Durability + Longevity

Mackenzie designs essential facilities with the future in mind. A new or newly renovated facility should be designed to last with minimal fuss, but supporting longevity isn’t always straightforward. Heavy use, occasional abuse, and deferred maintained are realities for public projects that must be anticipated and addressed in facility design.

Our design team integrates materials that are cost-effective, durable, easily maintained, and locally sourced. Materials should be easy to service and, when necessary, replace. In aggregate, these issues require a great deal of forethought and planning.

The ease of use of systems in the facility is another important factor for the long-term success of the facility. Studies have shown that complicated heating, ventilating, and cooling systems may not achieve the designed efficiencies if occupants override settings, or do not understand how they are intended to perform. The following are three key approaches for successful early design and decision making:

ƒ Use systems whose operation is thoroughly understood by the crew, and which have easily available replacement parts that can be locally serviced.

ƒ When choosing materials, assess their projected longevity and long-term maintenance needs.

ƒ Strike an intentional balance between aesthetics and durability, so the facility displays embodies the vision while supporting cost-effective and efficient operations.