Editor’s Note

If you receive your copy of the JAE in printed form, by now you found a bonus in the December mailing from ASCE. Because of the need to correct serious errors in the September special issue, Structural Design of Architectural Glazing: A State-of-the-Practice Summary, and because much of the information in that issue is currently being discussed in design practices around the country, ASCE decided to reprint the entire issue. This will provide a single bound reference source for practitioners and researchers concerning glazing design to resist wind, earthquake, and blast loads. Information of this nature continues to be in the news as well as being part of discussions relative to changes in our codes and standards. Readers who receive their copies of the JAE electronically will find that the online pages have already been updated.

The December issue reflects the multidisciplinary nature of architectural engineering design and construction practice and demonstrates the need for integrating architectural and engineering issues. This issue includes discussions that range from basic housing needs to new design and modeling techniques to practice items related to assessing construction issues and safeguarding contractor payments.

In their paper, Baskaran, Ham, and Lei focus on the wind uplift performance of architectural metal roof systems. Their study, which is based on experimental investigations carried out at the Dynamic Roofing Facility of the National Research Council of Canada, found that air leakage of the structural deck is one of the significant factors that influence wind uplift performance. A simplified design procedure for this application is presented as part of the discussion. Also working in the general area of building envelope systems, Mukhopadhyaya, Kumaran, Tariku, and van Reenen provide an extensive discussion related to hygrothermal modeling tools that can be used to assess the moisture response of exterior wall systems. In their paper, the authors note that many new and unconventional wall systems and components are being developed and used throughout the world, often without a systematic assessment of the capabilities and performance of the walls. This paper presents selected results from recent research that demonstrates that it is possible to assess moisture management performance of exterior walls by using a hygrothermal modeling tool combined with information obtained from laboratory and field investigations.

On the construction side of architectural engineering, but with a multidisciplinary viewpoint, Guggemos and Horvath provide a thought-provoking discussion relative to how the industry should focus on environment improvements during design and construction. Their paper presents a decision-support tool that permits designers and industry practitioners to quantify energy use, emissions, and waste generation rates attributable to the construction phase of commercial buildings. A case study of the Bren School at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is a part of the material presented. On a different construction-related note, May and Siddiqi remind us in their forum that the success of a construction project requires the timely flow of money from the owner to the contractor and on down the construction chain to subcontractors, suppliers, and vendors. The authors, one a construction educator and the other a practicing attorney, reflect on the long-standing problem that when the owner defaults or withholds payments from the contractor, the contractor can end up financing the project for long periods of time. In their paper, the authors compare the interpretation and enforcement of contingent payment provisions in Georgia and Florida and discuss legal and practical considerations for drafting these provisions to safeguard the interests of the contractor and to create a valid enforceable provision.

Quality and affordable housing remains a priority throughout most parts of the world. In their forum, Syal, Hastak, Mullens, and Sweaney report on recent developments in United States–India collaborative research directions for urban housing and the necessary supporting infrastructure. The paper summarizes presentations, discussions, and findings from a joint United States–India symposium sponsored by the National Science Foundation of the United States and the Department of Science and Technology of the government of India. The forum provides direction on needed research and collaboration that will benefit both countries. To meet the need for affordable housing in the United States and elsewhere, the housing industry continues to work to increase efficiency while maintaining quality. One of the focus areas of the U.S. housing industry that continually strives to be more productive is manufactured housing. In the paper by Banerjee, Syal, and Hastak, the authors present a study and discussion of the process of quantitative modeling and evaluation of facility layout alternatives for manufactured housing plants that are based on material flow concepts. Software-based models were developed and compared against information obtained from a manufactured housing plant. Recommendations for evaluating layout alternatives that will result in cost savings are presented.

Once again, the papers in this issue represent just a few of the advances in practice and research that take place in the AEC industry on a regular basis. The Editorial Board of the JAE invites continued submission of research and application papers related to the design, construction, and operation of buildings. I am available to discuss manuscript ideas with any readers or potential contributors to the JAE.