What your translator can't tell you. Q. What major differences have you encountered in executing design or construction projects internationally? A. To start, metric standards rule and domestic building codes don’t. Be prepared to learn and comply with codes that are very different from those you know. Availability of materials dictates what buildings are made of, so we see wide variations from country to country. Using concrete in applications where the US uses steel is one example. Availability of materials also affects the construction process itself. The US considers plywood a building basic, but in some countries, plywood is scarce so other materials fill that role. Expect that safety codes for both building construction and protocols will vary by country. In some cases they will be stricter than your home country; in others, more lax. Often countries have varying views on how literally the construction schedule is interpreted. Continue Reading →

SSOE recently announced that they will be providing design services for BMW’s new 1.2 million SF assembly plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. SSOE will provide the detail architectural and all civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and fire protection engineering services. Kohlbecker is contracted by BMW and partnered with SSOE. This plant will be responsible for production of the next-generation X3 Sports Activity Vehicle beginning in 2010. The building is being designed to meet the EPACT 2005 standards for “Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings”. This includes increases in insulation in the walls and roof, efficient lighting systems, high efficiency heating and cooling systems and high efficiency hot water systems. SSOE is ranked 5th nationally in Automotive Design Firms (ENR, 2008) and has performed design for 50% of all automotive assembly plants built in the US over the last ten years. This includes the Toyota Assembly Plant in Blue Springs, MS currently under construction. Continue Reading →

[four_nineth]Remember when the word “hybrid” commonly referred to varieties of fruits and vegetables rather than vehicles? In addition to engines, creative engineering is resulting in other energy hybrids. These combinations of traditional energy resources with newer ones are helping us evolve to cleaner power generation. Here are a few examples of current and emerging “hybrid” solutions. Putting lipstick on the methane pig It’s hard to think of landfills as having redeeming qualities. Other unpleasant associations aside, they produce landfill gas (LFG), about 50% of which is methane—a potent greenhouse gas. The traditional solution to keeping methane from entering the environment has been to collect and flare it. This process releases CO2. While that’s not good news, it is an improvement over methane which is higher on the list of contributors to global warming. But a better solution has been gaining ground in recent years. Thanks to savvy engineering and newer technologies, companies are capturing the gas and using it to generate electricity. The methane is cleaned and sent through a pipeline to a generating facility or a storage tank. SSOE helps clients evaluate the feasibility of this approach for their specific situation, and make it happen. Continue Reading →

“Evidence-based design” of hospitals has been credited with laudable improvements in patient care: faster recovery, reduced medication errors, improved staff safety and lower stress levels for everyone. The proponents of this design approach aren’t radicals. They are architects whose design reflects scientific research that proves certain environmental characteristics can create impressive results. In the last decade, leading researchers proposed the idea that hospital design decisions should be based on documented results. From that point forward, rather than make assumptions about how to design a better functioning hospital, the profession took the position, “We need to prove it.” Most of us have first-hand knowledge of the annoying aspects of hospitals—the disruptive noises, harsh lighting, stark décor, uncomfortable furniture, lack of privacy and more. And the staff can cite many design features that make it difficult to deliver the best medical treatment. Thanks to the ongoing compilation and quantification of hundreds of studies on the affects of certain environmental factors, architects know much more about how to improve outcomes. Continue Reading →

Most of us prefer to believe that a natural disaster will always target some other building. Statistically that’s true, leading many businesses to be nonchalant about being adequately prepared. SSOE has found in helping clients recover from disasters that taking precautions to avoid damage is neither hugely expensive nor time consuming. It’s more a matter of doing it. When measured against the brutal cost of repair, lost productivity, and rebuilding, it’s wise to have a plan. This article shares some specific suggestions that can protect your people and your assets in case of a flood. Develop a disaster plan that covers both what to do at the time a disaster strikes and recovery procedures. Update it regularly and after any alterations to the structure. Finally, conduct periodic training and tests. The plan should include who will respond to the disaster and how; a protocol for notifying employees whether to report for work; and options that will allow employees to work remotely until repairs are complete. If your staff has a team of critical personnel, develop a plan for getting them to the facility even if the roads impassable. Continue Reading →