BEC: Austin Committee Meeting

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The Architect’s Building Science Toolkit

WUFI is a hygrothermal modeling software tool used to evaluate how heat, air, and moisture move through building enclosure assemblies, and it can be a powerful addition to an architect’s building science toolkit. This course demystifies hygrothermal analysis and shows how, with a manageable amount of work, architects can integrate it into their design process to evaluate wall and roof assemblies, test common assumptions, and move beyond rules of thumb and “code minimum” thinking – you don’t need a PhD.

Used as a design tool, hygrothermal analysis supports health and safety by reducing the likelihood of conditions that contribute to mold growth, improving the durability and longevity of construction, and helping anticipate moisture risks and understand drying potential for new construction, renovations, and historic preservation. It also supports environmental stewardship by enabling more confident evaluation of insulation and enclosure strategies that can reduce energy use without inadvertently increasing moisture-related failure risk.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe what hygrothermal analysis is.
• Understand how hygrothermal analysis software can be used as a design tool and become familiar with the process.
• Understand the conditions where mold growth can occur.
• Examine several case studies to see how hygrothermal analysis improved durability and performance of roof and wall assemblies.

Credits:
1 LU/HSW

Presenter:
Will Wood, AIA, is a Principal at McKinney York Architects. Educated in architecture and engineering, he maintains an interest in both design and building science.  In addition to leading design on institutional, commercial, and residential projects, Will oversees sustainability and fueling the design culture in the office. He has a strong interest in materiality and detailing and is an advocate for modernizing building practices and energy efficiency.

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BEC: Austin is an interdisciplinary organization that promotes the exchange of information on building enclosures and related science specific to the climate of Central Texas.

Interdisciplinary: architects, engineers, contractors, building owners, consultants, facility managers, code officials, educators, manufacturers, and those with a stake in building enclosure performance

Exchange of information: discussion, training, education, outreach, and awareness

Building enclosures and related science: energy-efficiency, moisture control, indoor air quality, longevity, and durability

BEC: Austin typically meets the first Wednesday of each month from 12-1pm. To receive reminders, please sign up for the BEC mailing list here.
2026 BEC: Austin Committee
Chair: Michael Salinas, AIA
Chair Elect: John Byrd, AIA
AIA Austin staff liaison: Julia Brown