Description
DATE: April 21, 2026 | 11:30am CST – 12:30pm CST
Course Description
Throughout the history of mankind, humans have designed and built structures for all sorts of reasons, but primarily for protection. Platforms were built to protect from floods and creatures of the ground, walls were erected to protect from winds and creatures that could climb, and roofs were constructed to protect from the sun, rain, hail, and flying creatures. And these floors, walls, and roofs could also protect humans from other humans. When taken all together, we call the result the building envelope.
Over time, the art and science of the building envelope has grown far more sophisticated and the forces from which we seek protection are no longer limited to wild beasts and belligerent neighbors. The modern adversaries of buildings are water as liquid and vapor, air infiltration, and heat loss and gain. This course will consider the structures we design as the sum of all the above. We will explore strategies and techniques of constructing building envelopes that can ensure us with safe and healthy buildings.
Learning Objectives:
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Understand the concept of the building as an envelope: Defines the enclosure as a critical life-safety barrier protecting occupants from external hazards.
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How to define the boundaries of the envelope and the impact different boundaries have on the efficiency of the building: Optimizes environmental control to ensure occupant thermal comfort and long-term welfare.
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Understand the 4 different control layers and how they protect the building from the intrusion of liquid, vapor, air, and thermal changes: Prevents mold growth and protects indoor air quality to ensure occupant health.
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Consider the needs for both waterproofing and moisture migration: Mitigates structural rot and material degradation to maintain building safety.
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Analyze thermal loss and gain through thermal bridges: Reduces condensation risks that compromise both structural integrity and occupant health.
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Discuss wall science and examine the old and new theories of wall assemblies: Identifies resilient construction strategies that meet modern life-safety and building codes.
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Discover techniques for designing healthy homes and buildings: Implements high-performance ventilation and moisture control to support long-term public health.
Learning Units: 1 LU|HSW
Course Number: AIAPDH578
Presenter: Glen Stancik
