Category Archives: Building Systems
Posted in Architecture | Building Systems | Energy Conservation | Innovative Solutions | Sustainable Design by Serena Wray, LEED AP+ (Brand Architecture) on January 3, 2013
© Poofy
When I was a little kid, I was a tree-hugger. Literally. My mother recalls that at age four, I occasionally wrapped my small arms as far as they could go around my favorite tree in the backyard.
As the years went on, I became enamored with recycling in elementary school, energy efficiency in high school, and building reuse in my college architectural classes. Now, with “green” as the buzzword heard on every TV channel and seen in every store, you’d think I’d be in my glory.
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Posted in Architecture | Building Systems | Education by Chip Beam (C.A.D.D. Coordinator) on October 5, 2012
An LDG project created with CADD.
When people ask what I do and I say that I’m a CADD Coordinator, the response is invariably “What is CADD?” When working in the engineering industry, it’s easy to forget that the terms we use on a daily basis might be mysteries to other people. CADD stands for Computer Aided Design and Drafting. This is a type of computer program that allows users to interface with commands that mimic the pen and paper. CADD is frequently used by engineers, architects, and other design professionals to create 2D and 3D objects to portray a project. It is a generic term used to describe many different programs, just as ‘word processor’ describes Microsoft Word.
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Posted in Building Systems | Codes & Regulations | Energy Conservation by Steven M. Beattie, RLA (Senior Project Manager) on February 8, 2012
Don’t buy your 2012 International Code Council (ICC) books just yet. It seems that the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council recommended that the state not adopt the 2012 I-Codes according to Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) January 30, 2012 edition. You may remember all the uproar concerning the automatic passage of the 2009 code with its residential sprinkler mandate caused some big changes in Pennsylvania. House Bill 377 of 2011 was passed, which requires a 2/3’s vote from the Review and Advisory Council in order to update the statewide building code during each code cycle.
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Posted in Architecture | Building Systems | Communities | Site Design & Land Development | Transportation by David I. Balzer, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP+ (Project Coordinator - Brand Architecture) on February 1, 2012
Existing Piollet Mansion – 2011
Located at the intersection of Route 6 & 187 in Wysox, PA, the building sits at a key juncture that is heavily used by both local and natural gas truck traffic, making it a prime location. Sure it may be easier and less costly to simply tear it down and start from scratch, but that has never been a realistic option. The building’s history combined with the strong local support to restore it only reinforced Randy’s decision – to save as much as possible without hindering the proposed new store. The challenge then became to balance the restoration with the need to expand and modernize the building, then tie it all together without costing a fortune. Quite a challenge indeed.
But before we got too far, I proposed conducting an Architectural feasibility study which would document the existing conditions and determine what truly could or could not be saved. Randy agreed and a team was sent to perform a detailed building survey, documenting every wall, door, window, structural beam, truss, etc. Many of the original features are intact, but have fallen into disrepair and require considerable restoration. However, the building “shell”, which consists of the masonry bearing walls, foundation, roof & floor systems, is in pretty good shape and can be reused with some structural improvements.
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Posted in Architecture | Building Systems | Client Service | Economic Development | Leadership | Sustainable Design | Urban Development by Robert J. Gehr, AIA, NCARB (Vice President - Brand Architecture) on January 3, 2012
What is Brand Architecture?
This is a question that I get asked on a consistent basis.
At LDG we only provide architectural design services for Retail and Brand clients.
“Brand” referring to an organization that utilizes a proven business model and architectural design strategy in the development and growth of that organization. Banks, restaurants, gas stations, hotels, convenience stores and others fall into this category.
This may seem a limiting position to take, however it is not an uncommon strategy and occurs quite often in other professional fields.
Let’s consider Doctors for example.
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