Building Enclosure Design and Consulting
Courtesy of Studio Libeskind
Creating Efficient Buildings from the Outside-In
SWA offers expert Building Enclosure Design and Consulting Services, including forensic investigation; evaluation and assessment; assembly design, detailing, and construction document reviews; specifications; and construction administration for all exterior building enclosure components.
With combined experience of over 50 years in high-end and specialty enclosure systems, our team of experts specializes in air and moisture management and thermal performance analysis with an emphasis on high-performance buildings. We also offer diagnostic services and can assist with preventative maintenance programs for existing buildings.
Services and Capabilities Include:
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SWA ’s team of building enclosure experts provides high level consulting and quantitative analyses to optimize building performance, support certifications, maximize efficiency incentives, and comply with local laws and energy codes. We utilize advanced, specialized tools for detailed analysis of particular building systems (WUFI and THERM).
Building enclosure commissioning provides a review process of the design and construction to achieve performance requirements – SWA’s building enclosure team can:
- Assist in developing Owner Project Requirements (OPR)
- Provide design assistance
- Provide technical reviews of design documents
- Attend pre-construction and construction meetings
- Execute submittal reviews
- Monitor building enclosure construction
- Perform building enclosure testing
A focus of the SWA building enclosure team is the investigation and evaluation of buildings for water leaks, moisture and air migration, and thermal performance. We can assist building owners and design professionals in identifying failures in existing building enclosures through onsite observation, reviewing existing documents, overseeing probes, and testing. These investigations form the basis of recommendations for remedial work, while also providing valuable information to the design team.
LEED ENVELOPE COMMISSIONING
For projects pursing LEED certification, there are several new requirements that pertain to the building envelope, such as the inclusion of Building Envelope Commissioning (BECx) in the Enhanced Commissioning credit. These include review of the OPR, BOD and project design. SWA’s enclosure team can perform the necessary reviews of the exterior enclosure design, adding specific expertise to the team.
PASSIVE HOUSE
For projects seeking Passive House certification, SWA’s building enclosure team adds value by developing WUFI models to assess hygrothermal performance of the building envelope, reviewing moisture barrier continuity, and recommending appropriate water and vapor control systems, as well as providing expertise in proper detailing of the thermal envelope. Our enclosure team also provides on-site inspection and verification of all building enclosure assemblies to ensure construction accurately reflects the design.