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February 2-4, 2027 | Las Vegas, NV

Can You Spot the Failure Before It’s Built? The Building Science Challenge.

Presentation

Most building failures don’t begin with poor construction—they begin with design decisions made months earlier.

In this interactive session, attendees become building science detectives. Using photographs, plans, wall sections, and details from real kitchen and bathroom projects, participants will examine each assembly and decide: Will this succeed, or will it fail?

Audience members will vote before the answers are revealed, then explore the building science behind each outcome. Every example becomes an opportunity to understand how moisture, air movement, vapor, heat, ventilation, and material selection influence durability, indoor air quality, comfort, and long-term performance.

Rather than focusing on products or code requirements, this session teaches attendees how to think from first principles—recognizing hidden risks before construction begins and making better design decisions regardless of budget or product selection.

Participants will leave with a practical framework for evaluating kitchen and bathroom details through the lens of building science, helping them create spaces that are not only beautiful but healthier, more resilient, and built to last.

Speakers

Chris Laumer-Giddens
Chris Laumer-GiddensPrincipal Architect, LG Squared, Inc.

More Information

Capacity Unlimited:No
Learning Objectives:• Identify common building science failures in kitchen and bathroom designs before construction begins. • Evaluate how air, water, vapor, and thermal control layers influence durability, comfort, and indoor air quality. • Apply first-principles building science to make more informed design decisions independent of specific products or manufacturers. • Recognize coordination opportunities between interior designers, architects, engineers, and contractors that improve long-term building performance.
On-Demand:No
Option for On-Demand:Yes
Presentation Approach:An interactive building science challenge where attendees analyze real kitchen and bath details, vote on success or failure, and uncover the physics behind every outcome.