2024 Symposium Schedule

Registration

Full day in-person tickets include lunch, networking, and are eligible AIA LU HSW Credits. Virtual, Emerging Professional, and Reception Only tickets are not eligible for continuing education credits.

**Virtual, Emerging Professionals, and Reception Only tickets are NOT eligible to receive Continuing Education credits.

For more information on the symposium and registration, click here.

Breakfast & Welcome Remarks

Opening remarks will be offered by the Symposium Committee.

Session 1: Managing Heat Transfer to Meet Energy Code Requirements

1.5 LU/HSW AIA credits pending

Presentation 1A: Wait, How Much Insulation Do I Need?!

This panel will examine how the new specialized stretch code in MA leads teams to more thorough consideration of heat transfer through the building envelope early in the design process. The incorporation of area-weighted U-value calculations and derations of thermal performance due to thermal bridging have pushed a previously technical operation of the code into the design process. Panelists will provide examples from multiple projects to help attendees understand how the code measures heat transfer and what factors of the design impact these measurements. They will also compare the relative impact of window to wall ratio, clear wall performance, glazing performance, and linear thermal bridges on overall area-weighted u-value calculations.

Elaine Hoffman, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, CPHC | Director of Sustainability, Goody Clancy

During the last class of an art history course she took during her freshman year of college, Elaine learned about contemporary sustainable buildings. She decided then and there to devote her career to this work. Today, Elaine advances her goal of designing buildings that have a net positive impact on the environment. Elaine works on a range of tasks at Goody Clancy, most of which are tied to sustainability. She takes on project-based sustainability roles, working on envelope design and ambitious energy performance goals. Elaine collaborates with project teams to push sustainability targets firm-wide by implementing innovative systems, components, and design strategies that advance building performance. She is most proud of her work on the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society—a project that celebrates building performance, from its innovative natural ventilation system to its automatic solar shading.

Rachael Gerry | Envelope Specialist, Goody Clancy

As an Architectural Designer, Rachael helps develop exterior detailing, conduct material research, coordinate specifications, and manage the design of BIM models. She also contributes to two of Goody Clancy’s internal knowledge-sharing committees: Sustainability Champions and the Envelope Committee. Her additional work developing Energy Code Compliance Sheets and supporting Goody Clancy’s participation in the 2021 Architectural Ceramic Assemblies Workshop (ACAW) speak to her desire to integrate analytical systems with beautiful design solutions.

Jennifer Hardy, AIA, LEED AP | Principal, Goody Clancy

Jennifer Hardy AIA, LEED AP is a Principal at Goody Clancy and recipient of 2020 AIA Young Architect Award and 2019 Sho-Ping Chin Women Leadership Summit Grant. She excels at leading large, complex projects that push the boundaries of innovation, design and performance. She is an influential figure in the Boston design community as a member of the BSA Nominating Committee, Co-Chair of the BSA Women in Design Award of Excellence and juror for the inaugural Boston Mass Timber Accelerator. She regularly speaks at conferences, engages in research initiatives and serves as an awards juror.

Felipe Francisco, AIA, CPHC | Senior Architect and Technical Design Lead, Studio NYL

Felipe Francisco, AIA is an Architect, Builder, and Fabricator with experience ranging from large-scale commercial and institution projects, medium scale Passive House residential projects, and small scale digital fabrication projects. At Studio NYL Felipe's role is that of Technical Design Lead for the Boston Office. As part of the facades division, he works with architects, building teams, and contractors to provide expertise on challenging facade systems.

Jason Hasko, Assoc. AIA | Façade Designer and Digital Technology Lead, Studio NYL

Jason, an AIA Associate, is a dedicated facade designer, digital fabricator, and computational specialist, steadily carving out his niche in the world of architecture and design.⁠ Jason's journey has been marked by years of hard work and collaboration with esteemed fabricators in the North East such as CW Keller, Mark Richey Woodworking, and Island Exterior Fabricators. His expertise shines in his contributions to workflow development, design assist, and the art of automation and optimization, enhancing the efficiency of project delivery teams.⁠

Presentation 1B: Navigating the MA Stretch Code: Lessons Learned and Key Strategies for Compliance

Since the MA Stretch Code came into effect in July 2023, project teams have made significant strides in improving envelope performance, infiltration, and electrification. However, the transition hasn't been without challenges. Many teams have felt overwhelmed, especially when navigating the relationship between specific details and the overall performance of a building envelope, or undergoing TEDI modeling.

Alejandra Menchaca, Ph.D., LEED AP, WELL AP | Principal, AIRLIT studio

Alejandra began her career as a rocket scientist who veered off course to address the climate crisis by becoming a natural ventilation expert. After earning a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, she spent several years as a Building Scientist at Payette and later became a Vice President at Thornton Tomasetti, where she built and led their Boston-based sustainability team. Alejandra is the consummate translator, leveraging her technical and architecture experience to provide clients with a clear understanding of how design strategies impact long-term building performance, occupant wellness, and life cycle cost. Alejandra’s expertise includes passive design, occupant and visual thermal comfort, indoor air quality, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and high performance HVAC systems. Her portfolio spans from energy-intensive to purely passive buildings, and includes several AIA COTE Top Ten recipients.

Session 2: Managing Control of Heat & Moisture Transfer

1.5 LU/HSW AIA credits pending

Presentation 2A: Closed-Cell Spray Foam as Building Envelope: Lessons Learned and Mitigating Failures

The desire for greater energy efficiency can lead designers to select closed-cell spray foam as the thermal barrier for a building -- which boasts high insulating value per inch and additional features for air infiltration and vapor diffusion resistance. But failures in closed-cell spray foam insulation barriers can have extreme consequences in cold climates or with humidified interior spaces. This presentation explores a case study highlighting the relationship between increasingly stringent energy code requirements on the applications for closed-cell spray foam, use of closed-cell spray foam as an air barrier and vapor retarder, possible failure modes of closed-cell spray foam, and preventative or alternative approaches.

Maria Raggousis, PE | Consulting Engineer, Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger (SGH)
Maria Raggousis joined Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc.’s (SGH’s) technical staff in the Washington, DC office in 2018 after graduation from Drexel University with a B.S. in Architectural Engineering and an M.S. in Civil Engineering. In January of 2024, she moved to the windy city and transitioned to the Chicago office of SGH. Maria specializes in thermal and hygrothermal analysis for both new design and existing buildings to develop performance-based solutions in predicting, mitigating, or reducing moisture-related damage to building enclosures.

Presentation 2B: Safe High Performance Enclosures for Retrofits

This session presents the challenges faced relative to enclosure design and construction during a Phius (Passive House) certified masonry retrofit project. It uses a case study project to introduce fundamental hygrothermal concepts relative to existing buildings, expose common challenges, discuss criteria for evaluation and propose reasonable solutions.

John Loercher, CPHC | Owner, Northeast Projects
John is a Professor of Architecture, CPHC instructor for the Passive House Institute U.S. and owner of Northeast Projects LLC. He is a Certified Passive House Consultant and holds a Master of Architecture from Parsons the New School for Design. He has served as the director of the Building Sciences Program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute since 2021 and teaches Building performance studio I & II, Building Science Capstone studio as well as environmental and technology lecture classes within the Architecture and Building Sciences curriculum.

Presentation 2C: 7-Story Zero Carbon CLT: Skinning the Next Housing Typology of Boston

Everyone wants to do Cross-Laminated Timber, but the cost premium deters its widespread use. However, CLT offers the potential for highly efficient floor-to-floor
heights, and due to MA’s high-rise limit of 70’, it’s often necessary to consider CLT. Between the growing focus on embodied carbon, advancing energy code, and the desperate need for more housing, we anticipate the 7-storey CLT Zero Carbon building to be THE new housing typology in Boston. Given this, it’s imperative that early adopting designers get it right out of the gate, and pay special attention to heat, air, and moisture transfer at and around this relatively new wood fiber material.

Colin Booth | Principal, Director of ESG Real Estate & Business Strategy, Stack + Co.
Colin’s career has focused on the importance of integrated design, delivery, and business models in delivering a more sustainable built environment. His commitment to a better process and product has led to 20 years of architecture and urban planning at all scales locally and globally, a decade of multifamily real estate development in the greater Boston region, and recognition as an industry thought leader. With Stack+Co., Colin focuses on company strategy, business development, and integrated project management.

Josh Brandt, LEED AP | Partner, Director of Construction, Stack + Co.

Josh Brandt founded Stack + Co. in 2009 with Andrew Wade Keating out of the belief that a more cooperative and integrated approach to architecture and construction would deliver a better process and building. He is a recognized leader in the preconstruction and construction management of complex and demanding projects in the institutional, hospitality, commercial, and residential markets. Josh excels at setting priorities based on each project’s unique circumstances and not on previous project precedents as is so commonly done in the industry. He begins each new venture with a rigorous exploration of client needs and individual circumstances to develop a solution that best suits the demands of the project.

Bradford J. Prestbo, FAIA | Principal, Director of Boston Office, Studio NYL

An exceptional leader, Bradford J. Prestbo, FAIA, is advancing the profession through his practice, advocacy, and educational efforts in the use of cutting-edge design technologies, high-performance design, and the incorporation of maker culture into the design process. Bradford also finds time to share his knowledge of advanced design technologies, high-performance design, and how maker culture is transforming our practice within the industry. He has practiced internationally, is a sought-after speaker, is frequently interviewed by publishers, and is an educator via his detailing workshops, higher-education classes, design juries, and mentorship of emerging professionals.

Keynote

0.5 LU/HSW AIA credits pending

Paul Ormand | Efficiency Engineer, MA Department of Energy Resources (DOER)

Paul Ormond is an expert in energy efficiency and renewables for the built environment. His current role is helping advance the greenhouse gas reduction objectives of the Massachusett’s 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act through improved building practices, particularly zero energy and passive. Paul is also a member of the 2019 Commercial Energy Code Committee of the IECC and is a Massachusetts licensed Professional Engineer. Paul is a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Session 3: Managing HAM Control at Fenestration & Other Thermal Bridges

1.5 LU/HSW AIA credits pending

Presentation 3A: Code Language and Detail: What's in an Opaque Wall? A Glazed Wall? A Punched Window?

One of DiMella Shaffer’s recent projects, a 233,000 sf, 5-story lab and office building, is designed to meet the 2023 Stretch Code via the “high ventilation” Relative Performance pathway. While navigating the new energy code, the team focused on comprehending key definitions, preserving design intent, and beginning the iterative envelope backstop process early in Schematic Design. In collaboration with Building Envelope Technologies, DiMella Shaffer developed a glass rainscreen system with continuous insulation and minimal thermal bridging, meeting the stringent area-weighted U-0.1285 requirement, while balancing cost and performance.

Lauren Gunther, AIA, LEED AP, CPHC, CDT | Director of Sustainability, DiMella Shaffer

As Director of Sustainability at DiMella Shaffer, Lauren directs strategy, education, design support, advocacy, and mentorship related to sustainability and resiliency. She brings a wealth of knowledge specific to the integration of Passive House design principles through the establishment of high-performance building enclosures. She advises project teams from the beginning of design on operational and embodied carbon reduction strategies, potential certification pathways, electrification and renewable energy opportunities, and incentives. In 2023, Lauren became a member of the Massachusetts Stretch Energy Code - Technical Advisory Committee (SE-TAC), which is a group of experts that provides feedback to the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) on the development of the energy codes.

Steven McCormack, AIA, CPHC, LEED Green Associate | Associate, DiMella Shaffer

Steven is an experienced architect specializing in envelope design and detailing. His experience spans a wide range of project types and locations. His interest in sustainability and energy efficiency began while working on energy positive K-12 schools. In recent years, he has focused on energy efficient design and sustainability, particularly as it relates to building envelopes. Steven works on multi-family, senior living and science and tech core & shell projects, from design through construction administration.

Andrea Sonan, AIA, CPHC, REWC, NCARB | Architect, Building Envelope Technologies, Inc.

Andrea is a licensed architect with over 20 years of experience working in the United States and abroad. Her passion for exterior envelope design was sparked early in her career during a visit to remote communities in Peru. There, she was inspired by the resourcefulness of adobe structures, which harnessed the natural thermal mass to regulate temperatures without the need for modern heating or cooling—a powerful example of sustainable design born from necessity.

Over the past ten years, Andrea has concentrated on building envelope design, gaining extensive experience in both the creation of new large-scale buildings and the restoration of historic mass masonry structures. She is highly specialized in exterior envelope detailing, with a deep commitment to quality and sustainability. Andrea’s work reflects a profound understanding of how to blend aesthetic design with practical, sustainable solutions, reducing the environmental impact of buildings.

Lance E. Robson Jr., AIA | Principal, Building Envelope Technologies, Inc.

Lance began his career in architecture with a degree in “Built Environmental Analysis from the University of Utah and entered into a typical internship to become an architect. After having worked in several traditional architecture firms as well as a contractor he found a focus in roofing, restoration and waterproofing and developed an expertise for consulting. In this process he also began a career in the development of construction standards through the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM). In 2000 Lance established Building Envelope Technologies, Inc. after having worked in Boston for 13 years at an A/E firm with work throughout the country. Continuing in his interests of improving the built environment, he was one of the first advocates for air barrier design in building construction and with a small group of individuals founded the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA) in 2001. He also sponsored the development of ASTM Standard E-2357 for the testing of air barrier assemblies. ABAA and ASTM E-2357 have gone on the become standards of the construction industry, and Lance was just awarded a lifetime Fellowship by ABAA. Lance was one of the first to realize that roof, wall, and window design required a scientific basis of understanding. He was one the first trained U.S. operators of the WUFI hygrothermal software in the 1990’s, and he has continued his pursuit most recently by becoming a Certified Passive House Consultant in 2023. As we enter into the new science of energy design for building enclosures Lance is uniquely positioned to provide a current as well as historical perspective.

Presentation 3B: Thermal Bridging Solutions for the Building Envelope

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has recently recognized the impact of air leakage and thermal bridging on energy demand which has resulted in mandates with respect to thermal bridging and whole building air leakage testing. The importance of air leakage and air barriers to control moisture and heat loss has long been established in building codes and standards like Passive House. Thermal bridging is now being given much more consideration.

Three-dimensional heat transfer modeling will determine the contribution of heat loss due to thermal bridging in typical interface and transition details as well as the effective R and U value of their assemblies. Strategies to mitigate thermal bridging will assist the design professional with the building envelope design process and with meeting compliance with the Massachusetts stretch and opt-in energy codes.

Robert Haley | President, Thermal Bridging Solutions

Rob Haley has over 12 years’ experience solving thermal bridging problems and is the founder and president of Thermal Bridging Solutions. Prior to starting Thermal Bridging Solutions, Rob was a partner at Armadillo NV where he was responsible for the research, development and marketing of Armatherm™ thermal break materials. During this time, he received a US patent for a thermally broken Z girt cladding attachment. He is a member of IIBEC (RCI), NIBS BETC and is a reviewer of the ASHRAE 90.1 addendum av, which is addressing thermal bridging not currently regulated by the standard. Rob holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Northeastern University and was the engineering and marketing manager at Fabreeka International where he worked for 28 years. In 2012, prior to leaving Fabreeka, he developed the first structural thermal break material for bolted steel connections offered in North America, Fabreeka-TIM®

Session 4: Continuity of HAM Control

1.5 LU/HSW AIA credits pending

Presentation 4A: Prefabricated Enclosure That Performs: Practical Design for Resilient Buildings

Decarbonization of the built environment is a nationwide goal; it has been adopted by many states and municipalities. In Massachusetts, it is mandated by
law and the recently-adopted Stretch Energy Code and Specialized Opt-In Code require compliance with a series of absolute metrics. As part of a whole-building design approach, building enclosure is a key lever with reducing operational carbon emissions. With early phase detailing, precise thermal modeling can be performed to set achievable envelope performance criteria and define critical design components. This leads to more rigorous conversations with construction partners and more certain cost outcomes. In this session, we will explore recent thermal studies of panelized enclosure solutions for large-scale, high-rise buildings that meet Passive House performance criteria.

Andrew Steingiser, RA, CPHC, LEED AP | Associate, Senior Project Architect, RDH Building Science Inc.

Andrew is the Passive House lead in RDH’s Boston office and a Senior Project Architect. Andrew engages building owners and design teams as an early-phase design partner, consulting with them on scalable climate-resilient solutions. He champions operational and embodied carbon reduction of the built environment through clean, resilient, and future-proof buildings. An expert on local and regional regulations, Andrew helps RDH’s clients futureproof their projects.

Shu Talun, B.F.A, MArch | Associate, Senior Façade Consultant, RDH Building Science Inc.

As a Senior Façade Consultant, Shu Talun brings her passion for the mechanics and science within facade systems to the RDH Boston team. With a Master of Architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design, and over 11 years of experience, Shu is uniquely adept at helping clients achieve their aesthetic and building performance goals. She has managed multi-disciplinary design teams on projects ranging between $30m -$50m.

Presentation 4B: Air Barriers Are Simple, Right? Achieving Air Barrier System Performance

An air barrier system in a building reduces energy use, is a major factor in managing moisture, reduces transfers odors, secondhand cigarette smoke, improves performance of insulation, reduces cooling / warming effect on fenestrations and results in the mechanical system working properly. Installing an air barrier system should be very simple and straightforward, you install air barrier materials and components, connecting them with air barriers accessories but it does not turn out that way. The old saying “the devil is in the details” applies to installing an air barrier system. This presentation covers what needs to be when choosing material, critical installation methods, site testing that confirms proper installation and new equipment in the development stage that will assist the industry in finding air leaks. It will also cover the new training and personnel certification program that was developed to improve the accuracy of whole building testing and reduce “false negatives”.

Laverne Dalgleish | Executive Director, Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA)

Mr. Laverne Dalgleish works to champion energy conservation in buildings while educating the building owners and designers about the benefits of energy conservation such as durability, comfort, reduced maintenance, reduced HVAC equipment costs and the positive impact on the environment. Mr. Dalgleish travels North America on a weekly basis to educate building owners and designers on the benefits of effective and working air barrier systems in buildings. This education mission includes working with standards development organizations, training and education groups, government policy departments, and quality assurance program developers for the construction industry. Mr. Dalgleish is the Secretariat of two ISO Committees, ISO TC61 SC10 Cellular Plastics and ISO TC163 SC3 Thermal Insulation Products. He is also Chair of the ULC Thermal Performance in the Building Environment Standards Committee.

Presentation 4C: Achieving HAM Continuity for Windows in Highly-Insulated Walls with Exterior Insulation

John Straube, Ph.D., P. Eng. | Principal, RDH Building Science Inc.
John Straube, Ph.D., P.Eng., is a Principal at RDH Building Science, where he conducts forensic investigations, assists with the design of new high performance buildings, and leads research projects in the areas of low-energy building design, building enclosure performance, hygrothermal analysis, and field performance monitoring. Dr. Straube is also a cross-appointed faculty member in the School of Architecture and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He was a Principal at Building Science Corporation from 2006 to 2013, and is the author or co-author of over 100 published technical papers, author of the book High Performance Enclosures and co-author, with Eric Burnett, of Building Science for Building Enclosures. Dr. Straube’s leadership as a building scientist and an educator has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in Building Science Education from the National Consortium of Housing Research Centers (NCHRC).

Session 5: General Discussion & Q&A

0.5 LU/HSW AIA credits pending

Presentation 5A: A Symposium Retrospective: Lessons Learned & Challenges Ahead

Bradford J. Prestbo, FAIA | Principal, Director of Boston Office, Studio NYL

An exceptional leader, Bradford J. Prestbo, FAIA, is advancing the profession through his practice, advocacy, and educational efforts in the use of cutting-edge design technologies, high-performance design, and the incorporation of maker culture into the design process. Bradford also finds time to share his knowledge of advanced design technologies, high-performance design, and how maker culture is transforming our practice within the industry. He has practiced internationally, is a sought-after speaker, is frequently interviewed by publishers, and is an educator via his detailing workshops, higher-education classes, design juries, and mentorship of emerging professionals.