this session, attendees will be able to:
- State the critical elements of thermal envelope responsible for building energy expenditure.
- Specify strategies for minimizing thermal bridging.
- Defend the use of added design, materials, and construction investment related to a high performance thermal envelope in order to reap building operational savings.

About the Speakers

Ned S. Kirschbaum, AIA, CCCA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal and Technical Design Director, Fentress Architects

Ned Kirschbaum has been with Fentress Architects for 20 years and has a total of 31 years of experience. He is a registered architect in Arizona, California, Colorado and Washington. Ned has extensive experience focusing on technical design, design implementation, construction administration and project management of large and/or complex projects. He was the Project Manager of the $550 million Doha International Airport, coordinating the master planning of a new airport, and the design and production of 11 buildings in multiple bid packages by consultants in five cities on three continents. He has a diverse background in providing the full range of design and planning services for institutional, commercial, governmental and residential facilities, as well as airports, including experience in providing architectural design services internationally.
Kirschbaum is a former member of the National AIA Building Science Knowledge Community Advisory Group, a former member and chairman of the Colorado AIA/AGC/ACEC Liaison Committee, and the founder and past chairman of the AIA/BETEC Building Enclosure Council-Colorado. Currently, he is a member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).


Linda M. McGowan, P.E., AIA, President and Principal, Building Consultants & Engineers, Inc. (BC&E)

Ms. McGowan’s career has focused on the investigation of a wide variety of problems with existing buildings, the evaluation of repair options, the design of associated repairs, and construction observation services during the repair work. Ms. McGowan has investigated numerous water leakage and deterioration problems with plaza and below-grade waterproofing systems, including related structural damage, and has designed and observed repairs. She has extensive experience in the evaluation and design of snow-country roofing systems, including cold roofs, cold attics, and superinsulated roofs, and she has extensive experience in the design of snow and ice management systems. In addition, Ms. McGowan has been involved in the investigation of a wide variety of problems with exterior cladding and fenestration systems, and has designed and observed relevant repairs. She has expertise with cementitious stucco, exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS), synthetic stone veneer, brick, concrete block, and stone masonry, precast and tilt-up concrete, windows, exterior doors, aluminum storefront and curtain wall framing systems, wood and vinyl siding, and metal cladding systems.
Her expertise allows her to effectively contribute to the design of these systems in new construction, and she has performed design review and construction observation services for architects, contractors, and developers. Ms. McGowan also performs expert services for building-related litigation.
Ms. McGowan began her career designing various structures for paper and chemical manufacturing facilities in Georgia. Later, while employed with an environmental engineering firm in Virginia, Ms. McGowan’s projects included the architectural and structural design of several solid waste handling facilities, large equipment maintenance facilities, and water and wastewater treatment plants.


Mark C. Scott, Senior Associate, WJE - Engineers Architects Materials Scientists

Mr. Scott has been involved in the design, construction, and operation of HVAC and plumbing systems since 1978. During his career he has served in various capacities, and from 1993 to 2003 he was a principal in the Denver office of MKK Consulting Engineers. Since 2004, Mr. Scott has focused his practice in the area of building envelope consulting, and in 2009 he joined the firm WJE in order to focus his work on the building envelope.


Chip Weincek, AIA, LEED AP, Owner/Principal, CWA - Architects and Planners

Chip has been assisting clients with Architectural, Planning and Development Professional Services for over 25 years.
Working with a diverse group of clients both on residential and commercial projects, Chip has a successful history with setting the design direction and bringing together the right team to achieve the client’s desires. In 2003 Chip formed CWA and continues today in "Crafting Spaces, Achieving Sustainability and Creating Value” for its clients. Chip’s been fortunate to design both residential and commercial projects consisting of custom single family residences, residential renovation/ remodel, tenant finish, senior living, aging in place, condominiums, retail, historical re-use, hotel, renovation, office and resort. Chip has been licensed to practice architecture since 1985.
Constructing a residence in building trades at Naperville Central High School in Illinois, sparked Chip’s interest in the built environment. Chip pursued this interest through an Associates Degree Program in Architecture at Southern Illinois University. Chip’s environmental and sustainability design training began in the early ‘80’s with Chip receiving his Bachelors of Environmental Design degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Chip continued his architectural educational pursuit and received his Masters of Architecture from the University of Colorado, Denver and was awarded the Honor Thesis Awards for Excellence in Architectural Design.
Chip’s professional career began with Westland Development a Design/Build firm with Architecture, General Contracting, Real Estate and Development services for corporate clients. Chip furthered his career working with the Architectural and Planning firms of; Midyette/Seieroe (MSA), ESA and DTJ Design. For a further review of Chip’s architecture and sustainability work, please see CWA’s website projects.