Closing out 2013

From all of us at NKB, we wish you all a safe and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!  May the New Year bring great joy, happiness and prosperity to everyone!  We are excited for great things to come during the new year...sneak peak...we will be including BUILD into our services so please keep a look out for that!
Best wishes :)

Design Tips When Leasing Space

Recently we came across an article from Perspective magazine which we thought was full of important things to note when leasing a space.   It was a question and answer with a New York City Real Estate advisor Greg Lorberbaum.  Lorberbaum educates tenants in understanding and making good decisions on their lease agreements in his book Leasing NYC.  His approach as a tenant rep is to stop selling and start helping as many people as he can.

Here are some tips Lorberbaum gives in the article that are helpful to keep in mind.

1.      At the design phase, have your designer create two floor plans-- one layout now for your current staff and the second which would maximize density for the future.
2.      If there are several conference rooms factored into the design now, have them designed in a way where they can be doubled as office space down the road.   This can be done by eliminating central lighting fixtures or vents where the future divided wall would be placed.  Also, placing light switches on both sides of the conference room would allow for the room to be converted into office space easier with less cost to the tenant. 
3.   A note for the boss- he/she should consider leaving the huge corner office behind. Lorberbaum mentions sitting in offices or workstations like their employees may help with employee morale.
4. When looking for space look at options where there is access to as much daylight as possible.  This is helpful when having an open plan concept.  
5.    Purchase furnishings that allow for flexibility.  Movable wall partitions are great for altering your space. 

Additional tips NKB suggest are:

1.   It’s very important from early on to task someone internally with the responsibility of managing the move.  Keep in mind this person has to keep up with their full time responsibilities as well and to provide them with support when needed.
2.   Another important tip is to gather a team early on.  This includes project managers in the following fields: IT, telecommunications, audio/visual and move relocation.
3.    To add onto number 4, there are studies that show having your employees have access to daylight is important to productivity and employee morale.  We have seen from experience in some spaces where the perimeter is lined with offices and workstations are placed inside with no daylight.  This should be flipped.  If this cannot be an option than another solution would be to have glass walls for offices and conference rooms.

 At NKB Design and Management we would be happy to sit down with you and go over the process from the early stages to ensure you’ve covered all that goes into your new space.  

Project Management and the Design Process Overview

At any given time of our lives all of us will undertake some form of a project.  It could be building a bird house with your kids, a coffee table in the garage, designing the next smart phone technology, balancing the government’s budget or working on a $100,000,000.00 mixed use development in the heart of town. Developing and executing any given project is what is providing change to our world on a daily basis. 

In any of these cases you are engaging in a temporary activity which is designed to produce a unique product or result.  Therefore a project is temporary and has a defined beginning and an end with a defined scope and resources.  All projects must be expertly managed in order to be completed as defined, on time and on budget.

Project managers are the people in charge of projects.  They utilize their knowledge, skills and techniques to accomplish these goals and complete projects effectively and efficiently.  Projects in general can be broken down into four main categories: 

1.       Conceptualization – This is where the development of the initial goal, specifications and scope of work are defined.

2.       Planning – This is where detailed specifications, schematics and schedules are formed.    

3.       Execution – This is where the product is created and the actual work performed.

4.       Termination or Close-out – This is when the completed project is handed over to the client.  At this point all resources for this project are re-assigned to other or new projects and project is formally closed-out. 

In the design and construction industry the same concept applies with a few variations.  In the design phase of the project the breakdown may look like this:

1.       Design Consultation – This is where the designer meets with the client to discuss the client’s goals, needs and wants.  During the design consultation the designer can propose ideas, solutions and/or budget parameters.  Simple schematic drawings may also be developed along with a rough or general cost estimate. 

2.       Pre-Design and Existing Conditions – This is where the designer can examine existing site conditions, do a site analysis, and conduct code search.  The designer can also field measure existing spaces to be remodeled and create sketches, plans, elevations, etc.

3.       Schematic Design and Design Development – This is where the designer will develop all concept plans with a detailed scope of work to be performed.  During this time the client will review the schematics and may or may not propose changes to the designs.   

4.       Construction Documents – This is where the construction documents are prepared per scope.  Construction documents are referred to as the final drawings and specifications from the designer, which provide detailed instructions for the construction of the project. 

A project manager’s experience, knowledge, skills and techniques will allow him or her to undertake and deliver any given project with the discipline required to manage the resources, time, and budget.

In the next blog we will review the project management process in detail.  NKB Design & Management believes every client and every project is just as important as the other, no matter the size, budget or scope.  Let us know how we can help you with your next project.

Holy Design!

When looking at statistics to understand how many people attend church and how many religious congregations there are, the Gallup Polls states 40% or roughly 98 million people attend church on a regular basis and there are roughly 350,000 congregations in the US. 

Whether you practice Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Buddism or any other religion, going to your specific place of worship has become a ritual.  These places of worship provide different purposes  for different people including: guidance, inspiration, calmness and relaxation.    Buildings that serve as religious spaces are designed to have a connection to the realm of God.

SOURCE: FREE DIGITAL PHOTOS ARTHUR84

The interior space within the architectural shell encompasses several key components making a space complete.  For example, in addition to the primary sanctuary spaces within churches, there are secondary spaces used for teaching and social functions.   With keeping design in mind, there are several key design elements needed to carefully create the religious masterpiece. 

Here are the top 4 key design elements:

1-      Scale: Places of worship are built “to be enduring icons of the civilization for which they stood, and landmarks for years to come” (Roberts, 2004).  Scale contributes to massively high ceilings i.e. as if to be reaching towards God and the added effect of awe.   

2-      Lighting is another key element to design because it serves as a connection between humans and deities (Hamilton & Watkins, 2009). Consideration should be placed on brightness and darkness for contrast.  Also, layers of lighting should be paired together in order to provide different levels of illuminations.  This includes accent, ambient, decorative, task and natural lighting. (Read more about this in our previous blog on lighting).

3-      Acoustics:  The acoustical performance of a congregational place is critical in providing the message clearly whether you are sitting in the front row or the last seat in the back.   For example, the geometrical configuration should be considered because it impacts how the Pastor sounds when speaking versus how the choir sounds when they are singing.

4-      Materials:  Because of scale and acoustics, designers and builders have to keep in mind the specific materials to be used when designing the space.   

At NKB Design and Management, we look forward to working with your place of worship in the areas of Northern Virginia and DC.  Please let us know how we may be able to assist you. 

  

Sources- Evidence Based Design for Multiple Building Types, Gallup Poll, Hartford Institute of Religion Research 

Mood and lighting

Lighting serves different functions in different spaces.  As mentioned in the previous blog on color, we talked about how color impacts people’s moods and feelings.  Well, lighting does that too!

For example, you may frequently go downtown to the French restaurant you love so much because of the delicious fare and romantic atmosphere.   The feeling of romance is being created by a combination of elements including fancy white table clothes, lighting and music.  The different layers of lighting are also helping to create the mood with the intimate candlelight at your table as well as sparkle from the crystal chandelier above and the warm glow radiating from the delicate sconces on the wall.   

image credit: flickr

Now to change things up a bit, move ten yards to the back of the restaurant and you will find an atmosphere that is all together different.  Hustle and bustle create a kitchen where recessed and track lighting are a must to serve the functional needs of the kitchen staff.  The noise you find of dishes hitting the steel countertops and chefs screaming, “order up” pair with a space that needs its lighting to work just as hard.  

image credit: petrus london kitchen

It is important to understand one type of lighting fixture cannot satisfy all lighting requirements.  There are 5 different types of lighting  actually working at their best when paired together.  These include:

1-Ambient/general illumination- is soft illumination providing a comfortable amount of lighting without glare. Examples of ambient- recessed, wall mounted, chandeliers

2-Task lighting- i.e. for specific tasks including cooking, reading, doing homework. Examples of task- track lighting, recessed lighting, portable desk lamps

3-Accent lighting - brings drama into a room by creating visual interest- i.e. used to highlight art and other objects. Examples of accent- track, recessed, wall-mounted

4-Decorative lighting - used to create sparkle and a focal point . Examples of decorative- chandeliers, sconces, table lamps

5-Natural day lighting-  using floor to ceiling windows and skylights provide beautiful natural lighting during the day while you need to combine the above four for an effective lighting design in the evening

Contact NKB Design and Management to assist you with choosing the right lighting design for your next project.  We look forward to brightening your spaces! 

The Air We Breathe.

The EPA indicates that you spend about 90% of your time indoors and the quality of indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than the worst outside air.

The EPA also states that the three sources of poor indoor air quality in offices are : “ the presence of indoor pollution sources like asbestos from insulation, formaldehyde, carpet, cleaning materials, air fresheners, and copying machines; poorly designed, maintained, or operated ventilation systems; and uses of the building that were unanticipated or poorly planned for when the building was designed or renovated.”

This makes us think--what are we doing to better the air we breathe?  How often are you dusting your space, cleaning the air vents or shampooing your carpets?  Are you getting fresh air into your office at all? Have you considered the materials and finishes you chose may be harmful to your health? There is some good news--you can take certain steps to improve your interior environment.  

Here are a few:

1-      adding plants in your space removes CO2 and adds oxygen

2-      getting your ducts cleaned

3-      changing air filters often

4-      shampooing your carpets

5-      getting an air purifier with a HEPA filter that removes dust, dirt, pollen and other allergens in the air

6-   selecting low-emitting carpet and paint

Also, as we have recently talked about LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification before, the USGBC has Indoor Environmental Quality as one of the six areas covered in the LEED process.

If you are looking to renovate or expand into new space, going after LEED certification is something to consider.  Or if you just moved into a LEED certified space, there are certain points that have already been obtained from the checklist.  This means planning, implementing and maintaining indoor air quality, thermal comfort, increased ventilation and daylight through views have been achieved or considered.

Let NKB Design and Management help you come up with an indoor air quality action plan which would include selecting materials that are low-emitting such as paints, carpets and adhesives and possibly adding LEED certification into your project.  

Check out this informative image on the benefits of indoor plants!

image from urbanplanters

How Colors Make Us Feel.

Design is influential to our daily lives whether we realize it or not.  One element of design is color which plays a huge role in our decision making from the foods we choose to eat to practically every purchase we make. 

What’s your favorite color? This is a question providing an answer into your personality.  For example, if you like the color red, it has been psychologically related to words like powerful, bold and exciting. 

When you think about choosing the right paint for your space why does it become such a difficult decision?  Could it be our color choices change with our mood or even the season?  Try this tip, think of words that come to your mind when you think of your favorite store or restaurant.  Do any of these words come to mind: energized, calm, romantic, elegant or dignified?  Marketing and branding companies really focus on how colors can draw customers in.

One should keep in mind that color choices are subjective which is precisely why painting your child’s room their favorite color is great…because it is a reflection of them…well at least for maybe the year!  However, when you’re thinking about selecting colors for your business, you should get feedback from others and if you want to make a bold statement, like for example if you’re using the bright green color from your company’s logo, then pick one wall to do so—i.e. the accent wall and then pair it with some neutrals.    Another point to keep in mind is color choices can be different based on age groups, gender and cultural backgrounds. 

Check out this cool graph from Painters of Louisville which breaks down colors regarding psychology and feelings, see how many of these you agree with.

And next time you decide on a color for your space, think about how the color(s) makes you and everyone using the space feel.   

Why a Designer for Your Office Expansion Matters

                                                               (image from interiordesign.net)

Your company is a well-known branding/marketing firm currently working diligently to find the right commercial space for your new spatial requirements.  The company will be hiring an additional 30 employees in the next six months to support the marketing department expansion. 

These new hires will mean new requirements in space like possible team rooms, new workstations and lots and lots of whiteboards for brainstorming.  The space will need to be functional, flexible and innovative to promote individual and team-work productivity.  This is where choosing the right designer comes in as an important factor to make this process as smooth as possible.

The designer will initially sit down to speak with key decision makers of your company.  The designer will ask questions about functionality of space to understand what the requirements for your new space will need to be.  This programming piece will include how many workstations versus private offices will be needed and  how many conference rooms and break/common areas will be required. Then the designer will come up with rough floor plans of how many people can fit in the space. 

The designer will reach out to furniture vendors making sure the right workstations are chosen. Also, the designer will use their skills and expertise to blend with your company’s logo and company’s colors in the material selection process.  All these elements combined will ensure that your new office space includes comfort, functionality and inspiration allowing for you and your employees to work with increasing productivity.

Sustainable Sites

When we consider locating the perfect building location for our business, we tend to look at several important factors and may ask ourselves certain key questions like:

How well will my business do in this particular geographic location?

Is this space located in a high traffic area?

How much parking will I get for me, my employees and future customers?  

On the sustainability side there are also key questions that need to be asked.  If you are interested in getting LEED certification, then you may be asking questions like:

How can I make my space energy efficient?

How can I reduce waste in my business? 

What are some effective ways to recycle?

The LEED certification for Commercial Interiors helps address important options to choose from.  In this post we will start by covering the first of six areas in LEED Commercial Interiors-- Sustainable Sites.  Sustainable sites or SS for short encourages tenants to choose from one of two options that adhere to green building practices. 

The first option is to pick a building space that is already an existing LEED certified space. The second option is to choose from a list of different paths to earn up to 5 points.  A few of the different paths to choose from are:

The brownfield redevelopment point can be earned if a building is on land that was once contaminated, but has now been effectively remediated. Another point that can be earned is stormwater design which can be obtained given the site has a stormwater management plan in action and is impervious to a certain percentage.  Yet another few points can be received through heat island effect design which considers the level of shading and the Solar Reflectance Index a roof may have.

Some other paths to consider obtaining in option 2 are: light pollution reduction, innovative wastewater technology, water reduction use, onsite renewable energy and lastly an option is available to come up with your own quantifiable environmental performance to earn a point.

For more information on Sustainable Sites, check out usgbc.org.  Also, please feel free to leave any comments or questions below.

Understanding LEED: Some Background Information

In 1993, the U.S. Green Building Council formed as a non- profit organization.  Their mission was to “transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.”

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.  LEED was developed by USGBC to serve as a system for certifying high-performance buildings and sustainable neighborhoods.  Also, the LEED Green Building Rating System began as one standard for new construction to now a comprehensive system of interrelated standards that cover all facets of development and construction.  Currently, there are 13,000 member organizations and more than 52,000 projects that are participating in LEED.  This makes for a total of 9.8 billion square feet of construction space.   

There are different LEED systems available to use for your project which include LEED for New Construction, LEED for Commercial Interiors and LEED for Core and Shell to name a few.  The rating system focuses on the following main areas:

-sustainable sites

-water efficiency

-energy and atmosphere

-materials and resources

-indoor environmental quality

-innovation in design

In the following months, we will go into more detail about the main areas above.   At NKB Design and Management, we can help you achieve your sustainable goals.  Keep a look out and go green!

Loudoun Chamber and the Green Business Challenge

We just joined the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce last week!  We are very excited to build meaningful working relationships with people in Loudoun!  Also, we’re very excited to volunteer for the Green Business Challenge- a free points based competition at the Chamber allowing companies to implement sustainable practices to their business.  We look forward to talking to small businesses in the next few months and helping them reach their sustainable goals.

Sustainability: what it means to small businesses

We found this amazing image online thanks to Office Depot shedding some light on small businesses going green.  And as designers tend to be visual people, thought it would be a good way to showcase some fun facts and pie charts!
We'll get into more detail about specific topics on sustainability later in our blogs. For now, Enjoy!

Welcome!

Hi Everyone!!!  We want to introduce ourselves--we are NKB Design and Management, LLC.  We are based out of Northern Virginia.  Our goal is to design for small businesses because we are one (!!!) and because making a space beautiful, functional and healthy for the people that work and play in it is extremely important to us.

We look forward to bringing you information on projects, products, inspiration and so much more.  Thanks for reading and keep a look out for our future postings!