RCI-IIBEC Foundation Inc.
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.
2021 Academic Scholarships Process Announced
The RCI-IIBEC Foundation and RCI Foundation Canada application process for the Robert W. Lyons and the RCIF Lewis W. Newlan scholarships is now open. These academic scholarships are available for college, university, and trade school students who are studying architecture, engineering, or building and construction sciences in the U.S. and Canada.
Applications for the 2021-22 academic year will be accepted from January 13 through April 8 at 3 PM CST. Scholarships recipients are selected based on financial need, letters of reference, and an essay about their interest in the field.
Four scholarships of $5,000 each will be awarded in honor of Robert W. Lyons. This award is not renewable; past recipients may not re-apply. This award is for undergraduates only.
Bob Lyons was the founder of RCI (now IIBEC). IIBEC would not be the organization that it is today without Lyons’ countless contributed hours, networking, and old-fashioned hard work. In 2016, Lyons lost his battle with cancer. The Robert W. Lyons Scholarship Fund was established to honor the memory of a man who spent his career advancing the building enclosure industry, while bringing together thousands of like-minded professionals.
Four scholarships of $2,500 each will be given through the RCIF Lewis W. Newlan Fund. This award is not renewable; however, recipients may re-apply up to four times in four years, provided they meet eligibility requirements. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible.
Lewis Newlan was a long-time supporter of the Foundations and a dedicated member of RCI, Inc. (now IIBEC). After his passing, the board created a fund in his honor and in support of his stated commitment to education in this field.
Since these scholarships were established, the Foundations have awarded over $95,000 in honor of Lyons and Newlan. In 2020, there were 206 completed applications for the eight scholarships.
For more information and to apply, go to https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/rci-iibecfoundation.
Diamonds Are A Student's Best Friend Promotion
This year, as part of the Foundations’ Auction, there will be a very special drawing to benefit the IIBEC Convention/Student Participation Fund. For a gift of $100 or more, the first 100 donors will receive a 1-in-100 chance to win a $3,000 pair of diamond earrings. These earrings are of 1.72 (0.85 + 0.87) total carat weight, with round brilliant diamonds in faceted girdle edges in a 14k white gold, champagne-style setting with double click rings. The pair comes with a certificate of authenticity and was mined in Brazil.
The goal of this drawing is to generate at least $10,000 for student attendance and participation in future IIBEC International Convention and Trade Shows.
For your chance, make a donation to the Student Convention Fund between now and the night of the Foundations’ Auction (at Phoenix Convention in September, 2021). You will be randomly assigned a number. During the live auction, a number will be pulled, and the person with that number wins the earrings! You need not be present to win. Donations can be made online at https://rci-iibecfoundation.org/donate.aspx.
Chances, if still available, can be purchased at the Foundations’ Auction until the time of the drawing.
For more information, contact Foundations Development Officer Rick Gardner at rgardner@iibec.org or 919-859-0742.
Foundation Funds Update on Roof Drainage Publication
The RCI-IIBEC Foundation has approved funding for the update of the 2003 edition of the Roof Drainage monograph as a result of significant changes in the International Building Code (IBC) and International Plumbing Code (IPC) standards and methods for roof drainage design. This effort is being led by IIBEC members Stephen L. Patterson, RRC, PE, of Roof Technical Services, Inc. and Dr. Madan Mehta, PhD, PE, with the University of Texas – Arlington, School of Architecture.
According to Patterson, “The IPC has eliminated the standard drainage charts that have been used for decades. Additionally, ASCE 7-16 has added a large section of roof drainage and overflow design, which is contrary to the current IBC/IPC standard. We hope to provide an in-depth discussion of drainage design requirements and to research other available international standards. Our plan is to provide a section that addresses combination wind and rain loads, which is a critical aspect of roof design that is often overlooked.”
“We have been thrilled with the results and the feedback from Patterson and Mehta’s work on the updated Wind Uplift on Low-Slope Roofs,” commented Joe Hale, Chair of the Foundation, “and we know their work on the Roof Drainage monograph will also be a valuable tool for our members, industry, and the Foundation.” Hale added, “We need to rethink our unusual weather and how we are having 100-year storms every year now. Rooftop drainage is a critical part of this process.”
Madan Mehta PhD, PE
Expected completion date is March, 2021.
Funding for this publication is made possible through gifts to the Foundation’s General Fund for Research and Education. If you have questions or would like more information about the Foundation, please contact Development Officer Rick Gardner at rgardner@iibec.org, or call 919-859-0742.
2021 IIBEC Convention Sponsorship Applications Now Being Accepted
Applications for student sponsorships are now being accepted for the 2021 IIBEC Convention and Trade Show.
To qualify, an applicant must be a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours per semester) enrolled in architecture; architectural, structural or civil engineering; construction management; building sciences or other related areas of study. Up to 25 students are eligible to receive this funding twice. Depending upon availability, up to three students from the same university may be selected.
The sponsorship includes IIBEC convention registration, up to four nights lodging (single occupancy) at the convention hotel, a stipend for meals, cost of travel up to $400 USD (receipts required), and a one-year IIBEC student membership.
Application can be downloaded here.
The deadline for submitting the application and supporting documentation is April 8, 2021 at 3 PM EST.
Applicants will be notified within a few weeks of submitting the application and supporting documents if they have been awarded the sponsorship. More information about IIBEC and the 2021 Convention may be found at https://iibec.org/2021-iibec-international-convention-and-trade-show/
Foundation Supports Research on Thermal Bridging via Roof Fasteners
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 has implemented a focused effort on various initiatives within our organization. We want to give you, our wonderful donors, the opportunity to choose to earmark your pledges and donations in the areas that matter most to you!
University of Kentucky Students Attend Louisville BES
Ten students and two professors from the University of Kentucky School of Architecture attended the IIBEC Building Enclosure Symposium in Louisville, KY. The RCI-IIBEC Foundation helped cover their registration and hotel expenses during the event. Here is some of the feedback received from the particpants:
“It is a real privilege to expose these students to IIBEC and to the engineers, architects, and other professionals who are involved. I especially want to thank the Foundation for making it possible for the students to receive scholarships to attend the Symposium. It was hugely beneficial for them and very exciting for me.” – Professor Dan Vivian, College of Design
“The entire IIBEC community was extremely welcoming and cordial toward our group, and it made a great impression on us. It was illuminating to see the various issues surrounding building enclosures, and I enjoyed the range of topics presented. Overall, the symposium was an invaluable exposure for my classmates and me, and we hope, as future architects, to build on this knowledge in order to address and alleviate potential problems with building enclosures.” – Alex Bosse, graduate student
“This event was absolutely amazing, and I cannot wait to share my experience with my peers.” – Mary Kate Schaefer, graduate student
“I really enjoyed learning that there was more to architecture than just designing buildings. It opened my eyes to the new field of forensics in architecture. I feel like there was a good mix of speakers and lots of information to soak up.” – Dylan Brewer, senior
“I felt this event was exceptionally beneficial for future architects to experience how their roles and experiences can integrate with others’ professional backgrounds that benefit every element of the design process. This was also a great opportunity for students to engage in practicing networking and building professional relationships within the community, and I hope the visiting professionals and their organizations felt the same way as well. I will definitely recommend this symposium to students interested in architecture, civil engineering, design and construction fields who are interested in educating themselves and in building a better sense on new design and materials available within the market,” – Alan Hammell, freshman
If you have questions or would like more information about sponsoring students to attend future symposiums or the upcoming IIBEC International Convention and Trade Show in Houston, please contact Foundation Development Officer Rick Gardner at rgardner@iibec.org or call 919-859-0742.
IIBEC First Vice President Scott Hinesley, Professor Bruce Swetnam, Alex Bosse, Joe Holliday, Omolade Akinyemiju, Professor Dan Vivian, RCI Foundations Development Officer Rick Gardner, Frank Wang, Montreale Jones, Bryson Watson, Alan Hammell, Dylan Brewer, and IIBEC President Bob Card. (Not pictured: Mary Kate Schaefer and Afif Alahmad.)
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!