Why
Choose Us
Located in the western suburb of St. Charles, Illinois, Manheim Architecture has clients throughout Chicagoland and Central Illinois. For the past eight years, Manheim Architecture has offered collaborative and comprehensive architectural services for commercial, residential and civil projects. We also offer thorough project management and rezoning services to support your project to completion.
Manheim Architecture will take your vision and give it form through exploration of possibilities in order to raise it to new levels to be integrated into your building site and the surrounding community at large. We bring not only design, but solutions to any project. With the knowledge, efficiency, leadership, environmental awareness, and design skillset we possess we can offer premier services to our clients.
Nicholas P Manheim, Principal
Principal Architect Nicholas P. Manheim is a licensed Illinois and Wisconsin Architect, NCARB certified, and a LEED AP. He has been in the industry for more than 22 years, earning his Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from Southern Illinois University and his Masters of Architecture from Louisiana State University College of Architecture. Nick’s extensive experience offers collaborative and comprehensive architectural services for commercial, residential and civil projects. His previous industry experience ranges from large projects such as fire stations, hotels, K-12 schools and post offices to a variety of residential construction and renovation projects.
Nick also brings experience in thorough project management and rezoning services to support your project to completion, specifically with such former clients as Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International, and HOST Hotels and Resorts. Nick will take your vision and give it form; bringing not only design, but solutions to any project. Additionally, with his LEED AP credentials, and focus on responsible design, Nick ensures the surrounding environment and community are kept in the forefront of every project. This is further exemplified by Nick’s volunteer experience on both the Community Unit School District 303 School Board and as the President of the John Baker Norris Recreational Center Board of Trustees.
Leadership in energy and environmental design
“ The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
The LEED rating system offers four certification levels for new construction – Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum – that correspond to the number of credits accrued in five green design categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources and indoor environmental quality. LEED standards cover new commercial construction and major
renovation projects, interiors projects and existing building operations.
Architects, consultants, engineers, product marketers, environmentalists and other building industry professionals are eligible to become LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED Professional Accreditation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the LEED certification process. LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs) have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and
principles and the LEED Rating System.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a 501(c)(3) non profit composed of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings and communities that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.
As a LEED-accredited architect
As a LEED-accredited architect, our knowledge of green building and the LEED rating system and process can assist you in meeting your LEED goal. We can suggest ways to earn LEED credits without extra cost, identify means of offsetting certain expenses with savings in other areas and spot opportunities for synergies in your project. While no LEED project is ever guaranteed endorsement because of the rigorous third party commissioning process by the U.S. Green Building Council, there are compelling steps we can take to reach your environmental building goals. We will also develop a plan to maximize the opportunity for LEED endorsement, including the following services:
• Setting a clear environmental target. Before we begin the design phase of your project, we will discuss what level of LEED certification you are aiming for and settle on a firm overall budget. We will also consider including an optional higher certification target – a “stretch” goal – to stimulate creativity.
• Setting a clear and adequate budget. Higher levels of LEED certification, such as Platinum, do require additional expenditure and should be budgeted for accordingly, but whatever the goal, a detailed and clear budget will be discussed before the design phase begins.
• Sticking to your budget and your LEED goal. Throughout out the design and building process, we will be sure our entire project team is focused on meeting your LEED goal on budget. Maintaining the environmental and economic integrity of your project at every turn is one of our top priorities.
• Engineering for Life Cycle Value. As we value-engineer your project, we will be sure to examine green investments in terms of how they will affect expenses over the entire life of the building. For instance, before we decide to cut a line item, we will first look at its relationship to other features to see if keeping it will help you achieve money-saving synergies, as well as LEED credits. We will set your goals for “life cycle” value- engineering rather than “first cost” value-engineering. synergies, as well as LEED credits. We will set your goals for “life cycle” value- engineering rather than “first cost” value-engineering.
