In the old days before modern earthmoving equipment and heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, it was
necessary to construct buildings that took advantage of breezes,
natural weather patterns, the lay of the land, and the path of
the sun. We can resurrect some very simple principles from the
archives of our collective building history and reuse them to
make more sustainable buildings. These principles fall under the
category of common sense and as long as they are applied
properly, they should not add to the cost of your hospital. Here
are some things to consider when choosing a site for your new
veterinary clinic that Mark Hafen, AIA, of Animal Arts shared
during the Hospital Design Conference at CVC Kansas City.
Building orientation. This means facing the building so that the
long sides are exposed to the north and south and the short
sides are exposed to the east and west. This is a tried and true
guideline that will ultimately have a dramatic effect on your
energy costs. Orienting a bu