Bradford Construction recently completed a large steel and woodworking project at the CAS (California Academy of Science) We were hired to work in conjunction with Thinc Design out of New York to help finalize the design and build all of the animal enclosures in the large glass “Bola” at the Academy.

Not wanting to work with true Zebrawood which is an endangered rare wood, Bradford Construction opted to work with Reconstituted Zebrawood which uses Obeche, or Certified Italian Poplar, and stains it to match the Zebrawood design. It is a beautiful option to true Zebrawood.

Once the right veneer was chosen to match all the other elements at the Academy, Bradford Construction then focused its attention on the bending and powder coating of all of the support poles and Bamboo sticks. The poles are made of ¼” steel pipe, bent by hand and powder coated at NRI Powder coating. All of the Bamboo “Sticks” are bamboo veneer from Smith & Fong, that were cut down and riveted into place.

The overall desire was to create an environment that simulated walking through tall grasses, wild vines, thick over brush and wildlife and be able to view the animals in the true environment. The CAS is an absolute wonder to visit!

When is a design finished? William De Kooning said of finishing a painting, “There is really no end, I just stop.” So if there is no end to a design how are we to know when to stop designing and start building?

You first need to ask yourself one question, “Am I building this house for today or a future scenario?” Are you building this structure for the immediate use that will be upgraded or sold within 2-5 years, or is this a permanent change? Steven Whitney of Steven Whitney, Architect, helps guide his clients through this decision process to avoid having them getting stuck and unable to finalize plans and move into construction.  Steven and I discussed this topic and our suggestions are summarized below.

If you are going to build a home and have the two to five year vision, there is a definitive decision making process that you must undertake to make sure that you make smart choices. It’s wise to consult a realtor for cost evaluation, you will want to use future value estimating to make sure that you don’t spend too much on the project and “over build”, and you will want to look at immediate trends with the realtor to know what the future buyer of your property will be looking for.

Find a good realtor that is able to give you future values on a remodeled project. My firm, Bradford Construction a construction firm based in San Francisco, is able to walk through properties, many times prior to the close of escrow, and talk about various construction options and their immediate cost impact. Closing costs, carrying costs, and construction costs should be balanced against future value and the real estate market trend. If the project pencils out, then it is time to commit to a particular scope of work and hire your architect. With the architect in place, if the project is to address a two to five year vision, you will want to evaluate architectural trends and move quickly through the design, because it is a short term investment and most likely your needs will be different beyond your five year vision.  The main point is to not over think the design but instead respond to the goals within the timeframe of your planned use of the house, incorporating feedback from the realtor and construction company into the design.

If this is your “dream home”, the house that you believe that you will live in for the rest of your life, your decision making process will be very different. The return on investment is much less of a factor, because most likely you won’t be selling, and the house itself is your reward. Look at your long term goals and needs. Make a list of wants and desires. If you are moving into retirement you will want to think about functionality and access. If there are many floor levels, an elevator and perhaps assisted living with separate quarters should be considered.  Or maybe the goal is a professional kitchen or a rooftop hot tub. Whatever it maybe you should reach for what you want — this is your dream – but work with an architect to clarify the scope of work and articulate the design, and a construction firm to have it built skillfully for years of use and enjoyment.

EcoResign by 3Form:

Bradford Construction has used 3Form “eco-resin” on a number of projects. The most recent is the California Academy of Science. We developed, designed and built the Chameleon enclosures at the new Academy in Golden Gate Park. The 3Form “eco-resin” is a great product and it comes in many different designs. We choose the “Ting Ting” with natural reeds cast inside to help screen the Chameleons from one another. It is easy to use, and incredibly strong. Visit 3-Form at www.3-Form.com .