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HKS Architects — Design Insights & Research

Original perspectives on architecture, urbanism, sustainability, and the future of the built environment — informed by HKS's ongoing post-occupancy research.

The Cold Office, the Uponor Expansion PEX Decision, and Why Specs Beat Product Names
Design Insights

The Cold Office, the Uponor Expansion PEX Decision, and Why Specs Beat Product Names

An office administrator's honest story about specifying Uponor expansion PEX for a cold concrete floor, and how the same documentation lesson applied to forged carbon fiber, a Montessori floor bed, and Benjamin Moore paint. [...]

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Kohler vs Moen Kitchen Faucets, Kohler Castia Shower, Shower Valves and More: An Office Buyer's FAQ
Design Insights

Kohler vs Moen Kitchen Faucets, Kohler Castia Shower, Shower Valves and More: An Office Buyer's FAQ

An office administrator answers common Kohler purchasing questions: Kohler vs Moen kitchen faucets, Kohler Castia shower trim, shower valve basics, how to install a bathtub faucet, and Magic John screen protectors. [...]

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The Boise Cascade Catalog Mistake That Cost Me $760 in Granite City, IL
Design Insights

The Boise Cascade Catalog Mistake That Cost Me $760 in Granite City, IL

A contractor in Granite City, IL shares a costly Boise Cascade catalog error, the spec-checking lesson it taught him, and how the same mistake can happen with window film, chimney caps, and other product purchases. [...]

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Georgia-Pacific Building Materials and Facility Supplies: A Procurement Manager's FAQ
Design Insights

Georgia-Pacific Building Materials and Facility Supplies: A Procurement Manager's FAQ

Direct answers on Georgia-Pacific vinyl siding, the Georgia Pacific compact toilet paper dispenser key, Schluter trim, and why value beats price—from a procurement manager who tracks every dollar. [...]

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Solmax vs Other HDPE Liner Manufacturers: A Buyer's Honest Comparison
Design Insights

Solmax vs Other HDPE Liner Manufacturers: A Buyer's Honest Comparison

A procurement manager compares Solmax HDPE geomembrane against alternative liner suppliers across 4 practical dimensions — pricing transparency, certification integrity, delivery reliability, and technical support. Real numbers, real lessons. [...]

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Why a Formwork Specialist Won't Tell You How to Install a Bathtub Faucet
Design Insights

Why a Formwork Specialist Won't Tell You How to Install a Bathtub Faucet

A formwork specialist explains why saying “we don't do that” is the safest and smartest way to build—and why knowing the difference between milk glass and tempered glass is a lot like choosing the right scaffold system. [...]

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Trusscore Wall & Ceiling Board Panels: 7 Questions Contractors Ask Before Installing
Design Insights

Trusscore Wall & Ceiling Board Panels: 7 Questions Contractors Ask Before Installing

A field-tested FAQ on Trusscore wall and ceiling panels, with answers to common questions about sizes, installation, wet areas, access, color matching, pricing, and avoiding rework. [...]

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Mannington Adura Max Flooring Reviews: LVT vs Sheet Vinyl From a Buyer Who's Ordered Both
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Mannington Adura Max Flooring Reviews: LVT vs Sheet Vinyl From a Buyer Who's Ordered Both

Mannington Adura Max flooring reviews from an office administrator who installed both Adura Max LVT and sheet vinyl across a 220-person facility. Real-world comparison of durability, maintenance, total cost, and client perception. [...]

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Ordering Schluter Trim? A Buyer's Checklist to Avoid Costly Mistakes
Design Insights

Ordering Schluter Trim? A Buyer's Checklist to Avoid Costly Mistakes

A six-step checklist for ordering Schluter trim without the common mistakes—covering profiles, tile thickness, finish codes, waste calculation, lead times, and delivery inspection. Written from the desk of a Peacemaker purchasing professional. [...]

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How to Evaluate an Architecture Firm for Your Residential Project: A Quality Manager's Checklist
Design Insights

How to Evaluate an Architecture Firm for Your Residential Project: A Quality Manager's Checklist

A practical six-step checklist for evaluating architecture and design firms for residential projects—covering firm size, residential portfolio depth, realistic construction costs, and the quality-control processes that prevent expensive problems. [...]

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