News + Ideas
Our thoughts, publications, white papers, research and current events.
How we’re helping UC Berkeley’s $700 million campus-wide clean energy electrification project
We’re excited to share our pivotal role in providing architectural and structural engineering services for the groundbreaking $700 million UC Berkeley Campus-Wide Clean Energy Electrification Project. This transformative initiative aims to enhance sustainability,...
How we’re helping UC Berkeley’s $700 million campus-wide clean energy electrification project
We’re excited to share our pivotal role in providing architectural and structural engineering services for the groundbreaking $700 million UC Berkeley Campus-Wide Clean Energy Electrification Project. This transformative initiative aims to enhance sustainability,...
The Search for the Perfect Weather-Resistive Barrier
The following article appeared in the February 1999 edition of Energy Design Update, a technical newsletter published by Cutter Information Corporation. ASTM Task Group to Write New Standards for Weather-Resistive Barriers We have some good news…and some bad. The good...
Local Government Takes Aim at Invasive Exotic Plants
The following article is from the Winter issue of Noxious Times, a quarterly publication of the California Interagency Noxious Weed Coordinating Committee. It describes legislation authored by Interactive Resources, Inc. President, Thomas K. Butt, FAIA, who is also a...
Architects Required To Use Written Contracts for Architectural Services
Assembly Bill 969, signed by Governor Wilson on July 17, 1995, requires architects to use written contracts. The California Business and Professions Code now includes the following requirement for written contracts: Section 5536.22. (a) An architect shall use a...
Vinyl Windows May Exacerbate Water Intrusion in Stucco Walls
In a recent investigation by Interactive Resources, Inc. of water intrusion into stucco walls, it appeared that the leak path was through an unusually large joint between the stucco and the frame of vinyl windows. Thermal Expansion of Building Materials Used for and...
ICBO Reports Now Available On-line Free
International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) The ICBO Evaluation Service provides evaluation reports on proprietary building products. These reports are relied on by local building officials to determine code compliance. The utilization instructions and the...
WESTCON Roster Provides List of Bay Area Construction Consultants
WESTCON Consultants Association WESTCON ROSTER PROVIDES LIST OF BAY AREA CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS WESCON (Westcon Consultants Association), formerly Western Construction Consultants Association, is an organization of both general and specialty architects, engineers,...
What Is the California Building Code?
Many people involved in building design, construction, or even construction litigation are under the erroneous impression that the prevailing building code in California is the Uniform Building Code (UBC) and that it is adopted and amended by local cities and...
ICBO Reports Now Available On-line Free
International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) The ICBO Evaluation Service provides evaluation reports on proprietary building products. These reports are relied on by local building officials to determine code compliance. The utilization instructions and the...
New Code Opinion Service Offered by ICBO
International Conference of Building Officials For the first time, the International Conference of Building Official (ICBO) is offering to the non-building official members of ICBO the opinion service that heretofore has been available only to member building...
Mold and Mildew – Emerging Public Health Concern
Outbreaks of mold and mildew in buildings appear to be on the upswing, sometimes resulting in foul odors, allergic or toxic reactions of occupants and obvious aesthetic concerns. Although fungi have always been here, they are only recently emerging as a public health...