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Adrienne K. Paskind, AIA


Recent Posts

A Quick Summary of the Evolution of Stucco

[fa icon="calendar'] May 10, 2018 10:00:00 AM / by Adrienne K. Paskind, AIA

Did you know that stucco, also known as exterior plaster, has been used for many centuries? Historians suggest that the material has been used by multiple civilizations including the Babylonians, Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans, spanning over thousands of years.

Although evolved and changing, the use of stucco today is still growing in popularity despite various problems. The following is a short comparison of historic and new practices.

Historic structures still standing today indicate that “old” stucco material was used and its construction was “done right”.  Its original composition and performance appears superior compared to its modern-day counterpart.

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ECO-Gyms, powered by their own members

[fa icon="calendar'] May 4, 2018 2:00:00 PM / by Adrienne K. Paskind, AIA

Energy conscious building systems and "green" buildings are terms that have been around for quite some time. In fact, there are numerous interesting articles one can explore relative to the implementation of energy conscious building systems. Building professionals continually seek new ways to harness energy and develop innovative approaches to improve our environment and offset energy costs. Recently, we have seen the tremendous interest and growth in solar power from residential to large scale applications. Other renewable energy sources are also constantly being explored, such as converting energy expended by humans into energy used to help power buildings.

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California passes new laws following Berkeley tragedy

[fa icon="calendar'] Sep 20, 2016 8:22:00 AM / by Adrienne K. Paskind, AIA


Berkeley took center stage in June 2015 when six students died tragically and another seven were injured after a balcony on which they were standing on collapsed.

As a result, the California Senate has passed a new law for the construction industry traced back to Berkeley balcony collapse. The bill was passed after a unanimous vote or 37-0 and is intended to close those accountability gaps by bringing stricter oversight to the construction industry.

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Ice Arena Improvements

[fa icon="calendar'] Jan 20, 2016 4:47:06 PM / by Adrienne K. Paskind, AIA

Over time, all buildings will exhibit wearing of components requiring assessment for replacement and/or upgrading. As ice arenas start to age, there are a number of improvements that ice facility managers can schedule for their buildings. From new roofs to window glazing replacement, renovation of entries, bathrooms, and lobbies for accessibility compliance, these updates will not only improve the users’ building experience, but will also save on operating costs by creating more energy efficient spaces. There are many benefits of upgrading and maintaining a well managed rink facility. These upgrades increase opportunities for hosting school team sports or local community sports at large. Well maintained ice arenas contribute to the well being of participants as well as observers.

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Common Balcony Issues: Water Intrusion Due to Construction Defects

[fa icon="calendar'] Jun 22, 2015 2:17:38 PM / by Adrienne K. Paskind, AIA

There is no shortage of news stories about balcony failures. From the recent collapse in Berkeley, California to The New York Times report on construction defects following a Brooklyn housing boom, balcony and deck construction defects and the possible devastating consequences and law suits make for attention grabbing headlines - and should be of concern to any home or building owner.

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