At Bezek • Durst • Seiser, a common
thread runs through all of our work: a relentless commitment
to progressive thinking, and the application of that thinking
to every detail of a project. From value engineering to
sustainable design to environmentally sensitive building
processes, we provide a thoughtful, focused approach to
the rigorous design challenges faced in Alaska.
In fact, our track record is exceptional
in those areas of architecture related to the northern
environment:
The Challenge of the Arctic Environment
Alaska is home to an extreme range of climatic, logistic,
and geotechnical conditions. No one design solution or “prototype
design” will successfully respond to the environmental
needs of every location. So we’ve developed a process
that takes into account specific environmental forces
and their impact on a building’s geographic orientation
and design. We refer to this as arctic design logic.
Early on in the design process, we carefully consider
how a building can be positioned and shaped to minimize
the impact of strong winds and drifting snow, and maximize
the penetrating rays of the sun. We look for the best location
for mechanical and utility systems to allow access within
the heated envelope. And we use design strategies that
include simple roof forms, highly effective ventilation
systems, and super insulated and controlled penetration
of building envelopes.
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Sustainable Design in Northern Climates
BDS believes sustainable, green buildings are simply
common sense. This philosophy permeates every aspect of
our work:
- Our buildings typically have many uses within a community
because we take time to understand all of the ways a building
might be used, then design with this in mind.
- We create healthy environments that use natural daylight
and incorporate nearby views whenever possible.
- We use Arctic engineering techniques to insulate against
extended winters – which means our buildings use
less energy.
- We value simplicity of form and materials.
The result? Buildings that are environmentally sensitive
while consistently outperforming the competition.
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Serving Unique Rural Communities
Many Native Alaskans live in small remote communities
near subsistence food sources. We understand that each
of these communities is unique and that the local people
are “experts” on
what they need in their buildings. We value this input
and work together with community leaders to identify
all community-related considerations ahead of time. This
collaborative approach continues throughout the entire
planning, design, and building process.
Once a building is finished, it is important that it
is well maintained. We design our buildings to not only
minimize maintenance, but also to make sure that maintenance
is easy to perform. Mechanical and electrical systems
are carefully selected to meet the technical level of
the local people doing the maintenance. In addition,
we specify replacement parts that are readily available
from local or regional sources.
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Providing Exceptional Value Engineering
At BDS, value engineering plays an integral role in our
design approach, affecting all project phases from start
to finish. We understand that value engineering is a
key factor in every successful project. In fact, because
of our reputation of providing exceptional value engineering,
we’ve been contracted by other agencies to provide
value engineering peer reviews.
Here are the points in a project where value engineering
is especially critical:
Planning. Biggest dollar impacts on capital and operating
costs – present and future – are achieved with
a comprehensive facility and site master plan, and through
strategic concept design decisions: facility site organization,
building systems, and material selection.
Maintenance. Good maintenance can save money. It is a
direct result of ease of access to equipment, the quality
of products and systems in use, and appropriate technology
based on the skill available in the respective community
or organization.
Commissioning. A carefully orchestrated
building start-up process inclusive of systems testing and
training of operators can significantly extend equipment
life and reduce operating cost.
When value engineering is incorporated from the start
of a project all the way through to completion, it leads
to the best lifetime value for that building.
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