Incentive dollars and technical support have been the hallmark of Mass Save programs for years. Eversource, National Grid and the other Mass Save Program Administrators are now rolling out a new and improved set of program support pathways that will help commercial project teams achieve superior energy efficiency and even zero net energy status with their new construction projects. The presentation will cover how to participate and will describe the level of technical assistance and incentives available for different project…

Glass technologies used in exterior facades continue to be a prominent feature in Boston buildings. Come hear a panel of industry professionals discuss the current state of glass technologies inclusive of exterior shading and performance metrics. The panel will address influences of the National Fenestration Rating Council on commercial and residential windows and the importance of frames for the windows. Investigations of shadow box designs and failures will be addressed along with recommendations on best practices to achieve success. Finally,…

Glass guardrails at roof terraces and balconies have a safety function while not obscuring views that are desirable for high rise towers. Frequently loading on the guardrails is governed by wind loads rather than the code requirements for a building occupant leaning on the guardrail. In order to resist these loads without posts, a base connection that transmits loads to the structure and minimizes rotation is required. Frequently these critical connections are subject to installation and durability issues. This presentation…

This program will showcase the Rainier Square development in Seattle, which includes a 1.4 million square-foot, 58-story, 850-foot tall mixed-use tower. Bracing this tower against wind and seismic demands is a new structural system; a non-proprietary Concrete-Filled, Composite Plate Shear Wall (CF-CPSW) system, or as dubbed by AISC – Speed Core. The innovative structure that features a lateral bracing system utilizing a sandwich of steel-plate panels tied together with steel rods and field-filled with concrete will be explained. Unlike a…

Owners and designers often want to upgrade an historic building’s energy performance, but can struggle with what are the best choices with regards to invasiveness, long term performance, payback, etc. Using common examples, this presentation examines the impact and effectiveness of a variety of upgrades. Relatively simple interventions, such as installing window weatherstripping and sealing other air leakage paths, or expanding mechanical systems’ setpoints, can reduce energy consumption with little building fabric impact. Other more extensive interventions, such as retrofitting…