Proven 6-step approach to treating historic windows

This course provides step-by-step prescriptive advice to architects, engineers, and contractors on when it makes sense to repair or rehabilitate existing windows, and when they should advise their building owner clients to consider replacement.

When planning treatment for windows on a historic structure, the first step in the decision process is to evaluate the architectural significance of the windows in terms of overall building appearance. If the windows are important to the historic character of the building, stock replacements that don’t consider the aesthetic integrity of the structure might negatively impact the building’s look—and diminish its value.

With that key decision in place, the course goes on to describe the planning and rehabilitation process, through to ongoing maintenance.

After reading this article, you should be able to:

Identify deterioration conditions at historic wood or steel windows in order to plan for appropriate treatment.
Evaluate repair and replacement options in terms of aesthetics, logistics, maintenance, and energy efficiency to develop a rehabilitation strategy that blends practical considerations with material and energy conservation.
Apply accepted practices for abatement of hazardous materials to the treatment of historic windows, to reduce exposure risk and protect the surrounding environment from the accidental release of toxic compounds.
Specify design options for windows classified as weathered, deteriorated, severely deteriorated, and life safety risk that improve thermal performance and safety without compromising historic character.

TAKE THIS FREE BD+C UNIVERSITY COURSE

Founded in 2009 with an initial endowment of $1.9 million, HMC’s nonprofit Designing Futures Foundation (DFF) has donated about $230,000 in its three years of existence, including $105,000 in scholarships to California students. The grants help promising high schoolers with an interest in architecture, design, engineering, education, or healthcare pay for expenses like test preparation services, computers, and college entrance exam fees and tuition. The scholarships can be extended for up to five years of college.

| Oct 4, 2012

Gilbane publishes Fall 2012 construction industry economic report

Report outlines fluctuation in construction spending; predicts continued movement toward recovery.

| Oct 3, 2012

Fifth public comment period now open for update to USGBC's LEED Green Building Program

LEED v4 drafts and the public comment tool are now available on the newly re-launched, re-envisioned USGBC.org website.

| Oct 2, 2012

Mirvish and Gehry unveil conceptual design to transform Toronto’s entertainment district

Reimagining of King Street Entertainment District supports Toronto’s cultural corridor.

The three-building, 205,000-sf campus was designed to consume 20% less energy th

| Oct 2, 2012

Dow Business Services Center building named 2012 “America’s Best Buildings of the Year” winner

Building constructed with air sealing and insulation products from Dow Building Solutions.

Bernards broke ground on this facility earlier this year and completion is sched

| Oct 2, 2012

Bernards working on project at L.A. White Memorial Medical Center

The new facility is a $15-million, 41,000-sf concrete structure which includes three stories of medical office space atop a three-level parking garage.