Integrating Modular Wall Systems in Healthcare Settings

Modular wall systems have long been available in workplace solutions for commercial office and retail facilities, and now these systems are becoming more widely used in healthcare settings because of shorter building times, sustainable building practices, and flexibility. In the end, these reasons alone cannot only save health systems time and money but may also […]

Coming Soon to the Louisville Zoo

New Kentucky Trails Exhibit Seeks to Redefine Zoo Experience Continuing the Louisville Zoo’s mission to “Better the Bond Between People and our Planet,” a new experience is beginning to take shape. Together with international zoological consultants CLR Design, Schmidt Associates is excited to play a major role in its development. Introducing Kentucky Trails Design is […]

What is a WELL Building?

For years, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and has been the primary standard against which building projects have been measured. You may own, operate, or work in a LEED-certified facility. If not, you likely frequent one on a regular basis. LEED certification continues to be well respected and widely sought after. However, it […]

6 Ways to Reuse and Recycle in Your Workplace

At Schmidt Associates, sustainability is something we strive for in each architecture and engineering project we do. We work with clients to implement designs that are energy efficient, use renewable energy sources, gain LEED certification if desired, or even reuse existing structures and materials when possible. This focus on sustainability is, in part, why we […]

Top 6 Things to Know when Considering Adaptive Reuse

We have all heard the real estate mantra “Location, location, location!” However, great location does not also lead to perfect buildings. In fact, oftentimes the least perfect building is situated right on the site you want. And while some may consider a total demolition and rebuild as the only option, there are oftentimes a lot […]

Form, Function, and Funds: The Next Wave of Sustainability

When it comes to sustainable design, perhaps sustaining the attention of consumers is as important as the design itself. While sustainability may be written off as one of many “green trends”, it plays an enormous role in shaping how our future looks – both from the buildings we inhabit to the overall planet we live […]

The Value of Adaptive Reuse

To understand the importance of adaptive reuse, one must first appreciate the value of old buildings and architecture. While it can feel “progressive” to tear down the old in order to make room for the new, adaptive reuse defines progress differently. Rather than creating a narrow vision that imagines possibilities with a blank slate, reuse […]

Why Is Adaptive Reuse Important in Today’s World?

To understand the importance of adaptive reuse, one must first appreciate the value of old buildings and architecture. While it can feel “progressive” to tear down the old in order to make room for the new, adaptive reuse defines progress differently. Rather than creating a narrow vision that imagines possibilities with a blank slate, reuse […]

LEED Certification 101

 Better buildings! It’s the goal of the LEED Certification rating system. As such, each new version raises the bar; challenging owners, designers, building managers, manufacturers, and contractors to continually improve. One example of a higher standard is LEED version 4. Referencing ASHRAE 90.1-2010, it is an energy code more stringent than Indiana’s current energy code. High […]

What is VRF?

VRF (variable refrigerant flow) is a sophisticated HVAC technology. Invented around 30 years ago, this is known as the “Rolls Royce” of air conditioning systems. The use of the VRF mechanical system can assist in achieving LEED certification for facilities. The basic elements of VRF systems are: Refrigerant liquid is used as the cooling/heating medium, […]