On November 8th, Neumann Monson hosted a public open house to celebrate our newly renovated Iowa City studio. The event allowed visitors to meet our team and explore the renovation’s sustainable design features.

Discussions about sustainability often focus on building performance, systems, and energy consumption. While these elements are important, they tend to overshadow one of the key components of architecture: the experience of inhabiting a building.

According to the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the built environment accounts for nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Every building project—whether a renovation or new construction—is an opportunity to lower these emissions and cultivate a more sustainable future.

The goal of any developer is to achieve a return on investment. While approaches differ across projects, one of the most common ways to improve a building’s profitability is to increase its height—especially in competitive urban markets.

Architecture does not occur in a vacuum. From heights to materials, buildings are regulated by a complex system of interlocking rules known as codes.

The Living Building Challenge (LBC) is an opportunity to bring together diverse stakeholders and transform communities. Its Equity Petal seeks to foster a more just and inclusive world that enables all people to participate, prosper, and reach their potential. By setting accessible design and project team inclusion requirements, it offers a pathway for making this vision a reality.

Maintaining a budget is a benchmark of success on a construction project. Renovating or constructing a new building is a large investment, and every owner wants to control costs.

While some companies have embraced remote work, others are encouraging employees to return to the office. Working in the office presents many benefits—including improved collaboration, learning, and relationship-building—but not everyone is thrilled by the prospect.

When starting a building project, many owners wonder if they should renovate or invest in new construction. Some owners may have a building that no longer serves their needs but feel unsure if moving locations is the right solution. Others may be considering several site options, including greenfield land and existing buildings.

Remote work has become common practice since the pandemic, leaving office spaces across the country vacant or underutilized. At the same time, many major US cities are facing a housing crisis.