A listing of useful links Matthew maintains for reference during the home construction process. Contact him with anything you can’t locate, he is happy to help.
Building Codes and Reference Materials:
International Residential Code (2021) [Single Family and Duplex]
International Residential Code (2018)
International Residential Code (2012)
International Building Code (2018) [3 or more housing units]
Chapter 11 – Accessibility (2018) [3 or more housing units]
Standards for Accessible Design (2010)
International Existing Building Code (2018) [3 or more housing units]
International Mechanical Code (2018)
International Plumbing Code (2018)
International Electrical Code (2018)
International Fire Code (2018)
International Green Construction Code (2018)
U.S. Dept. of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home Program
Carbon Smart Materials Palette (Architecture 2030)
Biological Age: Material Ecology (MIT Media Lab)
American Wood Council (2018)
Recommended Minimum Requirements for Small Dwelling Construction (1923)
Allegheny County Real Estate Assessments
Allegheny County Topography Maps
City of Pittsburgh Zoning Map
City of Pittsburgh Zoning Ordinance Code
City of Pittsburgh – Top Ten Code Violations (Weeds 302.4)
Audubon Society – Western PA Natives Plants
Journal of Light Construction
Masonry Mortar Mixes
Ten Drawings that changed Architecture
Internet Archive (Books, Movies, Music)
Windy.com
NOAA GOES-13 SXI Telescope
Building Officials and Permit Applications:
Bradford Woods (John Swinderman)
Cranberry Township (Jeffrey Musher)
Fox Chapel (Paul Bell)
Franklin Park (Timothy Phillips)
Marshall Township (Phillip MacMillan)
McCandless Township (Jeff Frazier)
Pine Township (John Swinderman)
Pittsburgh (Daniel Feeney)
Pittsburgh Active Building Permit Search
Pittsburgh Zoning Map
Richland Township (Jeff Walzer)
Sewickley (Nancy Watts)
Sewickley Heights (Denis Ranalli)
Construction Apps and Design Programs:
Construction Master Pro (Feet/Inches Calculator)
Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (Carbon Leadership Forum)
Smart Measure (Distance Range-Finder)
RoomScan Pro (Existing Floor Plan Generator)
Wood Beam Pro (Sizing Calculator)
Steel Joist and Deck Span Tables (New Millennium)
One Page Calculations (Structural Design)
Speck (CMU Create Lab Indoor Air Quality Monitor)
Project Color (VR Visualizer)
Pantone Color Guide (RGB/CMYK Converter)
Houzz (Ideabook Organizer)
Dollar Street (World Houses Visualizer)
SunCal (Solar Angle Calculator)
Google Earth (Topography Modeling)
eQUILIBRIUM (Graphic Statics Structural Design)
Lego Digital Designer (Building Software)
Minecraft (Building Software)
SketchBook (2D Drawing Software)
AutoSketch (2D Drafting Software)
TiltBrush (3D Drawing Software)
SketchUp (3D Modeling Software)
Google Cardboard (Virtual Reality Viewer)
VIVE (Virtual Reality Viewer)
Kubity (Virtual Reality Software)
REScheck Web (Energy Code Compliance)
Matthew’s Music Playlist while Designing and Drafting:
