As the design professional, taking care of everyday pedestrian business entails Building, Energy and State & Local Codes is SOP. The success of the project relies on the success of the Initial and Pre-Design interviews with the Client. Determining the Clients style, budget and commitments to what matters. If they're not progressive, you can skip the LEED Platinum goals. Local Codes are pushing towards Energy Standards that once we're never considered. Work with the driver of the project...they will tell you their vision.

If you build a Design team with flexibility and they along with ownership can remove egos from the decision process you can accomplish a high-rise project with cutting edge design and cost structure that works for a development performa. Engage trusted subcontractor “partners” to come up with, out of the box design collaboration for Structural, Skin, MEP and Elevator design components that are energy efficient, cost effective and design conscious. Integrated project design structure has a proven track record of success as long as the team has “team players”. One bad teammate can derail the entire process. Still much more controllable model than hard bid or traditional design, bid, award model.

Establish the goals of the project. Is it short term savings or long term gains through energy savings and ease of maintenance? Challenge conventional design parameters by having the design and construction team use an upside down design and construction perspective. What if we reverse the direction of sustaining the design and construction to accomplish the desired goal. Example: cantilevar a load bearing structural member to support a floating stair. If can apply this method to design and construction you can have creative design with practical means of construction.

In high-rise projects, balancing cost-efficiency with innovative design starts with early engagement of a value engineering team. This allows us to pinpoint areas for potential savings without sacrificing quality or aesthetics. I prioritize sourcing alternative materials that are both durable and visually appealing, which can significantly reduce costs. Additionally, I've found that implementing modular construction methods streamlines the building process, saving time and labor costs while preserving design integrity. By fostering collaboration among architects, engineers, and contractors from the outset, we create a cohesive vision that balances creativity with practical budget considerations, ultimately enhancing project outcomes.