The W.J. Higgins Story

Built Upon Healthy Wall Solutions

As a quality assurance expert for a window manufacturer, Wes Higgins spent years investigating failing building envelopes. Through his work, he discovered that traditional construction methods actually contributed to failures by sealing moisture within the wall, causing mold and decay.

In 1988, while participating in a project incorporating European rainscreen principles, Wes saw first-hand how open-joint construction methods reduce moisture. Wes spent the next six years studying “healthy wall” solutions, including the rainscreen principle, and established W.J. Higgins & Associates in 1994 to provide the industry with a comprehensive resource for creating exterior wall envelopes with enhanced integrity and longevity.

Continually Raising the Bar for Excellence

Today, W.J. Higgins & Associates is at the forefront of designing quality exterior wall assemblies that last the life of your building. We continue our commitment to excellence through:

Direct access to current technological research
Training from the most renowned window and cladding universities of Europe
Experience gained at nationwide job sites
Forensic investigations

Testimonials

Glass Solutions, Inc
WJ Higgins is the “Burger King” of the drafting and engineering world. In other words, YOU can have it “Your Way”. Glass Solutions credits Team Higgins with much of our success and our ability to take on more complex and sophisticated projects knowing in advance we will be able to provide our customers with an end result the owner will be happy with.
Tom Hill - Glass Solutions, Inc
West Bend Mutual
Your ability to bring subject matter expertise to the table without bringing stakeholders on the defensive was extremely constructive. In helping to establish solutions, your efforts remained focused on building performance and not placing blame. This very collaborative approach helped drive us to an effective conclusion that was acceptable to all.
Randy Stark - Director of Facilities, West Bend Mutual
Larson Engeineering
Larson Engineering has been using WJ Higgins for over 15 years and that is testament to their quality and service to their clients. Larson has full confidence that a project performed by Higgins will be completed accurately and professionally resulting in a successful project for all parties involved.
Kevin J. Wisniewski - S.E., P.E., Curtain Wall Department Head
Guthrie Theater
The operable windows turned out to be a great success. Its immense size and weight made the mechanical/functional aspects of the design extremely challenging. However, WJH&A's capability to combine these challenges with the aesthetic elegance of the design appearance was truly amazing. To this day, (it) remains fully operational and completely weather-tight.
John Pfeifer - McGough Construction
O’Hare Tower
WJH&A's capabilities, confidence, and conviction in every project they are involved in made them the clear cut choice to supply Pohl Inc. of America with a complete engineering package, including drafting and design requirements, that this complicated and prolific project required.
Dennis C. Forsling - Vice President of Operations, Pohl Inc. of America