Archives
View or download past issues of The Clipper newsletter, our Felt Tips and our blogs here.
February 01, 2017
Parkway Theater Rebirth
The adaptive reuse of the historic Parkway Theater and adjacent buildings in the heart of the Station North neighborhood will house year-round film and digital movies, and a live-music center for the Maryland Film Festival. The transformation includes two adjoining buildings to house ground-level ticketing and concessions for the main 350-seat theater, two 90-seat screening rooms that double as classroom space for JHU and MICA, and a lounge.
January 01, 2017
Legal Update: What's New and of What Do Need to be Aware
As our industry evolves, the legal relationships between it's participants change. New technologies, services, and project delivery methods have emerged in the past few years which created need for adjusting the balance of risks and rewards among the construction community's members. Additionally, judicial decisions on disputes have added nuance to those of us not involved, but who face similar circumstances.
December 01, 2016
Duck Pin Bowling: A Baltimore Tradition
It is time for our Chapter’s annual December Duckpin Bowling Event! A Chapter tradition since 2009, we're heading back to Stoneleigh Lanes at 6703 York Road, between Towson and Northern Parkway. Look for the entrance at the "right end" of the building while standing on York Road.
July 01, 2016
Programs
Normally we list September and October programs here, but we haven't finalized arrangements for them. At the current time, the program schedule is still in development. We are evaluating the following programs for this year's lineup:
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Acoustical Design Issues for Buildings.
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Construction Administration Practice Issues.
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Construction Labor Availability and Training - Discussion of Practical Issues.
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Facility Security, Defensible Space, and Safe Rooms.
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Introduction of Robots and Drone Aircraft on Construction Sites.
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Legal Update.
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Specification Practice Issues.
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Subtleties of ADA Architectural Guideline Compliance.
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Theater Design and Tour.
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VOC Regulation Changes Effective in January 2017.
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Bowling! Duckpin style, in December!
June 01, 2016
The Simple and Complex Aspects of Doors and Hardware: A Panel Discussion
Securing spaces relies on doors and hardware. Depending upon the individual opening's needs, the solution can be simple or complex. Hanging, securing, operating, and protecting doors in openings involves many decisions that mix and balance programmatic needs, aesthetics, and various code requirements.
May 01, 2016
Symbiosis: A Relationship of Mutual Benefit or Dependence
Using real world examples, Region Director Marvin Kemp will present ways that point to specific “red flags” that project participants should have seen that pointed to potential problems coming to the project. Other examples will point to behaviors that participants engaged in to create collaboration and understanding, which led to better results in the project.
March 01, 2016
Fire-Rated Glazing and Framing
Once relegated to small vision panels in fire-rated doors, glass which has a fire rating can now be large expanses of interior and exterior walls. Depending upon the expanse of the glass, the fire testing protocols will change. With those changes, come terminology differences (from fire-protective glass to fireresistive glass) which can be confusing.
February 01, 2016
From Project Manager to Project Leader
This month we will take a look at the effect of project management affecting how we manage tasks and activities. With the reality that those activities must be performed by people, those people need to be led. Attendees will learn how to get the most from project team personnel by focusing on key attitude changes.
December 01, 2015
Duck Pin Bowling A Baltimore Tradition
It is time for our Chapter’s annual December Duckpin Bowling Event! A Chapter tradition since 2009, we're heading back to Stoneleigh Lanes at 6703 York Road, between Towson and Northern Parkway. Look for the entrance at the "right end" of the building while standing on York Road.
November 01, 2015
Signs and Light Emitting Diodes
As the usage of Light Emitting Diode lamps has been slowly replacing incandescent, fluorescent, and high intensity discharge lamps for conventional lighting in buildings, they are transforming the sign industry. Traditionally the domain of fluorescent or cold cathode (think neon) lamps, the need for longer lasting light sources has come to dominate the industry's needs. Most new signs are now equipped with LED lamps because of their long life and color stability.
October 01, 2015
Glass Performance and NFRC Ratings
In the realm of fenestration systems (doors, storefronts, curtain walls, windows, and skylights) glass plays a large role in their performance. During the past 12 years, the energy performance of fenestration systems have been challenged by Energy Code revisions to reduce their energy transmission.
September 01, 2015
Stormwater Management in Maryland
In the construction industry, the regulation and management of stormwater issues are a big concern.
The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters.
July 01, 2015
Programs
Normally we list September and October programs here, but we haven't finalized arrangements for them. At the current time, the program schedule is still in development. We are evaluating the following programs for this year's lineup:
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Improving Energy Performance of Existing Buildings.
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How to Get Your Work Published in National Publications.
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CSI Certifications: What is the Benefit to You?
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IgCC vs LEED Version 4.
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Product Rep Speed Dating
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Construction Labor Availability and Training - Discussion of Practical Issues.
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Construction Labor Availability and Training - Maryland Center for Construction Education & Innovation.
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Bowling! Duckpin style, in December!
June 01, 2015
Scaling Up Net Zero From Buildings to the Campus
The goal of net-zero energy is an absolute and measurable outcome that focuses attention on real energy performance. The challenge of net-zero energy is achieving the required performance with high performance building systems and renewable energy systems within the limitations of most project budgets.
May 01, 2015
University of Maryland - Baltimore's Health Sciences Facility Phase 3: Project Update
At 430,000 square feet and $220 million in construction costs, UMB's Health Sciences Facility Phase 3 is one of the largest projects ever undertaken by the State of Maryland. With a dense site in an urban environment, it presents a number of challenges to the users, designers, and builders.
March 01, 2015
Recent Developments in Maryland Lawn
The construction industry relies on contracts and other legal documents to conduct it's business. Interpretations of the those documents and their underlying principles are constantly in flux as disputes are resolved in the various court systems in our area.
February 01, 2015
Facade Design Challenges
Just what do you do when you are tasked with designing and constructing a new facade to be installed over an old one to remain, and that old facade wiggles and jiggles in and out randomly? The design and documentation team from Ayers
Saint Gross will present the story design decisions and how new technologies aided in innovative approaches to recladding the Nelson/Harvey Building at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
January 01, 2015
Tales From the Field
Those of us that spend time on construction sites have seen the "not quite right" installations, the design failures, and the outright misuses of products and systems. But, we've also seen the ingenious lengths that contractors and designers sometimes go to get the right look, the right performance, and the right value.
October 01, 2014
Tales From the Field
Those of us that spend time on construction sites have seen the "not quite right" installations, the design failures, and the outright misuses of products and systems. But, we've also seen the ingenious lengths that contractors and designers sometimes go to get the right look, the right performance, and the right value.
September 01, 2014
We're Goin' Cruisin'!
With the second Thursday of September coinciding with CONSTRUCT 2014 and the annual CSI Convention, we're meeting on the evening of Wednesday, September 10th, on the Spirit of Baltimore. We'll be dining, enjoying music, and dancing as we host members from all of CSI's Chapters.
July 01, 2014
Let's Go Cruisin'!
With the second Thursday of September coinciding with CONSTRUCT 2014 and the annual CSI Convention, we're meeting on the evening of Wednesday, September 10th, on the Spirit of Baltimore. Join us for dinner, music, and dancing as we host members from all of CSI's Chapters.
March 01, 2014
BIM and Virtual Construction
Building Information Management or BIM is no longer a growing trend in the construction industry but a fact of life that
permeates most parts of the design and construction phases. The new CSI tag line acknowledges this reality by proclaiming "Building Knowledge, Improving Project Delivery."
February 01, 2014
Design-Assist Project Delivery
Building Information Management or BIM is no longer a growing trend in the construction industry but a fact of life that
permeates most parts of the design and construction phases. The new CSI tag line acknowledges this reality by proclaiming "Building Knowledge, Improving Project Delivery."
January 01, 2014
11th Hour Simulation What is a "Hard Bid?
Many industry professionals have at least some hand in submitting or evaluating a type of proposal that is often called a "hard bid." This type of proposal typically requires that the general contractor prepare a single lump sum bid for an entire project that is then submitted to a project owner in a sealed envelope by a certain time on a certain day — known
as Bid Day.
November 01, 2013
CSI Certifications What's the Benefit to You?
You have seen those acronyms after people's names. Architects, Engineers, Interior Designers, Contractors, Owners, Specifiers, Product Representatives, and Construction Administrators have them. You know what we're taking about. It's those CSI Certifications.
July 01, 2013
The Role of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Preservation in Rehabilitating Buildings, Structures, and Sites
As the stock of our built environment ages, more of our buildings, structures, and sites become eligible for being declared "historic." How does a building, structure, or site become historic?
May 01, 2018
May Constellation
May 2018 Constellation Newsletter
January 01, 2020
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June 18, 2015
Collaboration Part 7 - Change, Change, Change
We've had two collaboration meetings since my last blog posting on the collaboration effort I'm participating in. To recap, our firm is involved in a very large, biomedical research building project at a local public university. The delivery method is CM-at-risk with design-assist for major trades. Looking back through this blog, you can read about the entire process. It all started here.
November 01, 1995
CHAPTER BBS STATUS and other Electronic Communication Topics
During the past year, Baltimore Chapter CSI has made an electronic bulletin board system (BBS) available for use by Chapter members. Responses to a questionnaire distributed last year to Chapter members indicated that the majority do not presently utilize electronic communication.
September 01, 1995
Fire Safing Curtainwall Systems
Many types of curtainwall construction have a serious short coming—fire may go through it and around it; through the horizontal space between the edge of the floor slab and the curtain wall or around the exterior of the building through the curtain wall system.
June 01, 1995
The M-Word Strikes Back
The progress toward a metricated construction industry marches forward. The primary force behind the metrication process continues to be the Federal Government. If you are doing projects for federal agencies, you are probably preparing documents describing construction with metric units of measurements.
April 01, 1995
Expansion Joint Covers
They have to resist some tough conditions and must always work, yet be hardly noticed. They result when new buildings are constructed next to existing buildings, or when a building is very long (usually more than 100 m (300 feet)). They occur in hospitals, schools, airports, and shopping malls.
April 01, 1994
Evolving EIFS
If you remember looking at the December 1993 issue of The Construction Specifier, you were treated to a series of advertorials on Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems, commonly called EIFS [pronounced EeeeFffSss]. Disregarding the articles's contents, it was a masterpiece of slyly hidden advertising by the four major EIFS manufacturers.
March 01, 1994
What is Wrong with Brick Masonry Veneer Over Steel Studs?
In keeping with CSI's purposes and objectives we present a paper originally presented in the February 1992 edition of The Masonry Society Journal. C layford T. Grimm has written articles on masonry which have appeared in numerous publications. Mr. Grimm's opinions are sometimes controversial. The Baltimore Chapter CSI makes no endorsement of the opinions contained within this article.
October 01, 1993
ASTM C90, A White Paper Type I vs. Type II Block
The decision of whether to specify Type I or Type II concrete masonry units per ASTM C90 has long been a dilemma for both the concrete masonry producer and the design professional. On the surface, it would seem that to specify a Type II unit would be to specify an inferior block.
May 01, 1993
De-Bugging Your Buildings
Bugs been getting to you? No, not Bugs Bunny, Doc! Were not referring to those bugs in your computer, or those very discrete listening devices, either. Bugs — as in insects, microbes, fungi, and bacteria. Stuff that's icky and yucky. Things which can make you sick. Stuff that can make the buildings you design (and work in) sick.
April 01, 1993
Construction Chemicals -1
If you read the article "Architects, Chemistry, and Construction" on page 27 of the July 1992 Construction Specifier we hope you will appreciate the following attempt to ease those pangs of not knowing something. So, if you are confused by the multi-syllable words being used today to describe the many compounds used in today's construction chemicals [besides being difficult to pronounce], here are some of them, what they mean, what their purpose is, and where they are used.
February 01, 1993
ASTM Standards Update
Well, wouldn't you know it! Somebody suggested that since we are letting you know of the new ASTM Standards, we should let you know of ASTM standards which are being discontinued (without change, revision, re-approval, or editorial change). This does not mean they won't be of use in the future, but they won't be revised.
October 01, 1992
ASTM Standards Update
Regularly [most likely once a year, but you never know, we might change our mind] we will provide you with a list of new [not revised, re-approved, nor renamed] ASTM Standards, so that you can stay aware of the newest material and test standards from the American Society for Testing and Materials.
September 01, 1992
Wood Design Values Change
We're baaaack! Many [actually most] things have changed since the last Felt-Tip was published in December 1980. For those of you who remember them you are excused to feel your maturity. This month's Felt-Tip is concerned with something which is changing now.
December 01, 1980
Improvement Durability of Concrete Paving
Concrete pavements, curbs, and similar horizontal exterior concrete work are from subjected to frequent cycles of freezing and thawing, wetting and dying, excessive use of de-icing agents, and extreme variations in temperature. These conditions of severe exposure contribute to surface scaling and disintegration.
October 01, 1979
Economies in Concrete Formwork
Formwork, by definition, is a temporary structure used to contain fresh concrete to form it to the required shape and dimensions, and support in until it is able to support itself. Formwork includes the surface in contact with the concrete and all necessary supports.
December 01, 1978
Soil Preparation and Sodding
The Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Maryland and Virginia Polytechnic Institute has published guideline specifications for soil preparation and sodding applicable to most installations in the Maryland–Virginia–District of Columbia region.
November 01, 1978
Materials for Setting and Grouting Ceramic Tile
Portland Cement Mortar: A mixture of portland cement and sand, roughly is proportions of 1:6 on floors and of portland cement, sand, and hydrated lime in proportions of 1:5:1/ to 1:7:1 for walls. Bed thickness varies from 3/4" to 1-1/4".
February 01, 1978
Sound Rated Drywall Partitions
Sound Transmission Class, abbreviated as STC, is simply a numerical index evolved from a complex mathematical model which indicates how well a wall or floor-ceiling member functions in preventing the transmission of airborne noise from one space to another.
April 01, 1976
Fire Retardant Coatings
Fire retardant coatings will not prevent a fire from starting and they will not put out a fire. They will minimize the effects of flamespread and flashover, reduce the amount of smoke developed and allow additional time to safely evacuate people from an area under fire attack.
June 18, 2015
Collaboration Part 7 - Change, Change, Change
We've had two collaboration meetings since my last blog posting on the collaboration effort I'm participating in. To recap, our firm is involved in a very large, biomedical research building project at a local public university. The delivery method is CM-at-risk with design-assist for major trades. Looking back through this blog, you can read about the entire process. It all started here.
November 01, 1995
CHAPTER BBS STATUS and other Electronic Communication Topics
During the past year, Baltimore Chapter CSI has made an electronic bulletin board system (BBS) available for use by Chapter members. Responses to a questionnaire distributed last year to Chapter members indicated that the majority do not presently utilize electronic communication.
September 01, 1995
Fire Safing Curtainwall Systems
Many types of curtainwall construction have a serious short coming—fire may go through it and around it; through the horizontal space between the edge of the floor slab and the curtain wall or around the exterior of the building through the curtain wall system.
June 01, 1995
The M-Word Strikes Back
The progress toward a metricated construction industry marches forward. The primary force behind the metrication process continues to be the Federal Government. If you are doing projects for federal agencies, you are probably preparing documents describing construction with metric units of measurements.
April 01, 1995
Expansion Joint Covers
They have to resist some tough conditions and must always work, yet be hardly noticed. They result when new buildings are constructed next to existing buildings, or when a building is very long (usually more than 100 m (300 feet)). They occur in hospitals, schools, airports, and shopping malls.
April 01, 1994
Evolving EIFS
If you remember looking at the December 1993 issue of The Construction Specifier, you were treated to a series of advertorials on Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems, commonly called EIFS [pronounced EeeeFffSss]. Disregarding the articles's contents, it was a masterpiece of slyly hidden advertising by the four major EIFS manufacturers.
March 01, 1994
What is Wrong with Brick Masonry Veneer Over Steel Studs?
In keeping with CSI's purposes and objectives we present a paper originally presented in the February 1992 edition of The Masonry Society Journal. C layford T. Grimm has written articles on masonry which have appeared in numerous publications. Mr. Grimm's opinions are sometimes controversial. The Baltimore Chapter CSI makes no endorsement of the opinions contained within this article.
October 01, 1993
ASTM C90, A White Paper Type I vs. Type II Block
The decision of whether to specify Type I or Type II concrete masonry units per ASTM C90 has long been a dilemma for both the concrete masonry producer and the design professional. On the surface, it would seem that to specify a Type II unit would be to specify an inferior block.
May 01, 1993
De-Bugging Your Buildings
Bugs been getting to you? No, not Bugs Bunny, Doc! Were not referring to those bugs in your computer, or those very discrete listening devices, either. Bugs — as in insects, microbes, fungi, and bacteria. Stuff that's icky and yucky. Things which can make you sick. Stuff that can make the buildings you design (and work in) sick.
April 01, 1993
Construction Chemicals -1
If you read the article "Architects, Chemistry, and Construction" on page 27 of the July 1992 Construction Specifier we hope you will appreciate the following attempt to ease those pangs of not knowing something. So, if you are confused by the multi-syllable words being used today to describe the many compounds used in today's construction chemicals [besides being difficult to pronounce], here are some of them, what they mean, what their purpose is, and where they are used.
February 01, 1993
ASTM Standards Update
Well, wouldn't you know it! Somebody suggested that since we are letting you know of the new ASTM Standards, we should let you know of ASTM standards which are being discontinued (without change, revision, re-approval, or editorial change). This does not mean they won't be of use in the future, but they won't be revised.
October 01, 1992
ASTM Standards Update
Regularly [most likely once a year, but you never know, we might change our mind] we will provide you with a list of new [not revised, re-approved, nor renamed] ASTM Standards, so that you can stay aware of the newest material and test standards from the American Society for Testing and Materials.
September 01, 1992
Wood Design Values Change
We're baaaack! Many [actually most] things have changed since the last Felt-Tip was published in December 1980. For those of you who remember them you are excused to feel your maturity. This month's Felt-Tip is concerned with something which is changing now.
December 01, 1980
Improvement Durability of Concrete Paving
Concrete pavements, curbs, and similar horizontal exterior concrete work are from subjected to frequent cycles of freezing and thawing, wetting and dying, excessive use of de-icing agents, and extreme variations in temperature. These conditions of severe exposure contribute to surface scaling and disintegration.
October 01, 1979
Economies in Concrete Formwork
Formwork, by definition, is a temporary structure used to contain fresh concrete to form it to the required shape and dimensions, and support in until it is able to support itself. Formwork includes the surface in contact with the concrete and all necessary supports.
September 01, 1979
Sealant Glosary