It has almost been a full year since the R.W. Kern Center became a certified Living-Building, allowing us to observe and analyze its performance. Over the next month, architect Christopher Nielson, AIA, LEED AP will be analyzing the % wood moisture data from the R.W. Kern Center to see what lessons we can learn.
He and his team have been tracking the % moisture content of the wood framing in the walls to understand if and how moisture moves through a double-stud assembly. The wall assembly contains a permeable moisture barrier on the outside and relies upon the paint and caulk layer as the an interior moisture barrier. The idea is that the wall will get wetter in the winter seasons, but dry back out in the summer months.
Check back soon for updates!