It was a real honor to be interviewed by the Colorado Springs Business Journal this past week. The past two years have been extremely exciting for me, certainly the great family at EVstudio is a major component of that success.

There was a portion of the phone interview that was not printed that I thought that I would share with you, because I believe it is an important item. The journalist, Amanda Miller, asked what sustainability means to me as a landscape architect. The answer was simple. When landscape architecture is provided responsibly, as we do of course at EVstudio, the plant palette and associated site materials are selected based on their context. In Colorado, this means that we choose plants that are native or easily adaptable to our climate. We also strive to consider maintenance patterns to make the process smooth for the contractor and property owners.

The Young Professional feature was printed and published on Page 4 of the Colorado Springs Business Journal on Friday, February 17. 2012. Enjoy the article, Landscape Architect Drawing on Partnerships!

On occasion, I receive a message on twitter that is both flattering and exciting; usually it is from someone who I have great a great amount of respect for. This week was no exception and I really received a lot from different Twitter followers. The one that stands out most though was from Hazel, because it was an invitation to a webinar that was absolutely brilliant. The message was from @hborys and it was an invitation to a SmartCode Mixed-Use Tweetchat. A lot in that one sentence that needs explained.

Hazel Borys (@hborys) is a Principal and Managing Director of PlaceMakers. Placemakers is one of the country’s leaders in developing form-based codes, and a key to the SmartCode education process.

The SmartCode is the most popular format of form-based codes, which is based on the rural-to-urban transect. More information can be found here (SmartCode Central).

Mixed-Use is a term that you may consider yourself to be an expert on at this point, however Victor Dover’s presentation may make your preconceived notion of mixed-use turn itself on its head, more on that later.

Last, a tweetchat, is a moment in time where interested parties on certain subjects, are encouraged to post their thoughts via twitter using the topic’s “hashtag”. As an example, the speaker of the webinar, Victor Dover (@DoverKohl) posted the following:

“The old way of doing things was about bigger is better. Post-boom we must rediscover the increment of the lot. #smartcode”

The SmartCode #tweetchats occur on the 3^rd Thursday of each month at 2 pm EST for future reference.

In this blog post, I am going to provide an archive of some of the notable tweets during the Tweetchat. I will follow up with a future blog post and continuation to the Neighborhood Retail BlogOff. Enjoy the tweets!

@DoverKohl: Your great-grandpa probably never had a conversation about mixed-use, because he didn’t need to. –Victor Dover #smartcode

@suhender: New Models for Mixed-Use are pop-ups, improvisations, smaller, quicker, more organic. #smartcode

@suhender: The new economy and lack of financing are changing the world of mixed use development #smartcode

@suhender: Third places grow most quickly in mixed use environments. #smartcode

@DoverKohl: Mixed use shortens and eliminates automobile trips, and cultivates social capital – Victor #smartcode

@suhender: The first few hundred sq. ft. do achieve the most good in establishing a new mixed use area. #smartcode

@DoverKohl: Small, organic, naturally occurring mixed-use tends to be forgotten in the larger conversation – Victor #smartcode

@DoverKohl: Mixed-use is now enshrined in municipal vision documents, but design needs to be included to allow for flexibility – Victor #smartcode

@DoverKohl: Small incremental development allows many people to do small things during bust times. – Victor #smartcode

@suhender: The smallest molecule of mixed use is simply a vending machine. It causes neighbors to interact. #smartcode

@DoverKohl: Boom time urbanism installed a mall’s worth of mixed use at one time, but it lacked authenticity  – Victor #smartcode

@suhender: A problem with lifestyle centers is the lack of authenticity. It truly feels like a mall. #smartcode

@suhender: Post boom effective mixed use example is the Dekalb Market in Brooklyn. Basically a pop-up retail. #smartcode

@hborys: Great markets can’t be introverted. They can’t turn their backs on the street, and be optimal. ~Victor Dover #smartcode

@suhender: The incredible explosions of farmers markets are another example of incremental commerce. #smartcode

@hborys: In last 3 years, 100’s of new farmer’s markets. Authentic sprouting of commerce. Can easily shrink. ~Victor Dover #smartcode

@suhender: Food trucks are a social and retail phenomena. They’re even sprouting in and enlivening suburban areas. #smartcode

@hborys: Interesting layer of social media directing buyers to food trucks in new markets. ~Victor Dover #SmartCode

@hborys: Pop-up retail – food truck, farmers market, bars, coffee shop – help reinvigorate Main Street & create community. ~Victor Dover #smartcode

@suhender: The Tipping Point in Hampstead (MGM) is a hot example of temporary retail, and the happening place to be locally. #smartcode

@hborys: Pop-up retail is mobile and scaleable. ~Victor Dover #SmartCode

@suhender: North Americans have been exceptionally good at incremental urbanism. A skill we must relearn in the new economy. #smartcode

@hborys: Small-scale development helps solve all sorts of problems, from steep slopes to steep interest rates. ~Victor Dover #SmartCode

@suhender: One of the places for post-boom mixed use will be suburban redevelopment, reusing existing structures and infrastructure. #smartcode

@DoverKohl: The old way of doing things was about bigger is better. Post-boom we must rediscover the increment of the lot. –Victor #smartcode

@suhender: Small is Beautiful ~E.F. Schumacher. Critical for the new mixed use. #smartcode

@DoverKohl: This is the era of the demonstration project ~Victor #smartcode

@hborys: This is the era of the reversible demonstration project. Finding ways to enable cyclists and pedestrians. ~Victor Dover #SmartCode

@DoverKohl: pop-up retail is the retail equivalent of the transportation demonstration project ~Victor #smartcode

In the last year I’ve been finding an increase in the number of brick wall failures.  Most of the walls are in need of repointing due to the age of the dwelling and some are in need of more significant structural repairs.  One common repair is re-establishing brick ties between brick wythes.

Over time, forces from the building, water, foundation movement or possibly adding a heavy exterior finish like stucco to the outside wythe may help to pull the brick wythes apart from each other.

Many dwellings built prior to 1950 are built using a structural brick foundation and exterior walls.   Many brick walls consist of a quick and sloppy interior wythe that is covered by plaster on the interior and a higher quality brick wythe on the exterior.   The wythes of brick wall may have simple metal ties such as nails or brick ties placed during construction to connect the wythes together.  When the wythes are connected the wall acts together creating a stronger wall.  Unfortunately, many brick walls do not have any ties and likely to separate or delaminate if conditions are right.

A simple repair can be made if any signs of delamination is observed using helix ties.  Ties can be post installed by installing helical ties.  The helical ties are basically a stainless steel rod with a helix shaped thread to provide tension force between the brick wythes. One manufacturer of these helix ties is Simpson Strong Tie.  Their Heli-Tie can be easily installed by first pre-drilling a pilot hole, then placing the heli-tie using a special drive tool and finally patching.  The helix ties are typically installed from 16″ to 32″ depending on the situation and size of brick.  A tighter spacing around openings is also recommended due to the higher concentration of stresses.

If you have questions about if your brick wall is in need of repair please contact us.  We will be happy to help you understand your situation.  You can also contact Pinnacle Structural Services to discuss your options and estimated cost of repairs.

Originally posted 2010-11-13 00:12:29. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Rocky Mountain Green is soon coming back to Denver. I will be co-presenting at the conference on April 13, 2012 at the Colorado Convention Center in Downtown Denver with the topic “Implementing LEED-ND for Existing Neighborhoods.”  I hope to see you there!

USGBC Colorado Press Release:

Rocky Mountain Green 2012: This is What Change Looks Like!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Denver, CO (January 23, 2012) – U.S. Green Building Council Colorado will host its 6th annual Rocky Mountain Green conference April 12–13, 2012 at Embassy Suites Downtown Denver. The theme this year will highlight change —at the local and national level.

“The conference is designed to help attendees grow their business, network with a targeted audience, and learn about cutting edge green building strategies,” said Patti Mason, USGBC Colorado Director of Advocacy. “We plan to top all that off with some fun as we celebrate Colorado’s recent accomplishment as the number one state for LEED certified buildings per capita.”

Rocky Mountain Green 2012 is USGBC Colorado’s annual green building conference. Twenty-four education sessions, five building tours, exciting keynote addresses, and networking opportunities draw industry leaders from across the region. Rocky Mountain Green provides professionals in the built environment the opportunity to learn from experts and keep abreast of the latest changes and happenings in green building.

The opening plenary, “Harmonizing Life, Not Compromising—Regenerating Ecosystems and the Human Spirit,” will be presented by Bill Reed, President of Integrative Design Collaborative.

For more information on Rocky Mountain Green 2012, or to register for the event, please visit www.rockymountaingreen.com.

Contact Patti Mason at U.S. Green Building Council Colorado if you would like to obtain a press pass to the 2012 Rocky Mountain Green conference at patti@usgbccolorado.org or by phone at 303-292-6183.

Date: April 12–13, 2012

Time: all day event Location: Embassy Suites, Colorado Convention Center, Downtown Denver More information: rockymountaingreen.com

Press Passes: Email Patti Mason at patti@usgbccolorado.org or call 303-292-6183.

For a recent custom home in Evergreen the structural engineers at EVstudio designed a custom fabricated steel truss to support the roof structure.  In lieu of using a steel beam, an exposed steel truss was desired, for a great architectural feature.  The builder Tomskin LLC built the steel truss on site and aligned the two steel beams hanging onto the steel truss to a perfect fit.  This was not an easy task working with two different roof pitches.  I observed the steel framing last week and loved the exposed steel look.  As a structural engineer it was great to see more of the structure exposed and used as architectural features in lieu of hiding the structure.

The steel truss was designed using Bentley RAM Elements.  Within that software is a module for trusses.   The truss was easily designed in just a few minutes and fully detailed for the builder.

The house includes many exposed steel elements on the exterior as well.  I’m looking forward to seeing this when it’s complete and the steel headers are in place along with the reclaimed wood siding.

Originally posted 2011-04-22 15:20:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

This past month, I was invited to post to a BlogOff regarding Urban Retail from the author of The Original Green, Steve Mouzon. Follow the links below to see ensuing discussion about Neighborhood Retail:

Original Green: The Necessity of Hope

PlaceShakers: Retail: When it bends the Rules and Breaks the Law

Street Trip: BlogOff: Neighborhood Retail

Walkable DFW: Retail BlogOff

Kaid Benfield (NRDC): When Shops and Services are Within Walking Distance, We Walk More and Drive Less

Urban Landscapes: Neighborhood Retail Dynamics

Chip Kaufman Guest Post: Neighborhood Retail

The Original Green: New Urbanism for All

New Urbanism Blog: What Traffic Engineering and Retail Analysis have in common

Even when I was in college, people would frequently ask me if I wanted to do residential or commercial architecture. There seems to be a belief that there is a distinct difference in architects who choose to do residential and architects who choose to do commercial. There are definitely some differences, but I always wanted to do both. Dean and I share this fascination, so EVstudio does a roughly even mix of residential and commercial projects. We also do multifamily residential and hospitality work which must fall somewhere in the middle.

Originally posted 2008-06-14 00:01:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

A couple of us from EVstudio walked down to the Colorado Garden and Home Show Friday afternoon.  We were really impressed with many new items and it was great to see so many people we knew.  Sounds like everyone there was having a great time and getting some great interest from the attendees.

One product that we saw really impressed me, Windtronics Honeywell Wind Turbine.  Mark Cucarola owner of Platinum Homes is a local licensed dealer and had a wind turbine on display.  Just a little house fan was able to turn the 6ft diameter turbine and generate power.

EVstudio structural department designs attachments and ballasts simpler to the image above for similar products including solar panels to existing structures.  We also design foundations to support towers/poles for solar panels and small wind turbines isolated from structures.

EVstudio is proud to have been the Architect for the Diamond Building as well as the Daniel Diamonds Jewelry store featured in the video below. The building and store are featured about 1:28 into this short two minute video.

Metal siding on residential units

I recently completed a submittal review for Black Roofing Inc. Black Roofing Inc. was submitting a metal siding and solar collector metal wall panel package for review and approval by the Engineer of Record for a project. One of the requirements of the project specifications was a Professional Engineer with a Colorado license submitting calculations showing the panel attachments were adequate for the applicable loads, including dead, live and wind loads.

Typical solar collector wall support system

Typically, the calculations include determining the loads and the tributary area for each connection and verifying the proposed connection pattern is adequate. For example the solar collector wall panel was perforated which allows wind to get behind the panel, causing wind pressure to “push” the panel away from the building’s exterior wall. In addition, it was necessary to determine the wind suction pressure for the wall panel attachments, caused by the wind blowing away from the wall. Once the worst case of load combinations was determined, each attachment condition was analyzed. Usually there are multiple attachments; such as, the panel was attached to a hat channel which was attached to light gage Z-purlins which in turn, are attached to embed plates placed in a precast concrete wall. Once the tributary area was determined for each connection point and multiplied by the loads, the connections can finally be verified.

Black Roofing Inc. has been in business since 1975 and has extensive experience in both commercial and residential projects with all types of roofing systems including flat, sheet metal and shingle roofing.

Originally posted 2011-10-04 00:52:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter