Track and panel building system

Abstract

A building system includes a plurality of panels. Each of the panels includes a plurality of studs configured to serve as structural members and a polymeric block including a structural layer defined by the width of the studs and an offset layer. The offset layer extends in an interior direction from the structural layer. Upper and lower lengthwise notches may be included in the offset layer of the polymeric block. Non-structural elements are installed in the upper and lower lengthwise notches for use in mounting interior elements (e.g., wall cladding) to the interior side of the panels

1 . A building system, comprising:
 a plurality of panels, each of at least two of the panels comprising:
 a plurality of studs configured to serve as structural members; 
 a polymeric block comprising:
 a structural layer defined by the width of the studs, wherein the structural layer comprises opposing lateral edges; 
 an offset layer, wherein the offset layer extends in an interior direction from the structural layer, wherein the offset layer comprises opposing lateral edges, 
 
 wherein the at least one panel further comprises: 
 a first end; 
 a second end opposite the first end, 
 wherein, at one of the first end and the second end, the lateral edge of the structural layer extends beyond the lateral edge of the offset layer, and, 
 wherein, at the other of the first end and the second end, the lateral edge of the offset layer extends beyond the lateral edge of the structural layer, 
   one or more tracks configured to couple with at least some of the studs of the plurality of panels such that the panels form one or more walls of a building,   wherein adjacent ones of the panels are configured to couple with one another at their lateral ends in a lap joint.   
     
     
         2 . The building system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more corner pieces, wherein at least one of the corner pieces is configured to couple two panels with one another to form at a corner of the building. 
     
     
         3 . The building system of  claim 2 , further comprising one or more corner pieces, wherein at least one of the corner pieces is configured to couple two panels with one another to form at a corner of the building, wherein the corner pieces is joint to at least one of the panels by a half-lap joint. 
     
     
         4 . The building system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the corner pieces is configured to create exterior right angle corner at the junction between two panels, wherein at least one other of the corner pieces is configured to create an interior right angle corner at the junction between two panels. 
     
     
         5 . The building system of  claim 1 , wherein the offset layer of the polymeric block of at least one of the panels comprises an upper lengthwise notch. 
     
     
         6 . The building system of  claim 1 , wherein the offset layer of the polymeric block of at least one of the panels comprises a lower lengthwise notch. 
     
     
         7 . The building system of  claim 1 , further comprising one non-structural tack member coupled to at least one of the non-structural members. 
     
     
         8 . The building system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the one or more non-structural tack members is installed in an upper step in the polymeric block of at least one of the panels. 
     
     
         9 . The building system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the one or more non-structural tack members is installed in a lower step in the polymeric block of at least one of the panels. 
     
     
         10 . The building system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the panels further comprises an interior wall element coupled to at least one of the non-structural tack members. 
     
     
         11 . The building system of  claim 10 , wherein the interior element comprises interior wall cladding. 
     
     
         12 . The building system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the panels comprises one or more non-structural interior studs or hat channels in the offset layer of the polymeric block. 
     
     
         13 . The building system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the panels further comprises one or more chases in the offset layer of the polymeric block. 
     
     
         14 . The building system of  claim 1 , wherein the structural layers of the panels are configured to couple with roof structural elements in accordance with at least one building code. 
     
     
         15 . The building system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the panels is a window header panel. 
     
     
         16 . The building system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the panels is a window sill panel. 
     
     
         17 . The building system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the panels is a door header panel. 
     
     
         18 . A building system, comprising:
 a plurality of panels, each of at least two of the panels comprising:
 a plurality of studs configured to serve as structural members; 
 a polymeric block comprising:
 a structural layer defined by the width of the studs, wherein the structural layer comprises opposing lateral edges; 
 an offset layer, wherein the offset layer extends in an interior direction from the structural layer, wherein the offset layer comprises opposing lateral edges, 
 
 wherein the at least one panel further comprises: 
 a first end; 
 a second end opposite the first end; and 
   one or more tracks configured to couple with at least some of the studs of the plurality of panels such that the panels form one or more walls of a building,   wherein at least one of the panels comprises one or more upper or lower lengthwise notches in the offset layer of the polymeric block.   
     
     
         19 . A building system, comprising:
 a plurality of panels, each of at least two of the panels comprising:
 a plurality of studs configured to serve as structural members; 
 a polymeric block comprising:
 a structural layer defined by the width of the studs, wherein the structural layer comprises opposing lateral edges; 
 an offset layer, wherein the offset layer extends in an interior direction from the structural layer, wherein the offset layer comprises opposing lateral edges, 
 
 wherein the at least one panel further comprises: 
 a first end; 
 a second end opposite the first end; 
   one or more corner pieces configured to couple with adjacent panels to form a corner in a wall of a building; and   one or more tracks configured to couple with at least some of the studs of the plurality of panels such that the panels form one or more walls of a building.   
     
     
         20 . A method of building, comprising:
 installing one or more lower tracks on a foundation;   installing one or more corner pieces on at least one of the lower tracks;   installing two or more panels on one or more of the tracks to form two or more walls, wherein at least one of the panels comprises an interior offset layer;   coupling at least two of the panels with the at least one corner piece, wherein one of the wall panels installed in a different direction from the corner piece than at least one other of the wall panels; and   installing one or more upper track pieces on the wall panels.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the corners is an interior corner of the building. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the corners is an exterior corner of the building. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the panels is coupled to at least one other panel by way of a lap joint. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the corner panels is coupled to at least one of the corner pieces by way of a lap joint. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising installing one or more non-structural members in an interior notch of at least one of the panels. 
     
     
         26 . A panel, comprising:
 a plurality of studs configured to serve as structural members;   a polymeric block comprising:
 a structural layer defined by the width of the studs, wherein the structural layer comprises opposing lateral edges; 
 an offset layer, wherein the offset layer extends in an interior direction from the structural layer, wherein the offset layer comprises opposing lateral edges, 
   wherein at least one of the panels comprises one or more upper or lower lengthwise notches in the offset layer of the polymeric block.   
     
     
         27 . A panel, comprising:
 a plurality of studs configured to serve as structural members;   a polymeric block comprising:
 a structural layer defined by the width of the studs, wherein the structural layer comprises opposing lateral edges; 
 an offset layer, wherein the offset layer extends in an interior direction from the structural layer, wherein the offset layer comprises opposing lateral edges, 
   wherein the at least one panel further comprises:   a first end;   a second end opposite the first end,   wherein, at one of the first end and the second end, the lateral edge of the structural layer extends beyond the lateral edge of the offset layer, and,   wherein, at the other of the first end and the second end, the lateral edge of the offset layer extends beyond the lateral edge of the structural layer.   
     
     
         28 . A corner piece for connecting adjacent building panels at a corner of a building, comprising:
 a polymeric block comprises two or more faces;   one or more structural members coupled to the polymeric block,   wherein the corner piece is configured to couple with a first panel in a first direction and a second panel in a second direction.   
     
     
         29 . The corner piece of  claim 28 , wherein the corner piece is configured to couple with at least one panel in a lap joint. 
     
     
         30 - 58 . (canceled)