Meet Mike Kollman of SmartHaus + Wexler/Kollman in North Suburban (Lake County)

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Kollman.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Michael. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there. 
I loved to build things and problem solve at a young age. I discovered that Architecture offered me a chance to combine art and science to make the world a better place.

SmartHaus and Wexler/Kollman P.C., Ltd. was born from the passion to create inspiring and responsible design at a level that makes it affordable to anyone interested. Working to help extend education and awareness about the advantages of sustainable design and construction is something that I have devoted much of my life’s ambition towards.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way? 
It has not always been easy. Starting out, we spent a lot of time experimenting with ideas and systems because there was a limited amount of science available to confirm how efficient and sustainable buildings could be built.  Over time, we were able to combine our work in the field with developing technologies to support the design concepts that we were implementing.

The market slowdown in 2010 was difficult for everyone in building design and construction. We were able to survive by adapting to the marketplace and offering a variety of services to our clients as well as providing educational resources to others. The streamlining and product development turned out to position us well for the shift in the needs of the housing market.

Please tell us about SmartHaus + Wexler/Kollman. 
SmartHaus is our design/build group that focuses on healthy, sustainable high-performance homes from tiny to multi-tenant in scale.  Wexler/Kollman is the Architectural group providing services to clients ranging from Historic Preservation and Restoration to commercial projects of various types.  

All of our work has a few common threads: sensitivity to site, climate and clientele with a solid foundation in building science, sustainability and emerging technologies.

SmartHaus homes are designed to maximize lifecycle cost benefits by combining intelligent site development with high performance building envelopes and energy efficient mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.  Very high indoor air quality is a priority resulting in many health benefits.

Smart Design is the foundation of successful green buildings. We utilize tools like advanced computer modeling to help layout homes to utilize natural light, take advantage of passive heating and cooling while maximizing views and connecting with nature. It also means designing to use space wisely, building for longevity and healthy living. 

We are proud of the homes we design and build for our clients. Many tell us how much healthier they feel living in their homes, how much less their homes cost to operate and maintain and how well connected they feel to the natural environment.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently? 
Not much. The business has grown as we have hoped. We are proud of the homes that we design and build and have a long list of happy customers. We can’t control the ups and downs of the market, but we can be nimble and anticipate changes as to what is important to consumers. We are looking forward to working with our next client as well as assuring all our current clients are happy that they decided to partner with SmartHaus + Wexler/Kollman.

Contact Info:

• Address: SmartHaus + Wexler/Kollman
  16595 Easton Avenue
  Prairie View, IL 60069
• Website: www.smarthaus.org
• Phone: 847-913-0407
• Email: mike@wexko.com

Image Credit:
Photos by Michael S Kollman

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