flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Few projects and properties are being built beyond code

Codes and Standards

Few projects and properties are being built beyond code

AIA study says clients believe building to code can ensure resilience; architects disagree.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | July 29, 2022
Code architecture
Courtesy Pexels.

Clients and architects disagree on how well building to code provides resilience, according to a recent report by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in partnership with Owens Corning.

Resiliency in the Built Environment assesses the current state and best practices for increasing resiliency and sustainability in design and construction.  Clients believe building to code is sufficient to ensure resilience, but architects disagree with that notion, the report says. It’s not surprising then, that few projects and properties are reported as being built beyond code.

The report also provides insights into how to best improve resiliency and sustainability from design through construction with input from three key audiences: architects, general contractors, and clients, including owners and developers. One key finding: “Stronger building codes and standards will drive resiliency, but so will making the business case to clients.”

The report’s areas of focus include:

  • The role of building codes, clients’ expectations, and specification requirements that drive resiliency in design.
  • How is resiliency reinforced through practices like material replacement strategy and resilient design strategies?
  • Where are the biggest gaps in expertise about resiliency in construction, and how can they be filled?
  • How do long-term and short-term incentives determine the level of resiliency for a given project?
  •  How is resiliency considered when selecting building products and materials?
  •  Which hazards and risks are most commonly taken into account in design?

The report is available for free at the AIA website.

Related Stories

75 Top Building Products | Dec 16, 2019

Top Flooring Products for 2019

Tarkett’s aviation-inspired flooring collection and J+J Flooring’s textile composite flooring are among the four new commercial flooring products to make Building Design+Construction’​s 2019 101 Top Products report. 

75 Top Building Products | Dec 16, 2019

Top Building Systems Products for 2019

FabricAir’s ceiling-hung fabric duct and Ellumi Lighting’s bacteria-killing lights are among the 13 new building systems products to make Building Design+Construction's 2019 101 Top Products report.

75 Top Building Products | Dec 12, 2019

Top Building Envelope Products for 2019

Sto's beetle-inspired exterior coating and Dörken Systems' UV-resistant vapor-permeable barrier are among the 28 new building envelope products to make Building Design+Construction's 2019 101 Top Products report. 

Contractors | Dec 9, 2019

Layton Construction to join the STO Building Group

Merger will expand both firms’ geographic reach and services.

Big Data | Dec 4, 2019

AEC data's coming out party

AEC firms are finally putting to use project information they’ve been storing in their computers for years.

Building Owners | Dec 2, 2019

What building owners and AEC teams need to know about New York’s Climate Mobilization Act

On April 18, 2019, the New York City Council passed the Climate Mobilization Act, a suite of laws aimed to meet the city’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Multifamily Housing | Nov 7, 2019

Multifamily construction market remains strong heading into 2020

Fewer than one in 10 AEC firms doing multifamily work reported a decrease in proposal activity in Q3 2019, according to a PSMJ report.

Contractors | Nov 5, 2019

Updated AIA contracts clarify the role of construction managers

The revised documents refine how CMs serve as general contractors or project advisers.

Architects | Oct 29, 2019

Top takeaways from the Lean Construction Institute Congress 2019

More than 1,600 Lean experts gathered in Texas this month for LCI Congress 2019. Here are key takeaways from the event.

Giants 400 | Oct 25, 2019

Top 55 Airport Sector Construction Firms for 2019

Hensel Phelps, AECOM, Turner, Skanska, and PCL top the rankings of the nation's largest airport terminal sector contractors and construction management firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category



Curtain Wall

7 steps to investigating curtain wall leaks

It is common for significant curtain wall leakage to involve multiple variables. Therefore, a comprehensive multi-faceted investigation is required to determine the origin of leakage, according to building enclosure consultants Richard Aeck and John A. Rudisill with Rimkus. 


halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021