Most people have heard the term ‘Rain Gardens’ but don’t really understand what they are and what they do… Today we speak with a leading expert in water resource management, Civil Engineer Kurt Leuthold from Barr Engineering. Kurt and I have worked together on several projects in the past few years including the new offices for the Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District and the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (beginning construction this spring) among others. A few questions discussed include:
-What is a ‘Rain Garden’?
-Describe the Rain Garden system -both large scale and small scale.
-How do you determine the size, configuration, plantings, etc.?
-How would a person get started in making a rain garden?
-With all the available water in our area, why is a rain garden important?
-We also touch on pervious pavers, rain barrels and other options for water management.

Feel free to contact Kurt Leuthold PE via email at kal@barr.com

Please subscribe to these podcasts also via iTunes. Search for the title ‘Design & Other Fun Stuff’.

Please click on the links above and you can also find information at the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District site. Looking to build one? Hedberg Landscape and Masonry Supplies has the materials.

Ran across this documentary about architect Fritz Eisenhofer put together by Gaby Lingke. Fritz discusses his thoughts about designing and building a futuristic earth-sheltered home in New Zealand. Interesting and well-done video – check it out!

A Dome In Peka Peka from livlin productions on Vimeo.

Our office is just beginning a new project for beautiful Camp St Croix. This King Leadership Center will house up to 36 guests with an adjoining commons/meeting space. The specific site is on the main south campus and will anchor the ‘great lawn’ space. We will be targeting a LEED Silver or Gold certification.

We had our ‘kick-off’ meeting last week where we reviewed the Program (spaces needed) and the site challenges and opportunities. Kevin Flynn with EcoDEEP lead the LEED Scoring process to help define our baseline goals.   (Kevin and I will be recording a podcast discussing LEED soon!)  Now comes the fun part -the sketches, the creativity, the putting the puzzle together… and the other stuff- meeting with building officials, verifying code requirements, etc. Stay tuned!

Architect: Us!, Green Bldg Facilitator: EcoDEEP, Structural Eng: Mattson Macdonald Young, Mech/Elec Eng: Gausman & Moore, Civil Eng: Foth Infrastructure & Environment

Click on the images below to enlarge.

In this AudioPost we speak with Jay Wiederholt, President of Passive House Alliance Minnesota.  Jay and I met at a lecture discussing the philosophy and implementation of Passive House design.  I was excited to sit down and ask a few general questions explaining Passive House.  Some questions included:

-Summarize ‘What is Passive House?’

-How/where did this idea start?

-Explain a few specifics that are critical to the philosophy.

-What things do people need to be aware of if they are interested in this type of project?

-Is there special training or documentation needed to have an ‘official’ Passive House?

-Always the tough question of costs and paybacks.

-How is this different from LEED?

(sorry for the occasional electronic interference noise!)
Please subscribe to these podcasts also via iTunes. Search for the title ‘Design & Other Fun Stuff’.

For more information see Passive House Institute United States, Passive House Institute, National Advocacy Group and the International Advocacy Group.

Below are some links to other examples that I recently came across. I am sure we will be seeing more and soon.

One of the first –Saskatchewan Conservation House 1977, new in New York and the Delta Tower in Australia

This project is moving along!  We are excited with the progress and can see the finish line!  Langer Construction is the General Contractor and doing a great job with not only their work, but accommodating the sweat equity provided by the congregation.  This group of members has dedicated more time and effort in doing actual construction then any I have seen in our past church projects.  Hats off to all of you!

You can get more construction/progress images at the churches blog and please click on the images to enlarge.

Ever wish you had more time or that there were a few more of you? My wife may disagree!
We have been very fortunate here at Michael Huber Architects and have been working hard (and having fun) with our clients. Thus the lack of posts this week -sorry!

This image, ironically, was created when I had some down time a couple of weeks ago. I have seen many examples of these ‘multiplicity’ pictures and thought I would give it a try! Click on the image to enlarge.

Last week, I was surfing through television channels and landed on an old Laurel & Hardy movie. I have not seen one of these since I was a young lad…which wasn’t that long ago! At the end of the movie, they played a U.S. Forest Service short film featuring Laurel and Hardy as they learn about the importance of wood to their daily lives. How times have changed?

This Laurel and Hardy footage was filmed in November, 1941. Film was released in 1942. Also includes a brief profile of the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin. Enjoy!

We are just finishing up the Construction Documents for a new 11,000 sf office building for the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization. This facility will be located on the Mississippi river in North Minneapolis. The cool thing is that there will be a bunch of interpretive (educational) features focusing on water that are incorporated into the building and the site.

As the construction moves forward this spring, we will highlight some of those features and interview members of the team. Stay tuned! Click on the images to enlarge.

Finding and then Hiring and Architect

Whether the project is commercial or residential, Owners often struggle with the ‘Where do I begin?’ question in looking for an Architect.  The first question really should be ‘When do I begin?’   The answer: As early as possible.  Even if you are unsure of your potential project making complete sense, an architect can help.  For business and public clients, it is not uncommon to have an architect develop a Feasibility Study –to see if what you would like to do has merit.  This can be of limited scope and is very helpful in clarifying any issues related to the project –to even see if it makes sense to move forward before you expend substantial time and money.  These types of Service Options will be discussed in a future ‘Working with an Architect Series’ post.

Some Architects specialize in a style or type.  Most are generalists and will help to bring out your style.  A great ‘one-stop’ location to search for architects is through The American Institute of Architects (AIA). Here you can research firms, get contact data and find other valuable information.  Most Registered Architects are members of a chapter in their home area.  We belong to AIA Minnesota.

Definitely ask friends and colleagues, realtors and contractors for any recommendations.  Don’t rely solely on the Yellow Pages as many firms have transitioned to using the Internet as their main place to ‘show their wares’.  In the end, a face to face meeting with a handful of short-listed firms is the best way to feel comfortable making a selection.

Typically, there is no charge for that initial meeting with a firm.  This is a great opportunity to not only review qualifications but to also make sure there is a mesh in personalities and philosophies.  As for the qualifications, it is important to:
1. See past examples (of similar scope/size) –If possible, even set up an on-site tour.
2. Get a list of references.  Not only of past clients but also from General contractors.  This will be helpful in understanding how issues were handled and the dynamics of working as part of a team.
3. Don’t get too bogged down with the ‘fee’ question.  It is hard for architects to pin down an exact fee this early in the discussion.  We can certainly give an estimate based upon similar projects or based upon the proposed budget.  Initially, we will often work hourly to help refine the scope and goals.  This then can be credited into a formal and fixed proposal.

The selected architect will then define a list of services provided, associated schedule and the fee arrangement.

Our job as architects is to gather and present the information you need to make appropriate decisions for your project.  To be creative in the solutions and to be am advocate for your goals.  To use your resources- financial, time, etc., wisely.  And make the experience enjoyable, comfortable and positive.

Here is a great resource sheet from AIA Minnesota on ‘How to Hire the Right Architect for Your Project’

While driving through town yesterday, I took a few pictures (see below) which prompted me to write this post.  We have been hit hard here in the midwest with cold temperatures and snow.  This sets up a perfect storm to develop Ice Dams.

Ice dams are caused by heat escaping at the intersection of the exterior wall and roof.  Older homes are the most susceptible because of the way they used to be built.  Typically, 2×4 or 2×6 rafters were set right on the top of the exterior wall framing.  This only allows for a minimal amount of insulation at this point.  The escaping heat melts the snow that has gathered on the roof and refreezes when it hits the overhang -causing an ‘ice dam’.  This can cause major damage to the roof, gutters and siding as well as lead to potential leaks, creating more problems.

You probably have seen the zig-zag heating element wires used to melt the dams at the roofs edge.  Ideally, you want to get more insulation at this point so you are not losing heat (thus energy).  One option is to put vent chutes in the rafter space, to keep air circulating in the attic, and then use a foam insualtion that has a better R-value at the roof/wall location.  Another option,when you next replace the roofing material, is to install furring strips to create venting right under the finished roof.  The goal is to keep this material cold so there is no melting.

New construction uses an Energy Heel truss which raises the height of the ‘attic’ area at the exterior wall.  This allows for more insulation to be installed at that vulnerable location.

To remove ice dams, the best way is to use steam.  There are many services that are equipped for this and it is important to have them removed before more damage is done.

Click on the images below to enlarge.

We are under construction!

The primary goal of the congregation was to make the facility accessible to all. Other challenges that were brought forward included security issues, interior space and circulation congestion, inadequate bathroom and kitchen facilities, etc.

It was decided to take a step back and create a long-range Vision Plan for the church.  Through discussions, workshops and studies, we were able to resolve these issues and more.

The result and implementation of Phase One includes a 6000 square foot addition that houses administration, meeting rooms, a future kitchen along with an elevator and restrooms.  A curved circulation link at the front helps alleviate internal congestion, expands the Narthex and leads to a new and welcoming entry.

The church has put together a blog highlighting the construction progress.  You can watch it here!

Future phases include interior remodeling and a youth and choir addition.

General Contractor:  Langer Construction

Last year, I had built a fire in our wood burning fireplace -not unusual for a Saturday evening in the winter. It wasn’t a raging or large fire, just a normal one.

My wife went upstairs to get something to drink and yelled down to me that there were sparks falling on our deck. I thought ‘Big deal’, we do have a fire burning after all and a rouge spark falling in the snow didn’t seem unusual. I went upstairs to reassure my wife and my eyes went wide. It was raining sparks past our windows like hundreds of sparklers lit at once.

I ran out on the deck and looked up at the chimney. There must have been a six foot high flame shooting out of the top. And the sound, you cant’ forget that hum of the rushing air and flames. At the same moment, my neighbor was racing up the driveway. They said it had looked like a bomb went off and lit up the whole neighborhood. 911 had already been contacted, including by us, and we were told to get out of the house.

On my way out, I grabbed a fire extinguisher and put out the wood fire and sprayed up into the chimney. The fire department came quick, even though that was the longest 10 minutes of my life. They used an infrared or heat detector to assess if there was still fire burning within the chimney or adjacent structure. They also looked down the chimney to visually inspect it.

They said it appeared that the chimney cap had a build-up of creasote and that was what had ignited.

The next day, I spoke with a Chimney Sweep and he said:
1. You should have the chimney swept every 2 years (every year it should be inspected if you have lots of fires).
2. Do NOT burn paper -even to start the fire. He said people often burn gift wrap this time of year and there are even more chemicals within that paper that creates creasote.

A typical chimney cleaning is around $150. Well worth it considering we could have lost our entire house let alone pets or ourselves! Here are a couple of other resources worth a read:

Chimney Fires, Causes and Cures & Facts about Chimney Fires

Oh and, a big thanks to the Hudson Fire Department!