On time, on budget, and high quality. Every company claims they can achieve those three goals, or at the very least, two of them. But, today’s trends in aesthetics are bringing the desire for all three closer to reality.
Apple helped usher in the “less is more” minimalist approach to product design and marketing. The all white background with an Apple logo is now iconic. Take a bite and you’re hooked. This trend has extended beyond technology advertising and the design of electronics. It has moved into nearly every industry – construction included. The minimalist trend is here and it’s welcoming news for a construction industry that is constantly in search of ways to keep prices down while maintaining a high standard.
The auto industry is a great parallel to a building. If we were to look at a luxury car make vs. it’s less expensive counterpart produced by the same company, we’d find that the exterior and interior finishes differ, but the “guts” of the vehicle – the drivetrain – are very similar, if not identical. And while the vast majority of a vehicles cost is derived from the production and engineering of the guts, the aesthetics of the vehicle are what draws our eyes, and our wallets.
This mirrors expectations in buildings. Customers assume a trusted brand is going to engineer and construct a building that is structurally sound. Their decision criteria now can be reduced to a few factors; one of which is aesthetics. Fortunately, for developers, architects, and general contractors, the minimalist approach is both trendy and affordable.
However, trends inevitably change. This is fine for purchasing cars as new body designs and features are released every few years. For constructing a building that is expected to have a useful life of 50+ years, this is a challenge. What’s perceived as modern today is outdated in less than a decade – long before any significant depreciation has taken place. So what can you do about it?
- Capitalize on the minimalist trend. Modern minimalist designs for new builds, particularly interior designs, are cost effective.
- Re-skin the exterior. Old trends aren’t attractive. New buildings aren’t cheap. Re-skinning a building will not only give it a modern look, it could help save on energy costs as well.
- Invest in the core. According to RS Means, exterior and interior finishes on a 4-7 story hotel only accounts for about 18% of the overall cost of the materials. Smart money would invest heavily in creating a long standing, energy efficient building while utilizing modern, updatable, finishes.
