Over the last couple of years, we have heard a repetitive set of questions which revolve around the topic of “The Building of the Future.” Like no other time in my three decades of practice, has the focus of our clients been so in tune with this one topic, and it may be largely a result of where the world is today and the rate of change with which lives are transpiring.

Specifically, our industry today is seeing the greatest rate of change and innovation, largely due to two factors—technological advancement and an enhanced understanding of the mutual impact between humans and their environment.

So in strategically planning our firm's focus for the next decades of practice, my co-managing partners, Mark Torre and Scott Frank, and I have been guided by these same two factors in determining how JB&B should continue to evolve in all aspects of design and building construction. Accordingly, our answer to the client questions: “What will the building of the future look like?” and “What are you doing today to support the building construction process in the future?” echoes a new course correction for our practice.

Our firm has now placed an intense focus on two main building characteristics, namely Energy & Carbon and Intelligence & Integration. In addition, we share that our delivery methods must shift to meet new design and construction processes, which have significantly reduced schedule and enhanced procurement in terms of both accuracy and savings, on recent projects.

Engineers today cannot solely be designers, but must transcend their role as a trusted advisor to extend service offerings that build software, sync into construction processes, invent and even manufacture to create solution for tomorrow, not just using products that exist today. We believe for clients, these extended service offerings should specifically focus right now on super high energy conservation, true elimination of carbon use, enhancements in operational efficiency, personalized control of the client environment and building automation, new distribution methods for air, power and technology, next generation wireless (true 5G and enhanced first responder radio), increased levels of ventilation and filtration and non-traditional construction methods.

Whether the client asks the question or not, it would be consistent with JB&B's core values to approach the design of all buildings with an eye for the future and its increasing rate of change.

Walther Mehl is the co-managing partner at the mechanical and electrical consulting engineering firm JB&B. The company's practice has expanded to include commissioning, special inspections, audiovisual, information technology, security, distributed antenna systems, smart buildings, MEP Advisory Services and lighting design. The views express in this article are author's and not those of ALM Real Estate Media Group.

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Buildings of the Future

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