Imagine a shopping mall that doesn’t need air conditioning, even in the height of summer; a restaurant patio that can stay open year-round; or a beautiful office atrium that’s open to sunny skies with a soaring glazed roof that opens when the weather’s nice - but closes up at the first sign of rain.

You often hear the term “green building” as consumers seek to purchase homes that are often built using recycled materials or are low in energy usage. Both are important goals, but they must be pursued in a way that preserves a home’s ability to manage and repel moisture.

Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) single-ply roofing membranes have an excellent history in commercial roofing; however they are constructed using organic polymers that can be damaged by extreme heat, sunlight and UV.

When the City of Minneapolis needed to replace the nearly two-decades-old roof of the Target Center, the Upper Midwest’s premier entertainment facility, it took a decidedly progressive approach.

When Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois (HPNI) made plans to build the Pepper Family Home and Center for Care in Barrington, Ill., the healthcare provider wanted to do things differently.

The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center serves as both a museum and a scientific research facility for individuals interested in how the ecosystem functions at the confluence of the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois rivers.

Solaleya Design first introduced its Domespace house to the U.S. market in 2007. The design, utilizing a motor to rotate the entire structure relative to the sun to increase or decrease solar collection, was intended to dramatically reduce energy consumption versus traditional housing.

GAF Materials Corporation celebrates its 125th anniversary this month. Asked about the company’s success, GAF President and CEO Bob Tafaro singled out a key factor: “There are many reasons why GAF has survived all of these years. But none of them is as remarkable as one - and that’s innovation.

In February, President Obama announced the Better Buildings Initiative, a multi-pronged effort to make commercial buildings 20 percent more energy efficient over the next decade by encouraging private sector investment through incentives to upgrade schools, universities and municipal facilities, as well as offices, stores and other commercial buildings.