Building Science is the Foundation

When builders began to insulate houses in the 1920s and 1930s, the exterior paint began to peel. Many painters concluded that insulation draws moisture and refused to paint a house if it was insulated. By 1938, the problem was common enough that Architectural Record published an article titled “Preventing Condensation in Insulated Structures.” The author, an architect named Tyler Stewart Rogers, argued that insulation was not the problem; indoor humidity was. He proposed a two-part solution: vapor barriers and attic ventilation. Building Science can be defined as “the collection of scientific knowledge that focuses on the analysis of the physical phenomena that affect buildings.”

THAT Architecture Firm incorporates evidence based Building Science research and lessons learned into the design process. Sustainable designs should increase the performance of the spaces within the building and the building within the environment while realizing the true value and potential for a site. THAT Architecture Firm implements a Green by Design approach that combines passive design strategies, alternative construction methods, and efficient active design systems so they work for you. Passive design strategies and alternative construction methods are prioritized and used in tandem to improve performance while maintaining economical and competitive construction costs.