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Anticipating demand for construction of LEED® certified buildings nationwide, KMA has equipped its team with the knowledge, skills and tools needed to deliver sustainable design. The firm has embraced the Autodesk Revit Building technology (Revit), a design software that works to simplify the entire building process by increasing the quality and accuracy of design, providing tools that outline green guidelines.
The software combines Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology with three-dimensional modeling. The technology replaces traditional architectural drawings with a dynamic model that enables users to view a project from all angles and communicate electronically to immediately address conflicts. Instead of spending numerous hours in the creation and revision of an architectural drawing, the software allows for the development and evaluation of multiple design alternatives.
As more and more developers adopt sustainable design principles, Revit helps to sort out the arduous, complicated and sometimes costly analysis process of achieving sustainable features by simplifying the process with tools and templates to provide immediate feedback on sustainable guidelines. As a firm that was an early adopter (2003) of green design principles, this aspect of the software was a crucial feature.
“Many of our recent projects have required designs to achieve LEED® certification, so the advanced technology found in Revit has streamlined our design process,” said Robb Walker of KMA. “Users are able to visualize, quantify and present any combination of schemes. It features capabilities specifically suited for green design, and can quickly calculate quantities of materials needed to determine environmental impact to meet LEED® criteria.”
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The sophisticated BIM software is capable of calculating real-time energy and water use levels, and can determine United States Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED® points as the design evolves. Other features of the software allow for sun studies to enable designers to quickly analyze sun positions and solar effects during the design process. Users can also export building information to gbXML (green building extensible markup language) to perform energy analysis and study building performance.
“The green building movement needs to be technology driven to be successful,” continued Walker. “The Revit software is a wonderful tool to revamp LEED® design into a more intelligent, streamlined system as it is capable of assessing the environmental impact of the building before it is even constructed.”
By determining the analysis of materials, quantities, lighting and energy use in a virtual building model, KMA can better create sustainable building performance and keep up with the LEED®-certified development happening in San Diego projects and beyond.
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If you‘re familiar with the terms chopped, shaved, raked, crowned, rolled and slammed, you might have an idea of what B. Moon Hajjar, senior associate and design director at KMA, has been up to for the past 12 years. Hajjar ambitiously decided to take a blow torch and a welder to modify a 1950 Chevrolet 2-Door Deluxe - a project that would consume more than the next decade of his life.
Hajjar began his search for a classic 1950s-era car in 1998, with specific criteria in mind – the car in question couldn‘t be so rare that its overall value would be diminished as a result of the major customization he envisioned. The model eventually selected was ideal, given that it would be worth a great deal more following the detailed customization plans he had carefully mapped out.
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As the “green” building development market slowly gains momentum, many developers are increasingly viewing green properties as favorable in the current real estate economy. Tenants and contractors are finding that the benefits of sustainable design elements, from lighting and solar to landscaping and water efficiency, outweigh the initial costs over the lifetime of the project.
One of KMA‘s notable sustainability projects is Liberty Station‘s Building 902, which earned LEED® Gold certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). KMA was retained by McMillin Commercial, a division of the Corky McMillin Companies, to provide sustainable architecture and engineering services for the $10.8 million Class A office building along with LEED® consultant Drew George & Partners. The team strived to maintain the historical look of the existing buildings in the design of the three-story Building 902, while also implementing a number of sustainable features to achieve LEED® Gold certification. The project was completed in spring of 2009 at San Diego‘s former Naval Training Center.
“There is a growing demand on the part of tenants for sustainable living and working space in the coming years,” said Don Blair at KMA. “Sustainable buildings are being built around the nation at an unprecedented rate, and this is a market with huge growth potential. In San Diego, Liberty Station is one of these unique properties, not only as a historical entity, but as a thriving business, residential and green-space community, with so much to offer its tenants.”
With an increased emphasis on improving existing buildings, like the Liberty Station district, many developers and owners are considering the current economic climate a time of opportunity for sustainable upgrades for a competitive leasing advantage. But how can a sustainable space help in the end? There are incentives for both landlords and tenants to move the sustainability agenda forward. Management will always be looking to save on electricity and water bills and is interested in a healthy workplace that reduces health risks while improving productivity. The world will start to see sustainable leased space in high demand as organizations value those green features more and more.
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“Sustainability creates long-term value. With LEED®–certified buildings, both developers and tenants experience reduced operational costs immediately,” said Don Blair of KMA. “Depending on the sustainable features incorporated into the design and function of the building, water and electricity use can be dramatically reduced.”
KMA‘s LEED® design elements in Building 902 at Liberty Station include water efficient plumbing fixtures, which reduce water usage by 30 percent, fossil filter inserts for stormwater quality control, high performance HVAC and lighting systems, and locally sourced materials to reduce environmental effects of processing and transportation. Additionally, 10 percent of all construction materials are from recycled sources. The KMA design team included wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, large windows to allow natural light into the office, and low flow and sensor activated water features.
Each of these features provide long term value to both the tenants and the developers as operating costs are by far the largest expense of a building over its entire life–span. Reducing ongoing expenses is made even more relevant by today‘s economic pressures.
Driven by both increasing awareness of the wave of “green” building, as well as the related cost savings, developers and building tenants are recognizing the inherent long-term value of sustainable design. Slowly but surely, green building options are becoming the new norm.
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Though less than one percent of the earth‘s water is actually drinkable, the typical urban home on average uses an astounding 260 gallons of clean water per day. Now more than ever, it‘s important to use our water wisely, and communities, businesses and organizations across the country are starting to increase practices in water conservation.
The San Diego community is accustomed to the importance of conserving water, led by the efforts of the San Diego Water Authority. Mandatory water conservation requirements have helped San Diego residents cut their water use by 11 percent during the 2010 fiscal year. Because of the regional emphasis on saving such a precious resource, KMA has experienced this demand for water saving strategies in recent local and regional design contracts. With a number of recent LEED® projects under its belt, the KMA team has incorporated its sustainability practice into including water efficient technologies in the design of many of its recent buildings.
KMA utilizes everything from water efficient fixtures and toilets to irrigation landscaping and stormwater management. Here are some solutions that KMA has included in its recent projects that are transferable to almost any home or business to help cut back on water use and save money:
Water efficient toilets: Most people don‘t realize that toilets are one of the biggest sources of water used at home, accounting for nearly 30 percent of residential indoor water consumption. To combat this water waster, KMA has installed water efficient toilets and urinals for a number of LEED® projects, including installing 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf) toilets, compared to the average 3 gpf toilets, and 18 gpf urinals at the El Cajon Public Safety Center. Additionally, they have installed 1.28 gpf toilets and waterless urinals at the P–745 Weapons Armament Technology Center at China Lake in Ridgecrest.
Replacing older toilets with water efficient toilets could save nearly two billion gallons per day across the country, and can save a family of four on average 2,000 in water bills over the lifetime of the toilet.
Irrigation Water Usage Reduction: Of the 26 billion gallons of water consumed daily in the United States, nearly 7.8 billion gallons are used for outdoor use, a majority of which is irrigation. KMA continues to collaborate with landscape architects to reduce irrigation water usage on projects such as the P–790 Combatant Crew Training Facility in the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado, the Nellis Air Force Base Hangar and Green Flag Facility in North Las Vegas, and P–745 at China Lake.
Especially true in San Diego‘s warm, dry summers, the amount of water used outdoors by a household can exceed the amount used for all other purposes in the entire year. Outdoor water use can be reduced by using the same tactics KMA and landscape designers use everywhere: Plant drought–tolerant, and native/adapted plant species and incorporate efficient irrigation systems and practices to reduce the loss of water during common watering practices and rain runoff. Installation of efficient sprinklers is also a water and money saver.
For future projects, the KMA team is exploring use of greywater or rainwater harvesting as potential sustainable water conserving opportunities.
For more information, the San Diego Water Authority offers many tips and a number of conservation incentive programs that help cover the cost of water-efficient indoor and outdoor water appliances and devices. Please click here for residential tips, and click here for business tips. For water conservation incentives and programs, please click here. Incentive program information is also available by calling 1-800-986-4538.
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Though the San Diego weather fell short of its sunny expectations early this summer, the KMA team upheld its seasonal tradition — the outdoor Summer Barbecue series. First launched in 2004, the barbecue typically runs once a month, beginning in May and continuing through September, so the staff can get outside on a regular basis and enjoy the (usually) exceptional sunny weather in the KMA parking lot.
“The summer barbecues are a fantastic opportunity for the staff to let loose, mingle and bond with each other,” said John Hilgeman, senior associate of KMA. “Besides the great food and games, the time together at the barbecue encourages cohesion within the team. It‘s also a fun way to emphasize how much the team‘s hard work is appreciated.”
Amidst a relaxed atmosphere and a release from the stresses of work, the team unwinds through games and the occasional giveaways. The team decks out the turf with party canopies and umbrella covered tables, and lays out the spread for the grilling festivities. The typical summer fare you‘d expect is usually served, from burgers and hot dogs, to salads and a variety of desserts. Of course, there is always a meat–free option for those who are vegetarian.
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The barbecues are a real team effort as KMA staff members rotate the responsibility of cooking each month. KMA‘s own grill masters include Tim Rubesh and John Hilgeman. Tim has grilled on a number of occasions and has always earned rave reviews from the team. John has dished up delicious and exotic Guamanian recipes, which he picked up from his mom. According to the staff, the traditional Guamanian fare was one of the highlights in the history of the KMA barbecue series.
Occasionally venturing outside of its own parking lot, KMA has also set camp at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay for a change of scenery, and has even taken a break from the skill and sweat of the team member chefs and brought in catering from San Diego‘s famous Phil‘s BBQ. But, no matter where they are or what they eat, the event gives them an opportunity to take a break from the daily routine and feel refreshed by food, fun and friends.
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