10:40 am - 12:00 pm | Room: Pretium Room | Session Chair: David DeRose

Lessons Learned From The Field

Lessons Learned, Helping Designers Help Us

Construction Design is a team process and has been found to be most successful when all parties can find alignment in the design for aesthetics, constructability, and cost. But what happens when the leader of your greater project team, often but not always an owner or architect, is not familiar with the implications of the local energy codes? As building envelope consultants, it is our role to provide insight to help them understand so in turn they can best support the team in early confirmation of building compliance with local jurisdictions.

In Alberta, on December 1, 2019, a new energy code was adopted. New construction and addition projects in Alberta changed from compliance with NECB 2011 to NECB 2017. In a single day, design energy performance and documentation requirements increased significantly, and many were left either justifiably confused or uninformed on how the changes impact their previous designs. Many early projects succeeded or struggled based on energy modelers and building envelope consultants' involvement in the schematic design or early design development phases to predict compliance of the assemblies. When engagement is sought by the architect and client group at the schematic design phase, we have been able to historically provide a recommendation of envelope components with varying degrees of thermal performance to ensure a compliant design from the beginning. However, when we have been brought in for final review of the details at the 90% milestone of the construction documents, we have had the misfortune of having to advise the design team that their design is not compliant, resulting in time delays and budget increases as work is redone. 

The intention of this presentation is not to highlight the failures of those design teams who were not proactive in their approach to undertaking the design of their projects, but rather to give ideas to the parties in the room on how to educate industry partners on the value of early participation from the building envelope team. We will walk through how presentations to key parties and general education can both be a force for marketing in your company and a force for good in the industry. When we all have the tools and support to understand the hurdles faced in design, the industry as a whole can be more successful in achieving higher performing buildings with better cost and schedule efficiencies.

Saphron Skinner-Willson, MTA Urban Design Architecture Interior Design

Saphron's specialized knowledge and construction experience have been built on the contractor side through involvement with some of Calgary’s most iconic buildings, with the addition of multiple years in design engineering consulting for projects across North America complementing the constructability knowledge with technical depth.

Saphron has been involved in estimating and tendering, construction and post-construction, condition assessments, commissioning, third-party ASTM test reviews, restoration project design and review, and new construction design, all specific to building envelope systems and facades. Her knowledge and experience range the full building envelope; cladding systems/assemblies, glazing systems, roofing, and waterproofing.

In addition, Saphron has been a leader in Western Canada for the emerging sector of Building Envelope Commissioning, aiding clients in the verification of the design and construction of building envelopes. Through this focus, she has completed presentations for national and international audiences, is Communications Director for the Western Canadian Chapter of the Building Commissioning Association, and was honoured to be named a recipient of BCxA 20 Under 40 award.