The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued Barry Swenson a patent for what is termed the "Landmaker" structural system building method. The patent recognizes "A method of modularly constructing a multi-story building in a cost-efficient manner" where the shear walls are "out boarded," or constructed floor by floor closer to the edge of the building, rather than around a central elevator or stairwell core.
Swenson claims the Landmaker method can save up to 20% in construction costs while increasing seismic safety.
Swenson and a team of engineers/inventors developed the Landmaker system in 2000. The Landmaker process has been used in nearly a half-dozen high rise construction projects in the Silicon Valley.
