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Healthy buildings are non-toxic. They do not create or exacerbate physical health problems for the occupants. Health is however more than the absence of disease. A healthy building is a place where people want to be, a great place to work, to live, to study, to eat, to shop. Now just what makes a place a great place?
Of course there are the things that can be easily talked about such as imagery, space, beauty, color, shapes, materials, atmosphere, surroundings. Next there are the subtle things that are sometimes noticed such as comfort, convenience, air freshness, lighting and glare, spatial acoustics and structural stiffness. Finally we come to the aspects of the building that are not always easily seen, aspects that affect everything that can be experienced in a building: efficient accommodation of functional needs, ease of maintenance, adaptability to changing needs, building envelope integrity and operating costs.
All of these things have a long term impact on the viability of the building, the satisfaction of both the owner and the community, the owner's pocket book and on the value of the building as part of the owner's investment portfolio. Architecture is a fusion of behavioral psychology, art, culture and many engineering disciplines woven together to make up a project.
HEALTHY PROJECTS
A project is not undertaken by an owner unless there is a need to satisfy, a need for a specific type of shelter with detailed functional design requirements. In order to minimize potentially disruptive changes during the construction period careful planning and design work, with a clear understanding of the owner's needs, budgets and value system is necessary.
An owner typically presents the architect with information about their needs and desires for the project. The architect will then probe deeper, searching out, gathering and absorbing information necessary for the architect to prepare a competent and creative design solution. After the design has been prepared the architect aids the owner in acquiring a clear understanding of the proposed solution.
A well-thought-out design solution is the foundation for quality construction documents. A good set of working drawings and specifications enables the General Contractor, subcontractors and suppliers bidding the project to get a good handle on just what will be required of them, thereby reducing the financial liability exposure for each bidder and enabling each bidder to prepare a tight competitive bid.
Accurate competitive pricing and buying out of the project with a clear understanding of the scope of each trade leads to value for the owner and to a smoothly coordinated project that is easy to schedule. The construction team can then proceed with their work efficiently with minimal disputes and interruptions. A well run construction project with a minimum of stress creates an environment where workmanship, the craft of making something well, can become a joy and a reality for the project team.
The success of a project ultimately affects an owner's personal finances. Delivering a quality project on time and within budget is a measure of the owner's performance in doing their job and accordingly affects their salary, promotions and their ability to maintain their employment. If the owner has an equity interest in the project the success of the project has a direct impact on the owner's personal net worth.
Copyright Juniper Russell
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