by Mary | Sep 6, 2015 | Construction, Design News, Designing Public Areas, Hospitality Design, Retail Design
Recently, r.o.i. Design was at a bid opening and after hearing the bids for Division 09, it was clear to all that something was “up”. We all are seeing a steady increase in the percentage of costs spent in finishes in projects.
r.o.i. Design has been able to balance budgets by applying specialty finishes with discretion in key areas and working with contractors on the design as a whole, before a project goes to bid. Managing customer expectations at the design phase is key in order to deliver the interior the customer requires.
Some of the areas to watch for creeping costs include:
Hard surface flooring
LVT is available in a wide selection of colors and patterns, including those that mimic wood and stone.
The old stand by – vinyl composite tile (VCT) – which is affordable at install, but adds cost
every year in maintenance, is loosing ground to other composites that don’t have that ongoing expense. There are VET (vinyl enhanced tiles) and LVT (luxury vinyl tiles) whose retail square foot costs are a minimum of $1 more than VCT.
A larger portion of the flooring in projects are receiving hard surfaces verses carpet.
The love for finished concrete isn’t necessarily a budget saver and it’s popularity has demanded more skilled trades in adapting concrete in order to be considered a finished floor.
Wall panels and specialty wall treatments
Molded cork wall coverings by Murrato
Wall covering manufacturers have been busy coming up with new materials and designs that are gaining interest. r.o.i. Design doesn’t believe we will ever see projects where 100% of the walls are covered with wall covering as was prevalent in the 90’s, but do see a percentage of the walls being given “special” treatment.
Custom wall covering and panel products are becoming more affordable allowing customers to create “branded” and proprietary looks to their interiors. Part of that customization means the finish category is fulfilling more of the signage requirements of a building.
Ceilings
Changes in technology have advanced product design and improved product performance. But the first wave of those innovations come at a higher price. The cycle of new product introduction is more robust, and increased competition will start to impact costs on trendy finishes in a positive direction.
by Mary | Sep 6, 2015 | Construction
Downtown Grand Rapids Skyline
As reported by Michigan Construction News:
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in July total construction put in place throughout the nation rose 0.7% from June’s revised estimate. July set an annual rate of $1,083.4 billion. The revised June rate was $1,075.9 billion.
Construction during the first seven months of this year has risen at an average rate of 9.3% above the rate set during the same period last year.
The Census Bureau is scheduled to release its August 2015 data on October 1st.
September 4, 2015
As reported by Mlive.com:
Apartment construction boomed in first half of 2015
Four new sorority houses are nearing completion in the second phase of construction at Grand Village Student Housing in Allendale near Grand Valley State University. The homes, photographed on Monday, July 13, will be complete in time for the fall semester. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com)
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Apartment construction boomed in West Michigan during the first half of 2015, according to a housing construction publication.
Building starts for single family homes were flat in West Michigan with the exception of Ottawa County, where the number of housing starts grew by 25 percent, according to Builder Track Reports, which follows the region’s construction trends.
In Kent County, building permits were issued for 662 apartment units, most of them in Grand Rapids. That’s more than twice the 324 units started in the first half of 2014.
July 16, 2015
by Mary | Aug 28, 2015 | Design News, Hospitality Design
Successful hotels have figured out the guest room experience and continue to figure out how to accommodate the ever changing lifestyle needs of their customers.
Comfort and convenience in the guest experience is paramount and that is defined by more than a goods night sleep.
Mobile Connections:
Being connected in real time to the incoming guest as they travel to your hotel is increasingly important. With the arrival of competitor airbnb.com, personal texting around the customer arrival and their changing needs has become expected. The kind of virtual presence a hotel creates needs to be personal and flexible. (more…)
by Mary | Aug 27, 2015 | Design News, Hospitality Design
Guests who can afford luxury, don’t always spend luxury rates for business and social travel.
The challenge for the mid-scale lodging market is to include enough style and amenity in their experience without raising room rates. That means being smart on where to spend the money
2014 saw a new awareness by mid-scale hotels that they needed to “up the ante” in their design. Many flags took on the challenge to remodel facilities which are being showcased.
So r.o.i. Design asks, “What are the things that brought the greatest ROI in those mid-scale remodels? What are we recommending to our mid-scale customers as they remodel?” (more…)
by Mary | Aug 17, 2015 | Meeting and Conference, Workplace Design
Entry of Front Street Studio
r.o.i. Design’s offices are at Front Street Studio. The owner of r.o.i. Design also owns the building and there is a 1300 SF first floor suite available in January 2016. This is a great space for creative firms or those who like to hang out with creative folk. Currently in the building we have photographers, videographers, light manufacturing of decorative products, audio book recording, and pastoral care. Extremely convenient to 131 and I96, and described as on the “fringe” of downtown Grand Rapids. Please contact Mary Witte at r.o.i. Design for more information!
Exterior of Front Street Entrance
Changes in technology have advanced product design and improved product performance. But the first wave of those innovations come at a higher price. The cycle of new product introduction is more robust, and increased competition will start to impact costs on trendy finishes in a positive direction.
