Even well-designed projects fail inspection — not because of poor design, but because of misinformation. Every year, developers lose weeks and thousands of dollars to redesigns caused by outdated fire-code assumptions. Smoke alarms alone, sprinkler miscoordination, and missed rated walls can derail your project before the first inspection. Prevent costly redesigns — talk with our […]
Category Archives: Brand Standards & Prototypes
Townhome Design Trends 2025: Efficient, Affordable, Fast
The New Truth About Townhomes Townhomes are no longer a niche product—they’re today’s answer to affordability and density. But as demand rises, so do the risks: higher insurance premiums, tighter lots, and stricter codes make design decisions more critical than ever. Let’s Design Your Next Townhome Project Demand Is Rising—So Are the Challenges According […]
Grab Bars Now Required in All Showers? Here’s What NFPA 101 Says
A National Code Shift Is Already Underway A quiet—but essential—code update is catching design teams by surprise. NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) now requires grab bars in all tubs and showers—not just ADA units. This change is already being enforced in several states and is expected to spread nationwide. If you’re designing hotels or apartments, this could impact your […]
Streamlining Permits to Save Time & Money
What if you could cut weeks off your project schedule, just by getting your permit approved on the first pass? Permitting delays increase costs, add risk to your project, and make it harder to stay on schedule. Let’s Talk Permit Strategy Avoid Costly Resubmissions Projects that require 2–3 resubmissions can see their timelines increase by […]
2023 Insights: Dual-Brand Hotels 101
A dual-brand offers developers the option of doubling up offerings at a single property. Hotel developers are looking for a way to attract new customers while cutting costs; a dual-brand hotel would be the right option for your next hotel project. Read on. Home2 Suites & Tru – Milwaukee, WI One of the most appealing parts […]
BASE4 | Here’s what we did in 2022!
From ranking in the Top 110 Architecture/Engineering Firms of 2022 to helping developers build some incredible projects—BASE4 is excited about a great year. Thank you to all the developers, builders, vendors, and clients for partnering with BASE4, your trusted design partner! We at BASE4 believe in a PRODUCT mindset—bringing standardization and manufacturing principles to an outdated system. We have a […]
2022 Garden Style Apartment Outlook
The construction market is struggling to meet the demand for apartment properties, experiencing some of the lowest vacancy rates in their history. As America’s suburban areas grow due to increased migration from major cities into secondary markets, garden-style apartments have exploded in popularity. What is a Garden-Style Apartment? A garden-style apartment community, sometimes called a low-rise apartment complex, consists […]
Developers: Apartment Fresh Air 101
Providing proper ventilation is a crucial component of multifamily building design due to its effects on occupant health and comfort. Ventilation ties the whole HVAC system together. Without ventilation, there is no way for the indoor air to refresh and re-oxygenate itself. What’s the right set of “lungs” to put in your building? A Breath of […]
Developers: 2022 HVAC System Options
Today we expand on the previous article about HVAC systems and discuss the pros and cons of the three most common ones for multifamily developments. Knowing which system to install can be confusing, so let’s answer some of your questions. It is important to choose the right HVAC system for your project. Picking the wrong HVAC system for […]
Let’s Talk About Three Hotels on One Site
Hotel developers are looking for a way to attract new customers while cutting costs. We have seen it before with dual-branded hotels, but is it possible with three hotels on one site? The answer is “Yes, it is!” The use of the multi-brand strategy has gradually grown in popularity in the U.S. over the past decade. […]