Work continues on the Chesapeake Western Depot in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The demolition and framing are done. The electricians have finally started rough-in. The plumbing fixtures are all ordered. Things are about to start moving quickly.
Our sign is out front and gravel is down in the front lot. The windows have temporary plastic protection allowing work to continue inside while we wait on window installation. The wood paneling in the Herr & Co. office has been removed to be refinished.
With each step along the way we are working on finalizing interior finishes to make sure we get things just right. Our goal is to preserve the original intent of the design while implementing the appropriate HVAC and lighting systems. On the lower level things are tricky, we are attempting to hide needed wiring while maintaining the exposed wood ceilings and lattice-work.
The profession of architecture is often looked at through the lens of television or magazines – how to make buildings beautiful. However, that is not the true work done by architects. Beauty is a minor part of the equation. Beauty is the part of the design process that can be replaced by purchasing a plan online and giving it to a builder with “a few changes.” Building science is what makes a beautiful building last for years.
A good architect will talk to you first about function over form.
What are your needs? How do you want to use the building? What are the rules that need to be followed, building code, zoning? What are the rules that can be broken? Where will you put your Christmas tree? Do you like to host Super Bowl parties? Do the kids have a dedicated place they can do their homework? How loud is the television downstairs when you are trying to sleep upstairs? Where will you store your stuff? What kind of light will be in that room?
Even better questions can follow a line of building science guided decisions.
How efficient will the house be once you move into it? Will you feel comfortable in all the rooms year-round? How much money will you spend heating and cooling your home? Building science questions are the only questions that have answers that result in money saved. Building science questions almost always address the quality of things that cannot easily be changed once the home is built. Building science questions are almost always the most important decisions that are needed to be made before a builder gives a price to construct the home.
Who sets the building science goals of a project?
Most builders will not be focused on thinking through building science decisions when they are given a set of house plans. Their goal is to build the home in the most efficient way possible according to the plans you gave them. So if they don’t set the building science goals, who does?
Air gaps in ceiling corners
If you purchase a plan online, the designer does not know what site you are building on or the climate you are building in. If you hire an architect that does not discuss building science solutions (insulation types, wall systems, HVAC efficiency, water conservation, ventilation, lighting….) then who will set the standards for your home. Typically the fall back for these solutions are building code, but keep in mind that building code is the worst possible solution allowed by law.
Not all architects consider building science solutions, but a good architect does.
Building sciences require a holistic approach. It is not simply adding more insulation in the walls or attic. Insulation decisions have to be made along with heating and cooling efficiency, ventilation, and window selection in mind. These questions, and more importantly, these answers have to be done holistically or you will create more problems than you solve. Using the wrong insulation in the attic can lead to huge moisture problems. Locating the HVAC ducts in the wrong space will lead to condensation and higher energy bills.
Buildings are complicated, probably the most complicated machine you will ever own. Make building science as important as the countertop selection you are making for your kitchen. Don’t leave out building science during design.
The lottery is a foolish investment, but a wonderful thing to dream about. Winning a million or 10 million dollars would change your life. Now the lottery has reached a record high. This is beyond dream status. This kind of jackpot will not only change your life, it will change every organization, cause, place you care about – even a little. What would you do if you won $800,000,000, that is crazy money!!!???
After taxes, fees, paying off debt, paying off your neighbors debt, heck with that kind of money, paying off the debt of everyone at your church, you will still have more money than I can imagine. So what would you do with crazy money. The kind of money where you could build this house once in each of the 50 states and not notice you wrote the check.
The kind of money where you could build this apartment community 15 times and still have enough money to live on very comfortably for the rest of your life.
The kind of money where you could build this camp for kids of all abilities in Waynesboro and pay for kids to attend it for the rest of your life.
The kind of money where you can change lives by supporting the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank with a donation that will last for many years, donate money to fix ALL the water problems at Falling Water, put solar panels on every house in Harrisonburg, fund all the Habitat for Humanity houses needed in Harrisonburg for years, build affordable housing for seniors, and purchase all the UVA gear Mincer’s has in stock, while providing energy audits and retrofits for all your family and friends and not notice you wrote the check.
So with CRAZY MONEY, what would you do? Feel free to make your first call to your local Harrisonburg Architect, I am glad to help spend it.
We were fortunate this past year to work on a variety of projects from warehouse, custom homes, to townhouses. Parkside Townhomes at Preston Lake is the most recent to break ground.
The classic craftsman inspired units feature a raised roofline, fiber-cement siding, and a first floor garage. The units have spacious open floorplans with full finished basement recreation rooms. There are hardwood floors in the living spaces, carpet in the bedrooms, and low VOC paints on the walls. The units have energy-efficient HVAC systems, quick recovery hot water heaters, CFL bulbs, energy star bath fans, programmable thermostats, mastic sealed ductwork, and air sealing in all the walls.
Read the Preston Lake – Parkside Townhomes final project update HERE.
Picking a builder is like speed dating; you have to find someone you like, have similar values, and can put up with fairly quickly. Then you need to trust them with a lot of personal information in order to have a successful project. Fortunately, you are only looking for a builder that you can work with for 6-12 months for most home projects – so the pressure is not as high as looking for a long-term relationship through speed dating. (blog post about the steps to building a new home – click HERE)
We encourage our clients to have a contractor selected for their project by the time we are finished with schematic design. This level of work is enough for the builder to start reviewing the project scope vs the project budget to make sure things are in line. The builder will probably attend a couple of the design meetings to get more insight on the goals and values of the client and offer suggestions to make the design better, more efficient to build, and hopefully hit the desired budget. This process also gives the client a chance to get to know the builder and how they communicate. This is a critical part of building a relationship with your builder so that you know before the construction contract is signed that the relationship is a good fit.
Building a home is probably the most stressful investment you will make outside of building a business. As they say, “construction happens.” Things like severe weather, shipping delays, a sloppy install, and poor coordination of systems can all make for a bad experience and they are hard things to prevent. Good planning will help minimize the chances, as will a good relationship with your builder. If you have a builder that is part of your team vs a builder that is the lowest price (bid situation), you are more likely to have a successful project.
Picking a builder who is right for your project is critical to creating a healthy, energy-efficient, and durable home that will last for many generations. For some questions to ask while you are speed dating for your next builder, check out this blog post – HERE.
Even better questions can follow a line of 
Picking a builder is like speed dating; you have to find someone you like, have similar values, and can put up with fairly quickly. Then you need to trust them with a lot of personal information in order to have a successful project. Fortunately, you are only looking for a builder that you can work with for 6-12 months for most home projects – so the pressure is not as high as looking for a long-term relationship through speed dating. (