Appreciation in Numbers

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

I'm thinking again about how projects come together, about how an idea becomes a reality from the perspective of all involved. We are so engrossed in the process on a day-to-day basis that we may lose sight of the awesome orchestra of talent that we lead as designers and builders.

From the client or end user to the craftspeople involved, there are so many ideas, materials and people moving around that it is a wonder anything gets done at all. There will certainly be mistakes and misunder- standings along the way.

With a moving target of real estate values, financing issues, new materials and methods, and rising fuel costs, we are challenged even more than before with turning out successful projects.

Just to get it out on the table, here are all the players in the band that I can think of right now: property owner (along with family and friends), neighbors, realtor, appraiser, lender, architect and associates, engineer and associates, planning and building department (along with outside plan-checking service and field inspectors), interior designer, builder and associates, subcontractors and material suppliers.

For a recent small bathroom remodel, I counted up to 53 individuals involved in creating the project! Just think of how many folks are concerned with a larger project. At a recent SF Giants baseball game, as I was talking to my cousin who runs the "Guzzler" slide, I heard one of his adult clients proudly say he had helped build the thing. We must acknowledge and share the pride in creating a project with all those involved, because, for most people, a project is more than a paycheck.

In my Spanish class, El professor brought in students from the ESL class so we could practice English and Spanish together. A majority of the ESL students were in the construction trades and had left their families back in their country. One of them said that El Jefe (the boss) required that he enroll in the class. This man, with great feeling, said his boss was a "buena persona," telling us how his boss had come to the job and asked him to stop working so they could go to lunch together. The humanity in this was so clear that it made me look for ways to express my appreciation for my own crew better and more often. Being so busy with getting the project done can blind us to the importance of making sure to share our gratitude for those who give so much for us every day.

Whether you take a worker out to lunch, buy him or her a tool, offer to loan out the company truck for the weekend, teach your employees about a new building system or simply acknowledge the nice work they just completed, you will be a better person and have a better staff to show for it. The same goes for the many others involved in the project. It is even OK to let your client know that the idea he or she had for the handrail detail was a winner!

June 2008 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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No Hybrids Allowed

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

With greater acceptance today that we can do something about global warming and create healthier lifestyles at the same time, we may be ready to eliminate the quotation marks around the "green" in green building. Along with this awakening, however, come those who jump on the bandwagon for all the wrong reasons: To try to capitalize on a good thing without providing the benefits intended by the movement toward building healthier and more comfortable buildings.

The good stuff is that "green" is in the mainstream now, as evidenced by an explosion of new and improved products, older green products becoming standard in construction, more trained professionals and a huge amount of media attention. The bad stuff is that you need to be aware of "greenwashing," looking even further into products that appear to be green.

Whether your "Super Bowl" is the Academy Awards or the Super Bowl itself, you were exposed to the green media blitz this year. The Academy Awards event was promoted as green, and the emcee referred to green a few times, including a reference to a hybrid Boeing jet that was parked out front with its lights on. I was surprised that the audience did not applaud after the emcee announced this and then stated that, as a result, the winners would be walking up to the microphone this year (did I miss a previous year when a winner drove up to the mic?). Well, at least they put it out there.

The first half of the Super Bowl pregame show was promoted as being powered with energy from batteries charged by people riding stationary bicycles - for four days. As I looked into this event further, I found that the sponsor was "Amp," one of those highly caffeinated energy drinks that comes in what looks like a beer can. Here, "Amp" tried to combine energy savings with energy drinks, which I found not to be a good association. Even their labeling is "green" (using the quotation marks purposely this time), or red if you get the flavor with red dye #40 and cherry flavoring.

Along with new green materials and building procedures, some of the earlier ones are no longer considered revolutionary or even voluntary; in many cases they are now required minimums. For example, many green-building professionals regard simply meeting Title 24 energy requirements, once considered cutting edge, as equating with "D-" building practices.

Many manufacturers of older products are retooling. With recent innovations in particleboard production and adhesive selection, we can now specify plastic laminate as a green product. Now, my client from many years ago who was afraid of what their friends would think about their installing "Formica" instead of granite in a high-end kitchen remodel has a comeback other than the one I came up with at the time: "Don't take it for granite - it's fauxmica."

What is new today may be the norm or below the norm tomorrow. Where once Berkeley's Permit Service Center had a parking space in front reserved for hybrid vehicles, the sign now reads "Electric Vehicles Only - No Hybrids."

April 2008 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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Save Your Skin - Systems Design for Your Building's Exterior

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

A successful exterior finish system will look good, keep the weather out and last a long time. Choosing the right system, however, is not as simple as deciding between stucco and T-111 wood siding. When designing a new building, there are many exterior finish material choices. The options narrow when looking at the design style, and then again when considering the construction budget. The most important factors, though, may be the least considered.

With a systems approach to selection, design and construction of a successful exterior finish system, you will need to consider all of the following elements together: climate, type of construction (wood, masonry, steel, etc.) and the many architectural elements, which include overhangs, building orientation, door and window selection and detailing, roof design and material, gutters and downspouts, flashing details, building/house wrap, lifecycle cost, maintenance requirements and, last but not least, aesthetics. As with many other parts of a building, the use of any exterior finish material should be considered as a system, both in itself and as part of the entire structure.

Like your skin, the skin, or envelope, of a building should allow your building to breathe while protecting you from the elements. Although skin is your body's true siding, most of us wear clothing as an additional layer for modesty and protection. If you consider your clothing as siding, you can easily see that after getting wet, you and your clothing dry out much faster and with more comfort if you can take your clothes off to dry; and no matter what type of rain gear you're wearing, you almost always get wet.

A "plastic wrap" policy - plugging every hole, caulking every joint - is ineffective. Wood shrinks and expands, caulked joints fail and natural forces like gravity, capillary action and wind-driven rain will cause water to go where it's not wanted. Water will enter the outer envelope - it's one of the things it does best!

The key is in the envelope design. If there is a drainage plane behind the siding - with a gap that allows infiltrating water to run down and out - water won't sit behind the siding and turn to vapor. Here's the theory: let it in, get it down and get it out. Or, more simply put, "drain the rain."

Rain-screen siding systems allow for water to run behind the siding material and to travel out and away from the building at the bottom of the wall. By adding furring strips over the vapor barrier and behind wood siding, or using "wrinkled" house wrap behind stucco, you can increase the life of the siding and improve the performance of the exterior finish system. While a rain-screen system requires technical expertise and research on specific materials, as well as careful construction, it will pay off in the end.

You may have heard of the problems with the Frank O. Gehry's Stata Center project at MIT, where the owner has filed a lawsuit against the architect and contractor for "design and construction failures" related to leaks caused in part by problems with the exterior envelope. The construction firm claims they warned the architect of flaws in the detailing and the architect refused to make changes to improve the design.

While you can certainly make it harder on yourself with a complex building design, chances are you are not a star architect earning a $15 million commission. Even if you are, it is better to design and build a great envelope rather than rely on your professional liability insurance. Whatever skin you use, make sure yours is protected!

March 2008 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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Indoor Air Quality - You Are What You Breathe

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

Living and working in existing buildings, we inherit all the beautiful spaces along with the air our builder intended us to breathe. There is evidence that even in the most industrialized cities, the air within our homes and businesses can be more polluted than outdoor air. Since most people spend about 90% of their time indoors, it is obvious that we should pay attention to indoor air quality. Many indoor air pollutants have been shown to have negative effects on our health, especially for children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems.

We face a variety of health risks as we go about our daily activities. Some are unavoidable given the way we choose to lead our lives, and some we might forgo if we had the right information. When remodeling or constructing a new building, we can make decisions that significantly improve and maintain better air quality, which translates into better health.

With homes more tightly sealed for better energy efficiency, it is even more important to choose materials and products that do not offgas harmful chemicals into our buildings. While older homes may have potentially harmful materials, some chemicals, such as formaldehyde (a common binder in insulation and pressed wood products), offgas over a long period of time and may therefore not be an issue today. Asbestos, a product with known health risks, is safe if it is encapsulated and not disturbed. Radon, a naturally occurring gas, could have harmful effects, but mitigation can be planned for during construction. (The EPA website, www.epa.gov, recommends testing homes for radon even in areas where it is present at low levels.) There are also biological pollutants such as mold and mildew.

There are three ways to improve indoor air quality (IAQ): source control, ventilation and filtration.

SOURCE CONTROL

Source control offers the best oppor- tunity for better IAQ. There is a wide range of commonly used construction products that do not offgas: formaldehyde-free insulation, low- or no-VOC paints, as well as a variety of flooring, window coverings and other finishes that are manufactured with environmentally friendly materials. Using nontoxic cleaning products in the completed building also contributes to better indoor air quality.

VENTILATION

There are many ways to ventilate a building (to bring in fresh air and exhaust stale air). While removing stale air is desirable, you may also exhaust conditioned air, thereby using more energy to heat or cool incoming air. An energy recovery ventilation system (ERV) or heat recovery system (HRV) uses a heat exchanger to eliminate or reduce heat loss with this operation. Quiet and energy-efficient point-of-use exhaust fans remove bathroom moisture, which with a timer switch make it more difficult for mold and mildew to grow in these wet areas. Quiet kitchen exhaust hoods (surprisingly not required by code) help remove excess moisture and odors from cooking (don't worry, you can still smell the freshly baked cookies). An exhaust fan in an attached garage is also a good way to keep chemical and exhaust fumes out of the living space.

FILTRATION

OK, so you still have some indoor pollutants, hopefully not from your own smoking. Now is the time to look into filtration. There are many types of filters, with the most effective passing a larger volume of air through them. Investing in a standalone system requires research into various filter media, air volumes and other choices. Don't be fooled into thinking that this is the best way to keep the air clean, as some filtration methods can be combined with a forced air system, eliminating the need for additional equipment.

In a nutshell, you are better off if you can first keep the bad stuff out of the building. The tightest buildings will always require mechanical ventilation, and if you're stuck with what you have, then use a combination of ventilation and filtration. At some point, it will make sense to consult with a mechanical engineer to make sure you are doing the right things to create a healthy, energy- efficient building.

December 2007 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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A Different Perspective

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

Most of what we know and see is formed by our immediate environment. When we venture beyond it, we may find different realities reshaping the way we think about design, about building and about life. While I have traveled to other states and countries in the past, it had been awhile since I had been able to spend a few weeks away from my reality - this time in Israel and Greece with my family this summer.

I was able to access the Internet at various hot spots and found some computer time at cafés along the way. As work was busy prior to my leaving and while I was away, this was a blessing and a curse. Mostly a blessing - sending work e-mail from an outdoor bar high above the Mediterranean on the island of Santorini while sipping a Mythos beer isn't all that bad, so I could relax and enjoy the trip knowing things could continue without my being on location.

The 10-hour time difference had an interesting effect on me. I could enjoy the days knowing that all were asleep at home and that I had all day to send an e-mail that would arrive by their morning. Being able to search the Internet wirelessly for a special door closer and send PDFs to the office while overlooking the Dead Sea was also quite an experience.

More important than benefiting from recent technological advances was being in places so full of history. Seeing the remains of monumental structures built with far few resources than we have today is mind blowing. The fortified city for 1,000 on top of Masada - complete with storage build- ings for food, water system and community swimming pool - high above the Negev is the epitome of people creating from adversity just what they need.

The sense of history is evident in architecture and attitudes. This may be a result of being on vacation, but away from here, it seems people are more themselves, not trying to behave a certain way. OK, they could seem rude or pushy at times, but I think they are just comfortable expressing themselves.

Having already been in a crowd of over 70,000 at a Cal football game after being back for a week, there was a sense of order and politeness that seems familiar here. I have a feeling if this were a real "football" crowd in another country (or maybe a home Raiders game), things would have been a bit more crazy.

In Greece and Israel I noticed a few things:

- An explosion of split system air conditioners, like a virus, on the face of most buildings. (One building in Israel has a safety screen just above street level to catch the occasional falling unit.)
- While many buildings are being constructed (north of Tel Aviv I saw at least 20 tower cranes without turning my head), most of the older ones are in great need of maintenance.
- We are better with litter and recycling (with the exception of the unmanned recycling and payback machine complete with music right in the middle of Syndagma Square in Athens).
- Mosaic floors were really popular and are sometimes the only part of a building re- maining after a few centuries.
- There are "Zara" clothing stores everywhere, sometimes around the corner from each other (I even learned when we returned that there is one in San Francisco).
- Unlike our marking edges and ramps for the blind, entire lengths of sidewalk have linear dimensional markings to help the visually impaired find their way between ramps.
- Dual flush toilets are everywhere.
- Solar thermal water heating systems are the norm in Israeli homes.
- Individual sheet toilet paper dispensers will soon be here.

Most importantly, I learned that when a waiter on the island of Rhodes generously brings you bread, salad and tsatsiki without being asked, it means that your bill can magically become 60 euros (about $82 U.S.) higher without you knowing it!

November 2007 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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Reaffirming Art, Science and Attitude of Design/Build

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

Recently I had the opportunity to rediscover the benefits of design/build. As an architect/builder, I guess I'm either spoiled or incompetent. I like to think the former. To be able to make on-the-fly design decisions at full scale comes naturally to me and most often leads to a successful project. It is like sculpture where the sculptor (design/builder) is putting his or her hands to the actual piece that will be experienced by others, having the opportunity to fine tune the design at will as it is being created.

If it weren't for long lead-time order items such as windows and doors, there would be, no problem with this method at all. As it is, however, we push ourselves and our clients into making design decisions while our minds are focused on trying to get approval from the client, the city and the neighbors, all the while making sure we are paid. Meanwhile, the client is trying to find the money for the project at the same time as being possibly possessed with trying to find just the right faucet for the master bath. An early decision on a window order that gets confirmed two months before the start of construction is a mistake waiting to happen.

Of course, if there is not enough forethought put into decisions that will have to be made later, then it is harder to make the decision quickly, on-site, while the crew is awaiting directions. For example, I thought my client was putting too much time into finding the right window product while we were in preliminary design, but it turns out that the early education was helpful because immediately after demolition, we erected a full-size mock-up of an 8' x 10' window opening facing out to the bay. We found that we grew it to 9' x 12'. All we needed to do was tweak the window order slightly and we were on our way for a 12-week lead-time order. With a quick phone call to the supplier and my clients' on-the-spot acceptance, we turned the mock-up into permanent framing and went on with the project.

Even with the decision made, and the window and door order in hand awaiting final approval, there were still many earlier decisions to make and/or recheck, such as glass type, tempering, hardware style and color, type of operation, color of screen, handing and swing for the doors as well as whether there would be a key in the lock or not, and if the screen-mesh type and frame color was called out correctly.

Not every decision process is so intense, but nowhere is there such an opportunity to sculpt the space "live" as there is when you have the opportunity to work with windows and space in a major remodel such as this one.

I ask myself whether my client and I should be able to visualize space, windows and other details on a computer screen, a 3-D model (cardboard or computer) or on a 2-D drawing (at a scale of 1/4" equaling 1 foot) and really understand the light quality, volume, height, view corridors and other aspects of the final space. Am I incompetent? Should I just get the clients to trust me and make the final call?

I believe it comes down to knowing what decisions need to be made early and what decisions you need to leave for later. I believe good designers create under a certain amount of pressure with a creative burst. Whether it is 15 minutes before a design meeting or just before the window guy is going on vacation, we know how to get things done and done right. I swear with each project that this will be the one where all the windows and doors come in correctly as ordered and that the client and I will love them once they are in. Maybe this is the one!

September 2007 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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Decanting PCBC 2007

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

Some said this year's PCBC was subdued due to the nationwide housing slump, but hearing the Bay Area pointed out as a "bright spot" in the housing industry was a nice consolation. At any large builders' conference or expo I have attended, however, there is always an abundance, verging on explosion, of products and a lot of enthusiasm. It was just easier to get around the hall this time.

While I'm sure I missed many booths, I did notice a few things.

While the "green products pavilion" was absent, it was nice that green building goods were dispersed throughout the show, indicating to me that these items are now in the mainstream.

There seems to be no end to the stainless steel appliance trend, as evidenced by a refrigerator as big as a two-car garage.

The guys at Boise Cascade were handing out blue footballs this year instead of squishy potatoes but still answered correctly that my brother's place, Flying Pie Pizzeria, has the best pizza in Boise.

There was a lot more hard candy on the counters than stuffed animals or other cool giveaways.

Each tankless water heater manufacturer boasted about being the best, including one manufacturer claiming to make parts for one of the others.

All of the composite decking manufacturers now have color accent options. While I prefer composite decking for durability, I favor a single color, as the multiple tones seem a bit like putting lipstick on a pig. In addition, one manufacturer touts using a wide range of recycled plastic, while another is proud of having a very high standard for the plastic they use because they claim it keeps the decking cooler and more dimensionally stable.

While last week I couldn't find a fire sprinkler company for a residential project, here I ran into the entire sales and production staff at a fire sprinkler product booth and got all their contact information and an invitation to send in my drawings for help with the EBMUD form. I had seven guys listening to my every word.

This time I skipped most of the software booths because the last two programs I bought are sitting idle since I don't seem to have enough time to use them.

There is something very special about the good booth people. They are able to respond professionally to any type of person, from designer to builder, architect, engineer, techie or homeowner. I was very impressed with the level of knowledge and personability of the folks I ran into. I even got to see them relate to one of my clients who has a lot of materials engineering knowledge and a keen eye for detail.

My structural engineer happened to call me exactly when I was at a booth offering builders home warranties for structural issues only. He advised me to save my money. I know myself that it is usually not the structure that fails, but instead, a backed-up site drainage line or other moisture-related issue causing problems.

Some of the booths were as big as a house, especially the metal-framed one that was at least three stories high. I have a lot of respect for the crews who quickly assemble, disassemble and pack these exhibits, sending them off to another show or a warehouse somewhere.

Overall, as usual, this five hours of uninterrupted physical search engine was exhausting, enlightening and yielded a lot of hits, some new information and new contacts, reaffirmation and another full bag of literature that will be stashed somewhere and hopefully retrievable when needed. My kids are getting a bit less interested in what I bring home, but I like to think it is because they are older now, not because the stuff is any less cool.

August 2007 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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The Beauty Within - Transitions

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

It is difficult for me to think of the interior of the home as distinct from the exterior. While interior design is a specialty in itself, an architect must keep both the interior and exterior design in perspective, keeping transitions in mind as he or she develops a project.

It is true that you can separate outside from inside to create an intentional surprise or contrast upon entry. You may choose to keep the exterior design of an existing building as-is while changing the interior to something completely different due to cost, desire to avoid design review by the city or a homeowners' as- sociation, or just to update to a new look or style. You might consider the exterior as one room with its own consistent design and the interior as many rooms with different uses and design themes, working together as a whole.

Whether remodeling or building new there are some building features that you can't help but integrate, such as windows and doors. The placement, proportion, materials, and mullion layout for windows along with floor plan, massing and roof design are the glue that keeps a project together. Given the opportunity, most architects will want a high degree of control over these features.

Once these decisions have been made, it is not uncommon to separate out the interior design, which involves filling in the space with a multitude of choices. Providing guidance to a home or business owner who is interested in selecting interior products and finishes can either be a simple task or a time-consuming project with a life of its own. If the client is not sure what they want or has a difficult time narrowing down choices, I recommend that they consult with an interior designer either to confirm their choices or to develop a complete plan for interior finishes. The danger is that with another design professional involved, the overall vision of the architect could be compromised or changed to something different from the architect's original concept. Sometimes you just need to let go. The benefit is that the architect can offer the vision, keeping a broader focus on the entire project, and the interior designer and client can follow it through. For this reason, the interior designer should be acceptable to both the owner and architect.

There is such a variety of products today that are aesthetically pleasing, functional and environmentally responsible that the selection process is fun! From flooring to cabinets, paint, tile, lighting, appliances, countertops, plumbing fixtures, as well as salvaged products, there is an abundance of choices. In flooring alone, if you are considering using rapidly renewable resources, in bamboo there is a choice of horizontal or vertical, natural or carbonized, and now stranded bamboo with a combination of light and dark tones. There is also a variety of palm products (not as in the "Treo") for flooring and other architectural woodwork. In tile, porcelain has such a great range of textures and colors and is so hard you can roller skate on it (with the old-fashioned metal wheels if you like).

No matter how you divide your time in delivering professional services, some interior finish selections will be much more complex and time consuming than the exterior design of the building. This work may best be handed off to a competent owner or to the owner with assistance from an interior designer. If you are an architect who loves to do this stuff on your own, more power to you. I have my limits, however, and will let my opinions be known if the interior design solutions or details are not in keeping with my vision. If all is under control, however, I have plenty of other elements to worry about, such as trim and railing details and how one material meets another. It's all about transitions.

June 2007 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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Products, Products, Everywhere and Still Decisions to Be Made

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

Typically, a design happens because a client needs more space, a better floor plan or necessary repairs with upgrades along the way. In any design project, the concept comes first, then it is developed, detailed and built, right?

Not so fast; the actual process is not always so straightforward. Many clients have backed off on remodeling after receiving the preliminary estimate of construction cost for their approved design solution so they can look at open homes and see what is out there. More often than not they come back realizing that other homes would require improvements to meet their needs anyway. Considering the property tax increase, if they have been in their current home awhile, they often come back, make some revisions to the design and then build.

While many clients know what they want up front, they are not exactly clear on how to get there. They may have struggled with ideas for years, even drawn up sketches or constructed models. Others have a collection of magazine photos with images of the perfect rooms. Others still have no idea where to start, what they need, or how much they should spend.

The challenge for the architect is to get in tune with each client, to educate the client in the way that you see the process working and to make sure you are all on the same page before moving ahead. This is not always so easily done. Depending on your workload, you may make exceptions for what appears to be a difficult client from the beginning. Or you may be pleasantly surprised that what seemed like a wasted sales call to see a cracked plaster ceiling repair turns into one of the more creative challenges you've taken on recently.

Due to the overabundance of products and a forest of style magazines and websites to market them, clients are much more aware of product options and architectural styles. While this makes the material and product selections more complicated and time consuming, it also makes it easier since we have the Internet to display the items and to share with each other. Digital cameras and simple design software often put my clients ahead, as with one recent client who imported images of marble slabs for the counter and a wood pattern for the floor into the floor plan to help them make a decision.

Sending a link or pasting an image of a toilet or basin is easy and the e-mail confirmation is something you won't lose. Searching through various manufacturers' websites or giving the Web addresses to your clients can save time and space in your architectural library. For some items, you still need to send your client to a showroom to touch and feel the products, such as for a specialty bathtub, tile or flooring options. For this process it is necessary to develop good relationships with your local showrooms. You give them each equal business and they offer you and your clients good service. Every time your client has a good showroom experience, it reflects positively on you. This of course can work both ways.

Not having a showroom at your office is more possible today due to the rapidly changing products and the ability for everyone to see them from the comfort of their own home. At my office I try to keep examples of staple products, design details and materials and to have quick access to project photos that show what we have done in the past to solve similar design challenges. This personalizes the design process and comforts the client since they see can see something we have done, rather than just a picture of someone else's work in a magazine.

Even though our clients may be one (or two) steps ahead of us, we know they still need design professionals to develop and realize the concept through all of the distractions.

May 2007 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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Honesty Leads the Way

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

In the construction industry there has always been an intense relationship between management and employees, from the three-person company where the owner sits down to coffee with the crew every morning before work to the strong hierarchical relationships in a union organization. In focusing on delivering a building to the client, management may overlook the fact that the tradespeople who create with their hands have a strong sense of self and accomplishment and need recognition; they sometimes see management as making the big bucks with their sweat and blood. In the trades, employees have opportunities to advance their skills, to move up in the ranks, or to work in a better environment than where they worked before. Employees are nurtured, working relationships are made and broken, yet successful companies continue to deliver quality projects without missing a beat. This is not a simple task.

To the tune of My Favorite Things:
- One manufacturer's representative belittles another manufacturer's product while promoting his own.
- My engineer refers me to another manufacturer's representative, who repays the favor by giving me the name of a different engineer … "if I haven't already committed" to the one who referred me to him.
- A longtime employee leaves and takes another employee with him to start their own firm.
- Other employees take on side work and you find out about it on your own.
- A new consultant says he can't continue on your job until insignificant adjustments to the drawings are made.
- A subcontractor loses one of his top people and now it is like starting over with a new company.

Honesty, ethics, loyalty and commitment are four of the virtues that matter most to me. As a business owner committed to delivering high quality projects to clients who put their trust in me, I am driven to succeed.

I know I cannot do it all on my own so I put my trust in others and trust they will deliver with the same zeal for excellence that I have. I've been lucky over the years and can say that on a consistent basis the clients compliment us on our crew.

Loyalty in the workplace, however, may be a thing of the past. The financial pressures on the labor force may almost require the employee to take on side work, with "under the table" cash calling their name. How, though, is the employee going to come to work refreshed and dedicated to his "job" on Monday? If it is an occasional thing, I see no problem with an employee helping out a friend or neighbor or, of course, working on his or her own home. However, if the side work becomes a rule rather than the exception, it cannot be healthy for either party.

What do you do when a long-term employee leaves or you find a good employee working on the side? My initial reaction is to feel betrayed. I speak with the employee and in many cases encourage them, or offer assistance if they are honest with me and I can tell that their loyalty to the company is still strong, or let them go if a pattern of deception begins to unfold. How do you differentiate between two unfamiliar manufacturers' products? I tend not to trust one manufacturer who denigrates another; instead, I'll do more research on my own. When do you switch subcontractors or consultants? I consider my loyalties and their ability to continue to deliver high quality work.

There may be no right or wrong answer, but as I think about these issues I look back at what I learned early on in my trail to the rank of Eagle in the Boy Scouts of America. "The Scout Law" is that a scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent. I strive to live by the Scout Law and believe that if others do the same there will be peace and understanding in the workplace.

April 2007 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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The One You Love and Hate

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

Being the son of an architect and builder, I have had many opportunities to follow my dad around. At building or zoning departments especially, there was always a certain amount of tension and excitement.

Our relationships with the agencies regulating our projects have always been interesting. If you have worked in the same communities over the years, you get to know those who can assist you efficiently and those who can make the process a living hell. I always knew when to step out of line for a moment when I feared I would be called to the permit counter by one particular agent, sending the next unsuspecting customer to certain doom. One day I might be helping a client prevent a project that would block their sunlight and view from being built, while the next day I might be trying to get another client's second-story addition approved.

While we try to be the favorite client at the building department, there is always something we want, and they have the power to give it to us - or not. Of course, the formula changes from one city and one city employee to the next. Each community seems to cater to those clients whom they know and like the best, and while you may be favored in one community, you may not be in another.

Seeing how a homeowner, novice or non-local building professional is treated at your local building department is always a sobering experience. On one hand, it makes me feel like the top dog, and on the other, I feel sorry for them. Knowing I may be in their position elsewhere, I often try to help, if appropriate, hoping someone may do the same for me someday.

When you are the home or business owner trying to get a project approved and built, the building department can seem like your worst enemy. However, while it seems like they will do anything to prevent or delay your own project, they also have the power and obligation to prevent a disaster from being built next door to you. The building department is also there to help ensure every project is built to code (although they assume no liability if it is not).

Compared to other experiences in life and to other government agencies you may have the opportunity to deal with over the years, the building department has a major effect on your most important assets: your business and your home. It is also responsible in many ways for the overall health of your community.

In the old days, the building inspectors and other staff were in front where you could see them. There was a buzz of activity, especially in the morning, with the building inspectors, contractors and homeowners arguing and pleading their cases. In those days, you may have tried to build a project without a permit, even though you could get one with a sketch on the back of an envelope. In a picture of one of my dad's projects you can see the building permit ("posted in a conspicuous place"), so we kidded him about that being the one project for which he actually did get a permit.

Embarrassed at the time, I am now proud of the fact that my dad would go to the building department in his overalls, yelling and screaming to get what he wanted. Of course, he would send me up later to apologize and explain calmly what he needed. These days, if I don't get what I want, all I need to do is threaten to send my dad up there. The officials laugh and ask me how he is doing and to tell him hello. I wonder if he was the inspiration for the prominently displayed sign at the counter warning customers to behave in a professional manner or face being removed from the building.

Disclaimer: Any events or people mentioned in this article are purely fictional. Any resemblance to actual events or individuals is purely coincidental.

March 2007 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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Kitchen Realities - Take One

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

With the holidays over, I recall and evaluate the past year in many ways. It is easiest, however, to look back a few weeks to the many times we entertained last month - more than we had in any recent year. From having a group of four families over, to my fraternity brothers after the big game, to hosting our company holiday party, I had an opportunity to see how my home worked under pressure.

From preparing a gourmet meal at home, to ordering in lots of pizza for the guys, to bringing in catered food for a Mexican fiesta, the kitchen was always where things were happening. Having an "L" shaped, 12' x 24' kitchen with a chopping block island, separate eating area and a high ceiling, with access to the yard, family room and dining room helps a lot. The traffic signal on the wall at the apex of the ceiling makes for instant party lighting and is always a hit with kids who can use individual toggle switches to play with the different color combinations. I prefer the combination of red and yellow to set the mood. My wife says the flashing yellow gives her a headache.

Although our kitchen is not technically located in the center of the home, it is pretty darn close and used as though it is. It has a direct or very close connection to all rooms, except the living room, which is separated from the kitchen by the dining room. Between floors, a single stairwell open to the kitchen leads up to the sleeping area or down to the workshop/play area at the walk-in basement level.

I can't help but think of the kitchen as a hub and how, when designed as such, it adds so much to life. Last night I dreamt that we had moved and were living in a very nice home, but much closer to an elevated freeway. As I lay in my dream bed looking out and up from my window I was trying to notice how much vibration from the freeway above I could actually feel. I did feel some, but was surprised how little. Then I was noticing how close the freeway column was to our wall (inches) and wondered if the column footing extended below our home - probably not.

That night our friends who joined us for Chinese food at our neighborhood restaurant (it was the only restaurant open Christmas evening - maybe you were there too!) told us they were looking to move to Berkeley from Oakland so that (1) their kids could attend Berkeley High, and (2) because she had never liked their current home. This may explain my dream - or maybe not.

I thought about their kitchen and recalled many good times with friends at their home: A parallel counter (Pullman style) kitchen with a small peninsula at one end and a separate eating area with a connection to the yard. Walk through one doorway and you're in the hall, or another doorway and you're in the dining room, then through another and you're in the living room. If you're not getting food from the eating area table or peninsula and chatting in the kitchen, you're trying to squeeze in at the dining room table; otherwise, you are out on the patio (usually freezing) or in the living room visiting and watching the kids play. A while back they had asked me to design a more open connection between the kitchen, dining and living rooms - which I did, but they never implemented. I wonder (aside from the school preference) if she would have been more comfortable staying there had they completed this work.

One thing I know is that I had more beer left over than hard liquor after my fraternity brothers' visit, no beer after the company party (no hard liquor provided, but great leftovers to bring to a job site the next day), and a lot of soda left over from all functions, which my wife wants me to take to work immediately so the kids stop asking for it.

Seriously though, year round, the kitchen plays a major role on the stage of life. Although there are many ways to design and live in a kitchen, we as designers and builders need to show our clients the available possibilities, even those they may never have imagined. Go beyond the walls, cabinets, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops and see how the kitchen relates to the rest of the home and site. Although there are always limitations, turn constraints into opportunities to create the client's dream so they never have to wake up in one under the freeway.

February 2007 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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The Road Ahead

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

I have heard that the first thing Italian racecar drivers do when they get in the car is to remove the rearview mirror.

While this seems exciting and carefree, as architects and builders committed to the industry for the long term we know that we cannot afford to think the same way. Instead, we must appreciate and learn from the past and keep an eye on what is ahead of us.

Change can be a slow process, but change for the sake of change is not always a good thing. As they say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." There are times, however, when we continue doing something the same way. We accept the results only because they are what we expect, even though they may not be the best we can get. In many cases, if we were more aware of options that would contribute to a better result, we could improve with only a small change.

Creating awareness of the alternatives and implementing change to improve the building industry is a huge task. Product manufacturers have taken on the lion's share of promoting awareness. They introduce and advertise new products to the industry so excessively that sometimes one must just tune out. I have an ever changing pile of professional magazines in my office (Builder/Architect always on top). When I can, I flip through just for the ads to make sure there is nothing new that I may be missing. On many occasions, I have learned of something that I didn't even know I needed, just at the time I "needed" it.

Having the opportunity to visit my older brother (a pizza business entrepreneur/career Life Flight paramedic/start-up general contractor) in Boise, ID, for Thanksgiving, I had an opportunity to see what is going on someplace other than "here." It was a breath of fresh air for both of us. Getting out of my world and seeing his parallel world helped me to gain perspective, to step back and see what I could be doing better. Twenty years ago when my brother first moved there, he remembered when two guys pulled up in a truck across the street and shot a couple of cows grazing there - this was normal.

You may be surprised that even in Boise there is an awareness of green building. After all, their climate is much more extreme than ours, and energy efficiency and comfort are more difficult to achieve than in our mild weather. My brother has one client who is so gung-ho about green, it is scary. We are so lucky to be living in an area where our clients are equally, if not more informed than we are about the methods and materials available.

Taking the time to stay informed and looking forward through travel, professional training programs, building industry conventions, trade shows and reading (if only the ads) is critical to improving our self, our business and the quality of our buildings.

Staying the course may seem easier, but you can only win the race when you know what lies ahead. Beware: Boise is not far behind. Look ahead while checking the rearview mirror.

January 2007 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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It's the Same - Only Different

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

When I couldn't print the other day because our large format printer displayed a "low toner" message, I asked around the office - no, we did not have another toner cartridge; I was frustrated. The next day, I learned that the toner cartridge in the machine was new and that we needed to schedule a service appointment. An associate suggested that this machine had seen better days, since it is at least 15 years old.

This benchmark in time got me thinking. It seemed just like yesterday that we replaced the old blueprint machine. I remember issues with that machine as well, particularly the ammonia odor associated with it. The machine had to be located in a separate room or have a strong exhaust fan nearby. As a child I had tricked a friend into smelling the ammonia in the bottle while he visited my dad's office. When he almost passed out, I felt so bad that it has stayed with me, and taught me not to surprise at the risk of hurting another.

I remember when I could find the original pencil drawings on a drafter's desk to see what progress he or she had made that day. Today it is hard to see this progress, and at the same time, it is amazing how much progress can be made in a day.

Computers today are integral to our lives, rather than the innovation or addition they were to many of us starting out in practice in the early 1980s and before. Although we seem to be so casual about this rapid change, I wonder if we realize how much this advancement affects our designs. For one thing, the process of designing and building today is much more compressed in time, space and money than it used to be.

As a way to organize and present information, the computer has us thinking about design differently than before: as data or something to input, organize, change, plot out and e-mail. As an example of the duality we face today, we can e-mail drawings to a client for instant review, eliminating the necessity of meeting face to face, speeding up the process, allowing more time for ourselves (to catch up on other projects), but at the same time, taking away the important ingredient of personal connection and time "in-between" to think about and "live with" the design for a while.

Considering rapid advances in technology in our profession is like comparing the evolution of a Swedish fishing village over generations to the construction of a brand new planned community complete with a traditional Main Street. The village is shaped by the experience of the dwellers through use, when bonds between people and things are formed. Although it is painfully obvious that development over time has the advantage of adjusting to the changing needs of the dwellers, this is not possible today.

With the increasing need for housing, we need to look to the past, find important successful elements and incorporate them into our work. We need to maintain the context of these elements without imitating them. We face the challenge of creating a new "Main Street" that looks nothing like the one from yesterday. At the same time, we need to preserve and improve the livability of our inner cites, where we already have infrastructure and people living and working.

With a new awareness of the importance of conserving natural resources and the high cost of building, we have no choice but to design and build good buildings. We can use advances in technology to our advantage to build just what we need and no more.

For example, prefabrication is an old idea that together with newer, well-considered designs allows for conservation of resources, time and money. Likewise, restoration and remodeling helps preserve communities built up over time. Although we should not try to duplicate the past, we need to acknowledge it and continue to find new ways to create, enhance and preserve community through design.

December 2006 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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Consciousness and Contradictions in Green Building

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

Last month, West Coast Green, the largest residential green building conference and expo in the country, was here in San Francisco. It was great to see so many of the material suppliers, designers, architects, Realtors and builders, featured in Builder/Architect and local to our community, all in one place. In addition, attendees from all over the country and the world had an opportunity to see the latest green materials and systems, and to learn from experts in the field of green building. On the last day, most importantly, homeowners were invited to participate and learn more about green building.

Although there are always contradictions, it was interesting timing. Mayor Gavin Newsom had a tough choice: to speak at the opening session of West Coast Green or to welcome thousands of shoppers to the grand opening of Bloomingdales at the remodeled Westfield Shopping Center minutes away. Even as a staunch supporter of the environment and green building, the mayor followed the money.

In the United States, most are conscious that we consume and waste far more per capita than any other country. It is both true and a perception that since we are a rich nation, we can afford to. If those at Bloomies perusing the newest fashions in evening gowns, or taking in a trunk show featuring the retro-influenced styles of Norma Kamali knew that their green homes would not only be more energy efficient and healthy, but also worth more money, they would be on the way over to the conference after tea.

The good news is that green building organizations and policymakers are helping to spread the word that green building is not just for altruistic people or "tree huggers." Green building is now in the mainstream, and is even an effective tool for developers who want an edge over the competition. If developers can make more money and produce higher quality tract homes, then there must be something right going on here.

Build It Green, based in Berkeley, with support from StopWaste.org, has introduced a program whereby builders of new single- and multifamily homes can have their homes rated by independent, certified raters (remodeled GreenPoint Rated Homes are coming soon). Much like the "Energy Star" label, a GreenPoint Rated Home label is recognizable by others to represent a superior product. Now home buyers have a clear choice to pay more for an independently rated quality home, just like a shopper will pay more for Ralph Lauren dinnerware at Bloomingdales, but with far greater benefits to health and environment.

On the other hand, so much of building green is cost neutral. Here, with a little education and planning, homes can be healthier and energy efficient without costing more up front, while saving energy dollars down the road. Even though in California, minimum energy-efficiency standards are required by code (Title 24) and typical features in all our buildings; keep in mind that a builder who builds only to the minimum specified by code is a "D-" builder.

Until green building becomes the industry standard and a minimum requirement for construction rather than the exception, we need to support and participate in programs that educate and serve the public and our environment. We cannot afford not to.

For more information on Build It Green, go to www.builditgreen.org. To learn more about the GreenPoint Rated Program, go to www.greenpointrated.org.

November 2006 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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Doors: They Are What They Are

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

The first time I remember thinking of doors as something other than what you walk through is when I received a poster depicting "The Doors of Boston." With so many variations, colors, materials and elements, together the individual doors give a sense of place; these doors incorporate an entire architectural style in a single building element. Since then I have seen many other similar posters describing places by their doors. Doors are an important part of the first impression we receive of a building.

Although the main function of a door may be to allow people or vehicles in and out of a defined space, doors throughout history have been much more than that. Some buildings, such as the Baptistery in Florence, Italy, with its bronze doors by architect/sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti are known almost solely for their doors. These doors, the result of a competition among sculptors, were executed between 1403 and 1424 at the beginning of the Renaissance when art was becoming as important as structure. Can you imagine your client waiting more than 20 years to get their front door?

As with other building elements, there are certain physical requirements to consider in door design, including structure and operation, and a whole lot more in the way of architectural expression, such as shape, size, materials and color. In many cases, the detail around the door receives even more attention then the door itself.

Religious and public buildings, in particular, seem to have doors on steroids - doors larger than life. I have stepped through many doors within doors into churches where the main door is several stories high. I'm not sure if the man-size door was always there or if it was cut in at a later date after the hinges failed. The entry door at the city of Emeryville City Hall, in stainless steel and glass, is so heavy that I can hardly open it. These are doors that I remember. Harking back to earlier times, many doors have once again become more than what we use them for.

Today we have advanced door design with technology and new materials so we can have entire opening walls of doors that allow the integration of indoors and outdoors. We have fiberglass doors (with wood grain pressed into them that take wood stain) that stand up to harsh environments without warping. We have solid steel doors with multipoint latching systems for security. (The salesperson at the open house for a new urban condominium project commented, "Why put glass in the door, we want you to feel safe!")

In most of our projects today we find a door in a catalogue, have it prehung, then install it in the opening and put trim around it. Is this because of the high cost of materials and labor, or because maybe first impressions are not always the most important part of a building? Sure we want our buildings to present themselves nicely, but let's invest more in the building systems that work together to present a successful whole. This way, your client and others will remember more than just the door. And ... don't let it hit you on the way out.

October 2006 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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Beauty Is Only Skin Deep

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

Is it true that the inherent value of a home is directly related to what someone sees when they drive by? Absolutely! But that is not all. A homeowner may get so caught up in this concept that if they are remodeling to sell, they can lose sight of other important upgrades. Making "curb-appeal" changes that are inconsistent with the architectural character of the home may even reduce its value.

In the Bay Area it is likely that as architects, builders and homeowners, we will have more of an opportunity to improve upon existing homes than to create new ones. While with new construction we can choose to blend in, complement or contradict the existing fabric of a neighborhood, in remodeling existing homes there is an additional challenge: how to restore or improve a home that already has a history.

I have had few clients over the years ask for a complete makeover - a change from one style to another. I think this is rare in part because the client probably bought the home because something appealed to them from the start about the way it looked.

On the other hand, perhaps they inherited the home or purchased an ugly duckling with the notion of turning it into something more in character with the rest of the flock. There is nothing wrong with that, as there are plenty of examples of homes originally built with little design distinction. For example, a flat roof bungalow could turn into a sloped roof "Craftsman" as long as close attention is paid to the siding, overhang and fascia details.

It concerns me when someone asks to change their home into a "Mediterranean" or a "Craftsman" from a completely different style, even when there are other homes with the desired appearance nearby. Unless the project involves a complete remodel with additions and other major changes, usually transforming the style is too involved to be successful.

For many, the outside look of a home trumps the more important floor plan and arrangement. In many cases improving a poor floor plan is more difficult and expensive than making exterior changes. When done well, a remodel gives even consideration to floor plan, building systems (including structural, exterior shell, mechanical and electrical), and interior and exterior finishes.

Today a homeowner can easily go to a home center and pick up a pre-finished "grand" oak entrance door with leaded glass sidelights and an arch top transom. They can install it themselves or find a handyperson to install it. While perhaps a beautiful product in itself, it will likely not fit in with the overall design of the home.

An educated buyer looks beyond first impressions, sees the intrinsic value of a home, and takes notice of a slapped-on candy coating. This buyer would appreciate it more if the previous owner hadn't done anything to "spruce up" the place.

Just as with people, a home is made up of many elements that combine to define it. Sometimes the beauty is only skin deep, and sometimes there are contradictions and surprises. For example, a remodel that tastefully incorporates updated or more modern finishes contributes to both the current enjoyment and the history of the home. Make sure the beauty of your projects runs more than skin deep.

September 2006 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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People's Choice Award

Levitch Associates Showcased on Build It Green's 2006 Tour

By Elizabeth H. Brown and Maurice Levitch, AIA

The goal of the residential remodel featured on this month's cover was twofold: add space for a growing family while respecting the architectural details of a 1923 home, and implement sustainable/ green building practices to create an attractive, resource-efficient and healthy home.

A partial second-story addition has three new bedrooms and a bathroom. The basement, storage and workshop at the lower level are also new.

To build green by conserving resources, Levitch Associates used engineered lumber and framing techniques that consume fewer natural resources. The old roof rafters became tables for the owner's family. Many finishes, such as the bamboo flooring and the glass mosaic tile in the bathroom, contain recycled and/or rapidly renewable materials. The concrete countertops in the bathroom contain a high percentage of fly ash, an industrial byproduct that would otherwise add to the waste stream.

New solar panels generate electricity, while windows, skylights and interior transoms provide natural light for reduced energy use. Concrete at the south side of the home acts as a thermal mass to reduce heating and cooling costs. Radiant heat and nontoxic insulation made from recycled denim round out the heating system of this energy-efficient home.

To meet the green remodeling goal of improving indoor air quality, finishes were chosen that are low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and, therefore, do not pollute the indoor air. A central vacuum system vents to the outdoors and captures more particles than a conventional vacuum for a cleaner home. Finally, a heat recovery ventilator not only ensures fresh indoor air, but it also captures heat from stale inside air to heat cooler incoming air, thus contributing to both resource efficiency and indoor air quality.

The owners purchased a 1920s home, pictured on these pages, with the idea of remodeling it to suit their more contemporary tastes, including a preference for green building. Sustainable building strategies included many finishes that are sustainably produced and/or contain recycled content, such as kitchen and bathroom tile. At the lower floor, the existing slab was replaced with a new insulated concrete slab with 25 percent fly ash content and radiant heating. Doors were reused in new locations, including using some to create a bench in the kitchen nook. Levitch also preserved the existing hardwood floors and restored many older windows. Overall, between on- and off-site recycling, 80 percent of construction waste was recycled, a marked improvement over standard building practices.

This home won the People's Choice Award for Alameda County homes showcased on Build It Green's 2006 tour of green homes in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

A Focus on Green

The stakes have never been higher; green building is the future of designing, renovating and constructing buildings in the Bay Area, the nation and in the world. Two award-winning bay area projects, one outstanding firm focusing on green building.

August 2006 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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Not Another Column on Green Building

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

This year I made it to both the AIA convention in Los Angeles and PCBC in San Francisco. I'll be going to West Coast Green in September as well, and have information overload!

I can report that the Southern Pine Association rep at the AIA convention was tired of answering questions regarding The Forest Stewardship Council; their products are not FSC-certified. My friend and fellow architect/fraternity brother from Cal Berkeley was having fun asking to confirm that their forest products were clear-cut. Just kidding, but there is truth in every statement. He does not think his clients will pay extra for green building techniques unless there is a financial benefit for them.

This reminded me of a trip I took to San Diego a couple of years ago to see Cal play in the Holiday Bowl. I was telling a local that I conserve water by using a point of use recirculating pump. He said, "Great! Now I can leave the Slip-And-Slide on longer!"

Although people may not be with the program yet, they will have to get with it soon. Green is here to stay. Many fine professionals, organizations and manufacturers are embracing green building, especially for new residential construction. With new statewide green building guidelines for new construction of single and multifamily projects, we now have both a blueprint for what we can do to make our buildings and communities greener, and the opportunity to gain recognition for doing so through third-party consultants.

This Sunday paper's real estate section features green building on the front page, and answers consumer questions about how to distinguish between various shades of green. Educating the public is key to transforming the marketplace from building "as usual" to building green.

Back to the AIA convention, I attended a seminar on feng shui for residential architecture, where I learned that installing a skylight in an existing roof is not recommended, unless you replace the entire roof, mostly due to interrupting energy flow. I have always informed clients that skylights won't leak (the newer ones anyway), but this seminar made me understand why some may have reservations about skylights. It is definitely better to reroof, but this creates conflicts between green building and feng shui, natural lighting and ventilation versus disrupting the energy flow. No worries, these conflicts can be worked out. There are numerous patterns in the Black Sect School of feng shui ranging from design common sense to design patterns that you may employ to think differently about a project.

Here in Berkeley, I am trying to see if I can get an exception to zoning that limits the number of dwelling units to two. The parcel in question is a larger than a normal lot and is flanked by six-unit buildings. Although urban infill development, multifamily projects and small footprints are all good green building techniques, it may not be possible to build three smaller, more affordable units under the current zoning restriction - another conflict! How much time and risk should I take to try to overcome this one? Will there even be neighborhood support? Maybe I should just go with two larger single-family homes.

There are endless design concepts, building methods and conflicts to be selected/ resolved in every project. When we add green building and feng shui to our toolkit, we have an even better assortment of options from which we can choose to create the best building for the site. If you can get the zoning ordinance changed to allow for more progressive projects, that's extra points!

For more information on green building guide- lines, visit www.builditgreen.org.

For more information on feng shui, read Feng Shui: A Practical Guide for Architects and Designers by Vincent Smith and Barbara Lyons Stewart (ISBN: 1419535706).

August 2006 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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Is It Time to Botox Your House?

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

Just as skin, the largest organ in the human body, protects us, the exterior components of a building play a similar role in protecting what we call home. In human anatomy, the skin not only provides protection, but also receives sensory stimuli from the external environment. While exterior materials themselves do not transmit sensory stimuli, they are part of a system that plays a large part in the comfort, energy efficiency and longevity of a home. For many homeowners, the exterior materials define the personality of the home. Beauty, though, is only skin deep.

While siding and roofing comprise the largest amount of area around a home, windows, doors, trim, gutters, flashing and other related components add up to create the entire system we often refer to as the exterior shell. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "shell" as "a) a hard, rigid, usually largely calcareous covering or support of an animal or b) the hard or tough, often thin outer covering of an egg (as of a bird or reptile)." Once broken, all the protection is gone.

It is easy to think of a wall as a simple solid mass of stone, masonry or concrete that creates definition between inside and outside, while often holding up a roof that helps to protect it. Walls and roofs in today's homes are actually made up of components with a protected and breathable insulation-filled space between the interior and exterior of the building. If the shell is breached, the entire system is compromised, and everything from mold to structural failure is possible.

The science used in designing good wall and roof systems is fairly straightforward. Keep moisture on the outside from getting in and allow moisture from the inside to get out. Keep the home cooler when it is hot outside and keep it warmer when it is cold outside, always using as little energy as possible.

Materials and methods for building better wall and roof assemblies are constantly being developed based on research and the desire to create healthy buildings and to conserve energy and natural resources.

When it comes to choosing materials, select those that will complement the architectural design, relate positively to the built environment, protect the structure, last a long time with a minimum of maintenance, and be reparable and reusable if possible. Make sure exterior components are installed properly using accepted installation and flashing methods for the entire system. Include design elements such as overhangs to protect your investment, and do not skimp on the cost of materials. I know from experience this is one place where using the low grade of cedar siding with "tight knots" in a paint- grade situation is not cost-effective.

While in the future I imagine that we will develop self-healing exterior materials that adjust their composition as the seasons shift, our current homes cannot just add or remove another layer when the weather changes. We must therefore design for a year-round exterior shell that stands up to the elements while still addressing our desire to put our best face forward.

July 2006 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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Finished with Finishes

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

Every time I think I am doing my client and myself a favor by working with an interior decorator to help select interior finishes, it seems to be more of a problem than a solution. It is intriguing to think that having a decorator on board will save me time and transfer responsibility for the clients' satisfaction with the finished product to someone else.

OK, I know this is cynical, and working with a decorator has sometimes achieved these goals. I am sure that others in the design/build business can relate to at least one situation when the selection and procurement of a finish has affected the overall project in a measurable way, whether in terms of detailing, schedule, cost or personal relationship.

The fact is that selection of finishes is no longer as simple as choosing between a few off-whites to paint the walls and ceilings and whether to go with a brighter or darker white for the trim. Try to lift the six-volume architectural set of Benjamin Moore colors by yourself and you'll realize this.

While clients are increasingly aware of the number of items in the home that can be "designed," they now also face a staggering array of choices. Whereas not long ago, countertop options were limited to either ceramic tile or Formica, there are now marble, granite and other stones: Corian with all its solid surface cousins, the quartz family and "green" materials using mixtures of post-consumer products like crushed glass and paper. Add to this the dazzling number of options (color, texture, sheen, edge details) and the relatively high cost of materials, fabrication and installation, and there are opportunities for both success and disaster.

Success is when your client gets everything they wanted, you spent a minimum of time in the selection process and the installation went without a hitch.

On a recently completed project, I reviewed the selection process with my client. At the beginning and the end of the process there seemed to have been just a few finishes to select: cabinets, countertops, flooring, bathroom tile, plumbing fixtures, appliances and light fixtures.

The middle of the process, however, felt very different. It was filled with a universe of selecting between style, color, thickness, texture, pattern, availability, cost, suppliers and installers. There was also trying to give the client enough time, communicating with one of two successive designers the client had hired and keeping everything else on track.

Perhaps moving from one project to another with an optimistic attitude and fresh approach is like a mother forgetting the difficulties associated with childbirth and caring for a newborn and being ready to do it all again. The difficulty of the process adds to satisfaction with the results.

From the clients' perspective, it should feel at completion that the time and effort the clients contributed were worth it, that you as the designer and builder synthesized all the project components (not always without incident), and that your skill was paramount in making the project a success.

The design/build process is a very personal one, unique to every project. Just as materials and styles emerge, change and reemerge, so will you and your practice. Stay familiar with traditional finishes and keep up with new trends to help guide your client through the selection process. While we will never really be finished with finishes, we can do our best to plan for finishes that work.

June 2006 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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Invisible Killer

By Maurice Levitch, AIA

Other than food and liquids, air is the only other substance we take directly into our bodies. While we eat maybe three times a day, we breathe all the time. With food and beverages we choose what, when, where and how we eat. With air, we breathe whatever is around us everywhere we go. When you visualize air as a life-sustaining substance over which you have little control, you start to under- stand how important air quality really is.

Somehow, when you see something it is more real. While I share air with others all day long, it is only when I see and inhale someone else's smoke that I become aware of how much air I breathe but cannot see.

Although we can make individual efforts to improve outdoor air quality, such as driving less, driving a clean air vehicle or producing solar electricity at home or work, we have much more control over the quality of air we breathe indoors. Today we spend an estimated 90 percent or more of our time inside.
- The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health. Up to 30 percent of new and renovated buildings contain unhealthy air.
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), indoor air pollution causes about 14 times more deaths than outdoor pollution, or about 2.8 million lives each year.
- Of the hundreds of chemicals regulated by the EPA, only ozone and sulfur dioxide are more prevalent outdoors than indoors.

As we have become more aware of the benefits of energy conservation, our buildings have become tighter, often without consideration for proper ventilation. Many common home pollutants will seep out of a "leaky" home, but tighter buildings can trap more contaminants and cause poorer indoor air quality.

To understand how to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) you must first understand what the various pollutants are. In his book Green Remodeling, Changing the World One Room at a Time, David Johnson divides indoor air pollutants into six categories:
1. Particulates (lead, asbestos, fiberglass, dust);
2. Combustion gases (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbons);
3. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs, commonly found in paint and finish materials: formaldehyde, pesticides, vinyl chloride, soil gases);
4. Radioactive contaminates (radon gas);
5. Environmental tobacco smoke;
6. Moisture and mold.

While determining and measuring the relative safety of indoor air quality is difficult, it is possible to select materials, products and ventilation systems that promote improved IAQ. You can control and limit the pollutants by selecting from a large and growing array of finish and other materials that do not off gas, and are durable and appealing to the eye.

Even after selecting appropriate materials, proper ventilation and filtration are important in improving and maintaining good IAQ. Ventilation and filtration can often be incorporated easily into an existing or newly installed heating system or as a stand-alone system.

Simply exhausting air to the outdoors is not the solution. While energy-efficient exhaust fans are great for drawing moist air from a bathroom, the fan should be on a timer so it operates just long enough to do its job.

Exhaust-only systems pull out air that may have been heated and must be reheated as it is replaced, thereby increasing energy requirements. Heat recovery ventilation (HRV) systems reduce this problem by transferring energy from warm, exhausted air to cooler, fresh, filtered air as it enters the home.

Whole house fans cool and change the air by moving a high volume of air for a short period of time. They help to save energy by reducing or eliminating the need for air conditioning. Just be careful to leave a window open during operation so that you do not draw combustion gases back into the home. Remember to consider operable windows for natural ventilation.

Breathing the invisible is a scary thought. Knowing about the hazards is not enough. Doing something about them as we prepare our clients for a lifetime of living and working in indoor environments is our duty as design/ build professionals.

May 2006 Builder Architect Edition Issue

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