Architecture
Licensed to practice architecture in nine states, including Florida and New York, MZA provides architectural design or design-build services on new projects as well as projects involving renovation or site restoration. MZA provides comprehensive project planning services, including feasibility studies, scheduling, and cost estimating services.
In addition to AIA, the American Institute of Architects, MZA participates in numerous associations related to architectural design and buildings, including the following:
- NIBS, the National Institute of Building Sciences;
- BOMA, the Building Owners and Managers Association;
- AFE, the Association of Facilities Engineering;
- CSI, the Construction Specifications Institute; and,
- ICC, the International Code Council.
Architectural Design
MZA provides complete architectural design services including healthy building design and sustainable building design. MZA's services include site design ranging from residential to commercial to industrial settings.
In looking for a building and site solution for a new manufacturing process, MZA seeks the most cost-effective alternative for the client. To this end, Life Cycle Costing techniques are used to optimize the trade-offs between first costs and operating costs to arrive at a facility design that has the lowest possible cost of operation. It may be that an increase in initial investment can result in a lower operating cost. Life Cycle Costing can determine whether the decreased operating costs offset the increased first cost. Architectural design projects involve this kind of decision-making in evaluating a number of conditions such as site development costs, existing building suitability, maintenance costs, energy costs, operating costs, and staffing costs.
MZA serves on the Guidelines for Total Building Commissioning Committee jointly sponsored by NIBS, the National Institute of Building Sciences and ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers.
Design-Build Services
In order to satisfy the "fast track" requirements of a project, MZA provides design-build services, either as architect/construction manager or as architect collaborating with the client's contractor.
Land Use Planning
An industrial project can trigger a number of local and state land use regulations. MZA has hands-on experience with land use regulations and the operation of planning boards, zoning boards of appeals, and other land use control entities. The firm's experience includes long term service on a local planning board both as member and chairman, experience on a county planning staff, as planning and zoning consultant to town and village governments, and as the applicant seeking planning and zoning approvals.
Renovation and Site Restoration
Site restoration projects often involve construction defect problems or contamination problems, such as mold resulting from moisture intrusion. Complementing our architectural engineering capabilities, MZA is nationally recognized for our expertise in construction/mechanical defect analysis, indoor environmental quality, mold/moisture dynamics, and asbestos remediation. MZA provides comprehensive investigative, design, and support services that are needed to provide permanent solutions to problems related to indoor air quality, mold, building design, construction and facility management.
In conjunction with The Environmental Institute in Atlanta, GA, MZA has developed and regularly instructs a course in Mold Assessment and Remediation that attracts building owners and facility managers from across the United States. MZA is the author of "Mold and Moisture Damage in Building Envelopes" in the Whole Building Design Guide, published by NIBS, the National Institute of Building Sciences.
Imaging and Presentation
MZA has extensive in-house Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) and graphics capabilities to generate architectural and engineering drawings and illustrations. Our studios include state of the art plotting capabilities to generate standard as well as large-scale drawings.
MZA produces large-scale display graphics for applications such as site development or redevelopment projects, which often incorporate aerial photogrammetry and digital imaging.
MZA maintains its own video and animation studio for pre-production planning, production, and post-production, including dubbing and nonlinear editing of videos and interactive DVDs. MZA creates videos and 3-D computer animation pieces for architectural presentations as well as commercial real estate promotional purposes.
