Into the 21st Century

In contemporary times, building construction has been divided into two different professionals -- the Design Team and the Construction Team. Cost, economy and efficiency have become paramount driving forces in the construction industry today.

Division of Labor:
Over the years, building construction has become increasingly specialized with more and more professions adding to the value and efficiency of the overall building design. Today rapid advances in technology coerce the collaboration of a vast number of professionals in the process of construction. This need is also magnified by the fact that today the construction process is governed by well-defined safety and performance codes. Building codes are a relatively recent phenomenon and highlight the need to standardize the whole process. Research laboratories and private and public agencies test and evaluate each building material being used.

A World of Contrasts:
The modern world of construction is full of contrasts -- at one end of the continuum is the mainstream construction process which relies heavily on energy for its sustainence, and at the other is solar passive or climatically responsive building design that is based on protecting the natural resources to varying degrees. Regionally, the contrast is between the "developing" and the "developed" world. The first uses a high level of technological expertise in its building process, while in the developing world, construction is still labor intensive and not very sophisticated.

Building Types:
A feature of this era is the need for mass housing all over the globe. In the developed as well as the developing world, there is an imminent need for creating strategies for mass housing for the low income and middle income groups. The challenge is the provision of mass housing quickly and in large numbers.

Some buildings are becoming increasingly complex. Some illustrations are hospitals, entertainment centers and transportation facilities like airports.

A unique building type is now becoming popular in North America -- Funeral Homes. These buildings are developing their own vocabulary and demands on the built environment. Funeral homes are becoming good business due to the aging baby boomers. To see some designed funeral homes, click here.

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