Older buildings possess character; something that any residential architect could tell you is part of their attraction. This character is what encourages owners to look at an old building and think to themselves that they would enjoy refurbishing this building and making it into an architectural wonder, a mixture of new and old. Often owners of these buildings are enthusiastic about a renovation. Unfortunately, they may be unaware of the challenges that are encountered in these types of project...

There will come a time in the life of a residential architect that he will have the opportunity to work on an older building in order to fit the stylistic tastes of a client. In many cases, it takes a contemplation of the usability and viability of a renovation in order to fully appreciate the amount of change that can be done to an existing building.

A key thing that an owner needs to be aware of is the idea of adaptive reuse – reusing the building by changing the function.

Green commercial building is becoming one of the more popular forms of construction used by modern commercial architects mainly because of its view of the long term. Green Building is used to describe construction that is undertaken with a mind toward using resource-efficient and environmentally responsible processes throughout the life-cycle of the building. The aim of doing so is to strike a balance between construction and sustainable development. Green building is not an entirely new method...

Is green architecture really a “thing”? Yes, it is, and it is causing this question to be asked: Is green architecture for Show or Dough? With either answer, architects are responding and moving towards greener structures. Their clients want to cut energy costs and qualify for “energy-efficiency tax breaks” but also beautiful and functional buildings and homes. In private residential spaces, green architecture accounts for one-third of the market and that number continues to grow...

When you hire an architect, you can’t just sign on the dotted line and expect your project to be completed perfectly. Before you agree to anything, sit down and have a discussion with your hired professional. Understand your architect’s role in your project and set the expectations for your working relationship.

Ask your architect the following questions before you hire and architect to be sure your working relationship is off to a good start.