About AIAJoin AIAContact AIAFind an ArchitectAIA StoreAIA Jobs
SIGN IN!
Practicing Architecture Education Contract Documents Conferences & Events Advocacy Career Stages
 



Building Science and Performance Resources

 

     

Promoting architects as leaders in the application of building science and building performance is a critical in seeking sustainable design excellence within the profession. The use of high-performance design criteria, the promotion of building commissioning and forensics, codes and building standards development, and current energy reduction regulations are all factors in the multi-faceted area of building science.

COTE promotes building enclosures that are energy efficient, sustainable and durable. Building science and performance is one of the most important singular areas that will pave the way to reaching AIA’s goal of reducing fossil fuels emissions by 60% by the year 2010 and 100% by the year 2030

Building Enclosures

Building Enclosure Council (BEC) Initiative

The Building Enclosure Council (BEC) initiative was established by an agreement between the American Institute of Architects and the Building Enclosure Technology and Environment Council (BETEC) of the National Institute of Building Sciences on May 18, 2004.

The purpose of the Councils is to promote and encourage discussion, training, education, technology transfer, the exchange of information about local issues and cases, relevant weather conditions, and all matters concerning building enclosures and the related science.

Commissioning

Commissioning is a preparatory process whereby a building is readied for operation.  This includes a quality assurance process to ensure that building systems perform as intended. As buildings become more complex the importance of systematically evaluating their performance has increased.

Articles
Commissioning Delivery Methods
Commissioning Requirements for LEED
Cx Process and Benefits
Importance of Cx Green Buildings
Understanding an Owner’s Project Requirements

Vision 2009: Building Commissioning Symposium
In March of 2009, the American Institute of Architects presented a symposium that convened architects, providers, and other professionals involved with building performance to explore the broad spectrum of issues associated with commissioning.

The eight sessions presented during the day are available are available here.

Codes and Standards

AIA Codes and Standards Initiatives

BSR/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1P, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings
Open Comment Period: September 18 – November 2, 2009

International Green Construction Code (IGCC)

Along with the International Code Council, the AIA, and ASTM-International are the “cooperating sponsors” for this initiative, and will have an active role in the development process. Other organizations indicating their support are the U.S. Green Building Council (the purveyor of the LEED rating system) and the Green Buildings Initiative (GBI).  Interest in participating on the development committee has been expressed from a variety of government, private sector, and non-profit sources including ASHRAE, PCA, AISI, as well as state and local officials. The initiative fully integrates with the entire family of existing I-codes builds on the good work of many organizations and advocates concerned with a more sustainable built environment. It is not designed to compete against, or minimize, the systems and standards that are already in place. We anticipate our code development process will use existing work as a resource. The timing of this activity is appropriate in the evolution of the sustainability efforts in the United States and around the world.  Now that various approaches have been tested and implemented, we have a clearer picture as to what is required in a code.

For more information on this ongoing effort, please visit the International Code Council’s Web site.

Forensics