Water Penetration Testing in Seattle

Husky Stadium in Seattle has long been recognized as one of the most iconic sports venues in the Pacific Northwest, and QED LAB was proud to play a role in its third major remodel. Located along the shore of Lake Washington, the stadium renovation focused not only on modernization and fan experience, but also on sustainability, durability, and long-term building performance. As part of the project team, QED LAB contributed specialized building envelope testing services to help verify the performance of critical exterior systems during construction.

Today, Husky Stadium remains the largest stadium in the Pacific Northwest for professional and collegiate football. Home to the University of Washington Huskies, the facility is known nationwide for its waterfront setting, large seating capacity, and exposure to Seattle’s demanding weather conditions. Because of the Pacific Northwest climate, building envelope performance was a major priority throughout the renovation process. Extensive efforts were made to improve energy efficiency, reduce air leakage, and strengthen weather resistance throughout the stadium.

QED LAB’s scope included multiple forms of building envelope testing in Seattle designed to evaluate the performance of the exterior wall, window, glazing, and air barrier systems. Water penetration testing in Seattle played a critical role in confirming that exterior assemblies could resist wind-driven rain and moisture intrusion. Air intrusion testing in Seattle was also performed to identify uncontrolled air leakage through building envelope components that could negatively affect energy efficiency and occupant comfort.

Air barrier testing in Seattle is essential for large commercial projects like Husky Stadium because uncontrolled air movement can lead to condensation, moisture damage, and higher energy consumption. By evaluating the continuity and effectiveness of the building’s air barrier system, project teams can confirm that the structure meets modern performance standards and long-term durability goals.

Window testing in Seattle was another important part of the remodel process. Large stadium projects require high-performance glazing systems capable of resisting moisture intrusion, structural movement, and environmental exposure over decades of use. Testing helps verify proper installation and confirms that curtain wall and window systems meet project specifications before the building is fully completed.

Blower door testing in Seattle is commonly used on high-performance buildings to measure overall building airtightness and identify areas of excessive air leakage. This type of testing helps improve energy efficiency while supporting occupant comfort and building durability. Large facilities like Husky Stadium benefit significantly from whole-building airtightness evaluations because even small air leaks across a massive structure can create long-term operational inefficiencies.

Several industry standards are commonly used during building envelope testing and façade performance evaluations on projects like this, including ASTM E1105 for field water penetration testing, ASTM E783 for air leakage testing through installed windows and doors, ASTM E1186 for locating air leakage paths, ASTM E3158 for whole building air leakage testing, ASTM E331 for laboratory water penetration testing, and AAMA 501.2 for quality assurance and diagnostic water leakage testing. These standards help ensure consistent testing procedures and reliable performance verification across commercial construction projects.

Seattle’s wet climate makes professional building envelope testing especially important for commercial buildings, stadiums, universities, and public facilities. Moisture intrusion and uncontrolled air leakage can create serious long-term performance problems if not identified during construction. Through specialized testing procedures and quality assurance services, QED LAB helps ensure that buildings are prepared to withstand Seattle’s challenging environmental conditions.

QED LAB is proud to support complex projects throughout Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Being part of the Husky Stadium remodel was an exciting opportunity to contribute to one of the region’s most recognizable landmarks while helping support sustainability, resilience, and long-term building performance.