Please note a correction to our previous announcement. The event has been rescheduled to Wednesday, September 24th, not the date previously stated. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused and appreciate your understanding. We look forward to seeing you at the event on the updated date.
Advancing Structural Resilience and Energy Efficiency through Research and Innovation
The Bronco Construction Research Center (BCRC) at Western Michigan University is leading several funded initiatives aimed at improving building performance, affordability, and resilience in the face of natural hazards and energy demands. Together, these projects bridge fundamental research, applied testing, and market translation.
The first effort, funded by the International Code Council (ICC) in collaboration with Clemson University, is titled “Promoting Housing Affordability through the I-Codes”. This project evaluates and modernizes selected chapters of the International Residential Code (IRC)—with emphasis on structural and mechanical systems—to identify modifications that reduce construction costs while preserving safety. By integrating industry feedback, the project seeks to enhance both affordability and code clarity.
A second award, supported by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), focuses on “Thermal Optimization for Energy-Efficient Buildings”. This research develops retrofit strategies that move Michigan buildings toward net-zero performance. Our work will provide both simulation-based insights and practical guidance for improving thermal envelopes, offering benefits for residential and commercial applications.
The third effort, supported by the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program, extends our structural research on adhesives with the project “Translation Potential of Adhesive-Based Wind Damage Mitigation Systems”. This initiative evaluates the commercialization potential of adhesive retrofitting solutions as alternatives to traditional mechanical connectors, particularly for light-frame wood structures under high wind loads.
These projects are built upon recent peer-reviewed publications by our group in Journal of Structural Engineering (2023), Engineering Structures (2021), and Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering (2020). Collectively, this work advances the understanding of adhesive-enhanced connections and shear walls, addressing fatigue, uplift, and lateral performance under wind and cyclic loading.
The presentation will highlight technical insights from these studies, discuss how they overlap across the domains of resilience, affordability, and energy efficiency, and outline pathways toward more durable, sustainable, and cost-effective building practices.
Presented By: Bilal Alhawamdeh Ph.D. - Senior Research Associate - WMU Bronco Construction Research Center, Ondrej Pekarovic - R&D Engineer, WMU Bronco Construction Research Center
Speaker Bio
Bilal Alhawamdeh, Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Structures), is a Senior Research Associate at Western Michigan University's Bronco Construction Research Center, where he leads projects on building envelope integrity, innovative materials, and natural hazard resistance. His expertise includes working closely with industry partners on research and development projects to address practical structural performance and sustainability challenges. Dr. Alhawamdeh has authored over seven peer-reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings, including elastomeric adhesive applications to enhance wood-frame structures' wind and seismic resilience.
Ondrej Pekarovic, Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, is a Research and Development Engineer at the WMU Bronco Construction Research Center. Ondrej has over 16 years of diverse engineering experience across mechanical, civil, energy systems, automation fields, and natural building. In the R&D Engineering role, Ondrej focuses on designing and developing large and small-scale testing programs, advancing research on structural resilience, natural building practices and improving energy-efficient building solutions. He collaborates with faculty and Ph.D. students to explore cutting-edge methods for enhancing building envelope performance and creating beyond-code construction solutions.
This course will award 1 hour of continuing education.
Agenda:
Registration: 11:30 AM
Lunch: 12:00 PM
Presentation: 12:30 PM
Cost:
$20 SEAMi and NCSEA/ASCE Members
$25 Non-members
Free for students
Note: $5 late charge for registrations received after Friday, September 12, 2025.
Late cancellations may not be refundable.
We look forward to seeing you there!