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"Summertime, and the Livin' is Easy..."
Greetings!
Although it seemed elusive for a while, Chicagoland's favorite season is finally upon us! Getting outside and enjoying the weather never felt so good! Festivals, outdoor concerts and sports, remote travel as well as "staycationing" are on everyone's mind. Still, the team at Full Circle Architects is busy with projects both in and out of the office. Construction, although clearly not at the levels we've seen in previous summers, is still going on, and it does appear to us that the home improvement market is showing some movement again!
In-house, we've been doing some remodeling ourselves...our "new and improved" website is officially up and running! Take a moment to see how we've updated some of the content and made it more user-friendly, and let us know what you think! www.FullCircleArchitects.com.
Also, while everyone is "otherwise occupied" for the summer, we're taking a reprieve from our "Edu-tainment" events, and are planning more for the fall. Stay tuned for more information on upcoming events; they will also be listed on the new website. If you have any suggestions for any building- or design-related topics you'd like to see covered please let us know! In the meantime, enjoy the weather, the companionship of friends and family, and all the delights of the season!
All the Best,
Lenore
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On July 7th , Full Circle hosted a NAWBO meeting (National Association of Women Business Owners) at our office. As part of the regular agenda, Lenore provided a combined Feature Member and Business Education presentation. Thanks to the willingness of the group to attend a "field trip", and the generous, accommodating nature of the folks at Bluegrass Restaurant, Lenore was able to give a tour of FCA's office and offer general advice on office workspaces.
On May 18th and 21st Full Circle Architects hosted a two evening workshop for the Architecture Merit Badge for local Boy Scouts. Sixteen scouts from local communities participated in this event over the course of two evenings. The scouts, ages 13 - 17 years old, took part in a series of presentations on the architectural process, building materials, and on the rich architectural history of Chicago. They also viewed a slide show of a real project under construction along with some of the latest advances in computer modeling. Finally, each scout completed a homework assignment applying their newly acquired architectural skills to their own home and favorite public building. Based on the boys' enthusiasm (100% completed their assignment!), FCA plans to hold another workshop later this fall.
Full Circle celebrated Earth Day 2009 by participating in two special events, one of which served as the 2nd installment of their "Edu-tainment" series. On April 22, Full Circle hosted a panel of experts who provided home improvement tips demonstrating how "Building Green can save Green." Similar to their first "Edu-tainment" event, this was an evening of sharing additional information for building healthier, more comfortable, and more energy efficient environments. The panel of experts for this event included Richard Spiess, Innovative Insulation Solutions; Robert Haren, Ashland Millwork;and our own Michael Fries, LEED-AP. If you are interested in another topic related to building (green or otherwise), please let us know via e-mail: JGordon@FullCircleArchitects.com.
On April 25, FCA also participated in Northbrook's annual celebration in honor of Earth Day and Arbor Day. This event featured businesses, social groups, and vendors who all share an interest in environmental stewardship. We had a table with photos of eco-friendly projects, and had staff available to answer any questions about green building approaches, techniques, and lifecycle costs.
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Condo News
In the Press:
Daniel Baigelman of FCA published an article in ACTHA News, a publication for the Association of Condominium, Townhouse, and Homeowners Associations. The article explained the value of making reasonable green improvements to older inhabited properties within a realistic time frame.
If you are interested in reading the article, please visit:
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| Architects' Spotlight
 Steven Schmitt, Lenore Baigelman, and Dave Galloway are our most recent FCA team members to achieve LEED AP (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional) status. We are so proud that more of our Full Circle team is being recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as experts in the field of sustainable design. |
Did You Know?
As the summer swelter converges on us, your air conditioner's performance and maintenance continues to be important in order to maximize the lifespan of your AC unit. However, if you have an older unit that needs replacement (and you know that will happen on a 95 degree day), there are a couple of things to consider. US E.P.A. regulations have been implemented to "phase-out" potential ozone depleting substances used as refrigerants in the AC units of yesteryear. HCFCs , or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (also referred to as R-22 or by one of its trade names, FreonŽ 22) is being phased-out over several years.
New AC units are being designed to contain more ozone-friendly refrigerants with costs comparable to AC units of the past. These newly developed air conditioners will keep you cool for years to come in a healthy and eco-friendly manner. As always, when deciding to purchase new equipment, homeowners need to consider several key factors, such as energy efficiency, performance, reliability, cost, and the ozone-friendly options that are available. For more information on purchasing or servicing your air conditioner, see the EPA's Homeowner's Guide to Regulatory Programs for Ozone Layer Depletion: Homeowner's Guide/FAQ
If you do decide to purchase a new energy efficient air conditioner, don't forget that you may be able to claim tax credits equal to 30 percent of the installed costs, (up to $1,500). The best way to find AC's that are eligible for the tax credit is to ask your HVAC contractor for a list of products that are both eligible and properly sized for your home. Of course, all tax credits are subject to IRS regulations. We recommend you consult a tax professional for advice on tax preparation.
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Congratulations go to:
Our colleagues at Central Building and Preservation, as they recently celebrated their 85th year in business. We congratulate the professionals at Central for reaching this impressive milestone earned by three generations dedicated to craftsmanship and quality work.
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...and finally, a challenge to you!
As you spend some of your summer leisure time pondering ways to improve your home and/or works spaces, let us know of a nagging problem that you would really like to solve? E-mail us with your challenge; the most interesting one will win a Starbuck's gift certificate!
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