A few weeks can make a big difference in the appearance of a house under construction. The roof structure was almost complete during the first week of August.

Despite the rain, by the month’s third week the roof was on, the structural insulated panels were wrapped, the porch floors were poured, and the windows and doors were being installed.

Now that the form of the house is visible, you can really tell how it relates to its neighbors and Way Park in the foreground. From the outset, our goal was to blend into the historical neighborhood context, which will become more apparent as the siding goes up and the porches get built. Expect to see a welcoming front porch and a comfortable screen porch on the rear in the weeks to come.

This project will be Energy Star Certified and incorporates many sustainable practices:

Structural Insulated Panels: Prefabricated, minimal wood usage, little job-site waste, highly insulative, and very ‘tight’ in terms of drafts

Insulated Concrete Forms: Highly insulative, minimal labor, no organic materials (no mold)

Radon Ventilation

Energy efficient appliances

Energy efficient lighting

Spray foam / Cellulose ceiling insulation for R-50

High performance windows

Properly sized overhangs maximize solar gain in winter and block excessive gain in the summer

Natural ventilation

Central daylight shaft to minimize daytime usage of electric lights

Window placement considers views, glare, and cross-ventilation

Low-flow toilets

Air-to-Air heat pump

Whole house ventilation

Much of the site will be planted with native species

During construction, we have been working with the Owners and Northfield Construction to make final finish selections, handle small changes, address unforseen soil conditions, add detail where needed for construction, track the Energy Star requirements, and locate switches and receptacles.