Seth A Leeb Architect

If you’ve been doing research on building your own home, you have likely come across the term “passive house design”. Here is some insight into what this type of design is all about and whether or not it will work for your project, from a leading residential architect in NJ. Firstly, passive house design is about using the principles of efficiency to meaningfully reduce energy needs for heating and cooling in a residence and can be applied to single family homes as well as large buildings. Achieving this is focused on using airtight construction, energy recovery systems, insulation, solar heat management systems and exceptional-quality windows. This is known as passive house design because they are constructed in a way that creates a comfortable living environment without relying extensively on heating and cooling systems that actively use energy. Any House Can Be a Passive House  There is no single type of house that is a passive house, as these design principles can...

The RCA Victor Building, Camden:  Known as the “Nipper Building” as it is crowned with the image of Nipper the dog looking into the horn of a phonograph player, it’s an iconic part of New Jersey’s industrial past. Designed in 1909 by Ballinger and Perrot, it’s a six-story industrial loft structure with a rusticated brick base and brick piers along its length. With massive metal windows that open between the piers headed by cast stone lintels, and walls capped with decorative cornices, it combines beautiful classical elements with industrial design. Rutgers Business School, Piscataway:  Part of the master plan of redesigning Rutgers University, the business school forms the gateway to the Livingston Campus. An L-shaped building, it rises 60 feet to become a massive entranceway for traffic, forming the border between the campus and the local nature preserve. The recipient of the AIA Honor Award from AIA NJ, it is a design that focusses on non-programmable space and the tra...

During the rainy season, New Jersey homeowners are faced with the risk of their home flooding, causing structural damage and the loss of their belongings. According to National Flood Insurance program statistics for 2016, New Jersey homeowners accounted for over 232,000 policies worth $56 billion in flood insurance and received over $6.1 billion in claims payments between 1978 and 2015. With this in mind, it makes sense to incorporate strategies for flood prevention into your home’s architecture. Here are some tips from a  leading architect in NJ . Know if you’re in a high-risk zone:  A great source for information about flooding in your area are the FEMA Flood Zone Maps, which you can access online. These maps use aqua markers to indicate if an area is below the flood marker. Ask your architect to determine your BFE (base flood elevation) and DFE (design flood elevation) to ensure that your house is set at the correct height and according to building codes. Ask f...

A well-designed office space offers companies great returns on their investment in terms of efficiency, productivity and brand representation. Here are some tips from our  commercial architecture team in NJ  for creating an optimal commercial building design. Always maximize natural light:  In the USA, a typical office worker spends around 90% of their waking hours indoors – usually at a workstation in front of a computer screen. This limited exposure to natural light is known to have negative effects on an individual, impacting on their mood, productivity and health. Simply by focusing your design on bringing sunshine and natural light into your space, your employees will be healthier, happier and more productive. Insulate your space:  Good quality insulation is one of the most economical and eco-friendly means to reducing your building’s energy costs. There are several highly-effective insulation options available on the market that are very affordable and...