2026 BES Session: Engineering Judgment: Practical Decision Making for Existing Masonry Facades (Ruther L., Will R.)

Engineering Judgment: Practical Decision Making for Existing Masonry Facades

(Ruther L., Will R.)

Course Overview
This session was originally presented at the 2026 IIBEC Building Enclosure Symposium in Indianapolis, Indiana.  This course includes the following components:

• recording of the live session
• a summative assessment consisting of 10 multiple-choice questions
• two surveys required to claim continuing education credit

Description
While design and construction of new building facades are typically guided by well-defined building codes and industry standards, repair of existing facades, particularly historic masonry systems, rarely benefits from such clarity. Engineers and architects are often left navigating layers of ambiguity: Do we know enough about the original facade composition? How have the materials aged? Which historical construction methods or support systems were used? What assumptions are reasonable? How do we interpret distress when documentation is limited? Is formal analysis necessary, and what if its results don’t match observed behavior? Which code(s) should apply: modern, historical, or a combination? In these contexts, engineering judgment becomes a critical element of the repair design process, often dependent on the experience of those who came before us. It requires a nuanced understanding of how these systems were built, how they behave, and where “on paper” analysis diverges from decades of serviceable performance. It also raises the question of how we effectively transfer this knowledge to the next generation. Through masonry case studies, this session will demonstrate how engineering judgment shaped successful repair solutions and highlight how critical thinking can be passed on through hands-on learning at in-house workshops.

Speaker/Author

Leah Ruther, PE Senior Associate Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc.

Rachel Will, PEng Principal and Executive Director of Knowledge Sharing Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc.

Course Access
Courses are accessible in LearnUpon for one year from the date of purchase.

Course Recommended Prerequisite(s)
A basic understanding of how masonry facades are constructed, how they age, and common signs of distress. Some familiarity with historic versus modern materials, general facade inspection methods, and the basics of building code considerations for existing structures will be helpful to follow the session effectively.

IIBEC Core Competencies:

Exterior Walls

Knowledge Level:

Advanced (15+ years)

Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in the session content at the 2026 IIBEC Building Enclosure Symposium are those of the content author(s)/speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC). IIBEC makes no warranty, whether express or implied, as to the completeness, accuracy or validity of the information provided.

Credit Start Date August 10, 2026               
Credit Expiration Date  August 10, 2029

Continuing Education Credit Statement
This course is approved for 1.0 IIBEC CEH
This course is approved for  1.0 AIA LU/HSW
AIA Course Number: BES26_15_OD
AIA Provider Number: G024

Continuing Education Credit Claim Information

To claim IIBEC CEHs and download a Certificate of Completion, learners are required to complete all components of the course, including a passing score of 70% or higher on the summative assessment.  Participants are provided unlimited attempts to complete the summative assessment with a passing score of 70% or higher.

• After completing the course requirements download a Certificate of Completion. 
• Participants are responsible for self-reporting IIBEC CEH credit by uploading their Certificate of Completion to their IIBEC Portal. For assistance in self-reporting CEHs, please reach out to: cehs@iibec.org
• If you are a member of AIA and would like IIBEC to report your participation in the course to AIA, there is a place in the course evaluation survey to input your AIA member number.

AIA CES Provider statement

IIBEC is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider G024. All registered AIA CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs.  Any questions or concerns about this provider or this learning program may be sent to AIA CES (cessupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).

This learning program is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.