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Benefits of Green Building Design_Russell and Dawson
AEC Infographics

Benefits of Green Building

August 17, 20210

To reduce the environmental impact of urban communities, sustainable development is crucial. The building structures address almost 40% of the world’s emissions, and it is expected to double by 2060. Except if the new buildings and structures have green design plans, emissions will keep on developing at a similar speed.

The benefits of green structures are not just ecological – they additionally have a lower ownership cost over the long run, and they are more likely to be noticed by potential occupants. Green building owners make an extra contribution beyond what is required by law. Green building features increases the construction cost; however, they are recovered during the entire life cycle of the building by the savings achieved due to green designs. Green building owners are making efforts in achieving decarbonization targets, and they should be rewarded for it.

Some of the green design features can be Cogeneration, Fuel Cells, Solar Photovoltaic Panels, Solar thermal collectors, central chiller plant, geothermal heating and cooling, rainwater harvesting, grey and black water recycling, LED & Day lighting, occupancy sensing lighting controls, energy recovery ventilation, low flow plumbing fixtures, micro wind turbine, air filtration, electric load shifting, etc.

Russell and Dawson has successfully completed Architectural and Engineering Design Services for a green building Broward County Judicial Complex In Fort Lauderdale and achieved LEED Gold Certification.

Benefits of Green Building Design_Infographic by Russell and Dawson
PROJECT MANAGEMENT AT RUSSELL AND DAWSON INC
AEC Blogs

Strategies for Construction Project Management

August 11, 20210
Project management at russell and dawson

Construction project managers are the ones who can tell us how energy-consuming and complex is to manage a construction project. However, with the invention of new technologies, it is easier to streamline the workflow if you have hands-on experience in managing few construction projects previously.

Successful projects usually mean you are able to complete the project on time and within the budget. Some below-mentioned strategies can be adopted to be a successful construction project manager.

Real-Time Communication

Construction projects usually host many stakeholders including, lead contractors, project proprietors, subcontractors, architectural designers, sellers, and administrative staff, all of which should be updated with the project progress. You need to build up a consistent correspondence stream among the various stakeholders of the project. Continuous and transparent correspondence guarantees that the project moves along as expected and decreases the number of calls and emails.

You can have a productive communication by setting up a unified communication system. This assists you with synchronizing archives, photographs, and schedules in one place. You can screen expenses, updates, and changes in real-time. It eases access to information. All progressions made ought to be informed immediately through automated systems, alerts, and visual dashboards.

Right Team

When everything about the initiation of a project is finalized, you need to hire a competent task group. For each task, allocate people who have the right abilities, skills, and characters. Every individual ought to be educated regarding what’s expected of them and the expectations required from them toward the completion of the project. Usually, when the construction details of a project is finalized, owners or owner’s representatives release an RFP to hire an Engineering, Construction, and Architectural Design Firm to do the job.

As the project manager, you need to encourage positive working dynamics and be a mentor to all your colleagues. When you have the right arrangement of people, keep them motivated and driven, regardless of whether things are continuing well. You need to use your leadership abilities to deal with the difficulties faced during the execution of various tasks.

Manage the time

Consistently, focus on the tasks that should be done promptly over those that can be done later. You should try not to be busy with things that aren’t important on an immediate basis. Along these lines, a few out of every email you get could be answered later.

Managing your time may necessitate that you delegate a few obligations to others in your group. With the right colleagues in your group, you don’t need to micromanage every little thing. You just need to get steady input and trust individuals you’ve appointed to settle on choices and perform the duties.

Reconsider Techniques

Each construction project manager urges completing their task within budget, on schedule, and as shown by the plan. Regardless of the advancement of your project, you ought to be able to assess your plans and projects. There could be an oversight of a superior technique to deal with the project or resolve a particular issue. Get feedback on each stage and converse with your group to see potential spaces for progress.

Plans and Schedules

Your capacity to deliver successful projects is a component of how well you plan and schedule the project. Guarantee that each resource you need should have your plan to complete the project on time. Each phase of the construction project needs materials, tools, labor, and equipment. It’s your obligation to guarantee that everything is accessible to your workers. Project managers should set achievable targets for their construction plans. Your plan should generally be fixed to keep the project moving ahead on time, while simultaneously it should also have the option to adapt to sudden conditions so the project can continue to move ahead.

Documentation

Documentation of the project from the start should be defined, routinely refreshed, and simple to follow. At whichever phase the project is, the associated stakeholders should sign the documents prior to filling them. Having a document management system can help you monitor all reports and guarantee that there’s no loss of documents. Usually, the architecture or engineering design firm is responsible for the documentation of the plans.

Having an elaborate document management system set up doesn’t imply that the task will be finished within the proposed budget and on schedule. Along these lines, you need to introduce all the project documents to the partners with the goal that they can have the option to oblige unanticipated possibilities. In the event that such circumstances emerge, with the supporting documents that are reviewed, you can deflect expected conflicts, project delays, or legal issues.

Terms and conditions of contracts

Whenever you’ve won the bid and sign the contract, assure that you read the document before signing it. The contract is a binding document that allows the client and the contractor to meet their respective contractual obligation to complete the said scope or specification within the budget and schedule time. The better you are aware of the terms and conditions, the better you can deal with the conflicts that are beyond the signed contract.

Negotiation Skills

For successfully managing construction projects, you need to horn your negotiation skills. You need to realize how to persuade suppliers, subcontractors, clients, and other people involved in the group. You need to bring everyone along the same lines of your thought and convince them with the quantifiable facts.

Focus on Employees’ Safety

The safety of your laborers is basic however much you need to make a great fortune from the construction project. Try not to utilize alternate routes, confirm installed braces, and utilize suggested construction equipment as oversights whereas carelessness can cause serious damage to your workers or bystanders, bringing a legal suit.

Conclusion

Successful construction project management expects you to do great planning and scheduling to guarantee that your project is completed in time and schedule. Report every piece of information of your work, keep each partner informed, and facilitate coordination and collaboration with your project team.

Planning Construction_Russell and Dawson
AEC Blogs

Planning Designs to facilitate Construction

July 23, 20210
Planning Construction_ By Russell and Dawson

Usually, there is a great impulse to hop immediately into the detailed design plan of a project. A brief period is spent on planning the design, in the persuasion that this will further develop efficiency. Time spent on planning can consistently be defended by shorter project schedules and programs, limited vulnerability along with cost controlling and budgeting.

In planning designs to best fulfill the client’s requirements of the building, its expense, and the timescale, it is fundamental to think about construction. Thus, it will be feasible to create a plan that facilitates construction. This approach of construction-led designs should be considered for better outcomes.

The accompanying parts of the project are influenced by this methodology:

  • Basic Design Decisions
  • Information flow at the construction and design phase
  • Work sequences on and off-site

The designers should also consider the approach of putting their design to use which is a requirement of CDM guidelines. Below are the 5 basic principles a designer should follow while planning for construction.

Thorough Investigation

A designer should have detailed information about the site where the building is supposed to be constructed. All the information must be clearly presented to the designer before the commencement of the designing phase. Lack of information may lead to costly modifications at a later stage. Ground conditions and levels, accessibility of the site, nearby structures which can get affected, environmental conditions, obstructions of any overhead cables, underground services, provision for equipment at the site should be known.

Plan for production necessities

The factors on-site such as accessibility, area, labor force etc. may dictate the design philosophy. The design of a planned structure should take into consideration the above factors. Access to and around the site may impose limitations on the number of individuals that can be utilized. For instance, a design plan which uses support to give an enormous and clear span, may at times be inappropriate if the truss is too large to be assembled and erected on site.

Another instance would be with a restrictive construction that may require the incorporation of pre-fabricated parts in the plan. Pre-fabricated parts may likewise be appropriate for export trade work at the point when labor costs at the site are high, or when there is a shortage of skilled workforce.

Plan for a sequence that is feasible

The designer should decide on a potential construction order that would fulfill the prerequisites of a primary contract worker while keeping up with the stability of the structure at all phases of construction. Modeling on software might be helpful in fostering the erection sequence, using a ‘virtual model’. The order ought to streamline and optimize the plant use. The plants should not be inactive for long durations. The weights of the principal members should not differ largely so that cranage can be utilized proficiently. The type of construction should be one that supports the best and safe sequence of building activities. The structural designer should outline the assumptions made when fostering the design plan in a “Design basis method of erection” (DBME). The DBME also considers the health and safety plan. The designer might have assumed the possible DBME method of erection, however, it doesn’t restrict the use of an alternative technique by the contract worker.

In case the contractor wishes to go for the alternative technique, it isn’t the obligation of the designer. The alternative method should be developed by the contractor and it should also comply with the health and safety plans. This allows avoiding health and safety issues such as working around overhead cables, over water, etc. The contractor shall send the revised strategy to the client or client’s representative for approval.

Logical sequence

The principal contract worker will set up a master contract program dependent on logical sequence and accessibility of data. This program is set to limit the requirement for return visits, and optimize the time spent on site. The designer’s decisions can affect the potential ‘effectiveness’ of this program. For instance, the utilization of steel decking in a multi-story frame empowers following trades to work at lower levels as steelwork erection proceeds up the structure. The program for steelwork erection will be more detailed than the master program, however, obviously should be viable with it.

Plan for simplicity of assembly

The designer should plan and detail a structure to enhance the simplicity of assembly. Standard and simplified connections should be utilized at every possible opportunity. Time and cost penalties are frequently connected with an unusual form of construction due to the learning curve impact. Automated and computerized methods can help to speed up development and lessen costs.

Steps-for-a-well-managed-design-process-to-facilitate-construction_Russell and Dawson

Design Complexity

Designing itself is a complex procedure, and it keeps getting complex as knowledge increases. Various individuals from a broad range of organizations contribute to the continuous exchange and addition of information. It is the responsibility of the principal designer to provide accurate information to all the parties involved in the construction of a building.

With the use of software for steel structure and framing, it has become easier to get calculations of forces and moments. It is fundamental that a qualitative feel for how designs act isn’t lost as frames grow in complexity.

Design Team

The best projects are those wherein the client has a long-haul relationship with the design experts and contractors. When such ‘collaboration’ isn’t embraced, the client should pick an appropriate strategy to select an Architectural Design Firm.

The construction situation takes an alternate structure contingent upon the kind of agreement between the client and the design team. The three most basic kinds of agreement utilized are:

Traditional Approach where the client hires an Engineer to do the designs and a contractor who does the construction task.

Design-Build Approach: In this approach, the client hires a single firm that does the designing and construction tasks. One of the benefits of this kind of agreement is that the contractor for hire or potentially subcontractors are almost certain to be included from a beginning phase, so their construction experience can be embraced in the design plan. Russell and Dawson Inc completed a design-build project for Fairfield Inn and Suites, Williamstown, MA wherein we designed and constructed the hotel. This approach led to the smooth and successful completion of the project.

Construction Management Approach: In this form of contract, the client hires a project manager who then hires the other team members on behalf of the owner and acts as a client representative.

Agreement of information

A program should be complied and concurred so that dates by which data is required are fixed. The lead zone designer should guarantee that each aspect of the work is defined completely and accurately. A framework or system should be set up to cautiously screen drawings and amendments to the schedule, to guarantee that all parties are working to the most recent data.

The appointed project manager or client’s representative must play an active role in making decisions at key points. He/she should liaise with the design team to assemble all the necessary information, agree to it, and sign the contract.

For instance, a contractor might face some issues on site however the project manager might not comprehend the imperative forced by site conditions. A concrete and clean understanding between the parties is required to ensure that the information supply is integrated with the construction need.

Modern working practices have reduced the timescales which have influenced the transfer or supply of information to all parties. However, with the increased use of cloud designing software, the transfer of information has become easier and quicker.

Coordination

Many organizations or individuals are involved in the designing phase. There is the contribution of information from various sources with their own objective. Structural, Architectural or MEP designers etc. designers may be concerned with small parts of the project which increases the problem of coordination. With a construction-led approach, the designers can have a formal meeting at key stages to agree upon programs and details.

Interfaces

Physical interfaces are basically the features of the building and may show up between components, systems, and zones. A clear separation of systems crossing the zones must be made. Lead designers can negotiate with everyone involved to establish the line of interface, the policy on tolerances, etc.

Design Development

Design development must be carefully controlled because primary designers require large amounts of information from various sources. Allowances for design development may be built-in to the design program to cope with the sorts of problems which, often arise in practice. There may be periods during which a two-way exchange of information between the design and construction teams is possible, but ever decreasing timescales are reducing the possibility for such overlaps.

Conclusion

Before kick-starting any building project, it is essential to take into consideration planning, management, and designing issues. Designing for construction helps designers to know about the important aspects of the site before commencing the project.

Tru Hotel, Windsor Locks, CT_by Russell and Dawson
AEC Blogs

CHANGES IN HOSPITALITY DESIGN ARCHITECTURE TO BOUNCE BACK FROM COVID PANDEMIC

July 20, 20210
Tru Hotel, Windsor Locks, CT_by Russell and Dawson

The hospitality business has endured extraordinarily during the pandemic as a result of the slowdown in business and leisure travel. But, the continuous difficulties of worldwide health and the environmental emergency have pushed the business to ask what else hotels can be for individuals and networks. This year, the hotel business has a chance to rethink itself through strong, human-driven plans that interface individuals with space by changing the hospitality design architecture.

The architects and engineers working in the Hospitality Design Firms are trying to reshape hotels to promote the well-being of the guests by identifying new approaches to wellness and sustainability.

Increased focus on health and wellness of the guests

The business won’t bounce back to regular occupancy levels until visitors can be guaranteed their visit will not contrarily sway their wellbeing. Hotels can assist with moderating this dread by sloping up cleaning efforts and ensuring visitors know I set which explicit disinfection and cleansing measures up to guarantee their wellbeing. Many hotels brands have reported utilizing electrostatic sprayers with medical clinic grade sanitizer to disinfect surfaces all through their hotel chains. Fever scanners at passageways may turn out to be more normal and could promise visitors that they are entering the safe and secure building. Numerous hotels are making the extra stride of recruiting consultants to ensure their cleaning conventions adequately dispense with microorganisms. Also, hotel staff should be enforced to wear personal protective equipment which ensures the safety of the staff, as well as the guests, feel assured by this sight. New hotels are also considering replacing metal or plastic doorknobs and furniture handle with copper which has been shown to kill bacteria.

Hands-free Experience

Hotels are caught up with investigating approaches to decrease the quantity of high-touch areas that can spread disease. Mechanized innovation, for example, hands-free faucets and toilets offer one arrangement. Numerous hotels have effectively changed to mobile check-ins that kill the need to connect with the front desk area and empowers a cell phone to fill in a room key. More hotels will probably add this innovation going ahead.

Beyond these hotels should think about bringing down the number of touchpoints in eateries and dining spaces. Visitors are probably going to see all the more exclusively wrapped “grab and go” food choices in the short term, with self-serve salad and breakfast bars supplanted completely by staff stationed counters.

Promoting Sustainability

Sustainable tourism is where guests can engage with nature and take up activities like cycling, walking, hiking in a beautiful environment. Hotels are trying to focus more on biophilia designs and outdoor spaces so that guests can enjoy healthy activities in outdoor spaces with safe distances. It also includes air purification systems in the rooms along with operable windows. Hotels are also working towards vitamin C-infused showers.

Reshaping hotel amenities

People are accustomed to ‘work from anywhere instead of the ‘work from home lifestyle. Hotels are trying to deploy a business mixed with leisure design. As a Hospitality Architectural Design Service provider, we can partner with hospitality clients to design a hotel into a sustainable, wellness-focused environment apt for relaxing, adventuring, and working from home.

HOW CAN WE DO IT?

We live in an inevitably complex world where fast change is testing the way we live, work, travel, and play. Our in-house team of Hotel Architects and Engineers have years of experience in hospitality design which allows them to assist customers with exploring this time of phenomenal change. Our group has profound aptitude in market patterns, systems, operations and money offering help to the clients to make informed choices.

CONVERTING OUR CLIENT’S VISION INTO REALITY USING RESEARCH, EXPERIENCE, AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION OF HOTELS.

Working intimately with our architectural design associates, we comprehensively approach each task determined to accomplish a critical spot that adjusts the actual setting, the client’s vision, evolving and changing market characteristics, with the plan’s financial potential.

  • Actual Context

Does the plan fit the site? From the very beginning, it is fundamental to assess the match between the project site’s attributes with the proposed idea and advancement vision. Will the topography introduce an opportunity or challenge? Is the site easily accessible? Will it consent to the drafting structure? Through a collective cycle with our group of planners and architects, we can ‘test fit’ development recommendations against the actual boundaries of the site.

  • Vision

A vision of a project is something that should drive the whole strategic planning process. Each incredible project starts with an idea or development vision to arrive at an ideal target. However, the vision should be tried, tested, and calibrated.

  • Market

A reasonable comprehension of the market conditions is basic to appropriately evaluate the investment and operational risks and rewards related to any proposed project.

  • Financial matters

Will the project pile up monetarily? To decide this, we should “run the numbers”. This requires displaying the estimated financial performance of the project, that is the “cash in” (incomes), the “cash-out” (working costs), and the subsequent operating profits versus the development costs expected to understand the vision.

In case there is a silver lining that can be found from the break-in business caused by COVID-19, it is that it has offered all brands a chance to reevaluate how they need to be seen. Hotels with attention on wellbeing and health were a developing pattern before COVID-19. That marking is probably going to turn out to be much more popular now. One envisions another rating framework may even arise that would equitably rate hotels dependent on wellbeing and health rather than the star quality rating that prevails today. We at Russell and Dawson Inc, have great experience in providing Hospitality Design Services which caters to these time of uncertainty.

News

Russell and Dawson & PAC Group LLC Complete Extra Space Storage Project in Hartford, CT

December 30, 20190
“BEST ARCHITECTS IN HARTFORD” LIST OF 2019

EXPANSION AND REDEVELOPMENT OF FIVE-STORY EXTRA STORAGE SPACE FACILITY IS LIVE!

HARTFORD, CONN. (PRWEB) OCTOBER 18, 2018

Russell and Dawson, the Hartford-based and one of the longest-serving A/E/C firm in the history of Connecticut, and PAC Group LLC, Torrington, CT based construction management firm, are pleased to announce the completion of expansion and redevelopment of Extra Space Storage at Hartford, CT owned by New Jersey-based real-estate company.

This five-story 50,300 SQFT storage facility is located on Park Street in Hartford, CT, and offers over 360 storage units of varied sizes. This facility was built on the existing foundation of an abandoned building and maintains a perfect blend of historic preservation through balanced architectural design and structural engineering. Russell and Dawson provided architecture, engineering, and construction administration services while PAC Group provided construction services.

Since 1965, Russell and Dawson has provided integrated A & E services to over 10,000 projects of all sizes across various sectors which includes over 200 projects of warehouse & storage facilities in the northeast market. “We are thankful to the property owner for putting their trust in our expertise and experience. This storage facility project was a very interesting and challenging project for our architecture and structural teams where we had to focus on maximum utilization and aesthetics preservation.” said Chirag Thaker, President of Russell and Dawson.

“Despite a very challenging budget and schedule we were able to meet the property owner’s project goals. PAC Group & Russell and Dawson worked collaboratively to not only install a new 5 story building on an existing matt slab, we saved the owner significant cost on the elevator by redesigning a more cost-effective solution.” said Paul Campanelli, VP Business Development, PAC Group LLC.


Other storage/warehouse and industrial projects done by Russell and Dawson include

  • Hamilton Standard Aftermarket Support Facility, East Windsor, Connecticut
  • CSC – Generators and Switchgear at Wilmington, Delaware
  • Kamatics Industrial Building, Bloomfield, Connecticut
  • Capitol Transit Co., Hartford, Connecticut
  • Craco Company, Clinton, Connecticut

About Russell and Dawson

Russell and Dawson is an integrated client-1st architectural design, engineering and construction services firm based out of Hartford, Connecticut. Since 1965, Russell and Dawson has created more than 100 million square feet of space with trust and creativity through the execution of more than 10,000 projects across various sectors in the northeast states.

Press release also available on PRWeb – at: Press Release