On May 23^rd I was asked by the faculty at Kenton Elementary School to take part in their “College & Career day” by speaking to the 5^th grade classes about the value of higher education, what education it took to become and architect and what the profession offers.

I thought? This sounds like a great opportunity to give something back to the community although I was a little nervous. There were three separate classes of 25 students that would rotate through my presentation and that of two other professionals; a veterinarian and a banker.

I decided the only way to make this fun for the students and keep their attention was to devise an interactive game. We used the school building as a demonstration architectural project. We made placards for each profession involved with the project.  In addition to the Architect of Record there are other architects, designers, marketers, engineer’s, estimators, contractors etc., 26 participants total.  We discussed each member’s tasks and assigned that task to an interested student until the entire team was assembled.

I had a great time, the 5^th graders were attentive, polite and I think they were genuinely surprised with how many professionals (jobs) it took to complete a project.

My goal for the presentation was to stress the fact that I enjoy my career and the people I get to work with.  None of this would be possible without a college education.

I hope to go back next year.

- Kevin Anderson

ArcWest Architects and team completed the design and engineering for the remodel of what was previously a retail shoe store to be retrofitted for a new commercial / retail bakery, coffee shop, restaurant & bar.

The owner’s  modish vision for the shop is multi faceted, serving the changing faces of the day as it transitions from morning to night.

There were many challenges when considering all the needs for the bakery with an ancillary restaurant function and ultimately plan how these would fit into the small existing space.  The foremost focus was to fulfill all equipment requirements to allow for a successful kitchen environment for the pastry chefs.  Other notable design challenges included:

• Providing accessible toilet facilities for the multi-level plan
• Integration of mechanical ventilation and plumbing requirements
• Structural modifications and additions in a turn of the century building to enable open seating areas.

Interior Seating Area under Construction

In addition to these engineering and design considerations, the project required specification for a 2 hour rated ceiling (occupancy separation) protecting the multiple uses of the building.  Apartment units exist on the second floor above the proposed bakery.  The mixed use required an approved UL Design rated assembly for fire protection.

ArcWest Architects is excited to witness the construction progress of the new bakery “the Hole” located on Tennyson Street.  The Lotus Group is providing the construction services.  The project is tentatively scheduled to be complete and open for business  this Summer, the first week in July.

For more information on how ArcWest can assist you, contact us directly at 303.455.7741 or through our website.

ArcWest recently read the article “Green business efforts fan growth at Mechanical Air Service” in the San Jose Business Journal which we found both interesting and very applicable in today’s economic environment.

For most commercial building owners and facility executives, the idea of making a capital investment for a new building, or building addition project, is in left field at the moment.  What does make sense is to fine tune the existing building or facility to trim utility bills and recognize savings in their operating budget. Lower energy bills can equate to big savings for commercial building owners.

The approach is straightforward.  Building owner’s can retain a consulting team to perform a comprehensive energy audit going through a commercial building room by room to identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption.  The direction can be as simple as installing more energy efficient lighting for example, to upgrading out of date HVAC systems or adding better control systems.

An advanced course might be to integrate alternative energy systems such as a photovoltaic array (solar panels) or thermal heat transfer systems with the building.  The ROI on investment may take a little longer; however, the property and business can now be marketed as “Green” and environmentally friendly.  The financial return for the later is more challenging to identify directly but remains tangible all the same.

ArcWest Architects has teamed with engineering companies recently to assist in performing this sort of energy audit.  Though in most cases the upgrades and modifications required are pure engineering systems, there are architectural impacts that also may need to be addressed. ArcWest’s team will work with an owner to manage the coordination of the building upgrades to insure the implementation process goes smoothly.

For more information on how to approach an energy audit and reduce energy costs, contact us directly at 303.455.7741 or through our website.

As all of the partners in the office are homeowners, we completely understand the mind set of pursuing the best value for your money as you invest in a home improvement project. Most potential clients intuitively understand that there’s a double edged sword of managing a project yourself while complying with complex local building code and zoning requirements.

Taking it a step further, there are many people who own small business who travel the same path of completing by taking on many of the business infrastructure needs themselves.

Not a week passes by in which we do not receive a call from a prospective client , in some cases a contractor, who is budgeting a small addition, residential modification, tenant finish for a leased space, the opening of a new restaurant or looking to build their dream home. The questions posed to the architect usually follow this line: Have you done this type of project before? How much do you charge?  Or how much will it cost to complete?  As we attempt to frame up the actuality of what it takes to complete a building project without completely discouraging the interested caller, we will start discussing the process for reaching their goal.

Question: Do I really need an Architect?  Answer:  No and Yes!

First step – We have to establish the clients goals and understand what they really want & what they really need- with what they can afford. Our questions in response to the call from a prospective client may be something like:

• Have you established a budget for your project? (We’re hoping to find out what it costs first)
• Are you planning on doing this yourself or do you have a contractor on board? (not sure yet)
• When do you want to start? (hmmm…)  As architects we are searching to get a sense of where the  client is in the “process” and what the expectations are.

• Do you have a drawing or sketch on hand that illustrates what they want?  This is good!

If a project is anything other than adding a new awning, patio structure, replacement of an old piece of HVAC or plumbing equipment, more than likely you will need the services of an architect. At a minimum, the architect will guide you through the process and can ultimately provide documentation to the building department required for a (residential or commercial) building permit. The prospective client can do a substantial amount of the initial work making it simpler for the Architect and less expensive for the client  At some point, the architect needs to take the reigns of the project to drive the process towards the final goal.  The final target is to have the “vision” of the prospective client come to life (within budget) in built form “blessed” to be safe and sound by local governing agencies.

Reality Checks:

1. Building permits are required for new construction to insure the proposed building project will be safe and built to industry standards.  Completing a building project that is not permitted and inspected by the local regulatory agencies can set you up for problems down the road.  Resale of a property with nonconforming improvements can be very expensive in many ways.  You may have to correct the item prior to the transfer of the property and/or take a lower bid for the sale to compensate for the issue.
2. In the City and County of Denver, for instance, stamped (architectural) plans with framing and foundation engineered by a licensed professional are required for any major (residential) addition over 400 square feet
3. Building permits are required in order to insure the proposed building project will be safe to the occupants, future owners and guests, in addition to the safety and welfare of the adjacent properties and occupants.  Aesthetics aside, architects and engineers are licensed to assume the role to design and plan accordingly.

If you have any questions about a project you are considering or the process required to obtain a building permit, please contact us:

Directly by phone at: 303 455 7741

or email: radams@arcwestarchitects.com

We just read an article in the Denver Post last week that confirms what we’ve been sharing for the past 18 months:  The time to build commercial architecture or construct facility projects has been (is) now.  With Contractors responding aggressively to the current economic environment, most building projects are realizing huge financial saving compared to original conceptual estimates for construction.  Competitive bids from contractors in conjunction with the lower interest rates on construction loans,  many projects are realizing significant dollars being saved to the bottom line.

We encourage you to read the article “Recession’s silver lining: cost to build” which affirms ArcWest premise promoted in past communications.  There is a great opportunity to have a commercial architecture / facility project designed and built now for much less expense than what most executives and planners have been accustomed to prior to the start of the recession.

See our earlier post “Commercial Architecture | Construction Costs are Down”

For more information, contact ArcWest Architects

- Robin Adams

Rick Ruffino, consultant / partner at ArcWest Architects,  recently interviewed with  IFRA (WAN-IFRA) to discuss the concepts of Lean Production and applicability to various  organizations.  In the article, published on the IFRA website, Rick discusses the basic concept and process to the implementation of a structured lean program.

For those less acquainted with the concepts of lean manufacturing, or lean production:  Lean is about increasing efficiency to offer greater value to a customer or client.  Another way to phrase: Lean is about preserving value with less work.  This approach can create savings through efficiency which can be shared between reduced costs to the customer and greater profit to the business.

Rick shared “We are only at the beginning of implementing lean in our (newspaper) organizations and most would benefit from a structured lean program” in response to the the question:  “How much further can this concept be taken into our daily practice?”

Please see the complete “Interview with Rick Ruffino” article by Charlotte Janischewski.

For more information, contact ArcWest Architects

Mentoring a high school student as part of his senior experience certainly has no clear association with the business of Commercial Architecture in the Denver area.  Nor does it provide a dash of new income to the company.   This said, it was truly a professionally enriching experience.

When approached to become a Mentor to a student from Westminster High School, a Denver metropolitan school,  it was somewhat unclear what that meant.  Would we just go about our business of Facility Architecture and Planning and allow him to shadow us?  Would we try to educate this senior student in the profession of architecture? Would we tour a selection of Commercial and Residential Architecture projects completed in the Denver Area?  The curriculum provided was unclear and unhelpful.  The direction was to provide experience in the chosen field of study, but left how that was to occur totally up to us … A couple of Architects with little or no experience in the education process.

What we found out is that we had more experience in education than we thought.  We had roughly 20 hours of face time as part of the curriculum.  With in short order of our first hesitant meeting with our young Architect, we started to cover the basics.

We covered the many long sleepless nights ahead for him while working in studio……

We discussed the starving artist nature of our business……

We even covered the bonds that academic hardship would foster and the parties that he might participate in……..

We very quickly moved on to what makes something architecture.  It is not Art.  It is not sculpture.  It is problem solving to create both Art and Sculpture that can be occupied.  Our Mentor grasped this immediately and filled in the rest of the curriculum by asking to be guided through the creation of his first piece of Architecture.  Every architect has contemplated his ideal house.  Few Architects actually design this enigma.  There is never enough money and we can never actually make a final decision on the final product.  By guiding our young Mentee through this process, we were afforded a learning experience ourselves as to what really goes into the design process.  We were not designing for another, we were guiding an uninitiated individual to the design process.

The process is at the core of what an architect is all about.  Some go through the process intuitively, skipping back and forth from phase to phase, without even realizing.  Some step through the process religiously not advancing from one phase to the next without completing the last.  Regardless there is a process and guiding someone through the process, fighting the urge to provide all the answers, illustrated how important the process is.

Exploration and Result of the Design Process

The sketch  above was completed entirely by our student.  It is understandably rough, but was completed after only 7 hours of background discussion 13 hours of numerous iterations.  It represents many of his personal own concepts of the ideal home and was completed using the same planning process used in the architectural profession.

Hopefully our student gained as much from his experience as his Mentor’s did.  In our environment of Commercial Architecture, Residential Design and Facility Planning, along with running the day to day business, sometimes a reminder of the core process is welcome.

- Todd Heirls

As a corollary to all the excitement in the construction industry during 2006 / 2007 and even into 2008, where the industry promoted a build it now, before the next price increase, the head line now should now be “Commercial Projects | Build it Now while Prices are Low”.

Understanding that this is easier said than done, in an industry dependent on the availability of financing, but it is not just the next hype to secure a contract.  In 2006/2007 the construction industry was saddled with an ongoing escalation that sent shock waves through the industry.  These conditions of escalation prompting individuals to actually pre-buy materials for their projects, before the design using those materials were completed.  All in an effort to get ahead of the material cost escalation.

That time has passed and a new day has dawned.  If a step is taken back from the doom and gloom prophesies, and the damage that has been done, one can see through the rubble.  There is a silver lining for the survivors.   Per the Turner Building Cost Index, there has been an 8.4 Percent declining change in the index for 2009 weighted with the largest declines in the early parts of the year.  Construction costs are down below the levels of 2004.

If a client has a building need, and has the resources or backing to support it, “Now is the Time to Plan”.  Every project has an associated pre-construction component, which can include any number of items required prior to breaking ground, from Feasibility Study, to some form of Construction Documents.  The pre-construction phase can entail anywhere from a month to as much as a year dependent on the complexity of the project. Prices continue to decline but there is evidence the bottom of the bell curve is near.  The Kirksey’s 2010 Annual Construction Cost Update, indicates that “Now might be the best time to build”.  Planning now will allow one to take best advantage of silver lining.

The reality of the economic situation is that a recovery will occur, at which point construction costs will begin to rise.  Will the costs rebound to the peak seen in 2008?  Probably not anytime soon, thus leaving an ample period where owners will be in a buyers market for construction services.

It is truly “Time to Plan for Commercial and Facility Projects”

For more information, contact ArcWest Architects

- Todd Heirls

…… Just an informal note updating a few activities of the New Year.

First to share a highlight of the day to day business |  The ArcWest Partners  are taking time to meet with and mentor a local high school student who is completing a senior project to explore the profession of architectural practice.  The student has a definitive interest to become an architect and notably made this effort to contact a local company to help them understand more about the business of architectural design and engineering.   I think this will turn out to be a good lesson for all involved.

Back to task | The partners at ArcWest have been very busy during the month of January, and the first weeks of February, with active architectural projects, new endeavors and prospective opportunities  including:

• Completing and coordinating a set of documents submitted to the Denver Building Department  (DBD) for a proposed Bakery in the Highlands neighborhood.   With the contractor on board, the owner is anxiously waiting for the building permit pending review comments from the DBD.
• Providing a proposal to a prospective client for multiple fast track projects out of state … Hopefully much more to share on this soon.
• Meeting with a residential owner to discuss their desire  for different improvements to their Denver Bungalow, including vaulting the ceiling of their living room, building on a rear deck above grade that aligns with the main floor and basement remodel to allow for two new bedrooms that comply with the local building codes. We are very excited about this opportunity!
• Providing a complete Architectural and Engineering proposal for a prospective Irish Pub and Restaurant to be located in a nearby suburb of Denver.  The owner is completing their due diligence for the leased space and completing applications for their financial resources.   We are eager and very interested to be involved with this project as well – This will be fun!
• Kicking off a community redevelopment project for a main street building facade improvement in East Denver.
• Meeting with a husband and wife who are interested in taking a “warehouse” approach for the construction of a new home in a surrounding Denver suburb.  The prospective client approached us with the concept of using a premanufactured metal building for the exterior then utilizing an architect to complete a custom plan layout and interior finishes design.  We anticipate we would also assist with the coordination of foundation requirements for the building shell, along with proposing elevations and building forms that will work with the metal building system … This could be a lot of fun and an interesting challenge!
• Offering strategic business planning and operational consulting to a national corporate client.

We are very encouraged with the level of activity we’ve been experiencing at the start of the New Year.  Our goal will be to write further detailed and illustrative articles (including pictures and drawings) in the coming weeks about the subjects introduced and outlined above.

ArcWest wishes everyone is having a great start to the New Year!

ArcWest Advertisement in the Denver BBB Premier Issue

ArcWest sends out the first edition of our quarterly e-Newsletter today.  The goal with the e-Newsletter is to share insights, industry trends, observations and current events at ArcWest.  We want to keep this a casual, open forum of information.  We welcome your thoughts and comments as we are already thinking about and preparing for our next issue.  Thank you.