While we haven’t yet had a chance to get professional photos of this project yet, I wanted to share with our followers of the mountain modern home series of posts the Red Fox Run project that was recently completed in Evergreen.

The Materials palette for the exterior of this home are real stone, reclaimed barnwood and custom sized steel panels based on the proportions of the golden section. The richness of these materials bring a softening quality to the more rigid lines of the modern rooflines and massing.

Expressing the structure was something central to the design logic. With large expanses of glass, the steel moment frames required for the lateral structural system were pulled outside of the walls to be seen. They serve as the door and window trim as well as allow for the wall cavity to be insulated and eliminate the thermal bridging that is otherwise  common.

The interior of the home is bathed in light from all sides, while also expressing the same structural language seen on the outside of the home.

Corner windows provide wonderful light and the organic feel of the interior finishes makes for very livable interior spaces

The Kitchen illustrates more warm and comfortable interior finishes that accentuate the mountain side of mountain modern in a space that entertains extremely well.

The Dining space is bound entirely by a custom thermally broken steel framed glazing system. This wall is actually made up of an interior and an exterior steel frame securing floor to ceiling glass.

The Wet Bar in the recreation room displays backlit onyx framed in steel c section. Also note the custom curved steel I-beam overhead which bounds the volume of the space in the same steel language used elsewhere in the home.

The expansive lower level recreation room is punctuated by the exposed steel in a unique way that separates functions while also celebrating the steel as a part of the interior finish.

Having been living there for some time, the owners have raved about the home’s comfort and livability. We look forward to photographing this home this coming Spring/Summer and will post those shots as soon as we have them.

EVstudio provided Architecture, Structural Engineering and Civil Engineering on this sustainable residential project.

While doing the code analysis for two buildings with a mix of Assembly and Business occupancies the following question came up….Restroom area… in or out?   We had the restrooms included in the original code analysis area, which is correct in a Gross sf calculation but I couldn’t remember why I had taken these out in the past other than common sense.  People don’t go to a building to hang out in the bathroom…normally.

It took some digging but I found it…in an often overlooked part of the code….definitions!

Ch. 10 Definitions

FLOOR AREA, GROSS. The floor area within the inside perimeter of the exterior walls of the building under consideration, exclusive of vent shafts and courts, without deduction for corridors’ stairways, closets, the thickness of interior walls, columns or other features. The floor area of a building, or portion thereof, not provided with surrounding exterior walls shall be the usable area under the horizontal projection of the roof or floor above. The gross floor area shall not include shafts with no openings or interior courts.

 FLOOR AREA, NET. The actual occupied area not including unoccupied accessory areas such as corridors, stairways, toilet rooms, mechanical rooms and closets.

So if you are doing an occupancy that is Net(such as assembly), then you don’t include much of the building like the restrooms, corridors, mech etc.

If you are doing an Occupancy that is Gross(such as a Business), then you include pretty much everything.

If you are doing a mixed occupancy…..it gets a bit more complex and opinions vary but the most defensible position is if a corridor leads to the Business area and the bathroom on it serves the business area, then it is included in that occupancy and plumbing calculation because this is a Gross Calculation.

If it is serving the Assembly occupancy then it is going to be part of the Net area of the Assembly occupancy and thus it is not included in the Assembly plumbing calculation because this is a Net calculation.

This might make you think you could be clever and do a small A occupancy to eliminate a big corridor and bathroom, but an A occupancy under 50 people or 750 sf is considered a B occupancy.

Originally posted 2012-03-08 00:46:18. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

The International Building Code and the American’s with Disability Act set the rules for ramps in new construction and remodels. In most cases you need to have handrails on both sides, but there are a few ways to avoid handrails.

The first way is to keep the rise of the ramp to no more than 6″. Ramps less than 6″ high do not require handrails.

The second way is to keep the slope less than 1:20 or 5%. With a slope less than 5% it is not considered a ramp and therefore does not need handrails. This creates a long ramp but it comes in handy when you have the space and want to avoid the handrail aesthetic.

Vehicle ramps do not need handrails as long as the ramp is not a part of the accessible means of egress.

Curb ramps on sidewalks do not require handrails.

Sloped aisles with seating on both sides can go as steep as 1:8 or 12.5% without handrails.

Originally posted 2010-03-29 00:01:18. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Whenever possible, we encourage our clients to strongly consider the Design / Build process for project delivery.  In our office, the Design / Build process has consistently proven to deliver projects in the shortest amount of time while providing the owner with the most “bang for the buck” in project design.  The key to successful Design / Build is involving the owner, architect, engineers, and the general contractor on the front end of the project.

At EVstudio, a typical Design / Build project usually looks something like this…

Design – The owner hires EVstudio to design the project.  The principal or project architect will immediately ask the owner if he has an existing relationship with a general contractor to build the project.  If not, EVstudio will recommend two or three qualified general contractors to provide pre-construction services for the project and then assist the owner in choosing the one the owner deems most qualified and compatible with the project .  A pre-construction services agreement provides a way for the general contractor to participate in the design process of the project from the very beginning, thus incorporating the general contractor’s experience, knowledge, expertise, and relationships with sub-contractors and suppliers as early as possible into the project.  A pre-construction services agreement is separate from the agreement for construction services and in no way obligates the owner to hire the general contractor for the construction of the project.  If the owner is dissatisfied with the performance of the general contractor during the design process there is always an “out” prior to awarding a contract for construction.

The pre-construction services agreement allows the general contractor to work directly with the owner and EVstudio during project design providing “real time” feedback on cost consequences of design decisions based on current market conditions.  The general contractor will “pre-bid” major components and systems of the project during the design process and offer advice regarding alternatives that may provide comparable performance at a lower cost.  The general contractor can also provide valuable information on the constructability and predicted performance of numerous construction details based on experience and knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of available sub-contractors.  By actively participating in the design of the project, the general contractor has the opportunity to familiarize himself with all the details of the project well before construction starts.  This allows the general contractor to identify the critical path of the project, prepare a proactive construction schedule, and possibly even pre-order long lead time items while still in the design process.  Most of all, the general contractor is able to work directly with the owner, architect, and the in-house engineers to assure the project is designed to its maximum potential in regards to the project budget.  All of the bidding for the project is completed during the design process and value engineering decisions are immediately made based on current market conditions.

Because bidding, value engineering, and design happen simultaneously, a fixed cost for the construction of the project can be determined at the same time the design of the project is completed.  This allows the owner to immediately enter into an agreement for the construction of the project with the general contractor.  There is no need to endure the lengthy, post-design, bid process as described in Design / Bid / Build scenarios.

Build – The project goes directly from design into construction.  Construction starts while the project is fresh on everyone’s mind.  This makes it easier for the architect, engineers, and general contractor to remember why design decisions were made.  The architect, engineers, and general contractor have an existing, well established working relationship that was formed during design and immediately carried over into construction.  Ultimately, there are fewer requests for information, change orders, and overall conflicts during construction.

Summary to Design / Build – Design / Build (in many different variations) is quickly becoming the delivery method of choice for a wide variety of project types.  From the simplest single family residential projects, to the most complex commercial projects, Design / Build has proven to be a reliable way to fast track projects and achieve maximum value for project owners.  Because the process allows multiple tasks to run simultaneously, instead of sequentially, it gets projects out of design and under construction quicker.  Because the project team has been working together since the beginning of design, communication during construction is more efficient.  Because the general contractor has been involved in the design process, he is less likely to encounter unanticipated problems with the project during construction.  Finally, because the project was bid during the design process, design decisions are made based on actual, current, market conditions, thus allowing maximum opportunity to meet project budget with the best possible design for the project.

Design / Build has proven to increase project value and decrease overall delivery time so effectively that the Federal Government, and many State and Local Governments have started using it for project procurement.  The AIA has recognized the rising popularity of this delivery method by introducing new contract documents to support Design / Build projects.

Originally posted 2009-09-17 00:01:44. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

I recently had a conversation about water usage and rights in Colorado. For years we have known that the water that falls from the sky is off limits. Back in July of 2009 that changed, sort of. It is true that with the passage of Senate Bill 09-080 land owners are now able to utilize rainwater. However, very few people are actually eligible. Here is a rundown of the requirements to harvest rainwater in Colorado:

1. The property on which the collection takes place is residential property, and

2. The landowner uses a well, or is legally entitled to a well, for the water supply, and

3. The well is permitted for domestic uses, and

4. There is no water supply available in the area from a municipality or water district, and

5. The rainwater is collected only from the roof, and

6. The water is used only for those uses that are allowed by, and identified on, the well permit.

As you can see the requirements are quite strict and very few people are actually eligible to use rainwater. Someone who wants to use rainwater must meet all of these criteria for the new law to come into play. This is good new for those on well or do not have a municipal source of water. It is business as usual for those in who have municipal or water district water.

Originally posted 2010-04-17 00:01:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

For any elevated structural you need to provide sufficient space below the framing members to meet code requirements.  But there are several other reasons why you should provide additional clearance.

If you are building a structural floor with wood joists you must provide 18” clearance between the bottom of the joists to the soil by code.  Otherwise, other building materials such as steel beams may not have a clear definition of how much clearance should be provided.

Typically, if you are building an elevated floor you may have poor soil conditions and therefore need to consider soil movement.  If the soil has expansive possibilities and you were provided a soils report, you should provide the same clearance as the void space recommended by the geotechnical engineer.

You should also consider ventilation.  With a low clearance and poor vapor retarders, moisture can be a problem.  By providing more clearance you allow better ventilation in most cases.

Finally, a reason that is commonly overlooked is access.  You should still provide the ability to crawl under any structural member to access the entire area for repairs or any other reason.  Many contractors feel that 12″ is sufficient, I suggest 18″ might be a bit more reasonable to allow for equipment and the slightly larger homeowner or engineer asked to inspect a crawlspace.

The area is defined as a crawlspace, not an “inaccessible space”.

Originally posted 2010-07-26 22:19:01. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

I received a question from a reader of EVstudio.info. He asked: “Does it cost more to build two stories vs one story?”

The answer is that it really isn’t that simple. A two story house should cost less for these simple reasons:

Land Cost. If land is fairly expensive then going up will allow you to fit on a smaller lot and save money on land cost.

Less Material. You have a similar amount of wall and floor but you save on roof. Your plumbing, ductwork and electrical runs will also be shorter.

However, there are other factors that come into play and sometimes offset the two story house’s benefits:

Familiarity. I grew up in a city where almost every house was a single story with no basement. In that case there will likely be a premium for doing a multi-story home.

Complexity. Multistory homes that do not stack well may create a complex structure and envelope that will cost more.

Stairs. In order to have the same amount of livable square footage, the multistory house will be larger with the addition of a staircase, probably 55-80 sf on each level. On a smaller home that really adds to the size.

The best answer that I have is to give me more specifics on your project and I can help you make the right decision for your project.

Originally posted 2009-04-05 00:12:25. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and was developed by the US Green Building Council as a way to quantify environmentally friendly design in buildings and everywhere you go in our industry you hear about people and their projects becoming either accredited or certified; so what’s the difference?

In this corner: a person can become LEED accredited by passing the Green Building Certification Institute’s exams which rate an individual’s knowledge of the LEED rating system.  For example, EVstudio has five LEED accredited professionals on staff.

And in this corner: a project can become LEED certified by submitting an application documenting compliance with the rating system (a series of credit categories with possible points that add up to a rating like Platinum, Gold or Silver) and paying some fees.

So the summary is people can become LEED accredited and projects can become LEED certified.  Now the next time someone tells you they have just been LEED certified (and it will happen) you can congratulate them on their high percentage of readily renewable materials and array of bike racks.

Bonus match:  who vs. whom

This is a classic.  Who and whom are both pronouns but you use who when referring to a subject and whom when referring to an object.  You ask “Who killed Roger Rabbit?” because the who is the subject but say “For whom the bell tolls” because the whom is the object and the bell is the subject.  To help you remember, both whom and him end with the letter “m”; use who if you could substitute “he” (He killed Roger Rabbit) and whom if you could substitute “him” (the bells tolls for him).

“To whom am I listening?  I’m listening to the Who.”

Originally posted 2012-05-06 00:57:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

We recently received some additional photos of the Warrior in Transition Complex at Fort Hood. EVstudio is the architect for the Soldier Family Assistance Center and the Company Headquarters buildings.

Originally posted 2012-06-10 23:12:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

This article is intended for a person having basic knowledge and familiarity of AutoCAD who needs a method for accurately locating an element in a drawing relative to other elements. There are other methods to accomplish the task of accurately locating objects relative to other objects, but this is what I do.

When working in AutoCAD it is inevitable that line work, a block reference, an object, a block, or group of objects needs to be rotated to an odd or unknown angle in the drawing.

This example is for an architectural site plan with irregular lot line distances and angles. Here are the steps involved for this architectural site plan example.

Step one: Establish geometry of property lot lines and house or building footprint geometry, which is probably easier done independently just to get them in the drawing.

Step two: Establish lot line offsets with the three pre-known distances to set up rotation origin point and what will soon to be a reference point for the rotation command.

Step three: Next locate the structure to the two intersecting lot line offsets. This point becomes the rotation origin point. Then establish another point on the structure that is to be the first reference point for the rotation command. In the graphic this is labeled as reference point one.

Step four: Draw a circle with the center at the origin point of rotation and at the radius of reference point one. The circle should intersect the lot line offset that is to be the second and final point at which we align and affix the building to the property, reference point two. I have also labeled the arc, or portion of the circle, that is to indicate the distance that the rotation will have, which will always vary depending on the how the property and structure relate to each other.

Step five: Now we are ready to use the rotate command to align the structure to the correct position on its property. After engaging the rotate command, selecting the rotation origin point, entering “r” to make the rotate command require a reference point, then click reference point one and rotate the structure by then clicking reference point two. The object snaps used are endpoint or center for the rotation origin point, endpoint or intersection for the first reference point, then intersection for the final point where the circle intersects with the lot line offset line. Then just delete the lot line offsets and circle that are no longer needed and add any other necessary site information like driveway, walkways or landscaping, text etc. There, we now have the structure accurately located relative to the property boundaries.

For other professions and disciplines that use AutoCAD, the method is basically reduced to rotation of an object with use of an origin point, a radius of rotation which is common to both what is being rotated and the final point of the rotated objects. The use of specific object snaps are at the discretion of the user. Hope this is helpful!

Originally posted 2010-10-12 00:01:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter