In the third season of the hit sitcom Seinfeld, Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer wander through a New Jersey parking structure searching for Kramer’s car. Elaine fears her goldfish will die before they make it home, and George worries he’ll miss his parents’ anniversary celebration. After a series of misadventures, they find the car—but not in time to save Elaine’s goldfish.

Kevin Monson, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Neumann Monson Architects, has been honored by Iowa State University’s (ISU) College of Design with the Christian Petersen Design Award.

For the second year running, team members from our Iowa City studio participated in Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa’s Career Inspire event in Cedar Rapids.

Adaptive reuse is the practice of repurposing an existing building for a new use. It’s an opportunity to save underutilized building stock, preserve a community’s historic character, and reduce the carbon emissions, waste, and resource consumption associated with demolition and new construction.

Selecting a project delivery method is one of the earliest steps in a building project. The delivery method determines the contractual relationship between the building owner and the architect, as well as the building owner and contractor.

A building project is an opportunity to reduce your energy consumption and operational costs, and throughout the design process, you can expect to discuss building performance with your architect.

From shipping delays to unforeseen site conditions, construction presents plenty of unknowns. To prepare for these situations, it’s wise to set aside a contingency before you head into construction. Contingencies often equal 5-10% of a project’s construction cost, though the exact amount depends on the project’s size and complexity.

Utilizing a green building rating system is one of the most effective ways to achieve a sustainable project. Backed by decades of research, these third-party systems can reduce carbon emissions, improve occupant well-being, and increase accountability.

When planning a building project, knowing how you pay is as important as knowing what you pay. An understanding of billing for architectural services and construction work helps you allocate funds and budget accordingly.

Successful building projects rely on rigorous quality assurance measures, and to comply with code requirements, every project must go through testing and inspections during construction. For some building owners, especially those taking on their first project, these tests can come as a surprise.