It’s that bitter sweet time in which we are pleased to see the completion of a project we have been working on for so long.  The “bitter” is that we no longer have that weekly interaction with the great clients you grow to have a great relationship with.  The “sweet” of course is to finally see the final built product of the design, and a tangible result for all the ideas that were considered (some thrown to the floor in the process) and others  integrated into the final designand  drawings.

There is quite a lot of buzz about the restaurant as you can read in online sources.  The examiner.com published an Introduction by Sarah Gerhart-Bryan.   The Westword set up a profile which has a number of appetizing photos of the doughnuts and pastries.   I stopped in last weekend to introduce the family to the restaurant ArcWest had been working on, and to try out a few of their gourmet doughnuts.  The family thought they were truly awesome!

View of upper seating area and bar at the Hole Bakery & Restaurant

All said, it is certainly a proud moment to see the commercial project complete and the business in operation.  We wish the Delmonico family all the best with their new business and hope “the hole” sells lots of doughnuts.

For more information about the project and to see a series before, during construction and after photos, please see ArcWest Architects “The Hole” commercial project page .

- Robin Adams

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

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

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

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

West Elevation of the New Office Building (September 2008)

The project is nearing completion with the final efforts of construction focusing on finishes, details, data communications installation.  Concurrently, the installation of the new DGM press is underway in the Production Wing.  The mailroom / packaging equipment will be soon to follow.  The office furniture has been delivered with installation tentative for early December.  The Skagit Valley staff is looking forward to moving in to the completed facility by the new year.

The construction photographs have been grouped by the years annual seasons corresponding to the construction phases of the building project, with the start of construction occurring in the early spring.  (Note: You will need to scroll past the introduction of the updated project page to see the newly added photo galleries composed at the bottom.)

ArcWest’s partner, Todd Heirls will be on the (Mount Vernon, WA) project site next week for the monthly construction administration visit.  We look forward to sharing more photographs in the very near future following this visit.

- Robin Adams

Please contact ArcWest Architects to learn more about our services.