PK Studios’ Interior Design Department is pleased to announce that their recently completed hospice project has earned a LEED Silver Rating.
This building is the first LEED project in Lehigh Acres and is the fifth in Lee County with such a distinction.  The client, Hope Healthcare Services is very pleased with the project and plans to use many of the solutions developed during the design process as new standards for their future projects.
Both PK Studios interior designers on this project are LEED Certified …

We are jumping out of our skin today and finally ready to announce the launch of PK Solar, Inc. PK Solar will specialize in the design and installation of innovative solar products in Southwest Florida and beyond.
How did we get here?
The idea of solar energy is not new. Actually, we’re jumping on the proverbial ‘bandwagon’ of sustainable design. But we’re doing it with some pretty neat products.
About 6 months ago, the idea of a developing a solar carport prototype hit us. Why a carport?

Florida is famous not only for the …

Denise Couture Cowell, ASID, CAPS, LEED AP

PK Studios is pleased to announce that three of our colleagues have just received their LEED AP certification!  Congratulations to Denise Couture Cowell, ASID, CAPS, LEED AP; Judith Da Rocha, LEED AP; and Edie O’Reilly, ASID, LEED AP. That means our entire Interior Design studio is now fully accreditted under LEED!
 
LEED certification is a recognition that a construction project or building can attain by utilizing environmentally friendly building practices during construction or remodeling. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The U.S. Green Building …

LEED used to be just a buzz word. Most outside the stakeholder industries were unaware and unfamiliar with its requirements and benefits. LEED for Existing Buildings (now Green Building Operations & Maintenance) was elusive, even to those intimately involved in design & construction.
All of that is changing now.
According to “The Cost Efficacy of Building Green,” a piece authored by Debra Hazel at GlobeSt.com, developers and property managers are looking at any and all ways to make their existing portfolio stand out from the pack.
One unique way is pursuing LEED certification.
Debra …

Ever wonder how a solar panel comes to life? Check out this video from the Discovery Channel:

The most recent update from the USGBC (United States Green Building Council) calls for the industry to closely monitor the implementation of the Economic Recovery Plan, recently signed into law by President Obama.
The USGBC is marketing itself, and rightfully so, as a “resource for you to learn how to be a  part of our nation’s recovery.” With staggering amounts of money being invested in public projects, “professionals in every sector of the green building industry are well-positioned to play a part in the implementation of the federal stimulus plan.” According to …

In these challenging times, firms are seeking to go green in practice in order to gain a competitive edge. It involves more than just plugging green materials into a design. The entire design process must be altered. This can be achieved by working with mechanical engineers from the onset of design. If firms are truly dedicated to “greening” their practice, it will require the restructuring of the design process and the firm’s culture.
Greening your design culture to gain a competitive edge

Having been recently involved with the design of multiple “CCRCs” (Continuing Care Retirement Communities) in Southwest Florida, our team was excited to see a recent article in the Dallas Morning News on senior living. According to the article, companies that developing senior living housing are turning more frequently to architects who can provide environmentally-sensitive design – senior living that consumes less natural and man-made resources, preserves the natural habitat, and enhances the indoor quality of living.
The result? Long-term savings for owners, healthier living environments for residents, and a great marketing …