TOP 5 GREEN HOME BUILDING IDEAS

Our environment, climate, and even our own consciousness is changing. There is a drive toward healthier building and green building provides a myriad of benefits, for example:

• Utilizes recyclable materials

• Reduces atmospheric pollutants

• Minimizes fossil fuel consumption

• Reduces dependence on old growth lumber

• It’s the most effective way to meet the Model Energy Code

• You can save up to 50-75% in heating and cooling costs

At New Republic Architects we believe that creating a vibrant, sustainable future starts with collaboration. We are a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Green Building Certification Institute, as well as an ENERGY STAR® partner. Our internal LEED® Accreditation program connects professionals from various disciplines and offices to promote understanding of sustainable issues and encourage innovation in the field.

With this in mind, here are the top 5 green home building ideas:

1. Harness geothermal energy.

Did you know that you can use geothermal energy for heating and cooling applications in your home? The thermal energy is derived from the earth’s internal heat.

To harness this energy, you’ll need to install a geothermal heat pump system. With the pump, it’ll be possible to heat your home during winter and cool your home during summer.

While installation costs are on the higher side, the energy you get is unlimited year round.

2. Employ efficient landscaping.

Energy efficient landscaping can make your home more comfortable while conserving vital natural resources. Here are some benefits that efficient landscaping can give you:

• Windbreaks can cut winter heating bills by up to thirty percent.

• House shading trees can cut your cooling bills by as much as fifty percent.

• A single shade tree equals the cooling power of fifteen air conditioners – and it runs for free!

• Shading your home’s roof can increase your air conditioner’s energy efficiency by more than ten percent.

• A shaded lawn can be up to 25 degrees cooler than sunny pavement. A tree-shaded yard can be up to 6 degrees cooler than a sunny yard.

• A well-positioned tree can save up to 25 percent of your home’s energy for heating and cooling.

3. Use an efficient HVAC system.

Save energy and money by buying a high efficiency, Energy Star rated heating and cooling system for your home. This is important especially considering that about fifty percent of our energy costs go to heating and cooling. Aside from buying an energy efficient HVAC system, here are some tips to keep energy costs low.

• Inspect the air filters. They often get blocked by dirt and debris.

• Maintain the coils of your AC unit. Dirt and debris can reduce your AC’s efficiency, leading to more energy consumption.

• Install a programmable thermostat. If you can set your thermostat 1 degree down in the summer and 1 degree in the winter, you can save 3-5% of your energy bill.

• Use curtains, blinds or drapes to help control temperatures. In the summer, keep window coverings closed during the day to reduce temperatures. In cooler months, harness the sun’s free warmth by keeping curtains, drapes or blinds open on south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight in.

• Beef up your insulation. Inadequate insulation can lead to wasted heat or cooled air from the HVAC system.

• Keep up with routine maintenance. Proactive maintenance is key to an efficient HVAC system. Experts recommend doing this at least twice a year.

4. Use water conserving fixtures.

Installing water-conserving fixtures can make a sizeable difference in your monthly utility bills.

In fact, according to the EPA, if all U.S. households installed water-efficient appliances and fixtures, the country would save more than eighteen billion dollars and three trillion gallons of water annually.

An energy efficient faucet can save around 700 gallons of water every year. If you have an inefficient one, add a water-saving aerator or flow restrict or replace it with a high-efficiency faucet that has a flow rate of no more than 1.5 ppm.

As for shower heads, replace them with a high-efficiency one that uses no more than 2 ppm. And, if you have a toilet that uses more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush, consider replacing it with an efficient one that uses no more than 1.28 gpf.

5. Install solar panels.

Last but not least, install solar panels. Solar energy is a clean and renewable source of energy. Although installation costs can be high, the long-term savings you get are stunning.

With solar panels, location is everything. Position, placement, and orientation can determine how much power you can collect.

By using solar power, you can lower your energy efficiency and, if any, supply excess energy to your utility company. In addition, tax breaks, incentives, government grants are a huge bonus to anyone wishing to install solar panels in their home.

 A majority of people think two things whenever they think green home building: expenses and trouble. That’s, however, isn’t the case.

Going green, in reality, can not only save you boatloads of cash in the long run but can also give you a chance to leave a better future for generations to come.

This article was provided by Granite Foundation Repair, a local foundation repair company servicing the DFW area.

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The Freedom Residential Architecture Has to Offer

Apartment complexes can be seen as small (or sometimes large) self-sustaining cities where families and individuals alike live together, in total harmony. The art of designing residential architecture is multi-faceted. Unlike designing a commercial or medical space, residential architecture must provide a comfortable environment where countless families can live comfortably. Depending on who you’d like to live in your complex, you’ll be able to decide on the room sizes. Perhaps you’re planning on building an affordable complex for students so each room will be a studio. Or maybe you’d like for families to live comfortably in your complex. This is where one-, two-, or three-bedroom apartments should come into consideration. No matter what you’re after, New Republic Architects can draft a perfect floorplan for your future project.

What Matters the Most in Residential Architecture

Apartment buildings are designed to house individuals. This is the most important aspect of residential architecture, after all. This doesn’t mean, however, that your design should conform to the norms of other residential buildings. People love new and exciting things, after all. Why not choose original, unexpected designs for your residential spaces? Make use of the space available to catch the eye of prospective tenants. Or perhaps you’d like to stick to a more traditional design. This is your chance to make the most of it. When working with an architecture firm that is experienced in residential and interior design, you’ll be able to achieve greatness. No matter what you have in mind, your architect will be able to achieve it. Apartment complexes are homes and it is your responsibility to make each and every unit as comfortable as possible. With the help of an experienced architect, this can become a reality.

There’s More to Explore

Many apartment complexes have pools, laundry rooms, and exercise areas available for tenants to have as much to do as possible. These additions give apartment complexes the ability to be much more than a room in which to sleep. They add to the overall ambiance of the space. The addition of trees, grass, or benches can elevate the location to a more naturalistic, homey area. Every single detail can work in a positive or negative manner. The drafting and design step in the process are where you can envision the future. You can build for the tenants you have in mind and our architecture firm will create a residential floor plan that will bring everything you had in mind to fruition. Contact New Republic Architects today to learn more about what we have to offer.

Commercial Architecture Helps El Paso Thrive

El Paso is a thriving city with close to 700,000 residents. A large percentage of the Sun City’s residents have hopes and dreams of opening up their own boutiques, restaurants, shops, office spaces, and much more. Thanks to commercial architecture, this can become a reality. New Republic Architects is devoted to designing beautiful commercial structures that emphasize the originality and eccentricity of El Paso and the Southwest area at large. When it comes to commercial architecture, it’s possible to make use of the surrounding environment to yield a truly breathtaking end result.

What Goes Into Designing Shopping Centers

With designing commercial architecture, prospective business owners can take advantage of El Paso’s near-constant sunshine. Open spaces, wide windows, and shady walkways can perfectly accommodate shoppers throughout the day. In most cases, entrepreneurs purchase lots of land to bring prosperity to the surrounding community. In some cases, the newly purchased lot goes unused for months or years until it’s eventually purchased by another entity. This is an opportunity that shouldn’t be squandered. Any plot of land is a blank canvas upon which entrepreneurs can establish their dreams. This is the underlying importance of commercial architecture. Not only should the overall design be beautiful, it should be advantageous for the community at large.

Options for Commercial Architecture

Commercial architecture differs greatly from residential design. While the main purpose of the latter is to provide shelter for individuals and families, commercial design must accommodate higher capacities. Depending on the size of the potential commercial building, inclusions such as elevators, escalators, and parking structures must be considered. Let’s say you’re planning on designing an office building. What should it include? Whether you want to use this building for your own company or you’d like to find tenants, you need to consider the options available. Buildings, especially commercial ones, rely heavily on the architecture. Natural light, open spaces, and high ceilings can actually boost employee morale which will then translate to better productivity.

New Republic Architects for the Southwest

In order to make the right decision, it’s best to team up with a commercial architecture firm that understands your particular wants and needs. New Republic Architects has been making the El Paso area more beautiful, one design at a time. We can provide the necessary guidance and assistance you require to make your future project come to fruition. Best of all, the design will look beautiful and professional. Contact us today!

Building Designers of El Paso; Past and Present

As local El Paso building designers, we have a deep appreciation for El Paso’s great historical architecture. Great buildings make great communities and El Paso is near and dear to our hearts. It’s good to look at some of the historical architectural wonders that lay hidden in our beloved city. New Republic Architects takes pride in continuing the tradition of beautiful and functional buildings that inspire and make the community better.

The Trost Home

In an article outlining the 10 best buildings in Texas, the publication Texas Monthly names this particular house located in El Paso as Number Four. This home belonged to architect Henry Charles Trost, who is also credited for what is now the Bhutanese-style buildings of the University of Texas at El Paso. This house sits in the Sunset Heights neighborhood near the University, rising high on a hill showcasing its illustrious design.  

Henry Trost’s brother, Gustavus, was also a building designer and together they form the Trost & Trost firm that would go on to build more than 500 buildings in the Southwest Region. Other prominent Trost architectural landmarks include:

El Paso High

This is El Paso’s oldest operating high school. It is located on the West Central region of El Paso. It has a reputation for haunted hallways and unexplained occurrences, but is mostly admired for its classical revival-style architecture.

Paso Del Norte

This is the now Camino Real hotel and is famous hotel that opened in 1912 near the border between El Paso and Ciudad Juarez. This hotel is also part of the Historic Hotels of America and is in the National Register of Historic Places.  This hotel is a Beaux-Arts Architecture, a style from mid 19th century France.

Other Architectural Gems

While the Trost & Trost company were very prominent building designers, they were not the only ones that made a mark in the El Paso area by experimenting with varying architectural styles.

Magoffin Home

This was the home of Joseph Magoffin, a Civil War veteran, that became a prominent developer of the area. He helped bring in railroads, utilities, and new businesses in town. The home is build with some Greek and adobe style elements.

The Plaza Theater

One popular destination is the Plaza Theater which has been remodeled and is a place where El Paso sees a variety of theater performances including the Plaza Classic Film Festival. The theater first opened in 1930 and is built in a Spanish Colonial Revival style. In 2006 much of the architectural design was accentuated with a full remodel.

Find Innovating Designers

New Republic Architects are El Paso area building designers that specialize in original architecture. We appreciate the many styles of architecture this city has to offer. New Republic wants to continue in this great tradition of aesthetically pleasing architecture while always innovating and employing new architectural designs and ideas.

Understanding the Intrinsic Importance of Construction Design

Architecture has held an invaluable role in both modern and ancient societies. It’s the reason why sites such as the Parthenon in Greece or the Colosseum in Rome garner millions of visitors per year. Modern architecture has become a thing of beauty and unbridled originality. Just look at the Burj Khalifa, Taipei 101, or One World Trade Center. All of these buildings stand tall as symbols of architectural ingenuity and patriotism. Even smaller buildings such as universities, hospitals, shopping centers, and athletic centers hold important significance when it comes to their city’s status. Before any of these buildings could become a tangible reality, however, there was a two-dimensional blueprint. New Republic Architects provides construction design services to clients in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Building Steam With a Grain of Salt

All great things start their lives as small ideas. The Eiffel Tower, for instance, came to fruition when engineer Gustave Eiffel became inspired by the Latting Observatory in New York City. This glimmer of inspiration grew and grew until it eventually became the monument we know and love today. A small inspiration, or a passing thought, can lead to an end product that changes the course of human history for the better.

But for now, let us focus on something on the smaller scale, perhaps on a private practice or a shopping center. Although these buildings may never hold a cultural importance similar to that of an ancient structure, they are intrinsic to a successful society. When a client comes to us with an idea or a need in mind, it is our goal to make the best use of their land by drafting a design that will suit their needs perfectly.

The Natural Mastery of Construction

We see our client’s land as a canvas upon which their dreams will come to fruition. Or fertile ground upon which their hopes will arisen. Although this specific metaphor may seem overused, it’s perfectly applicable in this situation. An architecture firm takes the ideas of the client and organizes them into a format that can be followed by a construction team. Every single detail will be accounted for, from the types of windows needed to the size of the building itself. This can be seen as the road map or as the seed that will blossom into something tangible. Once the construction is completed, you will have a building to call your very own. New Republic Architects will harness your dreams and draft them into a fruitful reality.

Hot Interior Design Trends for 2018

The inside of your home or business is just as important as the outside of it. So when it comes to interior design, you want to get creative with it. Whether you’re a minimalist or love clutter, there’s a trend out there for you. New Republic Architects can help you design the interior of your dreams by starting at the base of it. From an open office floor plan to strategically placed cabinets and shelves, we can help you design your ideal home, office, and everything in between.

These interior design trends, both for decorating and building, can help you find the right style for you.

1. Colorful, Patterned Tile

Patterns and colors are hot trends and they show no signs of stopping. A great way to get creative with them is with tile. From patterned tile in your bathroom to colorful tile in classrooms, tile is a great way to get creative in residential, commercial, and educational settings.

2. Bright Colors

A good thing about bright colors is you have options. Paint, tile, furniture, cabinets, and more all give you the opportunity to play around with color. In terms of interior design, we can help you achieve the color scheme you want with tile, countertops, wall paint, and the wood used for your cabinets and doors.

3. Cabinet Space

Whether we’re designing a new school building or a new home, planning out cabinet space is a smart idea. You can choose how big, how wide, and how many cabinets you want in certain spaces, such as the classroom, kitchen, or bathrooms. We can help you design the interior of a space so you can get the most out of your cabinet space.

4. Open Space

A huge trend in interior design is floorplans that allow for a lot of open space. From one giant room dedicated to your living room, kitchen, and dining room to offices that have ditched cubicles in favor of open space, this trend is set to only get more popular as the years go by.

5. Windows and Natural Lighting

Natural lighting really is the best kind of lighting. Whether you’d like a huge bay window in your living room or large windows your office space, we can help you plan for it all. What’s great about this trend is that it helps promote productivity. Studies have shown that natural lighting is better for productivity than artificial lighting. So your home or office can look and make you feel great.

Interior Design from New Republic Architects

When designing a new building, it’s important to remember the interior design as well. At New Republic, our architects can help you both inside and out. Call us today to learn more.

How Medical Architecture Helps to Heal the Community

Doctors, nurses, and medical practitioners play an invaluable role in society. It’s important to be aware of the importance of medical architecture, as well. The hospitals, emergency rooms, and private practices all across the Southwest keep the community healthy and free from disease. Well-designed and well-planned-out medical buildings can impact the community in an incredibly positive way. That is, if the building is designed with the betterment of society in mind. If you're in the Southwest and you’re in need of medical architecture design assistance, the New Republic Architects team is ready to help.

The Importance of Medical Architecture

No matter the size of the medical facility, staff and patients alike must be able to navigate through its halls   in order to receive or provide proper medical care. Take a hospital, for instance. Hospitals are the hubs of health for the city. These tall buildings provide a myriad of treatments to people from all walks of life. These are buildings are places where victims of car accidents or other near-death experiences are taken to in order to receive life-saving medical care. Time is always of the essence when it comes to providing life-saving medical treatment so it’s important for the hospital to be well designed with efficiency and fluidity in mind. A cramped, disorganized hospital can have many roadblocks on the path towards providing all-encompassing care. This is where medical architecture comes into play. By designing a hospital correctly, it can be built with the correct mindset.

The Smallest Details Matter the Most

Medical architecture plays a major role in smaller buildings, as well. Private practices may be small but they see a variety of patients on a daily basis. It’s necessary for these environments to be conductive and ergonomic in order for patients to feel safe and comfortable while they wait. This is especially prudent in orthopedic offices where children and tired parents alike will go in order to find specialized medical care. A well designed building—with the needs of the patient and medical professional  in mind—will be able to aid in the betterment of the patient. Easy-to-navigate corridors, calming colors, and windows to let natural light in are all excellent ways to make medical buildings as pleasant as possible.

Choose New Republic Architects as Your Medical Architecture Firm

If you’re in the El Paso area and you’re in need of medical architecture assistance, contact New Republic Architects today. We specialize in medical architecture and will craft a beautiful design for you. Contact us today to learn more about what we have to offer.

How New Interior Design Trends are Changing Today’s Offices

Interior design plays a major role in today’s workplace. This is the space wherein employees and clients will interact on a interpersonal level. Well-thought-out design gives employees the opportunity to feel motivated and energized by simply by arranging the workspace appropriately. With each new year, new trends that will change the professional environments of the United States for the better arise. By implementing modern interior design practices, business owners in the El Paso area can create a setting where employees will be able to work hard and feel refreshed on a daily basis.

The Workspace Becomes Unconventional

For years, decades even, the workplaces of America had been made up of desks separated by cubicles. Separation was the main component of these workplaces. This became the “conventional” work space. Each employee separated by panels, working the day away in their own cubby-hole. Thankfully, offices all across the nation have been moving away from this type of separation and have taken charge of the unconventional workplace environment. Now, instead of having the employees be closed off from each other, they can interact on a more personal level, boosting the employee's enjoyment and thus boosting the entire company’s output.

From Closed Off to Fresh, Open Spaces

But what do we mean when we talk about “unconventional” office space? Before, the desk was the designated place where employees worked on a daily basis. Unconventional work spaces provide more spots for employees to get work done away from their desks. Corridors or nooks, for instance, can serve be great environments for clear thinking that will translate to better work output. Open collaborative spaces also provide an excellent setting for engaging brainstorming and teamwork. These spaces can take over the meeting and conference rooms from the past. What distinguishes these spaces from previous ones is their openness, skewing away from closed off rooms.

Making Your Office’s Interior Design Dynamic

Another example of an unconventional office space is one that is dynamic. Dynamic spaces offer the ability to easily rearrange the office space. Thanks to wide open spaces and lightweight office furniture, dynamic spaces are able to change from day to day. This type of change is good and welcome in the workplace of today, allowing for more creativity and less stagnation. Before long, these unconventional interior design options for offices will become the norm. All the industries that make use of these new trends will benefit greatly. If you’re in the Southwest, contact New Republic Architects to discuss how our team can take your office’s interior design to the next level.

The Role Residential Architecture Plays in the Betterment of the Community

When it comes to designing residential architecture, the lead architect has his work cut out for him. Not only must the final design properly accommodate and house a multitude of families, it must be ergonomic and seamlessly fit in with the surrounding environment. Some residential buildings may prosper in one regard but falter in another. It’s important to understand the important role residential architecture plays in the community at large. Keeping this in mind throughout the design process will lead to the best results.

Residential Architecture in the Modern Era

In the past, residential architecture was nothing more than a space for families to live in. These buildings were created to serve one purpose and one purpose only: to accommodate multiple families. Now, however, residential buildings have to compete and provide much more than a room where a family can live and grow. The right residential building should have a well designed layout that allows residents to park their cars and go for walks without having to worry.

In fact, these types of buildings play a much bigger role in the community than simply providing a residence. Take a stroll through an apartment complex and you’ll see beautiful landscaping, concise designs and buildings that house workout equipment and perhaps a few pools here and there. All these amenities work together to provide residents with a comfortable community in which they can feel completely at home and at peace.

How Residential Architecture Affects The Environment

There’s a whole other residential architecture category known as “mixed use architecture” which blends residential and commercial uses (as well as many others, if desired.) These types of buildings are most commonly seen in the highly populated downtown areas and allow families to find a place to live while providing a location for commercial or entertainment uses. In one building, people from all walks of life can find exactly what they need.

Residential Architecture Assistance in the El Paso Area

The world of residential architecture has a lot to offer future developers. By teaming up with a reputable architecture firm, dreams can turn to reality. When it comes to designing this type of architecture, it’s prudent to keep the community’s needs and desires in mind. At New Republic Architects, we believe that architecture is able to affect the environment that surrounds it. It is our goal for our designs to positively impact the community at large.

The Beauty That Surrounds Us: Commercial Architecture in the Sun City

Take a moment and look around you. No matter where you are, no matter what time it is, simply look around you. Take in your surroundings. What do you see? Perhaps a few cars, some people, the bright, blue sky, but what else? Odds are you can see a handful of commercial buildings, right? Even if you’re hiking the Franklin Mountains, you can still see the lights of El Paso’s commercial buildings in the distance. Commercial architecture is all around us. If you’re looking to establish your very own commercial space, New Republic Architects can help.

The Various Types of Commercial Spaces

Now that you’ve taken in your surroundings, try to categorize the commercial spaces you see. Some may be small, others may be incredibly large. Some may focus on selling products while others sell services. In order for companies to successfully provide their services, the buildings they’re housed within must suit their needs perfectly. For this reason, an industrial building may not be the best candidate for a small Mom and Pop type coffee shop (although rules are made to be broken, right?)  The following are some of the most common commercial properties.

What’s Within the Office

Perhaps you’re reading this blog whilst at work. If you’re like almost every other American, you work within an office building. These types of buildings generally fall into two categories: urban and suburban. Skyscrapers, most often found in the Downtown area, are urban office buildings while suburban offices are much smaller and tend to combine to form “office parks.” 

Giving the Community What It Needs: Retail

Retail spaces are very similar to office buildings since they can come in all shapes and sizes. A small clothing store and a giant, multi-story shopping mall both fall under the category of “retail.” In some cases, retail spaces may be large shopping centers where each suite can be rented by different companies. These retail spaces are known as “pad sites.”

Build What the World Needs: Industrial

Industrial buildings are homes for manufacturing or assembly needs. Although these buildings are part of the cycle of commerce, they are often very large, employ thousands of individuals, and are located on the outskirts of urban areas. 

A Place To Call Home: Multifamily and Hotel

Not all commercial spaces deal with the commerce of goods and services. Some basically sell the concept of “home.” Multifamily buildings are residential spaces that house families. Apartments and condos can fall under this category. Again, these types of buildings can come in a variety of sizes. Hotels don’t really have to be explained but they provide a place for individuals to basically live for a few days. Hotels can also come in all shapes and sizes.

The World of Commercial Architecture is At Your Disposal

Commercial architecture is crucial in helping the community to thrive. These buildings add beauty, usefulness, and elegance wherever they’re built. At New Republic Architects, we’re more than happy to help the entrepreneurs and dreamers of El Paso and the Southwest achieve their commercial architecture dreams. Contact us today. 
 

Building Designers Capture The Wonder of Architecture

Famed Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind said "Architecture is not based on concrete and steel, and the elements of the soil. It's based on wonder." This sentiment is as true and piercing as Libeskind's most well-known structures. Building designers from all around the world understand the true importance of architecture. It is much more than just a physical aspect, every single building serves an understated purpose. Above all else, buildings bring a sense of order and usefulness to this wild world. New Republic Architects, based in El Paso, Texas, offers design assistance to individuals in the Southwest region.

Why Design Matters

Whether designing a home or an enormous business complex, one thing is always true. The building designers working on the job must hold a sense of wonder close. The finished product is much more than a simple building. It will become a home, a livelihood, a place of comfort. That's the true magic and beauty of architecture.

Consider the Building Designer

The language of design is one that may seem like just lines to the layperson but a building designer sees it as a beautiful piece of music. With each line drawn, the designer brings the final product closer to life. Buildings are the most common works of art. They surround us and give us a place to live or work.

Building designers can use their skills and abilities for a variety of reasons. First, a designer can help bring a dream to life. Say you're thinking about opening a shopping center. A building designer will be able to take your hopes and dreams, translating them from your mind and words onto paper. That paper will then go on to have a life of its own.

It may sound simple but building design is just like any other work of art. It takes time for the final product to see the light of day. But like a beautiful Papilio Machaon butterfly taking to the skies once it breaks free from its chrysalis,  a building design has to spend time metamorphosing in the mind of the building designer. The idea and design can be seen as the caterpillar, the building process can be seen as the chrysalis while the final construction can be the beautiful butterfly. As far as metaphors go, this one might be a bit derivative but it's apt in this situation. If you're in the El Paso area and you require design assistance, New Republic Architects can help. Contact us today.

How Interior Design Can Affect Your Employees’ Productivity

Interior design goes far beyond aesthetic appeal. If you own a company, you’ve probably put a lot of thought into your business’ marketing, finances, and characteristics that make it unique compared to other businesses. But how much thought have you put into the interior design of the building your company resides in? If your answer isn’t much, you should give it more thought. Interior design has a profound effect on the productivity of your employees. Here’s how.

The Psychology Behind Workplace Productivity

There are a lot of factors that come into play for productivity. One of the biggest things that hinder productivity is cognitive overload. Cognitive overload happens when there are too many distractions that deter people from being productive, creative, and focused. Also, using fluorescent lighting as opposed to natural lighting, poor air quality, and offices that isolate rather than bring together can also hinder productivity. You’ll want to be sure you have a building that is strategically designed to aid in productivity, including the interior design.

How Interior Design Can Improve Productivity

The environment we’re in can directly affect our moods, which, like you’ve probably already guessed, affects our productivity. Nowadays, the trend (which shows no signs of going away anytime soon) is to have an open layout with plenty of natural lighting. Gone are the days of cubicles, closed doors, and desks facing your supervisor. Now, it’s all about collaboration, creativity, and teamwork—and you want an office with the proper interior design to make it as so.

Interior design can affect your employees’ productivity by:

• Its color: There is countless research conducted that says color affects our moods, so you want to be sure you paint your walls colors that will affect your employees’ moods positively. Good colors to choose from include blue, which enhances productive, green, which serves as a mood calmer, and yellow, which promotes optimism.

• Open floor plan: When employees feel closed off, pushed in a corner, or placed in a spot that could feel like punishment, they’re less productive. You’ll want to opt for a more open floor plan that allows your employees to collaborate without feeling like they’re being spied on the entire time they’re in the office.

• Lighting: When you hire architects to design your office building, be sure to include a lot of windows for natural light. Natural light can help to positively stimulate your employees’ moods and can even help them sleep better at night!

It’s All in the Architecture

If you’re looking to design new office space for your company, look no further than New Republic Architects. Call us today to learn more about our architecture and interior design services!

Local Architecture Firms Help The Community Thrive

Design and architecture are important for society to thrive positively. Whether you're looking to build a new shopping center or your dream home, you need to first seek out local architecture firms. This way, you can be assured in knowing that the design will accentuate all you desire, leading to a finished product you will be proud of for many years to come. Local architecture firms have a stake in helping the community thrive through architecture. New Republic Architects is such a firm. We are devoted to making El Paso and the surrounding areas as beautiful and useful as possible. Here's how local architecture firms can help you succeed.

Starting Off Small

Not all architectural jobs have to be enormous buildings or sprawling governmental estates. Local architecture firms can aid individuals on small-scale projects as well. Most firms, for instance, offer interior design services. If your home or small office isn't as conductive as you'd like it to be, it may be time to reconsider the interior design.

Interior design allows for buildings to make the most use of the space they are allotted. Say your small office has become cramped. Employees and clients feel uncomfortable within the walls of your office. Local architecture firms want the city to thrive and we understand the necessity of concise and beautiful interior design. We're also aware of the important role all types of design plays in society. When an office has a beautifully designed interior, all those who enter it will feel comfortable and at peace. This is necessary for businesses to thrive!

Let's Take On The Bigger Projects

Let's think outside the interior. In fact, let's think about the entire structure. Architecture and design make use of all the aspects of a building. From the interior to the exterior to the materials used, everything must work together to craft a result that's beautiful and useful. If you're considering a large project—perhaps a multi-store shopping center, a mixed-use building, or even a mansion—local architecture firms will be the best bet for the job. Since they're local, they understand the needs and wants of the city and of the client as well.

In addition, local architecture firms offer peace of mind to clients. Since these firms are local, there will be no issues with reaching the company and speaking to the team if something goes wrong or if the client is looking for answers and guidance. This reliability, in addition to a devotion to improving the city, is what makes New Republic Architecture the firm you should choose! Contact us today.