Faculty/Departmental News

FACULTY/DEPARTMENTAL NEWS
FACULTY HONORS Dr. Louis Geschwindner has been named AISC’s vice president of engineering and research. He is responsible for establishing AISC’s technical long-range objectives and initiatives. He will also coordinate technical activities between AISC and outside groups. Geschwindner said “I am excited to help lead the technical activities of the Institute and look forward to strengthening AISC’s strong connections with the design community, construction industry, code community and government agencies.” Geschwindner will remain in the AE Department on a 1/4 time basis and devote 3/4 time to the AISC position throughout the 2003 calendar year. In August 2002, Dr. Richard Behr was elected to the grade of Fellow of the Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI). Dr. Martin Moeck, Assistant Professor, completed the daylight analysis for a large new multimedia museum that was featured inDecember 2002issue of Architectural Record magazine. Computer simulations were performed using actual hourly Washington, D.C., weather data for the whole year. Located across from the National gallery and next to the Canadian Embassy, the 531,000 square foot, $400 million Newseum complex in Washington DC is the culmination of a 40-year-old plan for Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the Treasury. The building is configured in three layers that increase in height as they recede from Pennsylvania Avenue. The complex will include a café and terrace, a 90 ft high atrium surrounded by exhibition galleries, as well as a newsroom and demonstration broadcast studio. Moeck used Penn State's CAC Linux supercomputer clusterto simulate the visibility and daylight levels of various light sensitive museum displays, as well the visibility of multimedia screens. “That's the biggest lighting simulation I've ever done,” he said. A 4,500 square-foot window in the Pennsylvania Avenue facade will give passsersby views of galleries, a central atrium, and a 30 ft x 50 ft media screen projecting breaking news. The architects needed to know if this glazed facade causes damage to light sensitive materials and hampers the visibility of interactive displays. Moeck advised the architects during the early phases of the design process on issues such as window transmittance, louver characteristics and interior surface reflectance data. COMMENCEMENT Commencement for the College of Engineering was held on December 21, 2002. Architectural Engineering conferred 61 B.A.E., 10 M.A.E., 1 M.S., and 2 M.Eng. degrees. Congratulations to our most recent graduates!	AGC – ASC RISK SUMMIT OUTLINES NEED FOR COOPERATION Dr. John Messner was co-facilitator for a Risk Summit sponsored by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and the Associated Specialty Contractors (ASC) on November 8-9, 2002, in Palm Desert, CA. The summit brought together nearly 100 enthusiastic general contractors, specialty contractors and other industry experts to identify methods to improve risk management in the construction industry. The AGC-ASC Risk Summit looked at three specific areas of construction risk: critical insurance issues, open-ended liability, and project payments. Items that were identified and discussed included increasing industry education on managing risk; improving cooperation on risk allocation; developing guidelines on mold; developing a job payment protocol; improving change order management; promoting electronic payment systems; reducing statutes of limitation/repose; increasing inspections/commissioning; and improving the prequalification process. The Associated General Contractors of America is the nation's largest and oldest construction trade association, founded in 1918. AGC represents more than 33,000 firms, including 7,500 of America's leading general contractors, and 12,000 specialty-contracting firms. More than 14,000 service providers and suppliers are also members of AGC, through a nationwide network of chapters. The Associated Specialty Contractors, founded in 1953, is an “umbrella organization” of nine national associations of construction specialty contractors, whose combined membership totals more than 25,000 firms. Its members include the Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association; Finishing Contractors’ Association; Mechanical Contractors’ Association of America; National Electrical Contractors Association; National Insulation Association; National Roofing Contractors of America; Painting and Decorating Contractors of America; Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors’ Association; and Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association. NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK Assistant Professor Michael Horman and wife, Cheryl, have a new son, Joshua James Anthony, born on December 9, 2002. He joins big sister Olivia (3-1/2). Assistant Professor John Messner and wife, Anne, welcomed the birth of their third son, Jacob John, born on January 9, 2003. He joins big brothers, Isaac (4-1/2) and Joseph (20 mon.).	ROUNDED CORNER GLASS Research done in the Building Envelope Research Laboratory (BERL) was featured in the September 2002 issue of Civil Engineering magazine. Dr. Ali Memari, Dr. Richard Behr and Paul Kremer, Research Associate, found that by rounding the corners of a glass panel to a radius of curvature of around 1 in (25 mm), the glass strengthens and becomes less likely to shatter during an earthquake. “You can’t just take a glass panel and cut corners,” Memari explains. “It has to follow a careful fabrication process to get the desired earthquake resistance.” Memari, Behr and Kremer have applied for a patent on this invention and have signed a license agreement with a major architectural glass fabricator to implement this technology in the building industry. PHRC NEWS & NOTES The PHRC is currently engaged in a comprehensive program of research on the performance of wall systems. Of particular interest is the performance of the exterior sheathing membrane, the cavity behind the cladding (or rainscreen) and the contribution of convective ventilation to drying. This work is funded by ASHRAE, the NSF and the PHRC. The Pennsylvania Housing Research Center welcomes two new people to our staff. Ken Sagan is the Training and Education Development Specialist. Ken provides leadership and direction for the development, implementation and management of technical training programs for builders and remodelers, design professionals and building code officials. He also serves as a liaison with state and federal agencies, trade associations and individuals in the construction industry. Scott Brown, P.E., has been appointed as PHRC’s Land Use and Development Specialist. His responsibilities include the development of research programs and other activities related to “smart growth” and sustainable site design. He will be pursuing the development of science-based standards, guidelines, and procedures for the design and construction of subdivisions and other housing developments. He will also provide scientific and technical support for the development of innovative design standards and procedures for site development, particularly as they relate to the implementation of best management practices for storm water in Pennsylvania.

FACULTY/DEPARTMENTAL NEWS

FACULTY HONORS
Dr. Louis Geschwindner has been named AISC’s vice president of engineering and research. He is responsible for establishing AISC’s technical long-range objectives and initiatives. He will also coordinate technical activities between AISC and outside groups. Geschwindner said “I am excited to help lead the technical activities of the Institute and look forward to strengthening AISC’s strong connections with the design community, construction industry, code community and government agencies.” Geschwindner will remain in the AE Department on a 1/4 time basis and devote 3/4 time to the AISC position throughout the 2003 calendar year.

In August 2002, Dr. Richard Behr was elected to the grade of Fellow of the Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI).

Dr. Martin Moeck, Assistant Professor, completed the daylight analysis for a large new multimedia museum that was featured inDecember 2002issue of Architectural Record magazine. Computer simulations were performed using actual hourly Washington, D.C., weather data for the whole year.

Located across from the National gallery and next to the Canadian Embassy, the 531,000 square foot, $400 million Newseum complex in Washington DC is the culmination of a 40-year-old plan for Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the Treasury. The building is configured in three layers that increase in height as they recede from Pennsylvania Avenue. The complex will include a café and terrace, a 90 ft high atrium surrounded by exhibition galleries, as well as a newsroom and demonstration broadcast studio.

Moeck used Penn State's CAC Linux supercomputer clusterto simulate the visibility and daylight levels of various light sensitive museum displays, as well the visibility of multimedia screens. “That's the biggest lighting simulation I've ever done,” he said. A 4,500 square-foot window in the Pennsylvania Avenue facade will give passsersby views of galleries, a central atrium, and a 30 ft x 50 ft media screen projecting breaking news. The architects needed to know if this glazed facade causes damage to light sensitive materials and hampers the visibility of interactive displays. Moeck advised the architects during the early phases of the design process on issues such as window transmittance, louver characteristics and interior surface reflectance data.

COMMENCEMENT
Commencement for the College of Engineering was held on December 21, 2002. Architectural Engineering conferred 61 B.A.E., 10 M.A.E., 1 M.S., and 2 M.Eng. degrees. Congratulations to our most recent graduates!

AGC – ASC RISK SUMMIT OUTLINES NEED FOR COOPERATION
Dr. John Messner was co-facilitator for a Risk Summit sponsored by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and the Associated Specialty Contractors (ASC) on November 8-9, 2002, in Palm Desert, CA. The summit brought together nearly 100 enthusiastic general contractors, specialty contractors and other industry experts to identify methods to improve risk management in the construction industry.

The AGC-ASC Risk Summit looked at three specific areas of construction risk: critical insurance issues, open-ended liability, and project payments. Items that were identified and discussed included increasing industry education on managing risk; improving cooperation on risk allocation; developing guidelines on mold; developing a job payment protocol; improving change order management; promoting electronic payment systems; reducing statutes of limitation/repose; increasing inspections/commissioning; and improving the prequalification process.

The Associated General Contractors of America is the nation's largest and oldest construction trade association, founded in 1918. AGC represents more than 33,000 firms, including 7,500 of America's leading general contractors, and 12,000 specialty-contracting firms. More than 14,000 service providers and suppliers are also members of AGC, through a nationwide network of chapters.

The Associated Specialty Contractors, founded in 1953, is an “umbrella organization” of nine national associations of construction specialty contractors, whose combined membership totals more than 25,000 firms. Its members include the Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association; Finishing Contractors’ Association; Mechanical Contractors’ Association of America; National Electrical Contractors Association; National Insulation Association; National Roofing Contractors of America; Painting and Decorating Contractors of America; Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors’ Association; and Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Assistant Professor Michael Horman and wife, Cheryl, have a new son, Joshua James Anthony, born on December 9, 2002. He joins big sister Olivia (3-1/2).

Assistant Professor John Messner and wife, Anne, welcomed the birth of their third son, Jacob John, born on January 9, 2003. He joins big brothers, Isaac (4-1/2) and Joseph (20 mon.).

ROUNDED CORNER GLASS
Research done in the Building Envelope Research Laboratory (BERL) was featured in the September 2002 issue of Civil Engineering magazine.

Dr. Ali Memari, Dr. Richard Behr and Paul Kremer, Research Associate, found that by rounding the corners of a glass panel to a radius of curvature of around 1 in (25 mm), the glass strengthens and becomes less likely to shatter during an earthquake. “You can’t just take a glass panel and cut corners,” Memari explains. “It has to follow a careful fabrication process to get the desired earthquake resistance.”

Memari, Behr and Kremer have applied for a patent on this invention and have signed a license agreement with a major architectural glass fabricator to implement this technology in the building industry.

PHRC NEWS & NOTES
The PHRC is currently engaged in a comprehensive program of research on the performance of wall systems. Of particular interest is the performance of the exterior sheathing membrane, the cavity behind the cladding (or rainscreen) and the contribution of convective ventilation to drying. This work is funded by ASHRAE, the NSF and the PHRC.

The Pennsylvania Housing Research Center welcomes two new people to our staff. Ken Sagan is the Training and Education Development Specialist. Ken provides leadership and direction for the development, implementation and management of technical training programs for builders and remodelers, design professionals and building code officials. He also serves as a liaison with state and federal agencies, trade associations and individuals in the construction industry.

Scott Brown, P.E., has been appointed as PHRC’s Land Use and Development Specialist. His responsibilities include the development of research programs and other activities related to “smart growth” and sustainable site design. He will be pursuing the development of science-based standards, guidelines, and procedures for the design and construction of subdivisions and other housing developments. He will also provide scientific and technical support for the development of innovative design standards and procedures for site development, particularly as they relate to the implementation of best management practices for storm water in Pennsylvania.

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