December, 2016

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Agora Garden, a twisting, plant-filled tower in Taipei, will absorb 130 tons of carbon dioxide annually once completed

BD+C

A twisted tower is a dramatic addition to any skyline and doesn’t require much else to catch the eye of anyone whose sightline it may come into. But a new twisted tower from Vincent Callebaut Architectures will add a metaphorical twist on top of the literal 90-degree twist its recently topped out Agora Garden skyscraper already has. The new building will be packed with plants, vegetable gardens, and trees on each of its 22 floors, turning it into, what the architect calls, a vertical farm.

Building 110
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Not Your Typical Modern Wood Deck

Life of an Architect

I don’t think it’s bragging when I tell people I’ve done my fair share of awesome decks in my career … and today I thought I would show you one of the most recently completed awesome decks. One of the projects I have been working on for a while is coming to a close, and most of our attention has turned to the exterior hardscape (things like patios and walkways, decks and the trellis).

Modern 66
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Trending Sources

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Part 2: Reanimating Woodward Avenue's Street-cars: The M1 Rail Project

A Detroit Architect's Journal

In honor of the Qline's scheduled launch in 2017, here's a blog written in 2013 about the project. At 5:56am on April 8, 1956, operator Paul Payne pulled streetcar PCC #233 into the Woodward car house ending the operation of the city's last street-car line, the Woodward line, that had begun service on August 27, 1863. Later that afternoon, a special "End of the Line" parade was conducted along Woodward.

Project 52
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My Commitment To A Digital Disconnect

EntreArchitect

Two Thousand One Hundred Eighty Four Hours Per Year. I spend much of my daily waking hours facing some type of digital device. Whether it’s managing email from my many accounts, or preparing CAD documents for our next construction project, or updating our business systems in Evernote. I could be working virtually with my team at Fivecat Studio , with members at EntreArchitect Academy, or staying connected with my mom and dad.

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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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People, street trees, & buildings share a comparable life expectancy, about 80 years

Architecture Tourist

Building life expectancy: "There's a lot of spread in that. The average residential building lasts about 150 years, but the average Walmart or a (not so hot) apartment complex last 10 or 15 years but the average is 80 years." Paul Knight 's Streets Lecture - Part 1 Please Come see part 2: Streets: Designing a Master Street Plan (Part II) on Tuesday, December 13th at 6:30 pm at the Atlanta City Studio on the 2nd floor of Ponce City Market.

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Could this idea for an Urban Droneport facilitate the future of drone-based deliveries?

BD+C

Companies have been wondering aloud for quite some time about the possibility of using drones as the couriers of the future. Amazon has not made it a secret that they want to use drones to deliver packages in the near future and, earlier this year, Domino’s delivered the first pizza by drone in New Zealand.

IT 100
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The Edmonton Oilers new stadium and mixed-use venue is exceeding expectations

BD+C

Since Rogers Place, the city-owned, $480-million arena and home of the Edmonton Oilers, opened on Sept. 8, the HOK-designed building has been exceeding expectations, hosting more than 500,000 guests in just two months. The facility, which was not just designed as an NHL stadium, but as a “365-day-a-year destination,” has sold out each Edmonton Oilers game and provided the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings with their largest-ever attendance on a sold-out opening night.

Cities 100
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Passive House standard gaining influence in commercial sector

BD+C

The Passive House standard will become the base building code for commercial construction, and is having influence in the residential arena, according to some industry observers. .

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Expanding possibilities for America's K-12 schools

BD+C

Tradition is giving way to innovation and necessity at a growing number of America’s 13,515 public school districts. Principals, administrators, school boards, and teachers themselves are acknowledging that the once-hallowed education model of teacher-as-lecturer is leaving too many students unengaged and unprepared for college and the workplace.

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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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A STEM-focused building creates a new axis on the campus of Lawrence Technological University

BD+C

As part of an ambitious expansion and renovation campaign, for which it has raised in excess of $125 million, Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Mich., recently debuted its $16.9 million, 36,700-sf A. Alfred Taubman Engineering, Architecture, and Life Sciences Complex, which is home to the Marburger STEM Center, and provides a collaborative learning environment for emerging technologies such as robotics, biomedical engineering, and mechatronics.

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Amsterdam’s new sustainable mixed-use building embraces the idea of living on the water

BD+C

In the Amsterdam neighborhood of IJburg, an emerging urban district built on six artificial islands, a new 46,000-sm mixed-use building named Sluishuis wants to replicate the neighborhood’s fusion of water and city on a smaller scale.

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The world’s tallest religious building is under construction

BD+C

A new Hindu temple, named “Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir” and dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Sri Krishna, is under construction in Uttar Pradesh, India. Once completed, it will become the tallest religious structure in the world. The building, designed by the Indian firm InGenious Studio, will stand 700-feet-tall and rise 70 tiered stories, Arch Daily reports.

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Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport creates a destination inside Terminal 3

BD+C

The first of a three-part phased modernization of Terminal 3 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport today opened its doors to the public. .

Modern 99
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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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One of Canada’s largest media companies dives into real estate development

BD+C

In its ongoing effort to develop a downtown core, the Toronto suburb of Mississauga, Ont., recently announced the launch of M City, a 10-tower, 15-acre, 4.3 million sf master-planned community that, when completed, will cost C$1.5 billion (US$1.118 billion). Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2017 or early 2018. This project represents the first residential condominium project undertaken by the private holding company Rogers Real Estate Development Ltd.

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eBay’s San Jose headquarters has a new interactive hub and welcome center named Main Street

BD+C

eBay’s has received, what the company is calling, a new ‘front door’ for its San Jose headquarters, and oh, what a front door it is. Officially named Main Street, the addition to the San Jose campus is a 20,000-sf interactive hub and welcome center designed by ESI Design. The center is meant to exemplify eBay’s platform via large-scale, interactive displays and dynamic media installations.

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A new light from Dyson can last for 22 years and uses just 90W of electricity

BD+C

Dyson is mostly known for its (expensive) vacuum cleaners that claim to never lose suction and have the ability to get every inch of your carpet clean, but Dyson’s newest invention isn’t a new super powerful or ultra quiet vacuum cleaner, in fact, it isn’t a vacuum cleaner at all; it’s the Cu-Beam Duo , a light that is rated to operate for 22 years without a bulb change.

IT 87
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Telescopic walls could help combat the damages of floodwaters

BD+C

Water is often times considered to be the most powerful force on the planet. Which means, under the right circumstances, it can also be the most destructive. All you have to do is watch footage from the tsunami that occurred in Japan in 2011 to understand just how devastating a force it can be. And when the water begins rising, be it from an ocean, lake, or river, it can seem like there is no stopping it from its relentless march forward.

IT 84
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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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University of Chicago to open new education center in Hong Kong

BD+C

A new building for the University of Chicago is currently under construction on Mount Davis in Hong Kong that will establish a hub for education, research, and collaboration once completed.

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The future of libraries

BD+C

An interesting trend has been unfolding in academic libraries. The library has been welcoming new neighbors. Specifically, programs that support student and faculty success such as math emporiums, writing centers, academic enrichment programs, and excellence-in-teaching centers, are now being given prominent real estate within the library. Before examining the opportunities and challenges of these synergies, it is important to place it in the larger context of the academic library's evolution an

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Unlocking innovation in the government workplace

BD+C

Gensler’s 2016 U.S. Workplace Survey identified elements of workplace design that foster innovation. Digging into the data, Gensler researchers were able to determine which industry sectors have workplace designs that most foster innovation and which have workplaces that inhibit it.

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Parks & People Foundation's 'Green Growing Center' in Place at Baltimore's Druid Hill Park

BD+C

The 600-square-foot Growing Green Center has been set in place on its site at Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, by builder Modular Genius. The facility, designed by Ziger/Snead Architects, will serve as a training and staging center for the city's Parks & People Foundation. Final work on the modular structure is expected to be completed in the next few weeks, with a formal opening ceremony in Q1/2017.

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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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‘Disappearing’ bridges planned to connect sandstone pillars in Zhangjiajie

BD+C

A series of pavilions and footbridges planned for the sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie in Hunan Province, China, are designed to make visitors feel as if they are walking on air and floating above the stunning landscape.

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How corporate design keeps educational design relevant

BD+C

There are many different terms used to describe learning and what method is best for today’s student and how school design supports each modality. However, when we break down each description— personalized, flipped, 21st century, project based, problem based—these teaching methods are simply designed to engage students and maintain an interest in learning. .

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An open letter to men in the AEC C-suite

BD+C

Enough talk. Enough with the pleasantries. It’s time to listen—to really listen—to your female colleagues, peers, and employees. . Many will be too proud to open up fully about their struggles with forging a career in the male-dominated AEC industry. Others feel that they don’t have a safe forum—free from judgment—in which to talk freely about the issues they face on a daily basis.

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Has ‘green’ delivered on its promise to the healthcare sector?

BD+C

The built environment has a profound impact on our natural environment, economy, health, and productivity, according to the US Green Building Council (USGBC). In the United States alone, buildings account for: * 65% of electricity consumption. * 36% of energy use. * 40% of greenhouse gas emissions. * 30% of raw materials use. * 30% of waste output (136 million tons annually). * 12% of potable water consumption.

IT 78
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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!