Methods and means of construction have changed very little and very slowly over many decades. However, advances in techniques and technology have accelerated in recent years. Many architects, contractors, and building owners have not kept up with these changes and even resist them. GREW DESIGN Incorporated has never believed in making guinea pigs of our clients and their projects. But when it is appropriate and advantageous to our clients and their projects we are glad to employ new techniques, materials, products and technologies. Therefore, we keep up to date with news and advances in the design and construction industry. Some that we are using are listed below.

Green (Sustainable) Design

Faced with depleting natural resources and a deteriorating environment, greater awareness has arisen with the use of products and materials that help buildings to be environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System ® is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Members of the U.S. Green Building Council representing all segments of the building industry developed LEED. Whether you want your project to obtain a LEED rating or just want to be judicious in your project’s effect on the environment or resources, GREW DESIGN respects and appreciates your goal and will work with you to achieve that outcome.

Engineered Lumber

In most wood framed projects, GREW DESIGN is designing with and specifying engineered wood products that are structurally superior to sawn lumber and “green” due to being composed of new growth wood and recycled materials. Such products include I-joists, laminated veneer lumber (LVL), floor and roof trusses, oriented strand board (OSB) panels, and composite decking, siding and trim materials.

Various sizes of I-joists

Floor trusses

Foundation Systems

Although a sound, time tested system, poured in place concrete does have its disadvantages especially when adverse weather conditions or a compressed schedule are important factors. We are keeping current and using systems such as insulated concrete forms (ICF) and precast foundation systems.

Typical cutaway of insulated concrete form (ICF)

Precast foundation walls (Superior Wall depicted)

Alternative Building Systems

There are the conventional ways buildings are constructed that we are all most familiar with seeing happen every day. There are also developments in the production of buildings that should not be ignored especially when a client needs either faster construction, framing during difficult weather, or a higher level of quality control. We are familiar and have worked with many of these methods including the foundation systems noted above, panelizing the framing and shell, and pre-engineered building systems.

This convention center in Newburgh, NY was designed utilizing a pre-engineered metal building system by Butler Manufacturing.