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Denver may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of seismic activity, but movement is a fact of life in every building envelope. From thermal expansion to wind drift and seismic shifts, these forces can compromise structural integrity if not properly managed. For the Legacy Building at the National Western Center, this reality shaped the design process from day one.
The 2025 Fall Technical Meeting of the Sealant, Waterproofing, and Restoration (SWR) Institute was held on October 5–7 in Boston. This annual event brings together top professionals and companies from across the industry to meet, network, learn, collaborate and have some fun together.
Fire protection is a critical part of any building design and expansion joint fire barriers play an essential role in that system. Architects must integrate these barriers to ensure occupancy safety and comply with modern construction codes.
One fundamental fact in construction is that the ground is always shifting. Modern architecture is designed to adapt and move along with these changes — that’s where seismic expansion joints enter the picture.
Day in and day out, parking structures battle traffic, weather and wear. Keeping them strong and secure requires a layered defense — beginning with thoughtful design and extending through waterproofing, deck coatings and well-maintained expansion joint covers and seals.
When it comes to stadium design, expansion joints are essential. These massive, high-traffic structures endure constant stress from weight, weather and movement. Expansion joint covers and seals used in stadium applications are designed to absorb those forces, stand up to heavy foot traffic and help safeguard tens of thousands of people at once.
Roof expansion joints are essential to any roofing system, designed to absorb movement from thermal shifts, seismic activity and structural settling.
Expansion joints aren’t just a building necessity — they’re a design superpower. When used strategically, they become one of the most powerful tools architects and builders have for ensuring both resilience and performance in the building envelope.
In most commercial buildings expansion joints are a fact of life. These joints are necessary to accommodate expected building movements due to thermal changes, wind sway and differential movement typically caused by seismic events. When these joints occur in a fire-rated floor or wall a product or system must be used that has been rated to that same level. This means if the joint occurs in a 2-hour rated floor assembly the expansion joint system used to fill the joint must also be rated for 2 hours. Per current building codes, these joint assemblies must be tested at an accredited testing agency such as Underwriters Laboratories or Intertek and be tested in accordance with ASTM E-1966 or UL 2079 test standards.