Marx Okubo Associates, Inc.

09/04/2026

We are excited to be participating and presenting next week at the Rocky Mountain APPA Conference in Tempe, AZ!

If you will be there, please join our session on September 9, "Fast Builds, Fast Failures: In a World of Collaborative Project Delivery, Why Do So Many Buildings Fail Shortly After Completion?" Our presenters Gerard Lee, AIA DBIA LEED, Rena (Foster) Russ and Courtney Wladyka, AIA, NCARB, Fitwel Amb., will bring relevant, thought-provoking insights and pragmatic advice on this topic.
Regardless, if you're attending, let's connect!

08/16/2026

Building Performance Standards are more than a compliance issue—they’re a capital planning opportunity.

As BPS requirements expand across the country, the conversation is moving beyond deadlines and penalties to bigger questions:
--What does compliance mean for my asset’s value?
--How much capital will I need over the holding period?
--Is my data accurate—and am I solving the right problem?
--Can I align compliance upgrades with planned capital projects?

The owners best positioned for the future are taking a proactive approach: starting early, verifying the data, integrating compliance into capital planning, and looking at the full picture.

Read more about why Building Performance Standards belong in your long-term capital planning strategy. https://www.marxokubo.com/blog/beyond-compliance-why-wise-building-owners-are-integrating-building-performance-standards-into-capital-planning/

Beyond Compliance: Why Wise Building Owners Are Integrating Building Performance Standards into Capital Planning

05/22/2026

At Marx Okubo, uncertainty doesn't stand a chance, and this is especially applicable when communities come together with purpose. Recently we were proud to support the incredible work of the Manna Food Center.

Several members of our team in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia area worked together to sort roughly 1200-1600 lbs. of food in support of the organization's mission to build lasting food security across the DMV region. This is about more than organizing and handing out food--it's about creating stronger, more resilient communities for the future.

Big thanks to our volunteers! Robert Phinney, Amit Desai, Abideena Dambo, Matthew O'Brien, Sara Royle Cepeda, Lisa Bazile, Jeyson Ventura, Chris Waltz, and Richard Clousing.

04/24/2026

Are your buildings prepared for how two standards in WA state actually work together? In Washington—especially in Seattle—energy and carbon regulations are no longer a future consideration. They’re actively reshaping how buildings are operated, upgraded, and ultimately valued.

The two standards driving this shift are the statewide Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS) and Seattle’s Building Emissions Performance Standard (BEPS), adding another layer of complexity to capital planning and investment decisions.

For many properties, particularly in Seattle, compliance isn’t about meeting one requirement—it’s about understanding how both standards intersect, where they differ, and how decisions made for one may or may not support the other. That creates real challenges for owners:
--Navigating different performance metrics and expectations
--Aligning timelines and compliance strategies
--Prioritizing and sequencing capital improvements to avoid redundant or misaligned upgrades

The risk isn’t just non-compliance—it’s about potentially making the wrong investments, at the wrong time, based on an incomplete picture. The earlier you understand how these standards work together, the more control you have over cost, planning, and long-term asset performance. Here’s what to understand now: https://www.marxokubo.com/blog/Washington-Building-Performance-Standards

From Seattle to Statewide: What Washington’s Building Performance Standards Mean for Building Owners

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day! 🌍

For us, sustainability isn’t a once-a-year message but an ongoing commitment to responsible practices that protect, preserve our environment.

At Marx Okubo, we partner with owners, investors, and developers to help turn corporate sustainability commitments into actionable, measurable outcomes across the entire building lifecycle. From design to construction, due diligence operations, and long-term asset strategy, our focus is simple: align building performance with your environmental goals—while strengthening asset value.

Whether it’s extending the life of existing buildings, improving energy and operational efficiency, navigating compliance with regulatory regulations, or physical risks related to climate and natural hazards, we help clients move beyond intention and into implementation. Today and every day, our proactive, multidisciplinary teams are committed to creating smarter, more sustainable buildings.

Because meeting sustainability targets, reducing risk, and future-proofing portfolios isn’t just good for the planet, it’s critical for long-term performance.

Earth Day is simply a reminder.

The real work is what we build, together, every day.

04/08/2026

Protecting a property’s long-term value requires anticipating and proactively managing change.

How a building is maintained over time has a direct and significant impact on its long-term value. As buildings age, systems wear down, performance shifts, and risks develop quietly beneath the surface. Without a clear understanding of current conditions—and what’s likely coming next—it’s easy for small issues to compound into larger repair costs, operational disruptions, and added scrutiny when it’s time to refinance or sell.

Consistent visibility is what makes the difference. Knowing where systems stand today—and how they’re trending—allows you to act earlier, plan more effectively, and avoid reactive decisions that often come at a higher cost.

A proactive maintenance strategy helps you stay ahead of those changes—so you can make informed decisions, prioritize investments, and protect long-term value. Here’s how that approach comes together: https://www.marxokubo.com/property-lifecycle/maintenance/