Submitted by Maine CSI
CSI attendees listening to a keynote speaker
Every other year, Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) – Maine Chapter gathers the best in the building industry to share expertise on air barriers, the building envelope, new materials, technologies, strategies and more in a one-day conference.
The 2020 High-Performance Building Conference, on March 26, in Portland, will feature four keynote speakers discussing building challenges and solutions, sessions on drone mapping and new code specifications, as well as a trade show of more than 40 exhibitors.
“This conference continually grows, and we’re excited to have four of the top experts in building construction come to our state,” said Valerie Paquin-Gould, president of CSI – Maine Chapter.
“We started the High-Performance Building Conference a few years ago, knowing that Maine has specific challenges when it comes to building construction, and it’s been a great success,” she said. “The event gathers architects, engineers, owners, manufacturers, contractors, and facility managers in one place to learn and grow together.”
“It’s about developing an industry that’s using the latest technology, and being leaders in building construction here and across the globe.”
Among the speakers at this year conference is Texas-based Roy Schauffele.
As past board chairman of the Air Barrier Association of America and founder of Division 7 Solutions, Schauffele is a wealth of knowledge. He’ll share his expertise in a talk called The Big Disconnect – The Importance of Wall to Roof Connections for the Air Barrier.
“There are several roofing systems, wall configurations and wall air barrier products,” Paquin-Gould said. “Roy will help attendees understand how they work together to ensure proper compatibility.”
Another key speaker is Melissa Payne, a national building envelope specialist from Tremco. Her focus will be on producing and providing specifications that meet expectations.
“Even today, with so much technology, buildings can sometimes fall short of what’s expected, and this can cause lawsuits and insurance claims,” Paquin-Gould said.
“Melissa will talk about performance specifications that help ensure owners get what they ask for – most importantly a leak-free building. This protects architects, owners – the whole construction team.”
David Leslie, director of technical services and product management at Polyguard Products, will share his insights on process.
Leslie says that the Design-Bid-Build method predominantly used in the construction of new buildings is inefficient and flawed. He’ll share his insights on a solution – The Building Maker.
In addition to four keynote sessions, attendees will also get a chance to talk to about 40 service providers and suppliers at the accompanying trade show.
“We always like to offer some fun at the end of the day too,” Paquin-Gould said. “This year, we’ve lined up New Hampshire-based comedian Juston McKinney. We believe attendees will really enjoy his local humor.”
The Construction Specifications Institute is a non-profit organization committed to improving building construction knowledge. It has 127 chapters across the country.
In addition to the High-Performance Building Conference, CSI – Maine Chapter hosts educational sessions and networking events throughout the year at various locations in Maine.
To learn more about the CSI, the conference, and how to register, visit mainecsi.org.
