Building Envelope of High Performance and Passive House Buildings, a Living Labs Lecture

BCIT’s new buildings in the Trades and Technology Complex project are being designed to meet the highest performance standards for energy efficiency. This supports the Institute’s Greenhouse Gas reduction strategy. To achieve this each of the major elements of the building’s design must contribute to that overall performance standard.

This lecture will focus on one of the most important parts of any high-performance building, the envelope. The design of the envelope can integrate passive environmental strategies such as solar heat gain control, controlled south light, ambient north light, stack effect, cross ventilation and operable windows for optimal management of heat, air and thermal performance. The envelope is also crucial to the building’s structural support and overall aesthetics.

Experts from RDH who are envelope consultants for the Concert Properties Centre for Trades & Technology, Campus Services Centre and Tall Timber Student Housing projects will present on the key considerations in designing a building envelope for a high performance or passive house building. Topics will include assemblies, airtightness, details and a guide to thermal bridging in the design of the envelope.

Brian Hubbs is a Principal and Senior Building Science Specialist at RDH. Brian has over 25 years’ experience as a consultant practicing exclusively in the field of building science.   Brian is a practical Facade engineer and researcher. He has a unique blend of theoretical and hands-on knowledge gained from designing Facades for new buildings,  as well as completing hundreds of forensic investigations,  rehabilitation and research projects. Brian has extensive experience with high-rise and Iconic façade systems, components, and materials and has designed new and innovative facade systems for high-rise wood and passive house projects. An engaging and vibrant presenter, he regularly speaks at seminars, conferences, and guest lectures on a wide range of building science and Façade Engineering topics.

Michael Wilkinson is an Associate and Building Science Engineer at RDH. He has provided consulting services across a range of building typologies with a focus on high performance and innovative building projects including those that are Passive House, mass timber, and volumetric modular. Michael has also been involved in numerous research projects including product development and performance monitoring and is the lead author of several guideline documents for government agencies and building enclosure product manufacturers. Additionally, Michael is a part-time instructor at the BC Institute of Technology where he teaches building science and construction technology classes.

Virtual option for the lecture on Zoom: Zoom Link to Join