Building Enclosure Consulting

Building enclosure consulting, in short, should focus on verifying that the technical design of the proposed enclosure systems is constructible and will meet the intended performance specified in the project and code requirements. It is then equally important that the installation of these enclosure systems is verified in the field to be in conformance with the contract documents.

This guiding definition applies to both new construction and existing building enclosure projects, and wholistically encompasses all 6+ exterior sides of a building including slabs/foundations, walls and roofs.

K&H’s Approach to Building Enclosure Consulting

At K&H we believe it’s important to provide building enclosure consulting through comprehensive yet efficient deliverables that are practical to satisfy performance requirements and are appropriately tailored to each project. Our team provides expert guidance at every stage of a building’s lifecycle, from initial design to throughout construction and into the maintenance / retrofitting phases.

Why It’s Important

The building enclosure serves both as the outward expression of architectural design and functions as the primary line of defense against environmental conditions (namely air, water, and vapor). A well-designed, constructed, and maintained building enclosure is essential for utilizing a building for its intended purpose, maximizing its useful life, maintaining energy efficiency, and providing occupant comfort.

Our typical building enclosure consulting services include:

Building enclosure design/peer reviews

We review the proposed enclosure system for design, materials, and code compliance, offering sustainable, high-performance solutions. Our recommendations draw on industry standards and experience, with constructability reviews to assess feasibility, sequencing, and value engineering.

Enclosure scope review meetings

We participate in enclosure scope review meetings to align design intent, performance goals, and responsibilities across all stakeholders early in the project.

Enclosure submittal and shop drawing reviews

Our team reviews enclosure submittals and shop drawings for compliance with design documents, performance criteria, and constructability considerations.

Pre-construction meetings

We support pre-construction meetings by clarifying enclosure design expectations, sequencing, and coordination points critical to successful implementation.

Mock-up design and testing reviews

We assist in the development and evaluation of enclosure mock-ups, ensuring testing protocols reflect real-world performance and design intent.

Field testing

We coordinate and observe field testing of enclosure systems to verify air, water, and thermal performance meet specified requirements.

Field observations

Our consultants perform field observations to monitor installation quality, identify deviations from design, and recommend corrective actions when needed.

Project closeout

During project closeout, we help ensure enclosure systems are properly documented, any outstanding issues are resolved, and the enclosure is ready for long-term performance.

Collaboration & Expertise

K&H thrives in delivering building enclosure consulting services through multi-disciplinary communication, where we effectively work through items with contractors, trade partners, owners, architects, developers, and facility managers. We take a proactive role (rather than reactive) in our design and construction reviews, then continue our follow-up engagement until items are resolved. Simply put, we see things through from start to finish.

K&H’s approach to all our projects embraces a “forward together” mentality when consulting on matters of enclosure design, constructability, compatibility, and sequencing. Our committed team can help resolve issues with a sense of urgency, whether onsite or collaborating virtually with our subject matter experts. K&H’s primary building enclosure team includes 150+ years combined experience, $5B worth of ongoing construction currently under review, and projects as large as 2.7 million square feet in size. In addition to this primary team, we can draw on the expertise of 30+ licensed Architects, Structural Engineers, Professional Engineers, and Inspectors at K&H when the need arises.

Markets We Serve

K&H has successfully provided building enclosure consulting services for a wide variety of project types, sizes, stakeholders, and project delivery methods. Primary market sectors we service include: