01 - Making Buildings Links

uttThis article contains external links to resources on the Web relevant to Chapter 1 Making Buildings.

ADA Standards for Accessible Design

Downloadable versions of the Americans With Disabilities Act standards, from the US Department of Justice. This site also contains many additional resources.

ASTM Standards Search

Search for any ASTM standard and review its statement of scope.

Architecture Radio

Promoting learning and discussion about issues of design and the built environment, using audio/video recordings of important lectures, interviews and discussions on the Internet.

BetterBricks

Resources targeted at designers and building owners for incorporating energy efficiency into a normal business practice

Building Science Corporation

Resources for design and analysis of the residential building envelope, including topics related to moisture, insulation, vapor barriers and retarders, selection of materials, and more

Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC)

Developed by members of the Alaska State Home Builders, the Cold Climate Housing Research Center is an industry based, non-profit corporation created to facilitate the development, use, and testing of energy efficient, durable, healthy, and cost effective building technologies for Alaska and the world's cold climate regions.

Construction Specification Institute

Publisher of MasterFormat, the construction industry's standard format for specifications. From their web site: "CSI provides technical information and products, continuing education, professional conferences, and product shows to enhance communication among all disciplines of building design and construction, and to meet the industry's need for a common system of organizing and presenting construction information."

CSI's also offers the Construction Community Wiki (launched in Fall of 2007) where users can share "definitions and increase understanding of the issues, terminology and documents that drive commercial construction."

BuildingGreen.com

From the publishers of Environmental Building News, with many resources and links related to sustainable building.

DOE: Building Energy Codes

Offers software for evaluating building compliance with model energy codes and other technical resources.

Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor

Guidelines for energy efficient rehabilitation and renovation provided by US Dept of Housing, and Office of Policy Development and Research providing

Fabprefab

Billing itself "the home of modernist prefab dwellings", this site includes diverse information and links on innovative prefabricated construction.

GreatBuildings.com

Architectural history resource

Greenguard Environmental Institute

An independent, non-profit organization dedicated to improving indoor air quality, and adminstrator of the Greenguard Certification program.

HUD USER - Publications: Building Technology

Resources for materials, methods, energy, manufactured housing, hazards, rehab, and advanced technology in housing

Illustrated 2003 Building Code Handbook

International Code Council's illustrated guide to the newest edition of the International Building Code

Institute for Research in Construction (Canada)

Research on Building Envelope and Structure, by the National Research Council Canada. This site includes additional information on other research areas, Canadian standards, and Canadian building codes. Its Construction Technology Updates section also contains much highly valuable information.

Minnesota Building Materials Database: A Tool for Selecting Sustainable Materials

A useful online database for the evaulation of sustainable materials. According to the web site, "The Minnesota Building Materials Database is a vehicle to document, evaluate, and disseminate usable information on sustainable materials, products, systems, and services for the commercial and residential building construction industry in Minnesota."

Sustainable Buildings Industry Council

Originally the Passive Solar Industries Council, the subsequently renamed SBIC now provides resources, guidelines, and training related to the promotion of high-performance buildings.

Sustainable Metropolis

Metropolis Magazine's web site dedicated to sustainability, including case studies, educational information, resource links, and marketplace information

TRANSMATERIAL

The firm NBBJ and Architect Blaine Brownel provide a unique reference on "New Materials Reshaping Our World".

Whole Building Design Guide

Provided by the National Institute of Building Sciences in collaboration with various public and private sector entities, this site purports to provide "up-to-date information on a wide range of building-related guidance, criteria and technology from a 'whole buildings' perspective".