Dr. Hartwig Künzel

Hygrothermics Project Group Head, Fraunhofer Institute, Holzkirchen Germany.

William B. Rose

Research Architect, Building Research Council-School of Architecture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Lawrence J. Plym Auditorium at 6 pm

Hygrothermal Modeling, Preservation, and Applications to F. L. Wright’s Guggenheim Museum

Dr. Künzel will describe the origins of hygrothermal modeling in Germany, emphasizing the need to understand the performance of historic masonry buildings. The modeling program developed at the Fraunhofer Institute has grown to be a dependable design tool. Designers and detailers of building envelope assemblies will make increasing use of transient hygrothermal modeling thanks to changes in building codes and performance standards in the US and elsewhere. Prof. Rose will describe the use of transient hygrothermal modeling in work currently underway at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, done in conjuction with WASA Architects and Robert Silman Associates, structural engineers. Working with measured data and models, Prof. Rose has developed approaches to help ensure the long-term durability of the icon building.