11:00AM – 12:00PM EST

Explore the evolution of rainscreen wall systems, tracing their roots through the history of masonry construction and the development of increasingly sophisticated approaches to managing moisture in building enclosures. This presentation examines the progression from traditional mass masonry walls to early cavity wall construction and the modern rainscreen assemblies used today. Along the way, participants will explore how advancements in building science, materials, and construction methods have shaped wall design, while considering the enduring principles that make masonry a relevant and effective building material. The presentation connects historic construction practices with contemporary building enclosure strategies and highlights how traditional concepts continue to influence modern wall performance, durability, and design.

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Learning Objectives:

1. Discover the historical development of masonry wall construction and the fundamental principles that influenced modern rainscreen design.
2. Explore how traditional mass walls evolved into cavity wall systems and how these developments shaped contemporary building enclosure strategies.
3. Examine the key principles of modern rainscreen design, including moisture
   management, drainage, ventilation, and material performance.
4. Review the role of masonry in contemporary wall assemblies and the lasting benefits of its durability, versatility, and performance in modern construction.

Cole Cabler, Director, B&B Masonry & Tile Cole is an architectural designer with over 15 years of experience and a demonstrated history in the architecture and planning industry. Before joining IMI, he honed his expertise across a variety of architecture firms throughout Oregon and Washington, building a well-rounded foundation in both design and technical practice. Throughout his career, Cole has taken on diverse roles spanning project design, construction administration, project management, and BIM leadership. His broad skill set has positioned him as a trusted contributor on multiple large-scale commercial projects, where his detail-focused approach and design sensibility have consistently delivered results

12:20PM – 1:20PM EST

When designing a rainscreen wall system, the backup wall design is one of the most important to properly detail, coordinate with all trades, taking into consideration the construction and installation tolerances, and the installation requirements for the backup wall, water and air resistive barrier, insulation detailing, and the rainscreen support system. Each component must be understood ahead of time, so the systems are properly detailed and specified before construction of the backup wall begins. Understanding connections that need to happen based on materials, tested systems, and compatibility of materials will make the quest to create the best possible building a reality. Proactively designing the necessary advanced detailing needed to the backup wall system, understanding construction requirements for each component, and lessons learned are discussed and dissected to improve future detailing and specifications. Knowing what to include in the Construction Documents and paying attention to the little details, will increase the likelihood of a successful project.

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Learning Objectives:

1. Develop an understanding of construction tolerances for systems and components to properly detail the structural rainscreen backup wall for different types of installations
2. Discuss and dissect early structural design considerations to accept the air, vapor, water, and insulation control systems, as well as the rainscreen façade support system to ensure adequate bid document detailing.
3. Apply different lessons learned about continuity, structural fastening detailing, wall membrane requirements, limitations of systems, and what is needed for drawing and specification coordination and how to transfer them to Construction Documents for implementation.
4. Review different types of rainscreen wall systems and their typical associated support systems which are delegated designed to coordinate with the contract documents

Corey Zussman, AIA, NCARB, ALA, CABS, RBEC, REWC, RRC, RWC, CxA+BE, BECxP, LEED® AP BD+C, Level II Thermographer, QAQC Vice President, AECOM Hunt Construction As a forensic architect registered in several states, Corey Zussman has practiced in the construction industry for more than 30 years. He specializes in the building envelope, restoration, preservation, life safety, and interior finishes. While working on over 2000 projects, Corey conducts constructability reviews, pre-installation meetings, comprehensive envelope meetings, and construction observations. He has also become known for providing educational opportunities throughout the industry and has produced more than 200 “lessons learned” papers. Topics include building envelope and life safety concerns, enabling Corey to proactively address issues during design review, pre-construction, and construction. In addition, he has over 20 industry articles about building envelope, life safety, and interior topics. He is also a frequent presenter at local and national conferences and associations with over 60 AIA accredited presentations.

1:40PM – 2:40PM EST

The exterior wall is no longer a passive separator between inside and out rather, a high-performance environmental moderator tasked with resisting fire, managing water and vapor, minimizing heat flow, and withstanding increasingly extreme climate exposure. Exterior continuous insulation plays a central role in this evolution, yet its integration introduces new risks when not approached holistically. This session explores exterior insulation as part of a dynamic enclosure system rather than a prescriptive requirement. We will investigate how different insulation materials and detailing approaches affect fire propagation, moisture transport, thermal performance, and durability in rainscreen and masonry assemblies. The discussion will connect NFPA 285 compliance, drainage and drying strategies, thermal bridging control, and material sustainability into a unified performance framework. By understanding how these forces interact, and sometimes conflict, attendees will be better equipped to design resilient wall systems that perform not only at occupancy, but across decades of service life. The goal is to help practitioners move beyond minimum compliance toward assemblies that are more resilient, more durable, more energy-efficient, and better aligned with long-term carbon and climate objectives.

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Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will gain the ability to explain the purpose, scope, and evaluation criteria of the NFPA 285 assembly test and articulate how it applies to common contemporary wall assemblies so as to best select the most efficacious materials enabling the viable NFPA285 compliant wall assemblies
2. Attendees will be able to compare the water, air, thermal, and durability performance attributes of common exterior insulation types used in rainscreens, CMU masonry wall systems, precast, prefab. modular, and their various hybrid variations.
3. The session will equip participants to identify and evaluate enclosure risks, including thermal bridging, redundant drainage planes, drainage inefficiency, water absorption, and vapor transmission so as to connect them to the most desired wall assembly performance outcomes.
4. Participants will develop the capability to distinguish the manufacturing and sustainability attributes of major continuous insulation materials and apply that knowledge when making specification decisions to reduce overall project embodied and operational carbon impacts

Lance Williams, Architectural Sales Manager, Atlas Roofing Lance Williams is an Atlas Roofing Co Architectural Sales Manager focused on CI-continuous insulation applications. His experience includes over 15 years interacting with Designers, Specifiers, GC’s, Installers, Building Scientists, & Building Envelope Consultants. Because of his grasp of the real world performance characteristics and implications of continuous insulation choices, he is uniquely suited to offer advanced perspectives that empower professionals to achieve the benefits of exterior CI while avoiding its unintended consequences.

3:00PM – 4:00PM EST

The exterior wall is no longer a passive separator between inside and out rather, a high- This seminar identifies key building envelope components that can be designed using innovative products and assemblies to improve overall building performance by reducing thermal bridging.

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Learning Objectives:

1. Identify design strategies and materials for brick ties that reduce heat transfer while maintaining structural performance
2. Explain how offset shelf angles improve thermal performance and continuity within the building envelope
3. Describe how air barrier detailing contributes to continuous airtightness and improved building performance
4. Explain how clip and rail systems are implemented in rainscreen wall assemblies

Linda Potter, CCPR, CDT,  Manager of Architectural Services, Hohman & Barnard Linda holds 19-years of industry experience specializing in masonry. She is responsible for assisting the design community in creating thermally-efficient and water-resistant building envelopes for Hohmann & Barnard, a leader in the masonry industry for over 90 years with a current mission to partner with building professionals to provide innovative systems for a dynamic construction industry. Linda is the current President of CSI North Central Region and a member of The Masonry Society, RAiNA, and Nebraska Masonry Alliance. She is committed to being part of the solution as we walk into the future of energy-efficient building enclosures.