Living in a material world: deconstructing building trends on Long Island | Long Island Business News

Long Island’s neighborhoods have been shaped by its many residents, whose lives have all contributed to the rich history of our area. Anchoring its vibrant communities is a sense of place provided by the Island’s towns and villages—a diverse array of homes, stores, offices and countless other buildings, each of which become indelible parts of our memories with their own, unique stories.

Naturally, as trends in architectural design and construction proliferate, the way we view our communities begins to change. “We are an island that was built out of gray-colored CMU blocks, brick, concrete and stucco,” says Alex Lipsky, president of Lipsky Construction Management in Bayport.

The rising demand for modernized construction has influenced local support for building updates. “Today, landlords and their architects are striving to push planning boards’ limits on bold colors and high-end finishes,” Lipsky says.

Often, the components of older structures simply reach the end of their life cycle, and replacing them with modern, upgraded materials is considered a more practical approach.

“Wood exterior trim, wood decking and other wood products are being replaced more and more with composite products due to their longevity,” explains Gina Farese, CEO and president of Marcor Construction in West Babylon. “Re-roofing over existing roofs [is becoming] less and less appealing and full roofing systems, including code-required drip edge, ice and water shields and cap fasteners are becoming more commonly used,” she adds.

In recent years, supply chain disruptions have also prompted changes in material preferences and construction methods. “The COVID material disruptions changed the industry… and material lead times are absolutely a concern,” says Lipsky. “In the times of one-day shipping for household products, we still have lead times for critical building components that take 10 months to be delivered to the jobsite.”

Many in the industry echo these concerns. “We are being hit with price increases so often, it is hard to hold a number for more than 30-60 days on many products, so homeowners have less time to make a decision without it affecting the cost of the project,” Farese says.

However, the adaptive innovations spurred by the disruptions represent a silver lining for some. “We have collaborated with contractors to minimize waste by using precision cutting methods and refined our design to optimize material usage,” says Michael Mark, principal and president of Mark Design Studios in Hicksville.

Additionally, approaches used in construction that minimize cost have helped to defend projects from price hikes. “Using construction methods that require fewer materials, such as thin-shell concrete structures and SIPs (structural insulated panels) are also gaining prominence in the industry,” adds Mark.

As work-from-home began to wane and employees slowly returned to the office, commercial spaces of all types have become candidates for architectural makeovers.

“It doesn’t matter if it is commercial or industrial, landlords and their tenants are looking for Class-A finishes,” says Lipsky. “Glass partitions, once a luxury, are now becoming the standard for any office space. Small kitchenettes have turned into dedicated break room space with high-end appliances.”

For offices, modern construction updates are seen as an investment in the success of their businesses. “Owners are attracting talent by understanding where good talent wants to work, and increasing their construction finishing budgets to reflect the level of talent they are going after,” Lipsky adds.

Sustainability is a significant driver of trends in building materials. Environmental concerns have impacted all levels of the building process, and the effects can be seen across the industry.

“Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) acoustic materials have gained popularity in interior design due to their excellent sound-absorbing properties, sustainability and versatility,” notes Irene Yim, vice president of Mark Design Studios. “PET is made of post-consumer recycled plastic materials and comes in dozens of colors. It is not only a sustainable and functional product in helping noise reduction; it also has a visual impact in many design applications, such as ceiling sculptural elements, perforated wall panels for visual separation and it can be incorporated with lighting fixtures to create fun and decorative designs.”

The collective desire for sustainable building construction has also caused design elements that were once nearly ubiquitous to fall out of style. “Gas-fired appliances, such as rooftop units and furnaces, contribute to carbon dioxide emissions, which play a role in climate change,” Mark explains. “There has [also] been a push by governmental agencies toward using electric HVAC units, such as VRFs and heat pumps, to help reduce carbon footprint.”

Farese points to several projects being overseen by her firm as evidence of the popularity of ‘going green.’ “We are working on several HOAs with fiber cement and PVC work, [there is] a lot of solar being incorporated into new builds, and a lot of requests for full roofing systems,” she says, adding there has been increased demand for solar battery backups and EV charging stations as well.

Though many recent building trends were born of necessity, aesthetic preferences are always evolving, setting the pace for design and innovation. According to Lipsky, the changing tastes of Long Islanders will gradually move us away from much of the design that has defined our area. “As [these] trends continue, the finishes of the 70s and 80s will continue to die off,” he says.