Before each winter, facility owners should spend time preparing to protect their property and operations from the challenges brought by cold weather, snow, and ice. It’s about safeguarding your assets and minimizing potential risks.
A well-prepared facility can avoid costly repairs and downtime during the winter season. Here are seven tips to help you protect your investments this winter.
1. Inspect and maintain your HVAC system.
A properly functioning heating system is essential to keeping your building, freestanding or not, warm and safe. Schedule a professional inspection of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system to ensure it’s in good condition. Regular maintenance will help prevent breakdowns during cold snaps, ensuring your employees and customer stay comfortable and preventing pipes from freezing. Regularly changing filters improves efficiency and reduces strain on the system.
2. Check on windows, doors, and other openings.
Drafts from unsealed windows and doors can cause significant heat loss, leading to higher energy bills and making it harder to keep your space warm. Use weather stripping, caulking, and insulation to seal these gaps and maintain a consistent indoor temperature.
3. Review your insurance coverage.
Winter weather can bring unexpected challenges, from burst pipes to property damage caused by heavy snow or ice. Before winter hits, review your business insurance policy to ensure it provides adequate coverage for winter-related risks.
4. Prepare plumbing and pipes for freezing temperatures.
Frozen pipes can cause significant water damage if they burst. Insulate any exposed pipes, particularly those in vulnerable areas such as next to an exterior wall. Make sure to disconnect outdoor hoses and shut off exterior faucets.
5. Inspect the roof and gutters.
Heavy snow and ice buildup on the roof can lead to structural damage or leaks. Ensure your roof is in good condition by inspecting it and clearing debris from gutters and downspouts. Clean gutters allow water to flow freely, preventing ice dams that can cause water to back up and seep into building systems. Schedule regular roof inspections throughout the winter to ensure snow accumulation doesn’t exceed safe levels.
6. Develop a snow and ice removal plan.
Slippery sidewalks, parking lots, and entryways pose a serious hazard for employees and customers. To avoid accidents, establish a reliable snow and ice removal plan that includes salting walkways and clearing parking lots promptly. Ensure that any snow removal contractors are properly insured and review your contract to confirm they meet your safety standards.
7. Check fire and carbon monoxide.
With increased use of heating systems during the winter, the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning rises. Ensure all smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers are in working order and comply with local regulations. Regularly test these devices and replace batteries as needed. It’s also a good idea to have an emergency plan that includes evacuation routes and staff training.
Building prototype designs can offer numerous advantages for new building programs and franchise opportunities. A well-developed prototype speeds up permitting and construction timelines, reduces professional fees, and streamlines overall project delivery. However, as with all construction projects, challenges still arise from location to location. While we all appreciate the term “prototype,” each site presents unique variables that can impact the architectural design of a building. These differences include city requirements and local codes, site-specific conditions and spacing, availability of interior finishes, and client modifications.
First, let’s explore city requirements and local codes. Part of our initial research for any new project involves identifying the applicable code years. Codes differ by location, and each version can significantly impact a prototype building. For example, allowable building areas can differ. Larger buildings are often subject, to stricter regulations depending on the code year and building type. Altering a building’s construction type can impact numerous factors, including sprinkler system requirements and fire ratings.
Second, the characteristics of a building site can influence what can be constructed. Codes often dictate minimum distances between buildings to maintain fire safety. Ideally, we aim for at least 60 feet between structures. However, in developed areas, we understand that achieving this distance may not always be possible. When this happens, a deeper review of allowable areas and fire ratings is required. This could lead to adjustments in the exterior materials or fireproofing methods to ensure a safe structure. As Trevor mentioned in his last blog, the location of site utilities can impact the building’s plumbing and riser room placement, ultimately affecting the overall floor plan.
Another consideration is city-specific requirements for building appearance. These requirements typically come from planning and zoning departments. Some cities mandate more detailed façades to help new buildings blend with existing surroundings. Additionally, signage regulations—such as limitations on square footage, colors, and lighting—often vary by location and must be considered.
Lastly, interior finishes are another factor to keep in mind. While a consistent selection of finishes across all locations may be preferred (such as a particular tile for restrooms or carpet for lobbies), the availability of these materials can change over time. If a project has an extended design or construction timeline, certain finishes might be discontinued. Although this is less critical than fire ratings, it still requires attention and flexibility during the prototype process.
While the word ‘prototype’ is widely used in the architectural industry, achieving a truly prototypical building involves considering a variety of factors. At TK, we’re here to guide you through the process and help you create the building that fits your vision and site-specific needs.
If you haven’t already, we invite you to explore our previous blogs on prototype design, where we dive deeper into the intricacies of creating efficient and scalable buildings. If you have questions or would like to discuss your upcoming project, please reach out! We’d love to talk to you.
On the design side of a project, everyone loves a prototype. Okay, maybe not everyone, but making a project or its details can be prototypical, the more efficiently a project can be designed. However, adapting a prototype to a specific site requires careful consideration. Questions may include: How does the building integrate with the site’s layout? How do planning, zoning, and energy codes influence both aesthetics and functionality? And where are the utilities situated, considering they often don’t align with the optimal building corners?
On the structural side of the project, The main elements affecting structural design at any site are variable loadings: snow, wind, and seismic forces. Foundations can vary as much as the loading types, each presenting unique challenges. The complexity of foundation design increases with soil types like clay, silt, sand, or any combination thereof, not to mention site leveling and frost depth. In conclusion, addressing these variables with a well-adapted prototype ensures structural integrity and cost-efficiency.
Snow
Snow is effectively a variable live load, and while many of us enjoy it, it can significantly impact a structure’s design. For reference, a standard roof live load is 20 pounds per square foot (PSF) across the country. In regions like Florida, southern Texas, and southern California, there is no snow loading. However, places like Maine and Alaska can experience ground snow loads of up to 100 PSF. Site-specific locations in mountainous regions, such as Colorado and Idaho, can have localized loads well over 100 PSF. Consulting the building official in these areas is highly recommended but not always sufficient. Building officials often suggest contacting local fabricators to determine the typical design load used in the region.
Wind
Wind pressure can be applied as a broad loading, or in other words, one design covers a significant area of the country. Almost everywhere in the country, anytime you step outside, you can feel a breeze. For wind to be considered severe in the US, it must reach a speed of 58 mph with most storms only reaching 39 to 46 mph per the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Therefore, one design may be able to cover 90% of the prototype locations. Unless the project is in a hurricane zone, the code wind speed in the US is predominately 115 mph or less for a Risk Category II structure. For a Risk Category III, the wind speed jumps to 122 mph, well above all but the most severe cases.
Seismic
Location is significant in seismic design, with forces determined by the structure’s weight. Plate tectonics and the Ring of Fire in the Pacific significantly affect the west coast and Alaska. But one can’t forget the Madrid fault in southeast Missouri that in 1811 it shook and was felt in Hartford, CT and Charleston, SC. The lighter the structure, the smaller the seismic force. For most lightweight structures built with wood or cold-formed steel framing, 90% of the designs are completed with a single approach since the structure is relatively light. However, some variations make seismic design unique at each site compared to wind. Beyond the previously mentioned weight concern and building height, framing type plays a significant role in the design effort. Concrete shear walls, moment frames, and braced frames are in a long list of framing options that require different levels of detail, depending on the maximum considered earthquake. And then there is the soil type unique to each site that plays a significant role. Solid or soft, each one resists the load in a different way.
Geotechnical
Geotechnical information varies significantly across the United States, impacting building costs. To break this variation down, I will address them as two foundation types: shallow and deep. Shallow foundations are the typical spread footings located approximately in the upper 10′ of the soil. Deep foundations are some version of piers or piles and extend deeper than 10′. Depending on the structure’s mass, a conservative value for spread footings that work in most places may add avoidable additional costs.
An assumed bearing pressure of 1,500 psf compared to an actual bearing pressure of 2,000 psf could reduce the footing size and material costs by 25%. The nice thing about spread footings is that an adjustment to them can be made easily and quickly, depending on the complexity of the foundation system.
There is no point in making the effort for deep foundations to create a prototype design. There are too many variables. Better results will be achieved by designing deep foundations on individual projects.
Grouping
For a prototype design, the larger the grouping, the quicker the updates or design adjustments can be made. Of course, the design envelope size will vary, depending on the framing material and type. Structural steel and concrete typically have extra capacities based on code minimum or functional requirements. For example, an HSS2x2 post may work, but an HSS4x4 is used because of the connection preferences. Cold-formed steel and wood are typically not loaded to their maximum capacities, and higher loads can be applied to allow for a larger design window.
With all this said, prototype design can be very efficient for a client and a time saver for the designer. There will always be a design element in every project, but if the layout and framing of a structure don’t change, design effort is reduced, saving time and money.
The body having jurisdiction has the final say. Each municipality is different, and many have unique requirements, so even with the best planning, changes could still be possible.
Conclusion
Adapting prototypes to specific sites involves a careful balance of design efficiency and compliance with local codes and environmental conditions. By understanding the impact of site layout, planning, zoning, and structural variables such as snow, wind, and seismic loadings, architects and engineers can create designs that are both functional and cost-effective. Effective communication with local building officials and fabricators is crucial to ensure that the design loads and foundation requirements are accurately addressed.
Ready to optimize your next project with site-adapted prototypes? Contact our team of experts today to ensure your design meets all site-specific requirements efficiently and effectively. Let’s bring your vision to life!
Flying out under a rainbow is a promising start to any journey, and that’s exactly how my trip to Bowl Expo began. This year’s event was held at the Gaylord in Denver, offering breathtaking views of the mountains. The show took place on Monday and Tuesday before the 4th of July, providing a family-friendly environment with arcade and game vendors generously offering free play on all machines. Operators brought their best testers—their kids! Before the trade show opened, there was a decent line at registration, with a sense of anticipation bubbling among the attendees.
TK Architects shared a booth with our long-time partners at Proctor Companies a relationship that spans over 40 years. Our booth, 907, was located across from the new product showcase and near the food vendors, with the concession area offering lunch and snacks right behind us. The camaraderie among the vendors was felt, making the show a truly enjoyable experience.
MONDAY
Monday was pretty busy at the booth with many productive conversations with Bowling and Entertainment Operators. Some were looking to renovate, a few looking to build new, and a sprinkling who had just completed their renovations. The energy was exciting and positive, making it refreshing to discuss how people are moving forward and how well their facilities are doing.
We even had a visit from Ricky Bourgeois and the team at Premier Lanes in Gonzales. They stopped by to say hi and discuss with Proctor about replacing their dishwasher, which has been in use since the original build 13 years ago. (It’s hard to believe that project was so long ago.) Ricky shared a memory about collaborating closely with our design team and engineers to develop their signature “Ball Wall.” He tracked down bowling balls in different colors and weights and helped get them drilled so they would sit perfectly over the structural supports. He still loves that element!
Being right across from the New Product Showcase, I had the opportunity to check out some of the new items. This included innovative technology for bowling center operations staff, scoring, and marketing. There were also new robots that can make crazy cotton candy, balloon animals, specialty marshmallows, and more! A fun new Ultimate Disk game from Shaffer and the Pixel Games new floor game with a roll up LED that can allows it to be used on the floor.
TUESDAY
Attendance Tuesday was a little lighter down at our end of the hall but we were still able to have productive conversations with new potential customers and vendors to discuss their needs and opportunities. The overall show was smaller than last year (no full-size bowling lanes this time) but the optimism of the attendees was invigorating and we are excited to continue those conversations!!
WHERE TO FIND ME NEXT
If you missed the show and would like to discuss your project, please reach out, we’d love to have an in-depth conversation with you. As always, I can be reached at 816-842-7552 or send me an email at tenglish@tkarch.com You can find me next at the International Cinema Technology Association Summer Conference in Laguna Beach, July 21st -July 25th.
When clients talk business planning and facilities, growth and ROI dominate the discussion. In today’s climate, achieving these goals might seem daunting—but it’s entirely possible. Here’s how.
The challenges arise from inflation-driven expense increases on everything from food and beverage to energy, wages, and interest rates. Our clients have had to raise ticket and menu prices, deal with staffing shortages, and face supply chain issues. Meanwhile, consumers are constantly demanding a better experience for their ‘night-out’, which needs to remain affordable and appealing to families, couples, and groups of friends.
So, what happens next? Slow, well-thought-out, deliberate planning for development spending to enhance the experience of the typical ‘night-out’.
More choices means more customers. This is what has been driving the entertainment industry of late for all kinds of reasons. Those choices come in the form of amenities, alternatives, and attractions.
For the past decade, our cinema clients have been redefining the movie-going experience. They have introduced amenities like recliner chairs, VIP settings, premium large format screens and sound, 3D, 4D, dine-in, and more. We’ve also seen alternatives like expanded menus, alcohol bars, sports and music viewing, coffee, seating and Wi-Fi.
And most recently we’ve seen the integration of entertainment attractions such as arcades and redemption, bowling, laser tag, darts and billiards, axe throwing, golf simulators, event spaces, and more.
What we do
Our role is to seamlessly harmonize the market-driven attractions into an exciting and organized operation for our clients. We focus on functional layout design to maximize every square foot, incorporating profitable attractions quickly and efficiently…
And enhance the experience…
And reinvent your brand…
And do it all cost-effectively.
It is easy to erase a wall on a sheet of paper, but every bit of demo has a cost to remove and replace, not to mention any interior design feature, or any impending structural, mechanical, electrical or plumbing modifications.
In the end, experience wins the day.
It’s our experience that leads us to tailor solutions for each unique client. The positive outcomes? A boost in attendance and cash flow. Achieving this can be made smoother with thoughtful design.
Ready to enhance your business with effective design solutions? Lets connect and pave the way for your success together!
