#Construct 2016 was an incredible learning opportunity

My week at #Construct 2016 was filled with education, friends, culture, and FUN. CSI (Construction Specifications Institute) is a great organization because of the people, staff and members. The show is always a great event. However, the most important reason to go to this educational conference each year is to attend outstanding educational events and meet the leaders of the construction industry.

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This year the #Construct Show was held in Austin, Texas. This was my first trip to Austin, a city that has adopted the slogan KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD. The slogan is used to promote local business and inspired by Red Wassenich  in 2000 while giving a pledge to an Austin radio station.

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The education sessions this year were exceptional. I attended topics on flashing, virtual reality, 3-D printing, leadership, smart wearables, and pro-bono design. 

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The hands-on session that Tiffany Coppock with Owens Corning put on was incredible. Learning how to flash the various holes in our buildings was invaluable. Being able to touch the materials and install the flashing allowed me to have a more comprehensive understanding of systems we specify.

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Sixth street was a unique experience filled with locally owned businesses. Maggie Mae’s is a local legend and has the largest rooftop on sixth street. The music was solid, the drinks were cold, and the humidity was off the charts. Sixth street was young, vibrant, and filled with lots of energy.

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The signs on sixth street and the business names were creative. From the tattoo shop to the local bars and restaurants, each had a unique personality and decor. 

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Gus’s chicken was my favorite hang out in Austin, but not a unique Austin business. The chicken was spicy and fried – a different twist on southern fried.

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While sixth street was filled with young energy, Rainey Street was my kind of place. The bars were diverse and food trucks were plentiful. The historic homes that line the street offer shade, small spaces for hanging out, and plenty of culture.

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No trip can be complete without a visit to see the bats fly. Each summer night, hundreds of people gather to see 1.5 million bats fly from under the Congress Avenue Bridge.  This is a must see for anyone that appreciates nature’s beauty.

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A new friend I made at the show sent the following email to me, I think it sums up the show.

“Thank you for pulling me aside and talking to me during CSI. I’m going to confess that I’ve been bragging about you. Imagine, showing up to a convention, and a STRANGER walks right up as if we are already friends, because a mutual friend said that we should talk. You demonstrated one of the big reasons that CSI is still valuable – you connected with me – in a different city – different region of our country. We had a reason to talk – and we now have a reason to keep up the camaraderie”

This is what the Construction Specifications Institute is about – communication, mentoring, and most important – friendships.

Planning for Performance and Aesthetics Will Save You Money

Planning for Performance and Aesthetics Will Save You Money

Aesthetics and Performance

Harrisonburg farmhouse

I work with a variety of builders here in the valley. One of the builders has built homes from plans in magazines, drafters, and renovations by home owner sketches. The other has built designs by multiple architects, drafters, and magazines. Each has told our clients that using designs and specifications developed by Gaines Group Architects saves the client money. The first builder told us that our designs on average cost $5-$10 less per square foot than other projects he has worked on. The second builder told our clients that he reduces his overhead percentage when we do their design and specifications because we answer the questions that cause added costs prior to the cost of the home construction being determined. Planning for performance and aesthetics benefits everyone financially, especially when you are building your home.

Performance and aesthetics

Soapstone kitchen

So if the average home being built in our area is 2,500 sf, the savings on the average cost home is equal to our average design fee. Let me say that again – our typical fee for a custom home is returned in savings during construction.

How do we provide these savings? Our typical design approach not only includes plans and elevations as with a typical generic design package. Our designs are custom for each client including a performance specification that sets the standards and documents selections for finishes in the home. We also work out the structural system in advance to pricing in an efficient manner. This limits unknown issues coming up during construction, which saves the builder time and money and reduces the builder’s risk. This is where the savings come in because on the typical build where there are only plans and specifications the builder has to “guess” at what the client wants during pricing. The builder then hopes during construction he “guessed” right. Creating a complete plan in advance that is thought out and detailed completely the builder knows what to deliver and the client knows what to expect. If you want help developing a great plan in advance, give us a call because planning for performance and aesthetics will save you money.

Performance and aesthetics

Chesapeake Western Depot, Harrisonburg