By Jenny Yu.  

Learn firsthand from industry experts and be at the forefront of rainscreens in modern construction. 

Architects, builders and engineers will converge in Philadelphia this fall for the RAiNA Conference 2025, “Rainscreen proficiency – The parts, precision and performance,” a one‑day gathering devoted to the next generation of rainscreen design, installation and performance. Organized by RAiNA, the Rainscreen Association in North America, the event will place on November 5, 2025, at the Center for DesignPhiladelphia.  

This is a must-attend event for any industry professional looking to boost their professional network connections and gain the latest insights into industry products. Need more convincing? Here are three reasons the RAiNA Conference is the place you want to be this fall! 

1 – Educational presentations  

The conference promises cutting‑edge presentations on both practical and strategic dimensions of rainscreens — the cladding systems that shield buildings from moisture while allowing for ventilation and drainage. Attendees will learn emerging best practices, technologies and materials that enhance durability, sustainability and design precision. 

Sessions will cover current issues shaping the industry, including performance standards, installation tolerances, design innovation and the role of rainscreens in resilient and sustainable architecture. By attending these sessions, you’ll also have the opportunity to earn up to 5.5 AIA CEUs.  

2 – Expert speakers 

Experts will make complex technical topics accessible, providing attendees with concrete insights to carry back to their workplaces and projects. Some of the key speakers include:  

• Eric Sassak, senior principal of SmithGroup 
• Don Heft, principal of ECO Cladding 
• Kellie Knuff Perkins, business development manager of Nucor Insulated Panel Group 
• Kevin D. Nolan, technical director of Vaproshield 
• Brian Hee, vice president of operations of EDA Contractors 
• Annie Lo, managing director and senior principal, of Walter P Moore and Associates, Inc. 
• Gabrielle Brainard, associate principal and enclosure design specialist of Skidmore, Ownings & Merrill 
• Alex Moshenberg, building envelope specialist of Metro Building Solutions, Inc 

3 – Exclusive discount for RoofersCoffeeShop®! 

RAiNA is extending member pricing to our community at RoofersCoffeeShop. With the code CS_Insider, registrants can attend for just $225 — a savings of $125 off the standard non-member rate. 

Register for the RAiNA Conference and learn more about the agenda, lodging and speakers at the conference website. 

This new Division 01 specification will serve as a critical tool for architects, specifiers and contractors to achieve better performance outcomes in rainscreen wall assemblies.

The Rainscreen Association in North America (RAiNA) has released a new Division 01 specification to establish clear, unified performance requirements for rainscreen wall assemblies, addressing critical gaps in traditional specification practices.

This innovative specification is designed to tie together multiple sections and work scopes to define their collective performance as an integrated assembly. Historically, Division 07 specifications have focused on individual materials without clearly communicating how they contribute to a singular performance goal or how they should be coordinated with adjacent systems. This lack of integration often leads to scope gaps and discontinuities, compromising overall performance.

By shifting assembly performance requirements into Division 01, this specification ensures that materials and components are explicitly identified as working together. This approach provides:

• Clearer design intent: Defines which materials and sections contribute to the overall performance.
• Improved coordination: Reduces gaps and misalignments between different work scopes.
• Enhanced execution expectations: Helps ensure that performance goals are properly met in the field.

As the industry continues to emphasize building resilience, energy efficiency and long-term durability, this new Division 01 specification will serve as a critical tool for architects, specifiers and contractors to achieve better performance outcomes in rainscreen wall assemblies.

The Division 01 specification, RAiNA Section 018323 - Rainscreen Assembly Performance Requirements can be found on the RAiNA website, or by clicking the link below:

https://shorturl.at/mO6R2

About RAiNA

The Rainscreen Association in North America (RAiNA) is the leading authority in United States, Canada and Mexico on rainscreen wall assemblies. Through the combined efforts of a wide cross section of members in the building enclosure industry, RAiNA supports performance-driven rainscreen assemblies that contribute to more durable, resilient, healthy, energy-efficiency and safe buildings.

The RAiNA Awards were established to celebrate projects that showcase the advantages of rainscreen technology.

The Rainscreen Association in North America (RAiNA) is thrilled to announce the winners of the inaugural RAiNA Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in rainscreen design and innovation. The award ceremony, held November 7 in Chicago, celebrated projects that exemplify creativity, technical excellence and sustainability in building envelope performance.

With nine entries submitted from across North America, this first RAiNA Awards saw inspiring examples of the impact that rainscreen systems have in advancing sustainable architecture, safeguarding structures against harsh climates and enhancing the aesthetic and functional potential of building exteriors.

New construction category winner: NSCC Waterfront Campus

The New Construction category was awarded to the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Waterfront Campus, located on Cape Breton Island. Designed by Moriyama and Teshima/Barrie Langille, the NSCC campus is a pioneering example of climate-resilient architecture.

Built with a high-performance, thermally broken rainscreen system, the campus façade withstood the impact of Hurricane Fiona mid-construction, demonstrating its resilience in one of North America’s most challenging coastal environments. In addition to durability, the campus integrates geothermal energy from Sydney Harbour, enabling a net-zero-ready status and providing an environmentally conscious facility for the community. The NSCC Waterfront Campus represents the strength and beauty of sustainable design, showing how rainscreen technology can meet rigorous environmental and accessibility standards.

Retrofit category winner: Lobo Welcome Theater, University of New Mexico

The Retrofit category winner, the University of New Mexico’s Lobo Welcome Theater, showcases bold and adaptable design. Led by ECO Cladding, the project features a dynamic façade with vertically oriented baguettes in seven vibrant colors, offering a visually striking entrance to the theater. These recycled materials reduce thermal bridging, supporting the building’s energy efficiency.

Engineered for flexibility, the cladding system allows individual components to be removed and replaced with ease, facilitating ongoing maintenance while preserving design integrity. This innovative approach reflects both the beauty and functionality of modern rainscreen technology and its ability to enhance energy efficiency and durability.

RAiNA’s commitment to rainscreen innovation

The RAiNA Awards were established to celebrate the pinnacle of our industry, recognizing projects that showcase the advantages of rainscreen technology, and embody RAiNA’s values of integration of expertise, building science-based performance, sustainable, long-lasting building enclosures and design aesthetics. 

About RAiNA

The Rainscreen Association in North America (RAiNA) is the leading authority in United States, Canada and Mexico on rainscreen wall assemblies. Through the combined efforts of a wide cross section of members in the building enclosure industry, RAiNA supports performance-driven rainscreen assemblies that contribute to more durable, resilient, healthy, energy-efficiency and safe buildings.

By Emma Peterson. 

The 2024 RAiNA Conference is the perfect place to brush up on your knowledge of sustainability in the industry! 

On November 7, 2024, you will want to be in Chicago, Illinois so you can watch the future of sustainable and resilient construction unfold at the Rainscreen Association in North American (RAiNA) Conference 2024! Attendees of this conference will have an incredible opportunity to learn from industry experts about pioneering ideas and groundbreaking projects in modern construction. This conference places an emphasis on rainscreens, which can be installed on buildings to manage moisture more efficiently, enhance durability and improve energy efficiency.  

Sponsored by industry leaders like Owens Corning and VaproShield, the RAiNA conference hosts a variety of knowledgeable presenters that will make complex topics accessible and engaging. The education opportunities at this conference not only leave you with a stronger understanding of the latest innovations, research findings, best practices and technological advancements in the industry, but they also provide an opportunity to obtain American Institute of Architects (AIA) continuing education credits! 

The current agenda for this year’s conference features presentations on the modern cladding support systems, a deep dive into the building science of rainscreens, the power of a water resistive barrier and so much more! See the entire agenda of RAiNA’s website!  

If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, there is still time! For RAiNA members, registration costs $195 and for nonmembers it is $245. But, if you are worried about the costs, The Coffee Shops are excited to share that we have a discount code to help! Just use “CoffeeShop_Insider” when you register! 

For more about the RAiNA Conference 2024 visit the conference website! If you’re interested in becoming a RAiNA member or have questions about registration, please email Jenna Xec at the RAiNA administration office.  

In collaboration with and support from their membership, the industry and various trades, this association strives to be the recognized authority on rainscreen wall assemblies in North America. 

The Coffee Shops, the award-winning online communities where the industries meet for technologies, safety, information and education for the construction trades of roofing, metal, coatings, are pleased to welcome the Rainscreen Association in North America (RAiNA) into their community. 

Founded in January 2020, RAiNA is the leading authority on rainscreen assemblies, providing a forum for designers, trades, suppliers and test agencies to come together to determine best practices, stay updated on building codes and address technical concerns across the industry. When you become a member of RAiNA, you work with industry experts to develop technical and marketing data, education and training resources and improve standards to govern rainscreens wall assemblies. 

With this association, you can expect each of its members to contribute to more durable, resilient and energy-efficient buildings. Their values include: 

1 – Integration of expertise: The association looks to the collaboration of design professionals, enclosure consultants, testing agencies, manufacturers and other industry specialists to drive the most effective outcomes. 

2 – Building science-based performance criteria: To choose the best decision about what products to use in building assemblies, measurable, data-driven standards need to be determined. RAiNA emphasizes the importance of choosing topics that can be quantifiably measured to improve the publications and standards around rainscreens. 

3 – Sustainable long-lasting building enclosures: Working together to build properly constructed assemblies ensures that buildings perform effectively over time without needing repairs or to be re-built. This reduces the environmental impact of the industry, keeps buildings working in good condition and ensures building occupants remain safe and healthy. 

4 – Design aesthetics: Rainscreen assemblies support the functionality of a building while also supporting any designer’s vision for the facade. Different materials, colors and textures can be used in almost limitless configurations to create a beautiful building without compromising performance. 

The Coffee Shops are proud to welcome the Rainscreen Association in North America (RAiNA)! 

The RAiNA Awards are open to all RAiNA members and are focused on projects within North America that exemplify superior performance and creativity.

The Rainscreen Association in North America (RAiNA) proudly announces the launch of the RAiNA Awards, an annual program celebrating outstanding achievements in rainscreen design, innovation and construction. These awards aim to recognize projects that exemplify the highest standards of excellence, technical performance, sustainability and aesthetic design in rainscreen systems across North America.

The RAiNA Awards are open to all RAiNA members and are focused on projects within North America that exemplify superior performance and creativity. Categories include new construction and retrofit projects. Winners will be recognized at the RAiNA Annual Conference on November 7, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

The RAiNA Awards serve as a platform to highlight the advancements and technical expertise in rainscreen systems, fostering innovation and best practices across the construction industry. By acknowledging excellence in these areas, RAiNA aims to inspire further development and adoption of rainscreen technology.

Submissions are open until October 11, 2024, and there is no fee to enter. For more details and entry guidelines, please visit the RAiNA Awards website.

About RAiNA

The Rainscreen Association in North America (RAiNA) is the leading authority in United States, Canada and Mexico on rainscreen wall assemblies. Through the combined efforts of a wide cross section of members in the building enclosure industry, RAiNA supports performance-driven rainscreen assemblies that contribute to more durable, resilient, healthy, energy-efficiency, and safe buildings.