Détails
The benefits of the design-build project delivery method
Design-build project delivery is one of the most popular and fastest growing methods used to deliver construction projects across North America, accounting for over 40 per cent of all non-residential construction. But why is that, and what is the design-build delivery method?

Unlike the traditional design-bid build method, the design-build delivery method involves the designer and contractor working together from the beginning, as a team, providing unified project recommendations to fit the owner's schedule and budget. Any changes are addressed by the entire team, leading to collaborative problem-solving and innovated approach. While single-source contracting is the fundamental difference between design-build and a more traditional method of construction, equally important is the culture of collaboration inherent in design-build.

This is one of many undeniable advantages of a design-build delivery method, compared to a construction manager where there is often no contractual relationship between the team of designers and the builder. These are some of the additional benefits one can expect from a design-build project delivery method.
 

Détails
How buildings can improve occupant health
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic began, people spent an average of 90 per cent of their time indoors. Now that workers are beginning to return to offices and retail environments are beginning to bustle, it’s time to think about design that not only safeguards, but improves, occupant health.

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) directly affects the comfort and health of a building’s occupants, and if it is compromised, they face an increased risk of airborne diseases. An understanding of factors that affect IEQ and how buildings can be operated to improve occupant’s health is especially crucial with extreme events like global pandemics and can go towards reducing health risks.

Détails

Sustainable design advances a building’s positive environmental qualities and reduces its negative impacts on the environment. As earth’s population continues to degrade living conditions on our planet, building design, construction, and operation professionals need to respond with sustainable structures that are also healthy, resilient, accessible, and cost effective.

The building envelope is a primary component of any building, as the interface between differing outdoor and indoor environments. Features include shelter, energy efficiency, air quality, moisture control, fire resistance, cost effectiveness, durability, and aesthetics.

The main objectives of sustainable, building envelope first design are to avoid resource depletion of raw materials, energy, and water, to prevent environmental degradation caused by operation demands of buildings and their infrastructure throughout their life cycle. The definition of sustainable envelope design is ever changing, but there are six integral principles that nearly all professionals agree with.