Should institutional and commercial buildings be built to last 100 years? Why not? There are plenty of examples—religious structures, university buildings, train stations, and so on—that have performed well for a century or more.
The principles behind their success should inform new buildings for long-term owners like higher education, government agencies, school districts, judicial systems, and commercial developers with long-term disposition horizons.
After reading this article, you should be able to:
- DESCRIBE how heat, air, and moisture can compromise the building envelope and undermine energy efficiency and durability.
- LIST key systems and components for proper enclosure performance.
- DISCUSS how design and construction practices can affect enclosure performance, sustainability, and durability.
- COMPARE two novel technologies that can be used to improve the energy efficiency of building enclosures.
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