Life of an Architect
JULY 16, 2014
'By a show of hands, who doesn’t like board-formed concrete? Anyone? If you want to be my friend, you better not have raised your hand. So what exactly is “board formed concrete” and how do you get it to look its very best? You’re in luck because I’ve got the answers to those questions. The picture above is from one of my projects and is a close up shot of the texture you get with board-formed concrete.
BD+C
JULY 16, 2014
'Reed Construction Data has announced that the dollar value of construction starts in June, excluding residential activity, surged 34% versus May. The figures are in "current" dollars, meaning they are not adjusted for inflation. The individual month of June, at $32.0 billion, was one of the strongest in Reed''s entire database. To find a similarly high volume, one has to look back at June 2008, just before the Great Recession really took hold.
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EntreArchitect
JULY 1, 2014
This week’s post is written by David M. Sanders, AIA a residential architect based in Capistrano Beach, California. David has generously shared his own system for preparing the ultimate set of construction documents. You may learn more about David and his firm at his website. Send him an email and say thanks for sharing such valuable information.
BD+C
JULY 11, 2014
'Famed Chicago architect Jeanne Gang is headed westward. Yesterday, San Francisco’s newest tower proposal was unveiled, the S an Francisco Chronicle reports , and it will be a 400-foot-tall tower designed by Gang. Renderings show that the planned residential tower will be a tier of bay windows placed slightly askew on top of each other, resulting in a flowing, twisting-effect.
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BD+C
JULY 28, 2014
'BOSTON, MA – A new study released by planning and design firm Sasaki Associates has found that food is a major driver of the American urban experience: 82 percent of urbanites appreciate their city’s culinary offerings, and a new restaurant is the top reason the majority of them (46 percent) would venture to a new part of their city. This is compared to 25 percent of people who are incentivized by a new store and 16 percent by a sporting event.
Architecture Focus brings together the best content for architecture professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
BD+C
JULY 21, 2014
'The commercial real estate development industry grew at the strongest pace since the economic recovery began in 2011, according to an annual report on the state of the industry released today by the NAIOP Research Foundation. The report, entitled “The Economic Impacts of Commercial Real Estate,” determined that the economic impact realized by the development process rose a significant 24.06% over the previous year, the largest gain since the market began to recover in 2011. read more.
BD+C
JULY 7, 2014
'They have the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper. They have the iconic Burj Al Arab, the iconic ship-shaped luxury hotel on a manmade island. They also have the Palm Islands, a man-made palm-shaped archipelago of mixed-use property. Naturally, the next step for the largest emirate of this small country on the Arabian Peninsula is to build the largest indoor ‘city’ in the world.
Life of an Architect
JULY 6, 2014
'There is a secret that all attentive architects know: Don’t give your client what they ask for, give them what they need. Better yet, have them be a part of the design process. In order to create personal and successful designs, you need to develop a relationship with your client that goes beyond providing functionality solely based on their requests.
BD+C
JULY 8, 2014
'A fireplace in a gas station – imagine getting a permit to build something like that today. But that is exactly what legendary American architect Frank Lloyd Wright thought up for a gas station he designed more than half a century ago, and that was exactly what was built in the Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum in Buffalo, New York, for public viewing.
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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.
BD+C
JULY 28, 2014
'Boulder, CO – Because the existing building stock dwarfs the amount of building space that is added on an annual basis, retrofits are a critical pathway to greening the world’s commercial buildings. Regulations and policy measures, technological advances, and cost reductions are all driving increased investment in energy efficiency retrofits. According to a recent report from Navigant Research , cumulative investment in commercial building energy efficiency retrofits will total $959 billion fro
BD+C
JULY 17, 2014
'“Green” construction in the U.S. has mostly been on a fad diet – one where trimming energy consumption is focused on the present but not the long run. That is the conclusion that New York-based nonprofit Urban Green Council found in their research on “high cholesterol buildings.”. Body Image: read more.
BD+C
JULY 10, 2014
'BioSkin , a system of water-filled ceramic pipes that cools the exterior surface of buildings and their surrounding micro-climates, has won the 2014 Tall Building Innovation Award from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). Body Image: read more.
Life of an Architect
JULY 19, 2014
'A while back I wrote a post titled “ Architectural Interns ” where I stated: Other than slowing things down, interns aren’t very useful in small firms because we run fast and lean. Everybody wears almost every hat and as a result (and despite them generally being the most interesting people in the office) summer interns are generally more work than they are worth.
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.
Life of an Architect
JULY 23, 2014
'Architectural interns are certainly worthwhile additions to the office, but some are worth more that others. I am continuing this look into the value that architectural interns bring to the office by allowing our other intern – John Charbonneau – to take over the site today and talk about his experience while giving others a peek into how he has ben spending his time this summer.
BD+C
JULY 21, 2014
'Mancini•Duffy, a leading architectural and interiors firm, has released preliminary findings from The Coordinate, its survey on workplace trends. The survey indicates that working hours peak during the beginning and end of the day, where employees are not only more productive, but also give their employers a bonus by extending the workday during commuting time.
Life of an Architect
JULY 27, 2014
'I have known architect Douglas Burke for a few years … although we have never met. Doug and I have formed a professional architect-to-architect relationship since I started writing my blog and we have routinely exchanged emails over the years discussing a myriad of subjects. I have asked him to guest write on my site several times without success, but I finally had a topic that suited him … Schematic Design and “Design in a Day” Douglas Burke (aka: architectrunnerguy) Li
BD+C
JULY 16, 2014
'The concept of vertical farms is well-known and has been played out in a number of different ways. Now, Aprilli Design Studio has stepped forward with a new idea for a vertical farm. Body Image: read more.
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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?
BD+C
JULY 16, 2014
'EDISON, N.J. – Ware Malcomb, an award-winning international design firm, today announced that its New Jersey office has expanded into a larger space located at 90 Woodbridge Center Drive, Suite 320, Woodbridge, New Jersey 07095. The new office accommodates the firm’s growing employee and client base, along with its expansive geographic reach. Exclude Content: Yes. read more.
BD+C
JULY 2, 2014
'Organizers of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar have released images of the second stadium design, Archdaily reports. Dubbed the Al Bayt Stadium, the complex is planned for Al Khor City. It will be surrounded by retail space, restaurants, and landscaped recreational trails for cycling, jogging, and horseback riding. Body Image: read more.
BD+C
JULY 9, 2014
'Step aside New York and L.A., The Atlantic’s CityLab finds that not all design jobs have these two trendy hotspots as their epicenters. Body Image: read more.
BD+C
JULY 16, 2014
'The General Services Administration’s Net-Zero Energy Task Group is working on a draft letter with clear goals and guidance for net-zero energy buildings by this September. The committee recently created a provisional definition of net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs). The draft definition distinguishes between two different types of net-zero buildings: read more.
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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
BD+C
JULY 7, 2014
'In an attempt to reunite the nation of Singapore with its harbor, SPARK Architects has designed the "solar orchid"—self-contained, solar-powered pods that mimic traditional hawkers. Hawkers, or floating stalls where vendors sell various products, were once commonplace in Singapore, but have faded away after decades of urban development, designboom reports.
BD+C
JULY 23, 2014
'The U.S. Geological Service recently released an update of U.S. National Seismic Hazard Maps that reflect the latest analysis of where future earthquakes will occur, how frequently they may occur, and their strength. read more.
BD+C
JULY 28, 2014
'Traditionally, solar panels are a flat addition placed on the roof of a building. But students of the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences in Germany have designed “ OnTop ,” solar panels big enough to be an extra unit of housing that can fit on top of existing apartment buildings. The project was for the Solar Decathlon Europe in Versailles, France, where it won first place for the categoray "social housing.".
Life of an Architect
JULY 30, 2014
'Have you ever seen an architect’s office that completely and totally sucks? Neither have I … but I am about to lose my cool with my current working situation. I have indicated my work area … cleverly (and accurately) identified as “Bob’s ‘Box of Hell’” This is basically the same working environment that I have had since I moved over to my new job as hero and savior.
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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.
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