April, 2018

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Autodesk opens its Forge platform, encouraging more suppliers to build onto it

BD+C

This month, Autodesk will be rolling out its next generation of BIM 360 products that will include BIM 360 Design and BIM 360 Build modules ( [link] ), making this suite the industry's first unified design-construction platform. BIM 360 is built on top of Forge, Autodesk’s cloud-based software platform, which the company launched in 2015.

IT 101
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Being an Architect is Hell – The Ongoing Descent

Life of an Architect

Being an architect is hell for any countless number of reasons, but one of the most prevalent reasons is that architects everywhere are assaulted visually on a daily basis by the most mundane of things. Ridiculous tile layouts? check Poorly aligned light fixtures? check Bad proportions? check Popcorn texture on ceilings? double check The list could go on indefinitely but we have better things to talk about today … like my ongoing descent into the hell of being an architect where my own

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SEO Strategy For Architects

Archmark

5 Ways to Build a Successful SEO Strategy. How to Boost Your Search Engine Optimization Are you on the fence about creating a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy for your architecture firm? You might think that your architecture firm gets 90% of new business from referrals, so why bother with SEO. That's the kind of thinking that can keep quality referrals from finding you and result in lost opportunities for your firm.

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My 5 Rules for Developing Contract Documents for Small Firm Architects

EntreArchitect

It may be the most critical step in the entire process of acquiring a new architecture client. We may have perfected our marketing, developed a strong reputation, executed a flawless sales process and have received our prospective client’s eager authorization to proceed with a new project. We may have done everything right and find ourselves at the point where, to make this new relationship official, we need a signed legal document.

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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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Child-specific mental health center features design elements to support healing

BD+C

The new Virginia Treatment Center for Children, part of the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, is one of the largest free-standing children’s mental health centers in the United States. The child-specific center uses design elements to both destigmatize behavioral and mental healthcare and support healing.

Design 90

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Best in library design 2018: Six projects earn AIA/ALA library awards

BD+C

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Library Association (ALA) are awarding six libraries with the 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design.

Project 89
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Tech Report 5.0: AI Arrives

BD+C

Using artificial intelligence (AI) to apply machine learning to planning and constructing buildings is still a theoretical proposition for many AEC firms. But in recent years, as data storage and computational power have expanded, more firms are willing to engage AI as a practical analytics tool. Their ultimate goal for using this platform seems clear: to generate predictive data that provides early hints about future trends and behaviors on everything from interior designs to jobsite safety.

Safety 85
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Tech Report 5.0: Why wait for 3D renderings?

BD+C

During the past half-decade, a number of AEC technologies have sprung from a common, and perhaps unexpected, source: video games. From urban planning tools to the integration of VR, the well of video game inspiration springs eternal in the AEC world. The newest tool to find a home in the kits of architects and designers has spent the last couple of decades being perfected by the video game industry: real-time rendering.

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Tech Report 5.0: Digital Immersion

BD+C

Huge digital billboards that blare their messages from the sides of skyscrapers and along highways have become part of America’s urban landscape. And now, a growing number of developers are bringing a subtler—and, in many respects, more aesthetically indigenous—form of digital media inside their buildings to enliven or rebrand their properties, and to connect them closer to occupants, tenants, and neighborhoods.

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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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Watch a time-lapse of Wrigley Field’s most recent phase of renovations

BD+C

The second oldest ballpark in the MLB (and the oldest in the National League) has been undergoing a series of renovations in recent years to update and improve the fan and player experiences. The most recent round of updates took place this offseason between October 2017 and April 2018. The latest construction phase focused on an enhanced concourse and new box seats for the fans, and wider dugouts, two new batting cages, and a new trainers room adjacent to the third base dugout for the players.

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BIG’s Audemars Piguet hotel des Horlogers allows guests to ski down the roof

BD+C

Bjarke Ingels Group’s (BIG) new hotel project in Le Brassus, Switzerland is integrated into the Vallée de Joux landscape directly adjacent to the luxury watchmaker’s Atelier Audemars Piguet Museum. The 75,000-sf Audemars Piguet hotel des Horlogers comprises five zig-zagging room slabs that tilt softly to merge and expand into a gently sloping exterior path that leads directly to the museum and local ski trails.

Roofing 78
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Planning for 100: Looking beyond the horizon of zero-net-energy buildings

BD+C

Thanks to the emergence of the U.S. Green Building Council, founded in 1993, we’ve witnessed an incredibly fast transformation of building design and construction—probably the most rapid market transformation since the industrial revolution. Sweeping innovations in materials science, systems efficiencies, and technology have fueled the changes. Designers and builders have adapted their processes and delivery models—but the goal post has consistently and rapidly moved further downfield.

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From fitness to bowling alleys: How commercial office buildings are differentiating themselves through amenities

BD+C

Historically, New York commercial buildings have not needed to offer amenities to stand out. The city served as the office backyard, providing food, fitness, and sub-cellar bowling alley experiences. Now, buildings are full of them. The competition amongst developers and building owners to lease space is so fierce that the need to differentiate is more important than ever.

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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.

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Mass timber design for multifamily housing

BD+C

San Francisco is currently experiencing a housing crisis that threatens its vitality. By 2030, the city’s population is estimated to increase by 150,000 people while adding only 16,000 new dwelling units. The gap between the amount of housing needed and housing provided for residents has widened for decades, due to both limited developable land and hesitance to densify the city.

Housing 75
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Construction spending in February inches up from January

BD+C

Construction spending in February inched up 0.1% from January and increased 3.0% from the February 2017 level, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that public construction dropped sharply in February and urged federal agencies to move promptly to invest recently approved funding for a variety of construction categories.

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Tech Report 5.0: Smart(er) Jobsites

BD+C

As BIM/VDC adoption rates have accelerated substantially over the last decade, helping to usher the design and construction industry into the digital age, a slew of heralded technologies—from VR to computational design—has emerged to reveal that the AEC world is ripe for a seismic disruption. At the center of this tech infusion is the smart jobsites movement.

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Activity based design takes precedence in more new office projects

BD+C

More evidence that companies are embracing open workplace environments comes from Ted Moudis Associates , a New York-based architectural and design firm, whose 2018 Workplace Report finds that offices are being designed to accommodate collaborative “activity-based” projects.

Project 75
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Concrete Waterproofing: The Next Step to a More Resilient Design

Don’t let water wash away all your hard work. When specifying concrete waterproofing, you need a solution that’s reliable and permanent. Without it, your concrete waterproofing is at risk of failing and letting water erode and corrode the concrete that it was supposed to protect. Reduce the risk of waterproofing failure by reading through our latest free specification e-book, which will take you through the four key components to better concrete waterproofing specification.

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Revamping pharmacies for public safety and compliance

BD+C

Maintaining the sterility of a space where pharmaceuticals are prepared protects healthcare personnel, patients, and the environment. That’s why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state boards of pharmacy and accrediting agencies such as the Joint Commission and the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board began enforcing guidelines addressing the risks several years ago.

Safety 74
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Activity-based design takes precedence in new office projects

BD+C

More evidence that companies are embracing open workplace environments comes from Ted Moudis Associates , a New York-based architectural and design firm, whose 2018 Workplace Report finds that offices are being designed to accommodate collaborative “activity-based” projects.

Project 74
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Construction employment increases in 257 metro areas between February 2017 & 2018 as construction firms continue to expand amid strong demand

BD+C

Construction employment increased in 257 out of 358 metro areas between February 2017 and February 2018, declined in 50 and stagnated in 51, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that the employment gains are occurring as construction firms in many parts of the country are having a hard time finding enough qualified workers to keep pace with demand.

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JE Dunn Construction and Hoefer Wysocki Architects selected for Sheppard Air Force Base Medical/Dental Clinic design-build contract

BD+C

The United States Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District has selected JE Dunn Construction and Hoefer Wysocki Architects to design and build the new Sheppard Air Force Base Medical/Dental Clinic in Wichita Falls, Texas.

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Sustainable Architecture: Design Green with the Client in Mind

Speaker: Pedro Clarke – Principal Architect at A+ Architecture, In Loco Program Director

Sustainability begins with a conversation, and acquiring customer buy-in is entirely dependent on how the conversation is framed. Clients may not see sustainability as a priority out of fear of operational costs and quality. While these are legitimate concerns, it is our responsibility as architects to listen and foster a collaborative culture that answers client issues while also reducing our carbon footprint.

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Construction employment rises in 38 states and D.C. from March 2017 to March 2018

BD+C

Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between March 2017 and March 2018, while 29 states added construction jobs between February and March, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials said the job gains are coming amid strong private-sector demand and new public-sector investments in school and airport construction.

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A jobsite dashboard is helping Clark Construction take the drudgery out of managing punch lists

BD+C

Last year, Clark Construction started deploying Turnover Vision, an interactive punch list management application developed by the firm’s Research & Development Group, which combines punch list and scheduling data to optimize a project’s work plan. Turnover Vision analyzes big data from a project’s punch list and organizes them into interactive heat maps and graphs.

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Hot, humid climate makeup air conundrum: The moisture and mold risks that developers, designers and installers continue to take

BD+C

But why?! Hasn’t there been enough lessons learned through moisture/mold construction litigation in the hospitality, multi-family apartment high rise, student and military housing sectors that show that dumping the make-up air to the corridor is a risky proposition. Apparently not?! This concept of make-up air delivery to a corridor has been and continues to be a living unit moisture and mold risk because the make-air cannot reach each occupied room on each floor for purposes of ventilation, pre

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Experts chosen for ICC, ANCR buildings resilience benchmarks project

BD+C

A distinguished group of specialists has been chosen to help develop the nation’s first community-wide resilience benchmarks related to buildings.

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Report: Optimism for Construction Growth in the Next Year Remains High

Research reveals 96% of respondents are very or fairly optimistic about their organization’s growth prospects for the next year. The InEight Global Capital Projects Outlook also finds over half see digital technology as the greatest growth opportunity. But these are only some of the findings. Don't be kept in the dark when it comes to the future. Read the report today!