flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Upgrading windows: repair, refurbish, or retrofit [AIA course]

Upgrading windows: repair, refurbish, or retrofit [AIA course]

Building Teams must focus on a number of key decisions in order to arrive at the optimal solution: repair the windows in place, remove and refurbish them, or opt for full replacement.


By C.C. Sullivan and Barbara Horwitz-Bennett, Contributing Editors | April 16, 2014
For an 1893 academic building in the Collegiate Gothic style at Bryn Mawr (Pa.)
For an 1893 academic building in the Collegiate Gothic style at Bryn Mawr (Pa.) College, architect MGA Partners reworked the ori

Thanks to today’s high-performance fenestration products and systems, well-designed and properly installed window retrofits deliver predictable and calculable operations benefits.

However, Building Teams must focus on a number of key decisions in order to arrive at the optimal solution: Repair the windows in place? Remove and refurbish them? Opt for full replacement? Which types of materials and window profiles and styles are best suited for a retrofit application? How do aesthetics factor into the equation? 

Drawing from years of experience, a select group of expert organizations and Building Team leaders, including architects and contractors, share insights that have helped sorting out these issues on recent major projects.

After reading this article, you should be able to:
• Describe the assessment considerations for replacing or repairing existing fenestration systems, with particular attention to occupant health and comfort.
• Explain the relative benefits and tradeoffs, including energy savings and indoor environmental quality, of material specifications for replacement window and door products.
• List three or more requirements for evaluating replacement windows, doors, and other fenestration, depending on the historical styles or aesthetic criteria of the subject building.
• Discuss the materials and systems attributes that affect a window system’s energy efficiency, including thermal bridging.

 

TAKE THIS FREE AIA/CES DISCOVERY COURSE AT BDCUNIVERSITY.COM

Related Stories

Giants 400 | Dec 3, 2020

2020 Office Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. office building sector

Gensler, Jacobs, and STO Building Group head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest office building sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Dec 3, 2020

2020 Hotel Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. hospitality sector

Gensler, Jacobs, and Suffolk Construction top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest hotel sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Dec 3, 2020

2020 Healthcare Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. healthcare facilities sector

HDR, Jacobs, and Turner top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest healthcare facilities sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Dec 3, 2020

2020 Government Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. government buildings sector

HNTB, Jacobs, and Turner top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest government sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Dec 3, 2020

2020 Cultural Facilities Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. cultural facilities sector

AECOM, Arup, and Populous head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest cultural facilities sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Dec 2, 2020

2020 Retail Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. retail building sector

Gensler, Jacobs, and PCL Construction top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest retail sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Dec 2, 2020

2020 University Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the higher education sector

Gensler, AECOM, and Turner Construction top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest university sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Dec 2, 2020

2020 Multifamily Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. multifamily building sector

Clark Group, Humphreys & Partners Architects, and Kimley-Horn head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest multifamily building sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Dec 2, 2020

2020 Airport Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. airport facilities sector

AECOM, Hensel Phelps, and PGAL top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest airport sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Nov 29, 2020

Top 40 Engineering Architecture Firms for 2020

Jacobs, AECOM, and Kimley-Horn top the rankings of the nation's largest engineering architecture (EA) firms for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2020 Giants 400 Report.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Construction Costs

Data center construction costs for 2024

Gordian’s data features more than 100 building models, including computer data centers. These localized models allow architects, engineers, and other preconstruction professionals to quickly and accurately create conceptual estimates for future builds. This table shows a five-year view of costs per square foot for one-story computer data centers. 


Sustainability

Grimshaw launches free online tool to help accelerate decarbonization of buildings

Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, was recently launched by architecture firm Grimshaw, in collaboration with more than 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe.



Healthcare Facilities

Watch on-demand: Key Trends in the Healthcare Facilities Market for 2024-2025

Join the Building Design+Construction editorial team for this on-demand webinar on key trends, innovations, and opportunities in the $65 billion U.S. healthcare buildings market. A panel of healthcare design and construction experts present their latest projects, trends, innovations, opportunities, and data/research on key healthcare facilities sub-sectors. A 2024-2025 U.S. healthcare facilities market outlook is also presented.

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