Zonda - Resource Library

Extruded aluminum trim has long been used for exterior applications with panel cladding systems, but there are new opportunities to use the material for interior applications. This course will describe the performance and aesthetic benefits of extruded aluminum trim when used for interior trim. It will cover how extruded aluminum trim is manufactured and characteristics that improve fire resistance, durability, and sustainability. The course will also discuss finish and profile options, installation considerations, and emerging technologies and trends for the product.

Collaboration in architecture is nothing new. However, collaboration between architects and manufacturers is a relatively modern partnership, beginning largely in the early 20th century as new forms of architecture demanded material innovation and new construction technologies. Contemporary trends like Art Deco, Art Moderne, and International style embraced principles of industrialization, and some architects, perhaps most prominently Walter Gropius, espoused the need for the “rationalization, systemization, and standardization” of architecture in an effort to emulate assembly line production without sacrificing individualism. This course will look at some of the history of collaboration between architects and manufacturers and examine the concepts of interchangeable parts manufacturing, collaborative alliances, and mass production and customization. It will also assess several case studies as well as provide tips for creating effective collaborations that can lead to innovation.

”Affordability restrictions are set to expire on more than 250,000 multifamily units across the country” and “unsubsidized affordable rental housing continues to decline,” notes the U.S. Department of Energy. These facts, in addition to stagnant salaries and rising rental prices, has made affordable multifamily housing an area of concern for developers, architects, designers, communities, and potential residents alike.

This course seeks to provide specifiers with strategies to design sustainable, affordable multifamily housing by understanding code basics, leveraging zoning laws, and considering material durability. A case study examining the potential of affordable multifamily housing projects to become Living Building Challenge certified will also be examined.

Drawing from the experiences of established architects, this course explores strategies for transitioning from single-family to multifamily projects. It also discusses the possibility of becoming an architect-developer and ways to engage, enhance, and create communities. Different challenges, such as those involved with designing affordable housing as well as litigation considerations, will also be assessed. Finally, drivers of multifamily trends will be analyzed.

Between the mid-1980s and early 2000s, close to 160,000 multi-family, wood-frame housing units were built in British Columbia, Canada. A confluence of factors resulted in 45% of those housing units experiencing issues with water infiltration and led to the issue being dubbed the “Leaky Condo Crisis.” Lengthy litigation processes and billions of dollars later, the crisis is still not fully resolved.

Failure to mitigate moisture can lead to a host of problems for homeowners, architects, and builders. By understanding the benefits of rainscreens, including new rainscreen technologies like a 3-in-1 water resistive barrier system, as well as best installation practices, specifiers can decrease project time and avoid unnecessary litigation.