Tomorrow's Project by HunterDouglas Contract
Tomorrow's Project is a discussion platform for prominent architects and designers to voice their predictions on the future of design. Every other week, we speak to design leaders who are developing ideas for smarter ways to live and work that challenge the norms in their sectors: healthcare, education, corporate, retail, and hospitality design.
S. Mark Hebden

Joseph: Describe the breadth of "government design."

Mark: From hospitals to courthouses to federal agency office buildings, the breadth of government design is as broad as private sector design. Each of EwingCole's areas of expertise—Healthcare, Science & Technology, Sports & Recreation, Cultural, Academic and Office Facilities—have been applied to the missions of different government agencies.

Joseph: How have government buildings changed in recent years, and how will increased security and advanced technologies affect their design?

Mark: Government buildings are driven by the mission of the government agency or department. They change in response to the challenges our government must address in our culture and in the world. The increased security and anti-terrorism force protection measures are an obvious example. These issues continue to impact government and public buildings in terms of physical threats like bombing and biochemical threats. Another example is the need for secure communications and its associated technologies, specific to the classified missions of government agencies.

Joseph: Tell us about a progressive or unusual project that you recently completed?

Mark: Another unique factor when designing government buildings are the requirements and processes through which building projects are implemented. Government building designs are based on standards, criteria and guidelines specific to the mission. The intent of these standards is to document and implement "best practices" and to achieve consistency and efficiency, not reinvent the wheel for each building. Because design and construction industry practices are constantly evolving, the challenge is to balance these standards with innovation.

The screening facility for the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia is an example of a unique facility-type, developed in response to the need for increased security and anti-terrorism measures. Public buildings like the Federal Reserve Banks are vulnerable to vehicle and package bombs. This facility separates delivery screening to an area across the street in downtown Philadelphia to reduce building occupants' exposure to potential threats.

The master plan for C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and the design and construction of the C2/CNT East facility for the Army are both aimed at developing the most advanced technologies to support our war fighters across the globe. As a result, this facility combines a high demand for satellite connectivity and security with electronic and communications technology, which drives a significant cooling load. A unique hybrid geothermal system was used to meet the demands of these mission-driven loads, while meeting sustainability and energy efficiency requirements.

Joseph: What design trends are you seeing within the spaces?

Mark: Because the government is the largest owner of building assets, and the government ownership is often well beyond a 50 year life span, sustainability and energy efficiency continue to grow as a driver of change in the application of technology in government buildings.

Government buildings, many now considered historic, were built under different criteria and designed during completely different eras of energy cost and use. There is an ongoing challenge to extend the life of these existing government buildings, not only in terms of adapting for energy efficiency, but also in adapting for new functions that were never considered as part of the original design.

As the government competes with the private sector and academia for the best minds, it becomes critical to convert these existing buildings into workplaces that will help attract the next generation of government workers.

Joseph: Tell us something unusual about yourself.

Mark: I enjoy playing the saxophone but don't get enough time to play except at services at our church.

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Innovation Poll
How will longer work hours affect corporate interior design in the coming years?
  1. Work spaces will be designed to be more comfortable
  2. More separate work and social spaces will be designed
  3. Office floor plans will continue to open up to allow for conversation
  4. Public spaces like boardrooms will become more important with telecommuting
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