Publications by Team Members

Our team members continuously contribute to education and the dissemination of information within our industry. Click on each title to view a PDF of the article.

• Kottra, C. "Even Superheroes Need a Team to Maximize Superpowers" CAI Magazine, Spring 2024
• Kottra, C. "L"-evating Concrete Facade Restoration to a New Level - A Case Study with Access Challenges"  ICRI Concrete Repair Bulletin, March/April 2022
• Wiscons, M.; Farahmandpour, K.; Seegebrecht, G., . "Key Design Considerations for Concrete Topping Slabs in Split-Slab Construction"  IIBEC Interface, November/December 2021
• Farahmandpour, K.; Lane, M. "Rehabilitation of Michigan Plaza: Testimony To Team Work" Sealant, Waterproofing & Restoration Institute, Applicator Magazine, Summer 2021, Vol. 43, No. 3
• Farahmandpour, K.; Sietmann, C. "The Reroofing of an Iconic Structure in Memphis: Employing Technology to Develop a Suitable Solution" IIBEC Interface, July 2021
• Wiscons, M.  "Don't Forget About City of Chicago Mandated Building Inspections, They are Not Only Limited to Facade Inspections" CAI-Illinois Blog, September 2020. 
• Farahmandpour, K.; Hodgin, D. "Forensic Engineering Assessment of Fault Allocation of Involved Parties in Building Enclosure Defect Cases" IIBEC Interface, April 2020.
• Farahmandpour, K.  "An Unconventional Approach to Curtain Wall Repair, Part 2" Sealant, Waterproofing & Restoration Institute, Applicator Magazine, Spring 2018, Vol. 40, No. 2
• Farahmandpour, K.  "An Unconventional Approach to Curtain Wall Repair, Part 1" Sealant, Waterproofing & Restoration Institute, Applicator Magazine, Winter 2018, Vol. 40, No. 1
• Kottra, C. "Fundamentals of Traffic-Bearing Membranes" RCI Interface, December 2017
• Farahmandpour, K. "Why Would an Associate Member 'Specify' SWR Institute's Contractor Selection Tool (CST)?" Sealant, Waterproofing & Restoration Institute, Applicator Magazine, Spring 2017, Vol. 39 No. 2.
• Aguirre, P. "Understanding the Terminology: Air Barriers, Vapor Retarders, and Water-Resistive Barriers" RCI Interface, January 2017.
• Kottra, C., Summers, J. "EIFS Come and EIFS Go; A Case Study on EIFS Cladding Rehabilitation" RCI Interface, January 2017.
• Wiscons, M.F. and May, J. "Fall Arrest Anchorage: The Right Testing Procedure for your Project" RCI Interface, August 2016.
• Farahmandpour, K; Kottra, C; Maze, S. "Transition Studies: More Pros than Cons" CAI Magazine, Summer 2016.
• Farahmandpour, K; Reicher, P; "Evaluating Water Leakage in Mass Masonry Walls" RCI Interface, February 2016.
• Farahmandpour, K. "Forensic Investigation of Water Leakage Issues into Buildings, Recreating the Leaks Vs. Determining the Cause" Journal of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers, Vol. 32 No. 2, December 2015.
• Farahmandpour, K. "Conventional and Nonconventional Repair of Curtain Wall Systems" This paper was originally presented at and published in the Proceedings for the Symposium on Building Envelope Technology, Nashville, Tennessee, November 9-10, 2015. Copyright, RCI, Inc. Republished with permission.
• Hogan, L. and Farahmandpour, K. "Roof Decks A to Z, Part V: Precast, Prestressed Concrete Tees" RCI Interface, October, 2013.
• Farahmandpour, K. "Are the Benefits of Vegetative Roofs Oversold?"Midwest Roofing Contractors Association, March/April 2011.
• Farahmandpour, K. "Reserve Studies, Their Benefits & Short Falls" Common Interest, Official Magazine of the CAI-Illinois Chapter, Spring 2009, Vol. 14 No. 2.
• Farahmandpour, K. and Summers, J. "Protecting the Building from Moisture: Air Barriers, Vapor Retarders and Weather-Resistive Barriers" Sealant, Waterproofing & Restoration Institute, Applicator Magazine, Winter 2008, Volume 30 No. 4.
• Farahmandpour, K. "Sealant, Waterproofing and Restoration Business, What does the Future Hold?" Sealant, Waterproofing & Restoration Institute, Member Briefs, April 2008.
• Peterson, J. E.; Aguirre, P.; and Whitlock, A. R.  “Influence of Insufficient Water Content on Porosity, Water Permeability and Calcium Carbonate Efflorescence Formation of Masonry Mortars” Tenth North American Masonry Conference Proceedings, St. Louis, Missouri, June 2007.
• Farahmandpour, K. and Summers, J. "Understanding Air Barriers, Vapor Retarders and Weather-Resistive Barriers" CSI Change Order Magazine, November/December 2007, Volume 54 No. 12.
• Farahmandpour, K. and Summers, J. "Air Barriers, Vapor Retarders and Weather-Resistive Barriers: Are They All The Same?" Masonry Magazine, The Voice of the Masonry Industry, July, 2007, Volume 46 No. 7.
• Summers, J. and Farahmandpour, K. "Flushing Out Flashing Basics" Masonry Magazine, The Voice of the Masonry Industry, April, 2007, Volume 46 No. 4.
• Farahmandpour, K. "Plaza Deck, Roofing and Garden Roof Assemblies: What is the Difference?" Change Order, A Publication of the Chicago Chapter CSI, November, 2006, Volume 54 No. 3.
• Farahmandpour, K. "Facing the Challenges of Plaza Deck Waterproofing Rehabilitation" RCI Interface, August, 2006.
• Farahmandpour, K. "Does a Traffic-Bearing Membrane Constitute a Proper Waterproofing System Over Occupied Spaces?" RCI Interface, February 2006.
• Farahmandpour, K., Summers, J. "Essential Elements of Durable Exterior Masonry Walls" RCI Interface, May 2005.
• Farahmandpour, K. "Rehabilitating Plaza Deck Waterproofing Systems," RCI Interface, November 2005.
• Farahmandpour, K. "Choosing a Plaza Deck Assembly," RCI Interface, June/July 2005.
• Summers, J., Farahmandpour, K. "Factors that Diminish the Sustainability of Masonry Walls" Proceedings of The 2004 Symposium on Building Envelope Technology.
• Farahmandpour, K., Youngerman, J. "Reserve Studies: Their Benefits and Shortfalls" ACTHA News Update, April 2004.
• Farahmandpour, K. "Value Engineering of Traditional Clay Tile Dome Roofs, Lessons Learned," RCI Interface, January 2004.
• Farahmandpour, K., Waterston, W. "Implementation of Energy Conservation Codes and Their Impact on the Roofing Industry" Change Order, a Publication of the Chicago Chapter CSI, October 2003, Volume 51 No. 2.
• Farahmandpour, K. "Value Engineering of Traditional Clay Tile Dome Roofs, Lessons Learned," Proceedings of RCI Symposium on Building Envelope Technology, Dallas, TX, 2003.
• Farahmandpour, K. "Considerations for Repair of Concrete Building Facades," RCI Interface, March 2003.
• Farahmandpour, K. "Failure Mechanisms in Liquid-Applied Waterproofing Membranes," Proceedings of 12th International Roofing and Waterproofing Conference.
• Farahmandpour, K., Waterston, W. "Implementation of Energy Conservation Codes and Their Impact on Roof Consultants," RCI Interface, September 2002.
• Farahmandpour, K., Jennings, V., Willems, T., Davis, A. "Evaluation Techniques for Concrete Building Envelope Components," RCI Interface, March 2002.
• Farahmandpour, K. and Willems T. "Evaluation of Liquid-Applied Waterproofing Systems: Case Histories," RCI Interface, October 2001.
• Farahmandpour, K. "How Dry Should Concrete Decks Be...For Application of Liquid-Applied Waterproofing Membranes?" RCI Interface, October 2001.
• Farahmandpour, K. "Repair of Concrete Building Envelope Components," RCI Building Envelope Symposium, Denver, CO, 2001.
• VanGeem, M., Farahmandpour, K., and Gajda, J. "Case Histories of Building Material Problems Caused by Condensation at an Enclosed Swimming Pool and an Enclosed Ice Rink," ASHRAE Thermal VII Conference.
• Farahmandpour, K., Jennings, V., Willems, T., Davis, A. "Symposium - Evaluation Techniques for Concrete Building Envelope Components," RCI Interface, 2000.
• Farahmandpour, K. "Rehabilitation of the Playground at Cook County Juvenile Detention Center, a Waterproofing Challenge," RCI Building Envelope Symposium, Chicago, IL, and Oakland, CA, 1998.
• Seegebrecht, G. Farahmandpour, K., and Gebler, S. "Concrete Repair or Replacement Requires a Thorough Evaluation," New York Construction News, October 31, 1994.
• Farahmandpour, K., and Dubovoy, V.S. "Accelerated Field Test Method for Water Penetration of Masonry," Proceedings of Conference on Nondestructive Evaluation of Civil Structures and Materials, October 1990.