Charles, your comment alludes
Charles, your comment alludes to a “newer, better way” that might replace stud framing. What are you referring to? Or am I misunderstanding your comment?

Cal there is a term used
Cal there is a term used which is “it depends” which applies to a lot of stuff we do. Lets start with the easy one first though – the builder is flat out wrong, 2×6 @ 24 OC can be used everywhere though in seismic areas it might require other measures to help meet the engineering requirements. Strength wise it is a wash though you get the benefit of being able to add more insulation into the bay though that isn’t where I would really want it

You want objective data – first you need to spell out the requirements in full & then send to an engineer to crunch the numbers. Huh, well before people started to sexy up the name to get more mainstream attraction it was called OVE – Optimized Value Engineering. Now there are certain components that don’t require it, like swapping from 2×4 @16 to 2×6 @24, using 3 stud corner, ladders, etc… but others need a good layer of understanding (single top plate) & depending on your area an engineers stamp of approval

I’m also interested in learning about the regional differences in these techniques. One builder told me 2×6 @ 24″ OC advanced framing cannot be used in climate zones 1-4, and referenced page 6 of this APA document: http://www.apawood.org/data/sharedfiles/documents/m400.pdf
Another way to interpret that document is that in climate zone 1-4 it is possible to meet the Energy Star requirement with 2×6 @ 16″ oc using advanced framing, but the 16″ is the minimum spacing, and you can increase the spacing to higher than 16″ and thereby increase the efficiency…

With the foam or mineral wool
With the foam or mineral wool in the center, the load is transferred equally through the headers to the stud. If the headers are to one side to make room for insulation on the outside, then the load is not evenly transferred to the stud. You might observe a stud bowing out after several years of off-balance load.

Advanced framing isn’t very
Advanced framing isn’t very common in high wind areas (Midwest, Texas, etc). Builders are afraid that 2×6 24″oc framing will get blown down unlike 2×6 or 2×4 on 16″oc or so I’ve read from Texas builders that have engineering degrees and “30 yrs” experience. Then there’s the obligatory “You can’t hang anything on your walls” or “you’ll put your hand on the wall and punch right through the drywall”.

Thanks, Sean. Yeah, I

Thanks, Sean. Yeah, I realized after another commenter pointed it out that I was calling that a 2-stud corner when it’s really a 3-stud California corner. I had just been reading the DOE factsheet (which Southface helped put together and you probably got a copy of in your HERS binder) and they discuss the 2-stud corner there. I don’t know if I’ve ever actually seen a 2-stud corner in the wild. Mostly I see the California corners. I’ve updated the article to show both 2-stud and 3-stud corners.

Foam placement is dependent
Foam placement is dependent on what you might be doing – placing it inside can interfere with drape placement, outside with trim or awning’s (though if you use plywood that point is moot). Ideal placement is also on outside for me though I have done inside.

FYI Allison that is a three stud corner you have pictured, a two stud corner does not have that one long one to catch drywall & instead people rely on drywall clips. http://thehtrc.com/2012/common-sense-ove-framing – shoot I need to find the picture of the 2.5 corner I have that a builder does

I agree, Ryan. In the Pacific

I agree, Ryan. In the Pacific Northwest, these things are intermediate, or perhaps even more basic. Here in the Southeast, this is definitely “advanced” framing. See that article I wrote right before this one and take a look at the joists running across the top of the wall separating the garage and the living space. That same house had all the standard T-walls and cold corners. I don’t think this is just a problem in the Southeast, though. Maybe some of the Midwesterners and others reading this will chime in and let us know what they see.

Good to know, I have placed
Good to know, I have placed foam in all three locations, in, out and middle and like outside best for the reason you mentioned but have never seen a drawing/detail depicting it that way.