The next new building

You have your dream project, or a necessary one. If you invest to do the project well now you will be rewarded with the performance of your building through its life span. The benefits of building a “green” building are significant and will only become more valuable in the future. Like a good pair of shoes your building will wear in well. The McMansion phenomenon of our last decade provides ample evidence of what happens when you purchase an expensive pair of shoes that was not particularly well made or comfortable. To create a sustainable building does not need to cost more.

The distinct advantages of building from scratch are numerous. From site location to system integration, to conceptual realization, building can be a very exciting endeavor. Unlike an existing structure, a new building provides an opportunity to build and integrate a structure that takes best advantage of sighting, materials, and techniques. Using advanced framing to save lumber, good engineering to save concrete, and a smart floor plan to provide more usable space, saves money up front.

Even more importantly than a retrofitted building, good planning for a new building is crucial. The integration of all aspects of a building will help guarantee that the most potential is taken from the resources involved. Examine how natural ventilation will work, how thermal mass can be integrated, how natural, balanced light can be utilized, what product last the longest or have a reduced environmental impact. There can be scores of questions that can be addressed, reworked and integrated to achieve subtle, dynamic, and elegant answers. The next new building should be the answer to these questions.