Wednesday, July 23, 2014
A
building is a system. Within that system are people, the highest priority in
all decisions surrounding the design and construction of that building. The 3
legs of the system are:
1)
people
2)
environment
3)
building
Again, the needs of the people (building
occupants and visitors) and the natural environment must take precedence over
the exterior environment and precedence over the building aesthetics. To
satisfy the “people” priorities, we must consider clean water, fire safety,
structural strength, air quality, HVAC comfort, lighting, and humidity control.
Additionally,
the designer and contractors must provide a building that the people can afford
to operate, maintain and pay for.
Protecting
the people’s interest requires a building that retards the deterioration of the
building’s materials and operating systems. The building must be adaptable so
it can be renewed, renovated or repurposed in future years.
People’s
interests are also served when the building project is designed to reduce soil
erosion and proper handling of occupant water and sewage. Building contractors
with decades of experience and an understanding of these priorities have the
best chance of satisfying the owner’s goals.
