Established in 1996, RDS Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc. is a comprehensive design engineering firm specializing in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection services. Located in New Jersey, RDS has successfully executed significant engineering and building services design projects throughout the Northeast United States, serving both public and private clients with construction costs exceeding $30 million. Furthermore, the firm maintains an affiliation with the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers in the United Kingdom.
The Differentiating Factor
As a Professional design firm, RDS Associates adhere to the same regulatory standards and ethical codes as other affiliated organizations governed by state and professional licensing boards. Throughout 28 years of operation, RDS Associates has maintained a clean record, having never faced litigation or inquiries from any oversight body, thereby ensuring compliance with all necessary regulations and guidelines.
Moreover, nearly all the numerous projects undertaken during this timeframe have successfully adhered to the necessary public health, welfare, and safety standards. This represents a significant advancement in an industry where many associated companies have ceased operations and are encountering various difficulties in the aforementioned areas. Therefore, it is essential to highlight that the standards of quality control, quality assurance, due diligence, integrity, credibility, transparency, and the careful evaluation of potential clients to prevent setbacks are crucial in achieving this objective up to the present time.
Implementing Sustainability
In alignment with sustainability objectives, the firm’s aim is to adopt various measures. RDS Associates employs certified professionals across all key areas, including energy audits, LEED certification, and management. Since the firm’s establishment, all design documents have consistently met or surpassed the standards set by regulatory agencies within the industry, and the firm has a proven history of securing grants for clients by adhering to these standards in construction documents from leading utility companies.
Currently, the standards for sustainability have been significantly elevated, contingent upon governmental regulations and guidelines. This includes the adoption of natural gas as a substitute for fossil fuels in heating, the installation of solar photovoltaic systems to meet power supply needs in various buildings, and the selection of building materials that enhance indoor air quality (IAQ). The widespread implementation of energy-efficient lighting solutions, which encompasses controls such as daylight harvesting, occupancy sensors, monitoring of carbon dioxide levels, and dimming capabilities, has become a standard practice in the industry, yielding substantial energy savings for clients and facilities. Additionally, the design and application of net-zero buildings are increasingly prevalent across the sector. Ultimately, the evolution of sustainability is closely linked to the availability of technology, resources, and the decreasing costs of installation for end users.
The Contemporary Challenges
Upon reflection and with accumulated experience, RDS Associates has identified cash flow management and the collection of receivables from various clients as significant challenges within the industry This issue is prevalent in the profession, where projects typically involve a consortium of design firms, with one firm designated as the lead, responsible for overseeing financial resources, milestones, and deliverable standards. RDS is accredited and rated as A+ by Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 2012 as a testimony of the firm’s financial integrity and business savvy credibility.
If the lead firm fails to adequately fulfill its obligations whether through error, omission, or commission the entire team may experience negative repercussions due to the bandwagon effect. Additionally, another challenge arises from the detrimental impact of permitting contractors to assume the lead role over design professionals to minimize construction costs.
The most recent and serious challenge being faced in the industry is in the area of insurance coverage for both general and professional liability for design firms. Furthermore, there are numerous litigations from the industry based on building collapse and structural failures including but not limited to liquidated damages being sought against firms as per delays in the execution and close-out of projects in the areas of anticipated lead times at the onset of original construction and permit contracts. Our firm RDS Associates have not been found liable or wanting on these issues as of date.
The Innovative Approach
The engineering approach in general is holistic, conservative and comprehensive; however, RDS has consistently demonstrated a commitment to innovation by offering clients a variety of design strategies, equipment, devices, funding sources, excellent standard of care and applications. This enables projects to navigate implementation challenges, adhere to timelines, and achieve cost efficiencies. A prime example is the case of residential rental properties in New York City, where RDS Associates advise property owners against installing gas appliances in apartments. Instead, they recommend using Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) or Heat Recovery systems heat pumps for heating and cooling, while domestic hot water and cooking needs are met with electric appliances, ensuring that all utility expenses are borne by the tenants.
While this design approach may lead to increased energy costs reflected in electrical utility bills, it simultaneously presents an opportunity for enhanced environmental sustainability. With the growth of renewable energy sources, the availability and competitive pricing of electrical supply are expected to improve, contrasting with the perceptions of electrical appliances and heating systems from a decade ago. Furthermore, this construction method is anticipated to be more cost-effective and efficient upon completion.
The Growth Over Years
Over the last decade in general there is a growth in the development and renovation of the decaying educational infrastructure at state or public level, mixed-use buildings and parking garage structures in urban centers. In addition, the expansion of the information technology, artificial intelligence (AI) sector and creation of new data and wireless capabilities is a major driving force in many data centers’ and building classifications.
Furthermore, the acceptance of the green building, sustainability, renewable energy and need to cut energy consumption across the board is another source of many design projects all over the world and we should not forget the climate change, carbon emission control benchmark guidelines. Also, there is the Design/Build or Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract format that is getting more prevalence in the industry in the last two decades.
Clientele
RDS have clients such as agencies, private investors or developers, sometime contractors and other allied professionals in most cases architects or engineering firms in other disciplines.
The Road Ahead
RDS have been evolving and more on the spot or just-in-time management technics and strategies in the operation and financial contracts that greatly harness our competitive abilities in bidding and sourcing our project marketing and execution in the challenging economic environment we are facing today. In fact, many projects from cradle to grave in the industry extend beyond four years average, thus many of RDS current design projects still have a lot of oxygen in their breath. RDS have currently exploring international registration with multiple agencies via pre-qualifications as an ongoing exercise and expansion of the clientele base.
The Final Thoughts
The parting message on this noble award and recognition is to thank FORTUNE for giving RDS the opportunity to showcase its capabilities and future endeavour in the engineering design and building industry. It is an additional feather to the cap as per the previous awards from Engineering News-Record (ENR) and other professional or corporate entities.
One important thing to note is that the future generation should strive to build the industry to meet the future of sustainable world as it depletes the limited resources. Major equipment and devices RDS have today came because of space exploration in the 1960s. “you may not get value or reward for all you work for on this earth, but you must definitely work for all you earn,” concluded Rafiu Dada Sadiku.
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