Low-energy fans help combat disease in Rwandan clinic

Isis fans from Big Ass Fan Co. help kill airborne pathogens in Rwanda’s Butaro Health Clinic by passing air over UV lights. The six-ward clinic runs the seven low-energy fans on generator power, which improves ventilation rates by about 20%—more than a quarter above World Health Organization guidelines. Impending access to an electrical grid will soon have the fans running 24/7. The clinic was designed by MASS Design Group, Boston, to use natural ventilation to reduce the spread of tuberculosis; the facility has outdoor walkways, alfresco waiting rooms, large windows, and the fans to help combat disease. The clinic, in partnership with the Government of Rwanda, Ministry in Health, Partners in Health, and the Clinton Foundation, opened earlier this year.

The editors of Building Design+Construction present 10 “Great Solutions” that highlight innovative technology and products that can be used to address some of the many problems Building Teams face in their day-to-day work. Readers are encouraged to submit entries for Great Solutions; if we use yours, you’ll receive a $25 gift certificate. Look for more Great Solutions in 2012 at: www.bdcnetwork.com/greatsolutions/2012.

Summit Design+Build Chicago's Esquire Theatre

| Dec 5, 2011

Summit Design+Build begins renovation of Chicago’s Esquire Theatre

The 33,000 square foot building will undergo an extensive structural remodel and core & shell build-out changing the building’s use from a movie theater to a high-end retail center.

Kingspan Insulated Panels Environmental Product Declaration

| Nov 29, 2011

First EPD awarded to exterior roof and wall products manufacturer

EPD is a standardized, internationally recognized tool for providing information on a product’s environmental impact.

| Nov 28, 2011

Armstrong acquires Simplex Ceilings

Simplex will become part of the Armstrong Building Products division.

| Nov 22, 2011

BIM objects now available for Bilco products

| Oct 17, 2011

THOUGHT LEADER: Allan Bilka, Senior Staff Architect and Secretariat to the IGCC

Allan Bilka, RA, is a Senior Staff Architect and Secretariat to the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) with the International Code Council, based in the ICC’s Chicago district office. He also serves as staff liaison to the ICC-700 National Green Building Standard. He has written several ICC white papers on green building and numerous green-related articles for the ICC. A registered architect, Bilka has over 30 years of combined residential design/build and commercial consulting engineering experience.