From mass timber towers to heritage retrofits, we support every project type and phase—whether we’re sketching early details, testing full-scale mockups, or reviewing installation in the field. Because enclosures touch every system, we integrate insights from across disciplines—facade engineering, structural detailing, energy modeling, and carbon analysis—to deliver solutions that work, from paper to project completion.
The RDH Difference
Our approach starts with building science and ends with performance in the real world. We navigate the messiness of construction—tight timelines, shifting materials, site constraints—while holding the line on quality and intent.
We think across silos. Our in-house specialists in forensics, monitoring, hygrothermal analysis, and thermal bridging bring a deep understanding of how systems succeed—or fail—over time. By combining technical precision with hands-on experience, we help teams make confident decisions, avoid costly errors, and build smarter.
Whether your priority is durability, decarbonization, constructability, or cost, we align our work to support it.
How Our Values Shape Client Outcomes
- Design-Led, Performance-Informed: We don’t see performance and design as competing goals. Our detailing, sequencing, and material strategies protect the design intent and deliver long-term resilience.
- Informed by the Field: Our advice isn’t theoretical—it’s built on lessons from the job site, the testing lab, and decades of forensic investigations. We know where systems break down, and how to prevent it.
- Integrated Thinking: Building enclosures are the intersection point of multiple disciplines. Our solutions draw on structural, energy, and facade expertise to resolve issues holistically, not in isolation.
- Clear Communication: We help teams stay ahead of issues. Our visual tools, practical documentation, and clear guidance reduce miscommunication and streamline coordination—before construction begins.
Tools That Support Smarter Project Delivery
- Glass Design Matrix – Compares glazing options for energy performance, constructability, and cost at a glance.
- Embodied Carbon Tool – Developed with Toronto Metropolitan University and The Atmospheric Fund to guide early, low-carbon material choices. Open-source and designed for transparency.
- 3D Renderings and Installation Illustrations – Produced in-house to visualize sequencing and avoid trade conflicts.
These tools, along with field testing, full-scale mockups, hygrothermal modeling, and thermal bridging analysis, are fully integrated into our enclosure consulting practice.
Project Spotlights:
The Butterfly | Vancouver, BC
A tower of glass and curves, The Butterfly posed a complex challenge: integrate a new high-rise with a preserved heritage church. RDH worked closely with Bing Thom Architects (now Revery Architecture) to design and sequence transitions between the tower, podium, and historic structure. Our team coordinated extensive performance testing and glazing reviews to help bring this sculptural vision to life—without compromising performance.
22-55 St. Clair Avenue East Rehabilitation | Toronto, ON
This occupied high-rise retrofit demanded a full enclosure replacement—with zero downtime. RDH developed a new high-performance cladding system to reduce air and water leakage, improve energy performance, and enhance occupant wellbeing. We worked with the architect to balance durability, cost, and compliance with city planning goals—all while minimizing disruption to residents.
Google Borregas | Sunnyvale, CA
For Google’s Borregas campus, RDH provided full-scope enclosure consulting for two mass timber buildings designed by Mark Cavagnero Associates and Michael Green Architecture. We led early-phase detailing, developed waterproofing and facade transition strategies, and oversaw mockup testing and glazing reviews.
