Summary
The longevity of these alternative-building designs remains to be seen, though the incentive to be more efficient may give way to the drive to get projects completed faster. "In this market, a housing developer wants to get costs down," [Howard Birdsall] said. "A couple of years ago, developers weren't worrying as much about the cost of building a home, because he could get some ridiculous price for it."
Though developers may want to see a project advance quickly, pushing a design through the approval process can mean missed opportunities, as a second look by an engineer can reduce change orders on the project, Birdsall said. Though the initial cost may be greater, Birdsall and Grant said green, or sustainable, designs can offer savings to property owners as energy prices rise. [...] with state and local authorities encouraging more environmentally friendly projects, Grant said developers should be "looking to engineers to provide value on a lifecycle cost basis," and make sure a green project is a feasible one.See the full content of this document
Extract
Design On a Dime
WITH NEW DEVELOPMENT slowed, engineers are being asked to find ways to trim the costs of the remaining active projects on the market. In some instances, higher upfront costs can translate into long-term reductions on a building's operational ...
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