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The INTUS Windows Lunch & Learn program is designed to make continuing education practical, engaging, and directly relevant to today's building professionals. Created for architects, designers, specifiers, and project teams, these sessions provide an opportunity to explore the technical topics shaping modern building envelope design—without leaving the workplace. 

Rather than focusing on product promotion, each presentation is built around real-world architectural challenges and practical application. Attendees gain a deeper understanding of how window systems perform, how individual components influence overall building performance, and how informed specification decisions can improve energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and long-term durability. 

"Whether you are new to fenestration or have years of industry experience, I can guarantee you will learn valuable information in our time together. We built our Lunch & Learns around what architects actually need; clear, practical information that supports better design decisions. Every session is focused on delivering new ideas, proven strategies, and actionable details that add value to real projects." 

— Sam Kintzele, Business Development Ambassador at INTUS Windows 

In addition to their educational value, all INTUS Lunch & Learn presentations are AIA-accredited, providing 1 LU | HSW credit. This allows architects to fulfill continuing education requirements while gaining practical knowledge they can immediately apply to current and future projects. 

As the construction industry evolves, so do the technical challenges architects and design professionals face. From increasingly stringent energy codes to advancing façade technologies, staying informed requires ongoing education that reflects current industry practices and project demands. 

To support this need, INTUS continues to expand its Lunch & Learn portfolio with presentations covering topics such as Passive House design, façade systems, commercial fenestration, acoustic performance, and energy-efficient building envelopes. Each session is developed to provide practical insights that help architects make more informed design and specification decisions. 

Understanding how a window performs requires looking beyond the finished product. Every component—from the glazing and frame to the spacers, seals, and hardware—plays a role in determining how effectively the window contributes to the overall performance of the building envelope. 

The Window Components & Performance Lunch & Learn explores how these individual elements work together and why they matter during specification. This session examines the engineering principles behind high-performance window systems and how design decisions influence real-world building outcomes. 

Throughout the presentation, attendees gain a better understanding of how window components contribute to: 

• Energy efficiency, by reducing heat transfer and improving overall thermal performance. 

• Thermal comfort, through better insulation, airtightness, and temperature consistency. 

• Durability, by examining how component selection influences long-term reliability and weather resistance. 

• Acoustic performance, including the role of glazing, seals, and frame design in reducing sound transmission. 

• Whole-window performance, highlighting why evaluating the complete system is more valuable than focusing on individual components alone. 

By connecting these technical concepts to real-world applications, the session helps architects and project teams make more informed specification decisions that support high-performance, long-lasting buildings. 

The Window Components & Performance Lunch & Learn is designed to give architects and design professionals a deeper understanding of how individual window components contribute to the performance of the entire system. By exploring both the anatomy of a high-performance window and the engineering principles behind it, attendees gain practical knowledge that can be applied directly to project specification. 

Understanding the Anatomy of a High-Performance Window 

Every window is made up of multiple components, each with a specific function. While these elements may appear simple in isolation, their interaction determines how well the complete system performs once installed. 

The presentation introduces the purpose and performance contribution of key window components, including: 

• Frames, which provide structural support while influencing thermal efficiency and durability. 

• Sashes, which house the glazing and play an important role in weather resistance and operability. 

• Insulated Glass Units (IGUs), the largest component of the window, responsible for thermal insulation, solar control, and acoustic performance. 

• Spacer systems, which separate the glass panes and help minimize thermal bridging. 

• Hardware, ensuring smooth operation, security, and long-term reliability. 

• Gaskets and seals, which are essential for maintaining airtightness and preventing water infiltration. 

By understanding how these components work together, architects can better evaluate window systems and make more informed specification decisions. 

How Window Components Affect Building Performance 

The presentation goes beyond identifying individual parts by examining how they collectively influence overall building performance. 

Attendees will learn how window components contribute to: 

• Thermal insulation and reduced heat transfer 

• Airtightness and energy efficiency 

• Water resistance and weather protection 

• Structural performance under wind and environmental loads 

• Acoustic performance and occupant comfort 

A key takeaway is the importance of whole-window performance. Rather than evaluating glazing or frames independently, the session demonstrates why the performance of the complete window assembly provides the most accurate indication of how the system will perform in real-world applications. 

Window Materials and System Design 

Material selection and system engineering have a significant impact on window performance. This portion of the presentation explores the differences between common frame materials, the technologies that improve efficiency, and how complete systems are designed to meet increasingly demanding building standards. 

Topics include: 

• Polymer versus aluminum frame systems 

• The role of thermal breaks in reducing heat transfer 

• Glazing options for different climates and project requirements 

• Low-E coatings and solar control technologies 

• Triple glazing and its contribution to energy efficiency 

• The importance of whole-system engineering in delivering long-term performance 

By connecting material selection with overall window performance, attendees gain a clearer understanding of how specification decisions affect energy efficiency, occupant comfort, durability, and the long-term success of the building envelope. 

With so many continuing education opportunities available, architects are looking for sessions that deliver practical value—not just technical theory. INTUS Lunch & Learn presentations are designed to provide knowledge that can be applied directly to real projects, helping design teams make more informed decisions about high-performance building envelopes and fenestration systems. 

Practical, Real-World Education 

Every presentation is built around real design and construction challenges rather than product promotion. Sessions focus on how systems perform in practice, how they are specified, and how design decisions influence energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and long-term building performance. 

Led by Industry Experts 

INTUS Lunch & Learn presentations are delivered by professionals with extensive experience in high-performance windows, façade systems, and building envelope design. This ensures attendees receive practical insights that reflect current industry standards and real project experience. 

Relevant to Today's Projects 

Presentation topics are carefully selected to address the challenges architects face every day—from Passive House and commercial fenestration to acoustics, façade systems, and window performance. The content is designed to support better specifications and more successful project outcomes across residential, commercial, institutional, and retrofit applications. 

AIA Accredited 

All INTUS Lunch & Learn sessions are AIA-accredited, providing 1 LU | HSW credit. Architects can earn valuable continuing education credits while gaining technical knowledge that supports their day-to-day work and professional development. 

Bringing expert-led education to your team is simple. INTUS Lunch & Learn sessions are available in person or virtually, making it easy to fit continuing education into your team's schedule. 

Each presentation can be tailored to your firm's interests, allowing you to focus on the topics most relevant to your projects. Sessions also include dedicated time for questions and discussion, giving architects and design teams the opportunity to explore project-specific challenges with experienced industry professionals. 

Whether your team is interested in Window Components & Performance or another topic within the INTUS educational portfolio, scheduling a session is straightforward. Contact INTUS Windows to arrange a Lunch & Learn and give your team practical insights that support better design decisions, stronger specifications, and higher-performing buildings.