The RCI-IIBEC Foundation's mission is to support research, education, and the dissemination of information for issues important to the building enclosure industry.
Welcome to the RCI-IIBEC Foundation Inc.
Register HERE for Unit-Price Procurement & Cooperative Purchasing: Protecting the Public Investment
The RCI-IIBEC Foundation has teamed up with CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services) to offer a vehicle donation program for our supporters. CARS is a nonprofit that helps the foundation accept and process donated vehicles, including cars, trucks, RVs, boats, and even airplanes!
“This new partnership with CARS offers our donors and companies an easy way to repurpose unwanted vehicles and provide them with a tax deduction while at the same time allowing the foundation a new revenue source for supporting our programs and initiatives,” said Mike Blanchette, chair of the RCI-IIBEC Foundation.
“Donating a vehicle is easy and tax-deductible, and it avoids the hassles of selling or the costs of repairing altogether. Vehicle donations strengthen the programs provided by the foundation, including our student scholarships; educational sponsorships to attend the IIBEC International Convention and Trade Show or the Building Enclosure Symposium; research; and publications.”
CARS is the largest nonprofit vehicle donation provider and a trusted partner to over 3500 other nonprofits in North America, which rely on its vehicle donation program as a stable source of funds. CARS guides donors throughout the entire donation process and provides a free and convenient pickup.
To learn more about the program go to https://careasy.org/nonprofit/rci-iibec-foundation-inc or call 855-500-7433.
For more information about supporting the foundation, please contact Foundation Development Officer Rick Gardner at Rgardner@iibec.org.
Albert Duwyn, RRC, F-IIBEC, longtime chair of the RCI Foundation Canada, has announced his retirement, and Dr. Ralph Paroli has been elected the new chair of the RCI Foundation Canada.
At the beginning of April, Duwyn announced his retirement from Rimkus Consulting Group (formerly IRC Building Sciences), which he founded in 1983 in Mississauga, Ontario. “The success of IRC Building Sciences is a result of the hard work, loyalty, and contributions by its many employees,” said Duwyn. “I am proud of the support I received from the employees when I had the opportunity to sell the company (and become part of Rimkus Consulting Group).”
Asked about his retirement plans, Duwyn replied, “I plan on spending more time with my family, especially my grandchildren, playing more golf, and working on getting in better physical shape. My greatest success (in life) has been my marriage and family. I am fortunate to have had their support and excited to share in the growth of our grandchildren.”
Reflecting on his favorite experiences with IIBEC, Duwyn replied “My favorite memory is the establishment of the Lizard Lounge at convention. My second favorite is visiting it every year.”
Duwyn helped to establish the RCI Foundation Canada in 2010. “The success of RCI Foundation Canada is a result of the cumulative efforts of the IIBEC Board of Directors and the generosity of the donors,” Duwyn said. “We are all proud of the money raised and spent on supporting research and other initiatives.”
Duwyn’s advice to Paroli is to “continue to be the person he already is” now that Paroli is the chair of the foundation.
Mike Blanchette, F-IIBEC, RRC, RRO, chair of the RCI-IIBEC Foundation and longtime friend of Duwyn, said, “We have lost a true and successful businessman to retirement. I am happy for him, but he will be missed by all.”
Foundation Announces 2022-2023 Scholarship Awards
The RCI-IIBEC Foundation is excited to announce its 2022–2023 academic scholarship recipients of the Robert W. Lyons and RCI Lewis W. Newlan scholarships. The $5,000 Lyons scholarship is specifically for undergraduate education expenses for students studying construction or building sciences, architecture, or engineering. The RCI Lewis W. Newlan scholarship is for $2,500 and is open to both undergraduate and graduate students—again for studies in construction or building sciences, architecture, or engineering. Scholarship winners are selected based on financial need, letters of recommendation, and the student’s request for consideration.
This year’s scholarship recipients follow.
Robert W. Lyons Scholarship Recipients
Cesar Bedolla-Hurtado from East Wenatchee, Washington, is a civil engineering student at Washington State University. He is president of the WSU American Society of Civil Engineers as well as the team captain of the Design Build Institute of America.
Imandra Mudalige of Toronto, Ontario, is a third-year student at George Brown College studying Civil Engineering Technology. Mudalige’s passion lies in sustainable building design and green construction. She is currently a student council member with Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE) – Toronto Chapter and is a Live Green Volunteer with the City of Toronto.
Hannah Power from Newark, Delaware, is completing her degree in structural engineering at the University of Delaware. Power is active with the Women’s Transportation Seminar, Engineers Without Borders, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Concrete Institute, American Galvanizers Association, and the Deep Foundations Institute.
Izma Siddiqui from Chicago, Illinois, attends Harold Washington College and is studying architecture. She is a 22-year-old, first-generation Pakistani American looking to tackle the housing crisis one life experience at a time. Siddiqui loves to read, bake, and bike around the city exploring the ethnically diverse neighborhoods.
RCI Lewis W. Newlan Recipients
Blake Murr from Macon, Missouri, is an undergraduate at Moberly Area Community College studying civil engineering. He is involved with Phi Theta Kappa and currently is interning with Capital Construction out of Jefferson City, Missouri. He plans to pursue a job in project management after graduation.
Juan Perez from Aurora, Nebraska, is studying mechanical/civil engineering at Doane University in Crete, Nebraska. Perez plays football and is member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society as well as the Cardinal Key Honor Society.
Arwa Yafai is from Chicago, Illinois, and is studying architecture at Harold Washington College. Yafai is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and serves as treasurer of the Student Government Association.
Alim Zannatun is from Warren, Michigan, and is studying architecture at the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Design. She just came back from a two-week study-abroad trip in Mexico. She is working with the National Academy Foundation in collaboration with University of Michigan’s College of Engineering to mentor and teach at a special summer camp for Detroit high school students. Zannatun is the first female in her family to pursue a college level degree.
Since these scholarships were established, the foundation has donated $150,000 to support students through these academic scholarships. Thanks to all the foundation donors who made these scholarships possible. Donations continue to be accepted to support both scholarship funds. For more information, visit the foundation’s website at https://rci-iibecfoundation.org/donate.aspx or contact Foundations Development Officer Rick Gardner at 919-859-0742 or rgardner@iibec.org.
The overall goal of the project is to provide a better understanding to the industry of simulated versus tested thermal conductance in 3-D configurations, in support of relative comparison of quantitative thermal effects of fasteners in different roof assemblies.
The expected completion date is December, 2021. Following conclusion of the study, the research team hopes to share results through presentations at IIBEC conferences and meetings, as well as through scientific papers.
Funding for this research is made possible through gifts to the Foundation’s General Fund for Research and Education and, specifically, through GAF as well as through in-kind donations from SGH. “GAF and SGH are both very excited to support this research and the information it will provide for the entire building industry,” said Helene Hardy-Pierce, Secretary of the Foundation and GAF’s Technical Director.
“After running computer models for an SGH-sponsored paper published by ASTM in 2015, it became apparent that roofing insulation fasteners will cause significant thermal bridging,” said Eric Olson of SGH, the lead author of a 2015 paper considering thermal bridging of roofing details. “These effects are not considered by many in the roofing industry, and there exists no clear guidance on how to deal with them. Validation of the computer models with physical laboratory analysis—the aim of the current study—is the next logical step to building practical methods for considering their effects.”
The RCI-IIBEC Foundation's mission is to support research, education, and the dissemination of information for issues important to the building enclosure industry. With your help, we can make a difference for the industry, its professionals, students and the world at large. Thank you for visiting!