[1016]: Architecture + Real Estate[1016] Architecture is ready. Are you? Let us know: Think about it, comment below, then: Check out [1016] elsewhere on the web: Facebook, eHow, SlideShare
Craving the best real estate search information for Long Island, NY?
Your Problem:
You want to know how to search the MLS for access to Nassau County, Long Island, or Queens, NY real estate information, just like an agent.
If you are searching the internet independently for Long Island real estate listings then you are probably running into the following frustrations:
Fragmented searches on many different websites, none of which give you depth of information you are seeking.
Since information is spread between different brokerage sites, it is difficult to keep a convenient record of which properties you liked or didn’t like.
It is entirely too cumbersome to get additional information or schedule a showing for an interesting home without someone dedicated to helping you.
Submitting questions online and dealing with multiple agents is frustrating and ineffective. Listing agents are too busy or they think you're not worth their time.
An agent for a given property is not obligated to you as the buyer. The seller is their client, not you!
The Solution: A Buyer's Agent + ListingBook
You need the best available information at your fingertips and an agent available as a professional resource to answer questions specific to your situation. I do that in association with a powerful and free website called ListingBook.com.
ListingBook puts the power of up-to-the-minute MLS searches at your fingertips and provides a single-source for all listings, communications, and recordkeeping with me as your buyer’s agent. ListingBook increases the breadth of your search across all MLS listings, just like an agent, and consolidates results in one place to save you time.
You are in control and are free to update your searches as you see fit. Don't be forced to rely on unresponsive agents for changes.
Also, with a free ListingBook account through me, I will be informed of the progress of your search and will be available to answer questions along the way. You will have access to a single agent as a dedicated resource.
After technology stops, the transaction begins, and that will always require the best people on your team.
As a licensed architect, co-founder of [1016] Architecture in New York and Chicago, and a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson and Realtor with the New York office of RealEstate.com, I bring a unique perspective to the real estate purchase process and see often opportunities where others may not.
I have dedicated my professional life to learning as much as possible about the real estate market and the built environment. I am committed to sharing that knowledge with my clients through exceptional service.
Northwest Chicago Neighborhood North Mayfair was recently selected by This Old House as one of the Top Ten "Old House" Neighborhoods in America. Called out specifically as one of the "Best Place for Bungalows and First-Time Buyers, parts of North Mayfair were recently added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Check out the full This Old House feature here.
If you are interested in fixer-upper opportunities in Chicago, or otherwise, check out these other Inside the Bracket articles.
Sure, something called a McMansion probably wasn't going to last forever, but a lot of them were built. McMansions resulted from the excesses of a real estate boom obsessed with resale and "moving up" the housing ladder. No one asked about energy bills or seemed too concerned about how much they really needed that third car in the garage. They assumed they could sell to someone else in a few years for more money.
Those times are certainly over, and perhaps with them, McMansions.
The Home for a New Economy was the 2010 Show House at the International Home Builders Show in Las Vegas. Designed by fellow Notre Dame Architecture graduate Marianne Cusato, among a team of important consultants, the 4 BR / 3.1 BA home is billed as a direct response to current economic, environmental, and demographic concerns.
The house is affordable ($85/sq. ft. construction), livable (no wasted space, no extraneous features), sustainable (green materials, efficient mechanical systems), and adaptable (rooms can be re-purposed as the household changes).
Check out this video on WSJ.com
After taking a virtual tour of the home here(sign-in required), it is clear to the author that this home is a great start as a prototype to show people how they can live just as well in 1,700 square feet as they can in 3,500. While this home is attractive and highly functional, it is important to note that this is not the only physical form a small, usable house can take; well-designed condos, apartments, and other multi-family residential solutions can succeed in this regard, as well.
All of the problems that the prototype addresses are also greatly affected by its ultimate location. As Inside the Bracketspreviously wrote, we believe strongly in the affordability, livability, sustainability, and adaptability of existing cities as an alternative to new suburban growth.
Would you live in this house? Do you think you could live there for the rest of your life? Let us know what you think.
Picking the bottom of the market may be impossible, but perhaps the conflicting views of 2010 presented in the WSJ.com videos below mean opportunity is out there for intrepid buyers.
This video says foreclosure activity will see a second and third wave in 2010. The first wave was started by poor lending practices, which help create the now-burst bubble. The second wave of foreclosures will come from unemployment and the third wave from the boom-vintage adjustable rate mortgages resetting on underwater homes. Yikes.
All that said, if you still have a job, in most places of the country, housing is affordable relative to historic earning power. This is a powerful, but rarely emphasized metric that Inside the Brackets has written about before in our Moody's Crystal Ball.
Would you walk away from your mortgage if you knew you owed more than your home was worth? What if you owed significantly more? Turns out a lot of us do.
FEMA recommended homeowner attire?
As New York Times Magazine contributing writer Roger Lowenstein points out, businesses often implore the "strategic default" as a means to minimize losses and bring forward potential returns. Bankruptcy, renegotiation, and contract termination are all cards to be played if free-market circumstances call.
The idea of an individual walking away from a mortgage, though, seems to carry moral implications not emphasized in the high-stakes world of big business deals. Homeowners are being implored by CEOs and politicians to "do the right thing" and honor their contracts even though it could be against the individual's best interests.
Certainly there are economic consequences for an individual defaulting on an underwater mortgage (e.g. foreclosure, personal bankruptcy or damaged credit); so if those consequences are fairly suffered, why the moral argument?
Inside the Brackets wonders if its readers think it's hypocritical for leaders to expect individuals to act a certain way while they run their businesses another. Further, speaking strictly in the long term, is it possible that staying in an underwater mortgage hurts not only the owner, but other homeowners as well?
Is your opinion that spending time and money building sustainable, "green" condos is a risk that further compounds an already dangerous investment, or is it a perfect differentiation in a market of commodity that will lead your project to success?
Check out this video about one of the greenest residential buildings in NYC, The Visionaire, also previously featured on Inside the Bracketshere and see what you think.
Video from McGraw-Hill
It should be pointed out that despite all of the 2008-2009 economic headwinds, The Visionaire sales team reports great results in this Bloomberg.com article by John Gittelsohn.
"Starwood is the majority investor in the Visionaire, a $300 million, 35-story apartment building that opened in October 2008. Apartments there have been selling at a pace of more than one per week, with six units closing in November, said Christopher Albanese, principal of the Albanese Organization that developed the project. 'In this market, selling more than one a week is like hotcakes,' he said. Almost 60 percent of the Visionaire’s 250 apartments have been sold, Albanese said."
Perhaps this is further evidence that well-designed, well-built, sustainable, and correctly priced units will vindicate a development strategy that may look riskier upfront because it is different from the norm. This is Albanese's third green residential tower in NYC, so clearly they believe they are onto something good.
Andrew C. Wilson, AIA, LEED AP is a Principal at [1016] Architecture in Chicago and New York. Contact him to discuss sustainable, infill development opportunities in either of these cities.
Construction continues at a healthy clip over at Wrightwood Crossing, a GCorp Development project and [1016] Architecture design. This project is LEED registered with the certification goal of Platinum.
The activity is attracting attention in a neighborhood that otherwise has few projects under development at this time, and was recently featured on the blog ChiTown Living in a post called Wrightwood Crossing Rises.
Despite being a 19-unit building, efforts were made to ensure that the street frontage of the building fit the scale of the neighborhood. From the front, only the two and a half stories shown here will be visible. The third floor and penthouse levels will be set well back from this wall.
The deep site will be well landscaped with native plants and trees along this long side. The corners of the building (now empty) will be high-performance window walls for floor-to-ceiling views.
Wrightwood Crossing construction progress continues. First floor concrete plank is set, foundation is backfilled, and columns shown will support the second floor. Masons have begun laying the stone base which will eventually circle the whole building. Nothing too glamorous yet, but any construction activity in this environment is good news.
View from Northwest corner of front property line.
Rendering of final building. (Image by Studio 2a)
Wrightwood Crossing, a [1016] Architecture design, is LEED Registered with the certification goal of Platinum. The first group of the 19 overall units are scheduled for delivery in Spring 2010.
About six months ago, while in the middle of a search for a new Chicago home, a (then potential) client approached [1016] Architecture principal Josh Canale, concerned about the quality of service he was experiencing from his buyer's agent.
Josh offered some house hunting tips from an architect's perspective, such as these and these, and the client nodded and said thanks.
Apparently, frustration continued to mount, because after several weeks, the client contacted [1016] again, this time for real help. The services and advantages that this client experienced with us en route to a dream home show the value of [1016]'s full service model, including:
Representation in the buying process by [1016] Principal Josh Canale, a licensed real estate agent with Chicago architecture, building code, and zoning ordinance expertise
Full market data research support via our collaboration with Jameson Real Estate
On site design collaborations allowing the client to envision what each potential property could become, rather than being bogged down by what it was
Increased leverage at the negotiating table due to full knowledge of code and zoning issued of desired improvements
Multiple offer negotiation assistance
Closing administration and assistance
Documentation and measurement of existing conditions of purchased real estate
Execution of design and permit drawings including client design review packages, sign offs, and professional certifications
Acquisition and expedition of required building permits via City Hall
Recommendation of multiple, qualified General Contractors for the renovation work
Pricing evaluation and negotiation with various contractors, ensuring maximum value for the rehab expenses
Potential discounted building supplies via [1016]'s trade relationships with well-known suppliers resulting in further savings
Construction observation service to help make sure the design is executed correctly
In short, we helped the client obtain a "not-quite-perfect" condo in a great location at a great price, then, with the vision for the property already discussed, assisted with the execution of the renovations to make it exactly what the client wanted. This particular property wasn't in need of as much work as a Chicago fixer-upper or foreclosure, but we can help with those, too.
For this busy client, the continuity of a single point-of-contact and combined [1016] real estate/architecture expertise provided value in addition to straight discounts via negotiation and trade pricing. [1016]'s interest in the overall success of the project, including quality, budget, and schedule, did not end at the closing table like a typical real estate agent: we serve our clients to the end of construction.
For private clients and potential real estate investors, [1016] is more than just another architecture company, and Josh Canale is more than a typical real estate agent. Better service on both fronts comes by combining expertise.
Even if you don't require of all of the services in this case study, you can benefit by contacting [1016] Architecture to discuss your project, or fill out our contact form.
Want to look into the future of home prices in Chicago? From Forbes.com
"Moody's Economy.com provided Forbes with a housing price forecast for the country's 40 largest metropolitan statistical areas (or metros)--geographic entities defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for use in collecting statistics. The forecast predicts the percent change in home prices over one year, three years and five years, using data from the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index. In the MSAs for which Case Schiller does not publish numbers, Moody's used a weighted average of metropolitan divisions within those areas.
So, on a metro area level, this calculation estimates that it will take five years for median home prices to get back to January 1, 2009 levels. Doesn't really sound exciting, but this is a macro indicator. Obviously, each property needs to be considered independently within this context. If you are in the market, your buyer's agent should be able to help you determine this. Check out this article with our Top Five Tips for selecting a buyers agent, if you aren't working with one already.
Price vs. Value More importantly than price, however, is value. In other words: is any given purchase a good deal? or: Is the Chicago market still overheated?
Inside the Bracketsbelieves the best way to understand housing market value is relative to median income (HP/MI ratio). This ratio tracks the comparison of housing prices in a given area to how much people typically earn there. Each area has a historical norm, and some are more stable than others. Especially when compared with other large metro areas, Chicago's historic ratio has been relatively consistent, with little volatility.
According to the New York Times, Chicago's historic norm for housing costs around 2.0 times median income. As of April 2009, this ratio sat at 2.5 according to this Interactive graph. The exact numbers are of relatively minor importance, the true meaning of the stat is the ratio.
What does this mean? With an HP/MI at 2.5 in April, this meant housing prices would have to fall about 25% to get back to historic value levels (assuming negliegable income growth). If prices "only" fall the Moody's projected 16% this year, it means housing (in aggregate) still will not be as affordable as it usually is in Chicago.
So, even though Moody's projects a market price bottom in the next 12-24 months, value indicators like HP/MI may still indicate that prices are a little high historically. This only serves to reinforce the importance of evaluating the individual property and opportunity it presents within the market. In other words, even though prices are down, you can't just pick a house at random and get a great deal (a/k/a value).
What can you do? During times like this, people who make careful purchases will come out ahead in the long-term. People who make careful purchases, as well as careful improvements to a property, will come out well ahead.
Get a buyer's agent who knows your market to help you determine a home's real value.
Invest wisely in properties where you can add value via appropriate improvements.
Keep in mind that even though it's a buyers' market, it's still not like shooting fish in a barrel.
Apparently, there is a growing opinion that pre-fabricated architecture is dead. To the heap of recent pile-ons for this form of design, once heralded by modernists as the next generation of housing in America, you can add: "bad business," "cliche," and "over-designed" for common consumption in the United States.
This excellent blog article by Build LLC stakes out the "death" case well from their practical point of view: Pre-fab Houses Don't Work. After reading, be sure to subscribe to their RSS; they write good stuff.
Theirs is a provocative, intelligent piece supporting the idea that pre-fab is dead. Most of the arguements are well-written, but thankfully easily countered (as done by reader Brian of Method Homes in the comments). We're going to take a bigger-picture approach to the arguement to further discussion.
So, what of it? Is modernist pre-fab over-designed, cliche, bad business, or just plain dead? On one (small) hand, we think yes (see qualifier below), but on the other hand, decidedly no.
Qualifiers:
While pre-fab is at its heart a process (not dead), we think modernist pre-fab also brings baggage of aesthetic (dead) into the discussion. We will address both.
Also, we are including shipping container architecture in the pre-fab arguement, because it is relevant to a project [1016] Architecture is working on right now.
On the count of over-designed: GUILTY
Let's face it, architects usually over-design. It is a pleasure of the artist-patron relationship that is the reason for our profession. The one-on-one attention and problem solving that is the key to successful residential design is a major hinderance to producing scalable, mass-market solutions. Taking too much time means you have to charge more money to make a profit, which kills the main economic driver of pre-fabricated architecture.
Also, modernist pre-fab misses, or more probably, chooses to ignore, a blatant mass-market fact: Americans, as a whole, do not prefer the modernist aesthetic for their homes. They prefer traditional looking houses. Successful mass market products fill a need, they don't instruct people on how a designer thinks they should live.
On the count of cliche: NOT GUILTY
This is where modernism really gets in the way of success for pre-fabricated architecture. The out-of-the-box, avante garde thinkers that push moderism to new places, like pre-fab and shipping container architecture, are only happy at the edge of the envelope. As soon as the "newness" wears off, it doesn't even really excite them and they are on to different things.
The real problem is countless critics, followers, and media pile on and reinforce the stigma that an idea is no longer worthwhile.
Traditional architecture evolved over hundreds of years, yet still has a place in everyone's heart (except Arch'l Record editors, we'd suppose). The fragmented, haphazard way in which housing is delivered, codified, and regulated in this country will take many years to change
Just when modernism leaves something behind it is good and ready for mass acceptance. The flight of the modernist is mostly driven by the fear of being called cliche because they dare do something that has been published before.
Most people that we tell about our container project have never heard of container or pre-fab architecture at all. How can this be cliche?
On the count of BAD BUSINESS: Adjournment requested
Imagine a tailor on Saville Row cranking out hand-made suits, out of some flaboyant fabrics, in one size, and then wondering why he can't sell (for a profit) to anyone who walks in the shop. Even if he could make them fast enough to sell them cheap (he can't), the design is too intense, they won't fit everyone, and the mass market therefore rejects them.
This is ITB's understanding of the current pre-fab. The pioneers of the business are having a tough go: they over-design, use a production method that doesn't quite have enough efficiencies, and generally push a product that most Americans don't want.
Another example: Twitter. This internet service is all the rage right now. Even though Twitter makes no money whatsoever, no one close to it is really calling it dead. The owners are taking time and investors are risking capital to find the recipe for profitability.
On reports of it's death: GREATLY EXAGGERATED (but fun to read) In a May 2009 Q&A interview with Dwell, Adam Kalkin (an interesting character, and self-described performance-artist-architect) had this to say about the future of container architecture.
[Currently] the people using containers in building are mostly very sophisticated clients; they’re not, at this point, for every man. If you were able to figure out the manufacturing methods and scale them, you could make containers inexpensive, though right now they’re not.
The end user does not care about the process used to deliver housing. Therefore, the process of pre-fab is alive and ripe for innovation.
We at [1016] Architecture and Inside the Brackets believe that pre-fab has tremendous potential in urban infill architecture settings, with a slightly more traditional aesthetic responsive to its location, and when not pitched to the public as a truly custom solution (i.e. is embraced by for-profit developers).
The benefits of pre-fab (controlled quality, reduced construction schedule, sustainable construction practices, etc.) are undeniable. With time, investment, and tweaks to the way modernist pre-fab is brought to the public, it will be a viable chunk of the residential housing market share.
Join the discussion: comment below.
Inside the Brackets is looking for contributing authors. Contact us if you are interested.
A Fixer-Upper, or other distressed property such as foreclosed property, bank-owned property, or REO, can represent a great real estate opportunity, especially in today's market. Of course, the potential is wrapped in risk. If you are an individual interested in this type of real estate investment, [1016] and Inside the Brackets attempt here to take some of the mystery out of tackling a fixer-upper in Chicago.
Get Financing in Place: This might seem like it should come later in the process but for several reasons this should be the first step (except for maybe contacting us). Here’s why: Getting pre-approved by a lender (not a broker) ensures you can determine a realistic budget for your project.If the property you find is a bargain, it won’t last long. Being pre-approved will allow you to make your offer more quickly and without financing contingencies. For example, bank owned and foreclosed properties typically require the letter of pre-approval with the offer. If you don’t have one, the property could go under contract while you scramble to get financing lined up.It is smart to shop around for the best lender, and this takes time. Rushing to get an offer put together is not conducive to getting a good loan.Confirm the lender is very experienced with the type of properties you are interested in buying. Confirm that the lender will do purchase and construction loans. If you want to use FHA financing, get the requirements from your lender, and make sure you’re looking at properties that meet them.
Determine the Type of Property You are Looking For: With thousands of properties on the market it is important to narrow your search criteria as much as possible. When working with a real estate agent, and utilizing the MLS, it’s pretty easy to set up very specific search criteria to narrow down your list. Doing this from the beginning will save you time.
Here are some other things to help you determine which type of property might work for you:
Your interests, existing skills, time available, and budget will help narrow your search. For example, decide ahead of time if you want a multi-unit building, number of units, commercial space or all residential, target neighborhoods, price-range, features, zoning (if necessary), condition of the property, etc.
Can you perform the rehab work or will you hire contractors?
How do you plan to use the property and what is your exit strategy? Will you live in the unit (owner occupied buildings are generally eligible for better financing options)? Will it be all rental? Will you sell it as soon as the repairs are complete?
Depending on the deal that you find, your answers to the above could change.
Working with a Realtor® from the beginning of your search can save time and perhaps even money. In addition to MLS searches in realtime, they can provide you with tax searches, property history and other valuable information to evaluate the property. Plus, in Illinois, the seller pays all commissions, so the buyer gets these benefits with no out of pocket expense.
Find a Property and Make an Offer: Once you determine your target property type, there will be many that meet these general criteria. How to determine which one deserves your offer? How much should you offer? Is the property worth what the seller is asking? Answers to these questions can be determined by property specific due diligence.
The purpose of due diligence is to uncover and quantify things that affect property value. There are always additional “surprises” along the way, but the more you find ahead of closing, the safer your investment becomes. Formalize your due diligence with written charts or spread sheets. Formal due diligence will help you compare different properties in an apples-to-apples manner.
Your chart, also called a pro forma, should include all hard cost and soft cost estimates, purchase price, expected rent, expected price when you sell, etc. This will help you understand the value of the property and what the monthly cash flow will look like.
Here are some other top tips for this phase of buying a Chicago fixer-upper:
Have a contractor on your team to help you get a handle on potential renovation costs BEFORE you offer.
Don’t be afraid to make offers that are below the ask price. It is common to make offers on 5 to 10 different properties before getting one accepted. If your first offer got accepted, it probably means you were offering too much. In most situations, it is okay to offer well below the asking price, especially in this market.
If you are confident in your pro forma, the ask price is almost irrelevant. Offer what you want to pay for the property.
If the seller is a bank, expect long delays in communication. They might ask you to be ready to close in 15 to 30 days and then not respond to you for two months. Just be patient. There’s no way around it, so utilize the time for additional due diligence before closing.
Work with an architect to have any necessary drawings for repair ready for permit before the closing.
Interviewing contractors during the closing period can allow construction to start immediately. Because of interest charges, time is expensive in real estate. The sooner you can get the building occupied the better.
Close, Rehab and Move In/Rent The key to this step is speed, unless you are planning on living in the property. If you are planning on renting your property, market to potential tenants even during renovation/construction. When tenants move in, they pay your mortgage. Until they move in, you are paying it all yourself. Consider using a rental agency to fill your vacant units. They will save you time, which as we said, is money.
Being able to accurately and quickly evaluate the potential of a building is critical to making a good purchase, knowing the required team members and actions to take during closing and renovation are critical to ensuring your purchase becomes a good investment.
[1016] and Jameson can help you with all of the above.
Through our relationship with Jameson Real Estate, we can represent you as a buyers agent (at no cost to you) and [1016] can help you evaluate each property for zoning and code issues that might arise or stand in the way of making the changes you want to make. Through our relationships with highly qualified contractors we can also help you get estimates for the repairs. And finally, if you would like, we can help you navigate the building permit process and execute construction.
If there are any steps you have questions about, or if you would like to discuss searching for a property, please feel free to contact us. We would be happy to discuss the process further or help you start your search. Let Jameson and [1016] make your purchase and renovation an experience that you’ll want to repeat.
Last month's issue of New York House Magazine featured an interview with the influential architect Robert A.M. Stern, at his firm Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA). We at Inside the Brackets happened to have been trained at an architecture school that was/is extremely sympathetic to Mr. Stern's traditional approach to architecture, interiors, and urban design.
While not specifically known for "sustainable design," the list of Stern's accomplishments in this arena is nonetheless impressive. For instance, his firm is responsible for the following:
the first LEED Platinum business school in the world;
the first LEED Platinum speculative and multi-tenant office building;
the first LEED-certified museum;
the first LEED-certified U.S. General Services Administration courthouse, among many others.
So you can see why when he talks, Inside the Brackets, among others, listen. From the article,
Sustainability is inherent in each project his firm touches. Says Stern: 'We don’t wear it on our sleeves, but it’s there... I don’t think we have any projects on board, nor have we had in a while, that haven’t had sustainability built into the agenda just like structural integrity. It’s a very important part of our practice.'
It is encouraging to know one of the best "traditional" firms is publically approaching sustainability not as an "add on" to a traditional design, but as an integral aspect. Also, it's nice for [1016] Architecture to have something in common with RAMSA.
Inside the Brackets wasn't familiar with NY House Magazine until the GreenBuildingsNY 2009 Conference. It is a really striking publication: large format, good articles, and great photos. Check it out.
Inside the Brackets previously posted about the Midnight Moon Alpaca Ranch project (click here and scroll down). In all probability, MMAR is to be the first alpaca ranch made from shipping containers (ISBUs, to be exact).
[1016] Architecture recently made some good progress on the main house design for the ranch.
This design is made of (3) 8' x 40' High Cube (HC) containers, and the owner wants the containers to be visible on the exterior.
The decks, stairs, and curved metal roof are all additional parts, but can be disassembled in order to be reused should that become necessary.
The building will be sited to take advantage of summer/winter sun angle differences to promote energy savings and daylighting.
The result... not your typical midwestern agricultural building, for sure.
Here is an animation of the main house design in progress:
There is still a lot of work to be done before this becomes reality, and eventually Inside the Brackets will bring you updates on the planned barn and guest cottages for the property.
The Chicago Tribune recently published a great article articulating a current [1016] investment strategy: 2-flat ownership.
The 2-flat: A classic Chicago property type.
The article by Heidi Stevens (full text here) hits on a lot of great bonuses of owning a 2-flat as compared to condo ownership, including:
Owner-occupied 2-flats, where you live in one unit and rent out the other, qualify for fantastic FHA financing. You can still get a great place with only 5% (or even 3%) down.
When rental income is considered, it is possible to afford to buy in a neighborhood that would otherwise be outside of your budget.
Need to move? You may not have to sell: you can rent out your unit and borrow against the ownership of the entire building. Of course, this will require you to have lived there for some time to have built equity.
No condo associations. Yes, this may require a little more owner 'proactivity,' but that is a small price for real estate freedom.
In short, 2-flats are a great way to both: 1) establish home-ownership and 2) get into the real estate market in an entrepreneurial way. Click here for some more Tribune tips. If you are interested in shopping for a 2-flat, or any type of Chicago real estate for that matter, [1016] knows a guy who can help you out. And we might even have the place for you.
[1016] Architecture Principal and Inside the Brackets contributor Andrew Wilson, AIA, LEED AP recently attended the GreenBuildingsNY 2009 conference to bring you this first person account.
"GreenBuildingsNY is the place to source green solutions and materials for the design, construction, restoration, renovation and historical preservation of existing commercial, residential and industrial buildings. See how eco-friendly can be economy friendly. Discover how a smart investment on environmental and sustainability improvements can deliver up to 20–40% risk free return on investment. NY Metro focused, convenient, and ever evolving, GreenBuildingsNY provides easy access to more of the green sustainable products and services that building professionals need."
Overall Impressions:
While I only toured about 50% of the overall conference floor, and this was the first year I attended this event, I did walk almost the entirety of the Green Buildings presenter booths and got a good feel for the show. The quality of the displays and direct applicability to "green" buildings varied extensively and not in direct relationship. In fact, just determining what some companies did was not readily apparent.
Fortunately, I came prepared, having armed myself with a list of exhibitors I was interested in visiting by utilizing the software developed by Map Your Show. Click here to see how it works, though I am not sure how long this link will stay active after the show is done.
Top Five Standout Exhibitors:
Inside the Brackets would like to acknowledge its favorite products/presenters from the show. ITB's selections are based on the following criteria:
If the product was new, or just new to me. I didn't waste time going to large manufacturers displays... I was there to expand the options to bring to my clients.
How helpful the company representatives were in person. This is a big deal, because I want to work with people who are passionate about sustainability, not just there only to boost commissions (nothing wrong with commissions, though).
Quality and utility of product literature and take-away items. Sorry, but I'm not impressed with a pencil with your product logo on it.
How likely I am to specify the showcased product(s) in future projects. This probably has the most weight
#5) Mythic Paint: A direct, and perhaps superior, competitor to Benjamin Moore's premium lines, Mystic touts itself as "the world's only high performance premium paint with zero VOCs, zero toxins, and zero carcinogens."
In addition to their interior and exterior opaque finishes, the company is scheduled to turn out a line of stains sometime this year.
These products will be a welcome addition to designers working in California and some East Coast state which have very tight VOC and air quality standards.
The company's website has an excellent FAQ if you are interested in more information.
#4) Trespa (metal panels): Honestly, there's really not that much exciting about metal panels, but Trespa gets the nod for providing the most comprehensive design materials as a take away. Inside the Brackets like this.
#3) Leibherr Appliances: I was quite impressed with the quality, feel, and look of these refrigeration appliances. The door hardware and action exuded cool quality, and the appliances are available in free-standing, built-in, and fully-integrated options to suit the needs of any design. Leibherr is a German company which has only relatively recently expanded efforts to sell in the United States. They are positioning themselves as competitors to SubZero, but the representative was sure to stress that they are both greener (100% of their models meet or exceed Energy Star requirements, not so for SubZero) and less expensive than their American counterpart. The company has summarized all of the green benefits for owning a Leibherr appliance in their ActiveGreen campaign.
Liebherr proves that green can be beautiful, and less expensive than other alternatives.
#2) Roofscapes, Inc.: Melissa Muroff, a Roofscapes Principal, displayed both a noticeable passion for the ideas behind green roofs and a high level of technical knowledge about them. Inside the Brackets applauds Melissa and Roofscapes for their dedication to providing it clients the best possible green roof. Since they don't manufacturer any particular system or component, they are able to look objectively at each client's needs and deliver the best solution.
Also, they incorporate maintenance, landscape design, and roofing contractors upon request to provide a fully warranted and performing product. I hope [1016] Architecture can work with this shop on a future project.
This company is in the top spot simply because Inside the Brackets and [1016] believe in their business model and think that companies that educate and outfit existing building owners with more efficient buildings are going to do the most to lessen the impact of our built environment on the earth.
From their website:
"Sustainability Partners LLC is a collaboration of professionals from the architecture, finance, engineering, real estate, and construction industries who have joined forces to reduce energy consumption and stabilize our critical housing resources. We have pooled this expertise so that we may offer practical insights and advice to property owners on how to design and cost effectively implement energy saving measures for their buildings, while also taking advantage of the many powerful incentive programs currently in place to help finance such improvements."
Any existing building owner in New York should contact Sustainability Partners to see if they can help them save money on operating costs by implementing tax-subsidized building improvements.
Did we miss something big? Let us know.
Further commentary: LEED Platinum and Beyond (Education Session)
Presented by: Chris Benedict, R.A., and Jonathan Rose of Rose Companies
I happened into this education session to take a break from walking the floor and was pleased with the time spent. While the LEED checklist was not really discussed much at all, the presenters definitely highlighted ideas which make up the backbone of the program. In my opinion, it was more interesting this way.
Chris Benedict presented recent projects showcasing her sustainable building science knowledge. Emphasis on strategies for detailing tight, super efficient buildings composed the bulk of her part of the presentation. One of her latest projects is set to meet the Passive Building Standard (Germany), which according to her is one of the most rigorous "green" building standards in the world. For more: Check out this Passive House article by Greenline.
Jonathan Rose brought an intriguing, casual passion to his presentation on building sustainably (by choosing the right development location). He long ago concluded the most sustainable sites to be dense and urban, and has built several companies around the desire to improve and restore cities. This is, of course, a shared belief of [1016] Architecture, and one we have written about before. If you haven't heard of Jonathan Rose, check out his website (linked above).
Inside the Brackets is the blog for [1016] Architecture, Inc. Visit our company's website to find out more. Comments are encouraged. Please join the discussion about sustainability.
[1016] Architecture is happy to announce a collaboration with EEB Interiors, a Chicago-based Interior Design firm founded by Erin Bodnar. Erin is an experienced designer who services residential and commercial clients, potentially giving [1016] Architecture clients access to the following services in a seamless package:
Furniture and Finishing Specifications
Interior and Exterior Color Consultations
Design and Creation of Custom Furnishings, Bedding, and Window Treatments
Statements of Probable Cost for FF&E project components
and more
From the EEB website:
"EEB Interiors caters to a wide range of clientele including residential, corporate and commercial projects and is renowned for their unprecedented quality of design, meticulous attention to detail, as well as adhering to the very highest standards of professional integrity. We pride ourselves on the diversity of our projects and our ability to transform spaces utilizing a juxtaposition of both contemporary and traditional design elements."
"We are very excited to work with EEB Interiors, and Erin," says [1016] Architecture principal Josh Canale. "Our clients stand to benefit greatly from her detailed and creative input to our designs. Working with EEB Interiors throughout the project process will ensure realization of a complete vision."
[1016] Architecture is dedicated to working with other design firms to combine expertise. Collaboration is key to project success and client satisfaction.
Inside the Brackets covers topics such as trends, sustainability, high-performance design, real estate market, and the economy. Chicago, Queens, and Long Island real estate are our areas of expertise.
The main purpose of Inside the Brackets is to develop a conversation and serve as a resource for those who are looking for more information on these topics.
We combine architectural knowledge with real estate expertise.
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Despite being a 19-unit building, efforts were made to ensure that the street frontage of the building fit the scale of the neighborhood. From the front, only the two and a half stories shown here will be visible. The third floor and penthouse levels will be set well back from this wall.
