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Designing for unpredictable situations is one of the biggest and most important challenges for architects, engineers, and the building community. Tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes are seemingly random, but can be devastatingly fierce when they arrive. In the face of such unpredictability, there are some things the industry can count on—improved products, more reliable third-party testing, and increasingly stringent building codes and standards. While hurricane and seismic products and code changes have been under development for many years, tornado mitigation is still in its infancy comparatively. When designing a school or emergency facility in a high wind zone, the three most important questions are:

•	whether appropriate products are available;
•	how they fit into the budget; and
•	whether they will work as expected.

 

 

 

Specifying flooring that will not be slippery even when it can get wet or otherwise lubricated in use is critical for safety purposes. The 2012 International Building Code (IBC) lays out slip resistance, but there are weaknesses with the requirements—not least of all in that it places a burden on flooring specifiers in particular. Design professionals must be able to justify using a specific flooring under various circumstances (e.g. lobby, restroom, swimming pool deck, and commercial kitchen), and understand how to use flooring that does not meet IBC’s wet slip resistance requirement.

 

 

 

Well-known for its beauty and durability, granite offers numerous design benefits. However, a less familiar advantage is its versatility—particularly when multiple finishes are applied. Today, design teams are selecting one granite type, choosing several finishes, and achieving great variety, texture, and appeal. A project with only one type of stone does not mean a monotonous look. In fact, the more subtle contrast of one stone type with multiple finishes versus a more stark contrast of different stones can make a beautiful statement. Additionally, using one stone can reduce the number of pieces requiring installation, which also reduces the joints between pieces. Therefore, a more defined break from finish to finish is achieved. This article looks at several projects to show how using different finishes with the same material can achieve functional, coordinated spaces.