John Straube

About John

Dr Straube holds a joint appointment as Associate Professor in both the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department and the School of Architecture at the University of Waterloo where he teaches courses in building science, structural design, material science, and design. He is also a Principal and Senior Specialist at RDH Building Science, a North American engineering consulting firm.

John’s research and practice have focused on the design of durable, energy-efficient, and healthy buildings, and the development of new building systems and products. He has worked around the world on forensic investigations, iconic buildings, new product development, and education. He has developed expertise in heat, air, and moisture physics, building products development, field and laboratory performance monitoring, and environmentally conscious buildings.  Retrofit of existing building enclosures, often historically significant, and managing rainwater leaks and moisture damage has been a focus.

Before joining RDH, he was a Principal at Building Science Corporation from 2006 to 2013, and is the author or co-author of over 100 published technical papers, dozens of articles on the highly acclaimed buildingscience.com website, author of the book High Performance Enclosures and co-author, with Eric Burnett, of Building Science for Building Enclosures. Dr. Straube’s leadership as a building scientist and an educator has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in Building Science Education from the National Consortium of Housing Research Centers (NCHRC).

John's Books

John currently has two books in print, both related to building enclosures (aka envelopes). See below for details and purchasing information.

Building Science for Building Enclosures, Second Edition is an indispensable resource tailored for building professionals, including engineers, architects, and technical specialists involved in the design, construction, operation, maintenance, repair, and renovation of buildings and their enclosures. It is intended to be used as a textbook for students in professional programs. This advanced text focuses on predicting and understanding the hygrothermal (heat, air, and moisture) response of building enclosures, such as walls, windows, roofs, and below-grade construction.
While the book covers common topics like the "Perfect Wall", the fundamental enclosure control layers, and calculating enclosure R-values, it also delves into more advanced concepts, making it a comprehensive guide for both novices and experienced professionals. Some of the advanced topics include:

·       Thermal Bridging: Understand the principles and impacts of thermal bridging on building performance.

·       Surface Temperatures and Condensation: Learn to predict surface temperatures and manage surface and interstitial condensation.

·       Interstitial Condensation: Master the science behind air leakage and vapor diffusion condensation within building enclosures.

·       Moisture Physics: Gain insights into the moisture physics underpinning models such as WUFI, a widely used hygrothermal modeling tool.

·       Air Barriers and Airtightness: The science and practise of control air flow within (convective looping) and through (windwashing and leakage) are covered.  Complex air pressure patterns in buildings, wind washing and convection loops are covered in depth.

·       Rain Penetration Control: Get extensive coverage on controlling rain penetration, testing, and driving rain loads on enclosures.

The text transitions from fundamental physics and material science in earlier chapters to practical applications suitable for all climate regions. It includes worked example calculations of heat flow, vapor diffusion, air leakage condensation, and drying through building enclosures. These explanations and examples are enriched by the authors' combined professional enclosure consulting experience of over 50 years.

Whether you are a seasoned professional looking to deepen your understanding or a student eager to learn, Building Science for Enclosures, Second Edition is an essential addition to your library. It equips you with the knowledge and tools needed to design, build, and maintain high-performance building enclosures.

Building Science for Building Enclosures can be purchased on Amazon: in Canada at Amazon.ca or in the US at Amazon.com.

High Performance Enclosures: Design Guide for Institutional, Commercial and Industrial Buildings in Cold Climates provides guidance for architects, building enclosure engineers, and students working to meet the growing need for buildings that have significantly lower operational energy consumption, less thermal bridging, more airtightness and improved rainwater penetration resistance.  Illustrated with well over 100 full-colour drawings.

John Straube addresses a range of practical questions about low energy building enclosures that save energy while simultaneously improving durability, comfort, and rain control: How much of an impact can the enclosure, massing, and orientation have? How much glazing is appropriate and what options are available? How much does thermal bridging matter and how can it be minimized at difficult structural details? How does one detail thick layers of continuous insulation outside of steel stud walls? Can layers of insulating sheathing reduce the risk of moisture damage?

High Performance Enclosures is currently only available for purchase through the Building Science Press website.

How to Contact John

To book John as a speaker, please contact him directly at jfstraube@rdh.com or via RDH at

RDH Building Science, Waterloo office:
167 Lexington Court, Unit 6
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2J 4R9
Phone: (519) 342-4731
Email:  wat@rdh.com

For consulting enquiries, please contact the RDH office at the address above.