Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects PC Expands Management Structure

July 2008 - Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects PC announced the promotion of Timothy. J. Cassidy, PhD, to the status of Associate. Cassidy brings the total of Associates to six.

"Timothy is a dedicated and talented designer who shares the firm's philosophy of providing exceptional design services to our clients," says Kerry Haber, a principal with the firm. "By expanding our 'leadership umbrella' we can continue to focus on what is most important to us – our clients."

Cassidy joined the firm in October 2006 as a Senior Project Director. He graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture and completed his education with a Master of Architecture, a Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture and a Certificate in Historic Preservation from Texas A&M University. He is a Registered Landscape Architect (RLA), a Certified Planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and a Certified Development, Design and Construction Professional (CDP) with the International Council of Shopping Centers. In addition, Cassidy is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the American Planning Association (APA), the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP), and he is an Associate Member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

“Timothy’s expertise in urban planning and design has been a real benefit to our clients. His contributions since starting with the firm have had a direct effect on the internal and external operations of the Firm,” comments Haber. “He is a great mentor for our junior staff members and has gained an immense amount of respect from his peers and our clients. It was only logical to make him a part of the leadership of the firm,” added Haber.

As an Associate of Bernardon Haber Holloway, Cassidy will continue to expand the firm’s engagement with projects which have an urban, community or neighborhood context where people have the opportunity to live, shop, work and play. These include projects such as Town Centers, Mixed Use Main Streets (Retail, Residential, Office and Entertainment Centers), Urban Infill Developments, Traditional Neighborhood Developments (TND) and Transit Oriented Developments (TOD). He will also continue the development of the firm’s landscape architecture studio.

Cassidy worked early in his career for Thomas Comitta Associates, Inc., in West Chester, then for Texas A&M University as an Assistant Lecturer. After returning to Pennsylvania to start a family, he worked for Thomas Comitta Associates, Inc. and the Arcus Design Group – Architects, Inc., before coming to Bernardon Haber Holloway.

The Value of Going Green: How High Performance Buildings Improve the Bottom Line 

January 2008 - There is a lot of talk in the industry these days about green buildings, high-performance buildings, sustainable development and LEED certification. So what does it all mean and what value does it bring to a project?

The construction and operation of buildings in the United States account for approximately 40 percent of the country’s energy consumption. The day to day operations alone of heating, cooling and lighting the places where we live, work and play account for nearly two-thirds of the country’s electricity and 16 percent of water usage. Add to that the amount of energy and resources required to produce and transport construction materials every year and it quickly becomes clear why green has become such a hot topic.

The fundamental concept behind green building is to decrease the impact on the natural environment through the conservation of energy and resources. In addition, green design strives to create healthier, more comfortable built environments. Although there are many green initiatives throughout the country, the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program has emerged as a national standard for design, construction and operation of green buildings.

It’s simple to understand why going green is good for the environment, but can it bring some green of a different shade to the bottom line? Although the individual financial benefits may vary, the answer from a lot of companies is, increasingly, yes! Green design can reduce operational costs, improve productivity, improve corporate or brand image and improve marketability.

With ever increasing energy, sewer and water costs, high performance buildings systems pay for themselves faster than ever. Commercial and industrial building operators will spend nearly 200 billion, yes billion, dollars on energy this year. Do you think there might be some potential cost savings in there? With numbers like that, even main stream retail giants like JCPenney are going green. Since starting their conservation initiatives in 2001, JCPenney has saved over 54 million dollars in energy costs.

Last year, health related decreases in worker productivity cost U.S. businesses 225 billion dollars. Through improved indoor air and light quality, as well as increased thermal comfort, green design can help improve productivity. Productivity gains for green buildings have been studied extensively and these studies consistently conclude that green design could return between 5 to 10 percent improvement in workforce productivity. Consider for a moment an average workforce compensation of $78,000. An average of 250 rental square feet per person would result in workforce costs of $312 per square foot. If workforce performance from going green were to be improved by 5 to 10 percent, this would result in an average gain of between $16/SF and $31/SF respectively. In other words, these productivity gains would likely pay for the cost of renting a new or improved green facility.

Consumer spending constitutes 70 percent of the U.S. economy. Consumers are increasingly interested in corporate brands that are green. A green building is one of the most powerful statements a business can make to the public about its environmental values. Whether it is national retailers such as JCPenney, Kohl’s, Office Depot and L.L. Bean, or corporate leaders such as Microsoft and Toyota, businesses across the country are electing to construct green buildings.

At Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects PC, helping our clients go green is part of our daily practice. Currently, one of our most ambitious green projects in the region is for Dansko, Inc., an international leader in the footwear industry headquartered in West Grove, Pennsylvania. Dansko is pursuing LEED Gold certification for their new 80,000 square foot office and retail facility.

No matter what type of building project you’re contemplating, now more than ever there is real value to going green—the environment will reap the benefits and so will your bottom line.

About the Author: Timothy Cassidy , PhD, RLA, AICP, ASLA, Assoc. AIA, is a Senior Project Director with Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects. As an Architectural and Urban Designer, Landscape Architect, and Certified Planner, Tim’s body of professional knowledge spans the full breadth of the built and natural environment. .