Rick Ruffino, new partner with ArcWest Architects, is featured in this month’s News & Tech’s monthly article: “4 Questions”

Article from News & Tech | October 2009

Click the following link to see the original Article.

Press Release:    July 30^th, 2009

ArcWest Architects is pleased to announce that Rick Ruffino will be joining the ArcWest team on August 3rd, 2009 as a Partner.

Mr. Ruffino is a veteran newspaper and publishing executive who brings his corporate experience in planning, project and business management to ArcWest’s existing strengths in architecture and engineering.  His experience in developing and implementing sustainable outsourcing solutions and guiding complex software and equipment projects is unmatched.

Mr Ruffino was the Director of Manufacturing, for the US outsourcing group at Transcontinental, Inc. and continues to assist that team with the successful start up of the new Fremont, CA facility printing the San Francisco Chronicle.

If you would like to speak with Rick to learn more about how the ArcWest team can assist your organization thrive in this challenging market, please contact him directly at:

Office           303.455.7741

Mobile          303.881.3445

rruffino@arcwestarchitects.com

For more information, contact ArcWest Architects

ArcWest Architects recently completed a due-diligence effort and the feasibility planning for a prospective urban mixed use project being considered for a Northwest Denver Neighborhood.

Street view of mixed-use project for NW Denver Neighborhood

As a step in the feasibility planning process, a due diligence exercise was completed to confirm the local Denver Zoning regulations.  Particular details included:

• Identify the Zoned District of the prospective site
• Validate allowable uses within the district
• Examine particular limitations and conditions for permitted use
• Understand the allowable building area and building height
• Review adjacent zoning districts for potential impact to the site
• Study the Bulk Plane standards applicable to the site
• Research applicable parking requirements

Other aspects of the feasibility and planning study included a site visit to confirm existing site conditions; arranging for a civil / property survey; preliminary review of the building code; and the diagrammatic layout for conceptual floor plans.  Finally the rendering above was generated for the owner to review and use for promotion of the project.

For more infromation, please contact ArcWest Architects.

ArcWest Architects just completed a submittal in response to a RFQ for the Facility Committee of the (NCL) Nederland Community Library.   We believe it’s going to be a very challenging and interesting design for the architect awarded the project.  The characteristics and central location of the site provides for great opportunities to create a structure that will become a landmark building, complimenting the existing town fabric and serve as a community resource for generations.

Proposed Main Library Elevation on HWY 72

The project  will allow for the opportunity to propose a “green” building design practices that will incorporate sustainable features at the inception, such as:

• Sustainable Site Design
• Natural Daylighting
• Locally Sourced Materials
• Recycled Building Materials (High Recycle Content)
• Natural Ventilation and Cooling
• High Efficiency HVAC
• Solar Power
• Sustainable Irrigation Systems using “Gray” Water

Proposed Site and Building Plan

The Team at ArcWest Architects is very hopeful that our design will generate the level of interest that will allow for future discussions leading to our involvement with the project.  As the community of Nederland is  our “backyard”, we would be very excited at the opportunity to work with our mountain neighbor!

Current reports show the escalation of construction cost has ended and contraction has already begun.  Commercial building construction costs decreased 5.77 percent in the first quarter of 2009 compared with the fourth quarter of 2008, according to Turner Construction Company.  From the same report, construction costs have dropped 2.59 percent since the first quarter of 2008.  Thus it can be inferred from this data that the inflection has occurred some time in 2009, and costs continue to decrease.

This continued decrease in construction cost will certainly improve both the level of and length of time for a return on investment in a capital project.  Taking into effect of the continued decline, and the time required to bring a project to fruition, it is truly “Time to Plan“.

When the world recovers from the current economic conditions what will the “Headlines” read?  What will be some of the back story to the conditions at the time recovery is reported?  If anyone really had the answers to these questions I am sure we would start to see the articles today.

Hopefully these stories will be full of lessons learned and checks and balances that will inhibit the chances of it happening again.  Hopefully the stories will talk of a new economy based on sustainable financial mechanisms and moderated growth.

What these stories will certainly contain is reports of lower costs of construction and examples of forward thinking businesses who took advantage of the economic adjustments and the lower costs of construction resulting from the downturn.  As recent as 6 months ago the cost of construction was still expanding and the refrain being heard was “How can this continue?”, “How can the industry continue to absorb the double digit increase in material costs?”.  The answer to these questions is now being realized.  It could not be sustained.

Please see the original article “Index: Construction costs continue to drop” that motivated these thoughts.

- Todd Heirls

The international journal: Newspaper and Technology featured an article which highlights key features of the new Skagit Valley Publishing Facility in Washington complete with photos.   ArcWest Architects is very proud of the new facility, and would  like to thank all of those people who helped make the project a success.

The orignal article can be seen by clicking: “Wash. Publisher Moves to New Digs”

Skagit Valley Publishing Office Entrance

Most businesses and households as well, appear to be in a state of survival (hide in my shell) mode as the news continues to cast deeper shadows about current economic conditions.  Foregoing the extent of the economic state, be it local, domestic or global: There are many question(s) to consider for all of us:

• What is the long term strategy?

• What is the vision for the company’s position at the end of this financial storm?

• Tough question: Do you expect to be on point for the rebound that will come?

Nobody knows for certain exactly when this recession will recede, and the economic engines will fire up again.  Optimists have indicated the 3^rd quarter of 2009 or earlier, while others believe that it could be another year or more pushing into 2010.  If our companies want to be on deck for the ebb in which the tide turns, whether its 6 months or 18 months from now, the Time to Plan projects is now.  As dark and gloomy as recent media reports have been, there is no doubt that there will be an economic recovery.  We all want to be in the best place to take advantage of the market when the funds start to flow freely again.

Update: See recent article “Intel to Spend Heavily on U.S. Plants, Calls on Others to Invest” from the Wall Street Journal “... follow (their) it’s strategy of investing during the down turn“

There are numerous sub-topics and side debates to this overarching issue, the main point to make is that the current conditions actually presents a golden opportunity for positioning a company and business model by planning capital projects now.  This is parallel with Warren Buffet’s attitudes about current markets and economic timings. A quote from a NY Times article by Warren Buffet published October 16, 2008:

“A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. And most certainly, fear is now widespread, gripping even seasoned investors. ….. What is likely, however, is that the market will move higher, perhaps substantially so, well before either sentiment or the economy turns up. So if you wait for the robins, spring will be over.“

How do the current conditions of the economy present a window of opportunity?  The major costs for a new facility project, perhaps obviously, are the site and the building.  With economic conditions as they stand, the first costs for both of the above have never been lower and most likely will continue to shrink.

• Real Estate:  The prospect to negotiate a favorable lease or purchase of a property has never been better.  The market is extremely motivated and great values abound.

• Financials:  Interest rates are at historic lows.  And despite the fallout on Wall Street, there are plenty of banks open for business with cash available to lend to qualified interests.

• Material Costs:  The costs of building and construction materials have ceased to escalate and are moving lower.  They currently are lower than 2 years ago.  For example: “$1.75 Price of an 8-foot stud, the lowest since 1990“

• Fuel and Energy: The depressed market value of crude oil is a bonus too.  Not only does it reduce the associated transportation costs of building materials, it also factors into the construction process and resulting cost.

• Construction Companies:  There are many companies fortunate to be currently involved with large projects that came off the drawing boards years ago.  Just the same, the firm positioned for 2010 is considering now what project they will have in backlog.  Other construction firms are eager to get involved with a “shovel-ready” project next month.

• Architectural and Engineering Firms: A recent AIA study indicated that the billing index for architectural firms was reported at 34.7 in October 2008, 15 points below the median which reflects no change.  Firms providing planning, design and engineering are eager to provide extremely competitive proposals for projects.  ArcWest Architects included!

Timing is everything:  From the moments a capital project may be conceived in the board room to the point that it’s a built reality in operation typically requires no less than 12 to 18 months.  If we conservatively anticipate that the economy will have moved past the recession one year from now, one might deduce that we are already behind the eight ball.

Our optimistic view is that the 2009 glass is half full, and the time to plan is now!

- Robin Adams

Please contact ArcWest Architects to learn more about how we can assist you.

ArcWest Architects (Todd Heirls and Kevin Anderson) visited the Skagit Valley Publishing Facility last week to witness the building occupied and in operation.  The initial reaction to the new facility is very positive.  Typical with any building project that transitions from construction to owner occupied, there are some minor details to address and close out.

It’s very satisfying to walk into the New Facility, see the final product being utilized as envisioned, and that the employees appear excited and energized by the new space.

Please feel free to contact ArcWest Architects to learn more about our company and services.

- Robin Adams

ArcWest would like to share the news: the Skagit Valley Publishing Facility is open for business.  It’s always bittersweet at this phase of the project in which we are sad to come to the end of the work process; however, nonetheless truly elated to see the building design realized in built form.

New Facility Open

ArcWest believes the new facility is a “great” building!  It is always a pleasure to work with Pioneer and each of their newspapers.  Stedem Wood and his management team were actively involved in every aspect of design and implementation.

Stedem Wood and Tom Blumenshine overlooking the new Press Installation

Please see the news brief at the Pioneer Newspapers website: Open for business

Big Thank you, from ArcWest Architects

ArcWest Architects hopes that our clients, business partners, friends and family are all enjoying a very nice holiday.  With the end of the year just a few days away, ArcWest would like to extend our best wishes to everyone for a very happy and prosperous New Year!

Best Wishes!

Robin, Todd and Kevin