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Direct Design Featured…
McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce Periodical

Thinking about relocating? Building a new building? Expanding your existing location?

Experience tells us successful projects – those that achieve the desired results for owners, users and architects – results from informed clients working with skilled architects to form sound professional, business and often personal relationships. These relationships are formed early on and are nourished by clear communication, mutually understood expectations and a willingness of both client and architect to understand and accept their responsibilities for realizing a successful project.

The American Institutes of Architects offers a booklet, which provides guidelines and suggestions on selecting and working with a qualified architect. You may also obtain one of these booklets from John Swierk, President of Direct Design, Ltd. Architects (3321 S. Route 31, Prairie Grove, Illinois – 815-444-8444).

Building in today’s market place is a complex undertaking requiring many different products and skills. Your architect should understand the complexities and work with you to design an appropriate response to your requirements. In turn, your qualified architect works within the building industry and watches out for your best interest in transforming the design into a building.

Please contact with any questions or comments: John Swierk, President, Direct Design, LTD Architects, 3321 S. Route 31, Prairie Grove, IL 60012 – 815-444-8444.

Northwest Herald Business Journal
By: DONNA SANTI
Architects Face Design Challenges on Regular Basis
Often parties differ over what they think is aesthetically pleasing.

Architects are expected to design appealing, functional, and reasonably affordable buildings. But the process is not without its challenges.

The owner of a bowling alley wanted a design for a new 30,000-square-foot facility in the center of a small town that didn’t look like a normal bowling alley: a long, windowless box.

An environmental organization wanted to showcase a scenic view from its nature center; but it was obscured by overhead power lines.

A client requested an attention-getting branded style for its retail center, while the municipal government in which it is located preferred the new construction to be in character with surrounding development.

These scenarios were projects recently undertaken by local architects, who agree that aesthetics partly is objective. The professionals are trained to use scale, color, materials, historic precedence and the company’s projected image, among other things, to arrive at a solution that works well, all within budget, space and building codes…

A different view
It’s not only the client who needs to be pleased with the building design. Often a municipal board, in many cases an architectural review board, also must sign off on a building plan.

Sometimes those individuals have a very different view about what is attractive, said John Swierk, owner of Direct Design Architects of Prairie Grove.

Swierk, who started the company in 1989, said “every design has its challenges. We obviously have to design buildings with what the client is requesting…Guidelines in ordinances, they’re easy to follow. Architectural review is very subjective. I might like it, you might like it, but someone else might not. It can be time consuming and without the proper people representing you, it can get difficult.”

Direct Design did several buildings on the bustling commercial sector on Randall Road, including The Great Escape, a 60,000-square-foot pool, patio and residential gaming franchise under construction in Algonquin.

The Great Escape has a corporate look and corporate colors that they wanted to carry over into the new store, including yellow window frames and blue glass skylights, Swierk said. The village architectural commission was not pleased with the initial design. It took three to four months of negotiations before the parties reached a workable compromise.

The Great Escape officials conceded to use aluminum colored window frames. They got their blue skylights.

“It will stand out a little bit and catch your eye in a sea of retail,” he said. “It is attractive, with its own character that still blends in well.”

Jeff Mihelich, assistant village manager for Algonquin, agreed. “We encourage developers to build with high-quality materials and earth-toned colors because that will stand the test of time,” he said.

“Sometimes there has to be a delicate balance between corporate architecture and municipal standards. We’ve been able to work that out with several national retailers with strong brands and ultimately have a very attractive building.”

 
Technology…
At Direct Design, Ltd. we believe that our clients are an integral piece of the design equation. This is why we have developed a client access page to the Direct Design website. By utilizing this resource, clients have the ability to browse current designs, familiarize themselves with standards, costs, and DDL procedures. Check it out!

Likewise, we strive to sustain our technological investments, with the goal of continuing to provide our clients with quality drawings and services. In addition to continual PC and anti-virus upgrades, in 2007, Direct Design, Ltd. computer system upgrades included:

• Added automatic CALL ME NOW Link to webpage. This feature connects clients automatically to our Architectural staff
• Clients are now welcome to pay for their architectural needs with a credit card online using our web site (www.directdesignltd.com)  Client Access tab.
• Improved client access capabilities. Client drawing may be viewed on-line using our web-site (www.directdesignltd.com) Client Access tab.
• Complete evaluation of cell and land phone services.
• Updated cell phones to provide better coverage and accessibility.
• Upgrade of network system back-up.
• Upgraded many of the computer stations to accommodate AutoCAD 2008.
• Upgraded AutoCAD software to 2008 version.
• Updated firm brochure disc.
• Upgrade and customization of client database, scheduling and other software.

Other Office Updates…

• Direct Design, Ltd. Emergency Action/Business Continuity Plan. This plan was created in the interest of protecting business continuity in the face of a catastrophic event. As always, the goal of Direct Design is to provide and maintain quality service to you, our loyal clients! With the implementation of this plan, we can ensure that every possible step will be taken to protect all people and processes involved in our design. For more information on Direct Design, Ltd.’s Emergency Action/Business Continuity Plan, please feel free to contact us.
• Product library updates
• Our Design Center now includes a full scale metal building and updated samples. We encourage our clients to utilize!
   

 
Direct Design is Number One …
The 2007 edition of the McHenry County Book of Lists, published each year by the McHenry County Business Journal, ranks the top businesses within 33 industry categories. Direct Design, Ltd. is listed as the number one architectural firm in McHenry County. Additionally, Direct Design is the only firm in McHenry County to offer services in every rated category:

• Architectural design
• Construction management
• Engineering
• Commercial
• Residential
• Interior design
• Landscape design
• Municipal

Continuing Education…
Direct Design believes in the importance of continuing education. For years Direct Design has offered in-house educational seminars for the convenience of our staff and improvement of professional skills. Additionally, many of our staff pursues field related educational experiences outside of the office.

All Illinois registered architects must have acquired 24 hours of continuing education within the 24-month period preceding the renewal date. At least 16 of these hours must be acquired in structured educational activities. A maximum of eight hours may be acquired in related practice subjects, in either structured educational activities, or individually planned activities. The regulations bring the Illinois continuing education requirements in line with those of the American Institute of Architects. Direct Design, Ltd. has followed the more stringent AIA requirements for continuing education for many years.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
Direct Design, Ltd. is proud to announce its membership within the United States Green Building Council. We are making progress towards our LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accreditation.



“The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit composed of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Our more than 9,000 member organizations and our network of 75 regional chapters are united to advance our mission of transforming the building industry to sustainability.” (information provided by the USGBC website http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=1. 06/27/07)

“The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.”
(information provided by the USGBC website http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19. 06/27/07)




2006 IBC “Safe Harbor” Update
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) enforces the criteria established by the U.S. Fair Housing Act (FHA). This federal law prohibits discrimination in housing, including those with disabilities. The International Code Council (ICC) requested HUD review several issues of its International Building Code (IBC) in order to gain safe harbor designation on several different residences. The term “safe harbor” means building codes and standards have been evaluated by HUD and have met or exceeded FHA accessibility requirements. Safe harbor designation had previously been granted to Type B units (apartments and townhouses), but not to other types of residences.

Although a possible interpretation issue for site arrival points was identified, the 2003 IBC was deemed to be a safe harbor document. Later, the 2003 IBC safe harbor distinction was applied to accessibility requirements for other facilities such as assisted living homes, nursing homes, dormitories, boarding houses, convents, monasteries, and non-transient hotels and motels.
It is anticipated the 2006 IBC and 2003 ICC will receive safe harbor designation in the very near future.

This information was obtained from the Building Safety Journal June 2007. For more information visit this website: www.iccsafe.org/safety/accessibility or contact Direct Design LTD.



Direct Design, Ltd. Awarded for work on Riverwalk Place

Amazing Construction Facts
*Trump Towers vs. Empire State Building Construction Schedule Comparison

The Trump Towers in Chicago are emerging, according to an article written by Blair Kamin (Tribune architecture critic). The Empire State Building, a Depression-Era wonder of riveted steel construction, went up in the astonishingly short time of one year and 45 days. Trump’s Towers are expected to take 4 ½ years. So why has the timeline tripled with today’s modern technology and heavy equipment? There are several reasons why states the Construction manager, Paul James of Bovis Lend Lease Inc. of London:

1. Depression era had an unlimited supply of labor
2. Far less safety oriented.
3. Chicago’s City ordinance restricts night time construction. In the 1930’s you could work seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.