August, 2019

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Prefab factory in the sky: Mace Group built working factories on top of under-construction skyscrapers

BD+C

Mace Group is London’s largest contractor, and has been associated with some of that city’s signature projects, including its 95-story skyscraper The Shard; the 443-foot-high cantilevered observation wheel known as London Eye; and Heathrow Terminal 5, which at nearly four million sf on 640 acres is the largest freestanding structure in the United Kingdom.

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Architectural Sketch Series: Schematic Design

Life of an Architect

The creative process for an architect is fairly simple for me - when I sketch, I think it slows my thought process down and forces me to think through my idea a bit more completely in my effort to actually be able to draw it out in a manner that allows someone else to understand what I am trying to convey. Continue reading Architectural Sketch Series: Schematic Design at Life of an Architect.

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EL RITO SANTERO: Reclaiming a life in carved wood and found objects

Stephen B Chambers Architects

Above Photo by Peter Larsen Photography Nicholas with St. Lucy, santero for eyesight Everything changed in 1992 for Nicholas Herrera. “I had a head-on collision with a truck that hit the side of my car, and rolled it. I would have bled to death on a rural New Mexico highway, if a tall skinny hippie with a blanket hadn’t come along,” Herrera told us.

Art 52
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Virtual Reality and Architecture

DesignScape Architects

The way architect’s design and draw buildings and modern house plans have changed dramatically over the last 30 years or so. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) became possible with the advent of personal computers in the 1980’s but largely remained a two-dimensional drafting experience that made drawing boards and T-squares largely redundant. Later, CAD progressed to fully-fledged three-dimensional design during the 21st century, which allowed real-time previews of what was to be built.

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Revolutionize Concrete Durability with Kryton’s Integral Waterproofing Solutions

Kryton International leads the way in integral waterproofing solutions for concrete, helping architects, engineers, and developers protect their projects from moisture-related damage. With Kryton's Krystol Internal Membrane (KIM) technology, concrete becomes inherently waterproof, extending the lifespan of structures while minimizing maintenance. This proven technology is trusted worldwide for its ability to self-seal micro-cracks, protect against water ingress, and withstand harsh conditions.

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Modern Religious Architecture: 10 Stunning Constructions Of The Past 10 Years

Virginia Duran

What’s the role of religion nowadays? In an increasingly stressful and individualistic world, worship places around the world are doing their best at providing peaceful spaces where a community of people can thrive together, as a group. One might think that such a building typology is declining.

Modern 52

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Paris will soon be home to the world’s largest rooftop farm

BD+C

Located on the roof of Pavillion 6 of the Parc des Expositions Viparis porte de Versailles, an exposition center currently under reconstruction, the farm will use aeroponics to grow over 30 different fruit and vegetable species. This technique that requires no soil and arranges the plants vertically above ground in columns that are fed by rain water and biological nutrients.

Technique 108
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030: Starting Your Own Architecture Firm

Life of an Architect

Is It the dream of every architect to start their own architecture firm? Most architects think about it at one point or another and Austin Architect Michael Hsu sits down to talk about how he started his own firm. Continue reading 030: Starting Your Own Architecture Firm at Life of an Architect.

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Weaving mental healthcare spaces into the neighborhood

BD+C

When I was growing up, we often discussed mental health and wellness in our home. My mother, a psychiatric nurse for nearly three decades, was highly cognizant of mental health as what the World Health Organization calls “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to contribute to his or her community.

Space 102
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Structural engineer speeds skyscraper construction with novel building core design

BD+C

Over the past 50 years, high-rise construction had gone through several approaches. In the 1960s, tall buildings were braced around their perimeters, but developers and tenants objected to obstructed views, which led to a shift toward steel cores. That method, however, proved uneconomical, and was replaced, in the 1980s, by structural systems with braces of large composite columns filled with concrete.

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Overcoming Challenges in Specification Writing for Architecture

This ebook is a helpful guide for architects & specification writers, focusing on the crucial role specifications play in building design. It dives into different types, relevant regulations, & best practices to keep in mind. You’ll find practical tips.

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Stacking the deck: Marriott International embraces modular construction

BD+C

This fall, the world’s tallest modular hotel—a 26-story, 360-foot-tall building that will be branded AC Hotel New York NoMad when it opens late next year—will start stacking prefabricated and prefurnished guestrooms for assembly in New York City.

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Florida’s first net-zero K-12 school opens

BD+C

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on August 6 for NeoCity Academy in Kissimmee, Fla., the state’s first net-zero K-12 school. The 44,820-sf STEM school, which opens officially on August 12 for 500 students, is designed and built to use 76% less energy than a regular school, and to save $115,000 per year in energy costs. Little Diversified Architectural Consulting was the design architect and SE on this project.

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An ‘Internet of Beings’? Kinetic flooring promises more than just energy generation

BD+C

You’ve heard of whistling while you work. What about energizing while you walk? . That’s the idea behind Pavegen, a flooring system that generates electrical energy with every step you take. This energy can then be used for powering LED lighting, capturing and transmitting data, and monitoring the environment.

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Best of healthcare design for 2019

BD+C

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Academy of Architecture for Health (AAH) named five projects winners of its 2019 Healthcare Design Awards. The awards recognize cutting-edge designs that help solve aesthetic, civic, urban and social problems while also being functional and sustainable. Recipients can include healthcare building design, healthcare planning, and healthcare design-oriented research. .

Design 95
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The Ultimate Guide To Data-Driven Construction: Optimize Projects, Reduce Risks, & Boost Innovation

Speaker: Donna Laquidara-Carr, PhD, LEED AP, Industry Insights Research Director at Dodge Construction Network

In today’s construction market, owners, construction managers, and contractors must navigate increasing challenges, from cost management to project delays. Fortunately, digital tools now offer valuable insights to help mitigate these risks. However, the sheer volume of tools and the complexity of leveraging their data effectively can be daunting. That’s where data-driven construction comes in.

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3 ‘Giant’ AEC market trends for 2019-2020

BD+C

Every spring, as the BD+C editors connect with hundreds of architecture, engineering, and construction firms for our annual Giants 300 report , we get a compelling snapshot of the business and project innovations—and obstacles—at the nation’s largest AEC firms.

Firms 92
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5G expected to give a boost to construction technology

BD+C

Fifth-generation cellular technology (5G) will enable enhanced data flows and faster response times that will boost technologies used by the construction industry, according to research firm GlobalData. Design and construction firms will have access to more robust systems that employ virtual reality, Internet of Things, robotics, and drones.

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AIA, NCARB help launch coalition to represent complex professions and licensing boards

BD+C

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) are among several organizations who have helped found the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL)—a new coalition of technical professions focused on educating policymakers and the public about the importance of rigorous professional licensing standards.

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BIG will master plan Saudi Arabia's 'Giga-Project'

BD+C

Qiddiya Investment Company, in conjunction with Bjarke Ingels Group, recently unveiled the master plan for a new “Giga-Project” that will become the “Capital of Entertainment, Sports, and the Arts” in Saudi Arabia.

Project 85
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Architectural Visualization Trends and the Rise of AI

A new industry study conducted by Architizer on behalf of Chaos Enscape surveyed 2,139 design professionals to understand the state of architectural visualization and what to expect in the near future. We asked: How are visualizations produced in your firm? What impact does real-time rendering have? What approach are you taking toward the rise of AI?

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5 converging trends for healthcare's future

BD+C

Tradition and innovation. Technology and medicine. Retail and clinics. Our solutions to both today’s and tomorrow’s challenges lie at the convergence of technologies, industries, and types of care. Our Regional Director for Health in China, Sangmin Lee, KIA, LEED AP BD+C, recently delivered a presentation at the 20th China Hospital Construction Conference in Chengdu on the current trends in global healthcare. .

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Construction firms expect labor shortages to worsen over the next year

BD+C

You’d have to be living on the moon not to know that hourly construction workers are getting scarcer. But the magnitude of this labor shortage is writ large in a recent survey, released this week by Autodesk and the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), which found that 80% of 1,935 respondents in 23 states report having a hard time filling hourly craft positions.

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Changes You Don’t See Coming

Life of an Architect

The last several months have been a whirlwind of changes … or maybe it was really the last few weeks where all the action took place. There is big news to announce and writing a story about it is the best way that I can think to tell you about this major change in my life. Continue reading Changes You Don’t See Coming at Life of an Architect.

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New edition of Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete available

BD+C

The American Concrete Institute has released ACI 318-19 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete. The document includes: — Major technical changes in higher reinforcing steel yield strengths. — The addition of shotcrete and deep foundation provisions. — Seismic requirements for deep foundations and other applications. — Vertical seismic motions. — Nonlinear analysis for seismic design. — Modification to development length equations. — Updated shear design provisions and equations.

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From Plan to Reality: Unlocking the Power of Aerial Imagery for AEC

Aerial imagery has emerged as a necessary tool for architecture, engineering, and construction firms seeking to improve pre-construction site analysis, make more informed planning decisions, and ensure all stakeholders have access to an accurate visualization of the site to keep the project moving forward. Download our guide and take a deeper look at how aerial imagery can be leveraged to drive project efficiency by reducing unnecessary site visits and providing the accurate details required to

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2019 Data Center Giants Report: AEC firms stretch to keep up with data center demand

BD+C

In 2018, Holder Construction did $1.38 billion in data center construction. As of May 2019, it had 28 data center projects in the works, and the firm expects construction this year to approach $3 billion. One such project—in Phoenix, for a large REIT—opens in July with 6 MW of processing capacity, and will reach 48 MW when it’s eventually built out to around 500,000 sf.

Firms 83
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Saving the American mall in 5 steps

BD+C

When we talk about retail and shopping malls in 2019, the words “struggling,” and even “apocalypse” come to mind. The truth is that the American mall is not dead. In fact, the most successful malls are hotter than ever with higher revenues than ever. It’s the ones sitting in the middle, the middling malls of America, that are struggling to find their way forward.

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Tanglewood in the Berkshires is now a year-round facility

BD+C

On September 1, the Tanglewood Festival in the Berkshires of Massachusetts wraps up its annual summer season. But for the first time in its long history, Tanglewood is positioning itself as a year-round event and meeting space, thanks to the addition of the four-building Linde Center for Music and Learning, which opened last June 28.

Events 81
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Cincinnati Reds debut renovated Reds Hall of Fame and Museum

BD+C

In honor of 150 years of Cincinnati Reds baseball, the team, in partnership with FRCH NELSON, renovated the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. The $5 million project renovated over 15,000 sf of the largest team Hall of Fame in Major League Baseball to create a more organized and engaging visitor experience.

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7 Ways Real-Time Visualization Can Solve Architectural Challenges

In the dynamic world of architecture, design, and construction, creative problem-solving is crucial for success. Traditional methods often fall short in effectively conveying design intent to clients. Real-time visualization empowers you with a solid decision-making tool that smooths the design process. Discover the power of real-time visualization: Effective Communication Convey your vision clearly and align with clients.