With a simple energy analysis and upgrades, facilities can save big. As energy costs continue to rise – about 3 percent annually – facility managers are seeking ways to lower their utility bills while reducing environmental impact. Retrofitting a building with high-efficiency systems can achieve both goals. And with federal, state, local and utility-based incentives, [...]

In April 2010, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) introduced its latest green building rating system, LEED for Healthcare. It is specifically tailored to the more resource- and waste-intensive facilities associated with healthcare, allowing designers to address problems and gain credits that the original certification system made it difficult to do. The challenge with healthcare [...]

In recent years, we’ve been able to utilize advanced building modeling software to enable our project teams to use coordinated, consistent information throughout the design and construction process. The ability to enhance the analysis of appearance, performance and cost has resulted in a faster, more economical and environmentally friendly delivery of projects to our clients. [...]

Creative learning environments require more than four walls and a white board. Whether a lecture hall, bumping space or science lab, academic buildings must be interactive and accommodating to both faculty and student needs. Over the years, I’ve realized that even though colleges and universities teach similar courses, they each have different philosophies on how [...]

Today, healthcare administrators are placing a strong emphasis on making hospitals more conducive to the healing process. Rooted in research on the physiological impact of stress on the individual and the ability to heal, this philosophy has gained major support in recent years. Studies clearly show that making specific aesthetic changes in healthcare facilities has [...]