Building Better to Withstand Storms

Although the damages from Hurricane Ian were significantly lower than initially feared, the impact was still hard and expensive.

It was also one of the many reminders that climate change affects weather and, through it, buildings. Reinsurance giant Zurich, which is one of the firms that has been writing the checks and tallying the cost, has said for years that the world needs “prioritized and targeted investment to strengthen resilience.”

More specifically, C. Meade Rhoads, Jr., vice president of construction management for NHP Foundation (NHPF), recently wrote an opinion piece at Multi-Housing News about what multifamily investors and developers should do, particularly for affordable housing.

Yes, that area of multifamily has financing challenges and adding even more costs would seem counterproductive. But in our experience, the best approach to a financing plan and execution is taking a view over the entire lifeline of your participation. (Adding scenario planning, for the potential of being involved for a shorter or longer period of time, is wise.)

NHPF makes a number of suggestions.

1.????Up-rate structural designs. “When building in a geographic region of the United States that is currently in a seismic zone, the developer or owner or design team can direct the structural engineer to design the building to withstand the lateral forces of the next higher seismic zone,” Rhoads wrote.

2.????Design a building’s exterior to fight water infiltration, particularly for wind-driven rain that can push water up under eaves, around doors, and at other points with natural weaknesses.

3.????Add battery backup as another form of power redundancy.

4.????Get expert help in areas like waterproofing, structural design, and so on. Learn what can work and the mechanics of implementation.

Yes, more cost, but this would seem a case to bring out the adage of penny wise, pound foolish. Skimping on some necessities can become a horribly large expense when things go wrong at a later date. Knowing what to do and how that would affect the financials of a plan in a particularly geographic area, with a type of multifamily property, is our area of expertise and one reason why clients call us.?