Sat.Jan 28, 2017 - Fri.Feb 03, 2017

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Public transportation of the future: Four new sustainable technologies

BD+C

On my way in to work this morning, I walked through a tree lined street, admired my wintry surroundings, breathed fresh air, and chatted with one of my neighbors at the bus stop. I listened to music and sent a message to my mom while waiting to transfer to the metro. A short time later I arrived at work with a clear head, and ready to start my day.

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How To Build a Successful Architecture Firm With No Debt

EntreArchitect

For the first four years, Fivecat Studio could be found at a basement studio in our little cottage in the woods of Chappaqua, New York. The space was just large enough for one Dell workstation, a couple of bookshelves, a desk chair, a telephone, five cats and me. Each morning I would eat breakfast, kiss Annmarie good-bye and “commute” down 12 steps to Fivecat Studio World Headquarters.

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2017 Life of an Architect Playhouse Design Competition

Life of an Architect

This is a tremendous moment … the most tremendous of moments. It is time for the 7th Annual 2017 Life of an Architect Playhouse Design Competition! (Hopefully, you heard La Virgen de la Macarena in your head when you read that last sentence – I know I did.) Many of you will remember that last year I tried an experiment and partnered up with Houzz in an effort to broaden the reach and exposure of the event.

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3 tips for designing workplaces that support culture, brand, and community

BD+C

The workplace has evolved exponentially over the past decade, from large, uniform workstations and offices to efficient open plans and auxiliary areas. Technology has advanced from desktop computers and landlines, to laptops, and mobile apps. Innovation in technology has driven an increase in employees’ productivity and efficiency, and innovation in design has strategically followed.

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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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Nanjing Green Towers will be Asia’s first vertical forest

BD+C

A new mixed-use project from Stefano Boeri Architects, Nanjing Vertical Forest will comprise two towers rising from a 20-meter shared podium. What makes this project unique is, according to the architects, this will be the first vertical forest built not only in China, but in all of Asia.

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New renderings of the 1966 Century Plaza Hotel’s redevelopment

BD+C

Originally constructed in 1966, the Century Plaza Hotel is in the process of undergoing a redevelopment that will refurbish the hotel, eliminate about half of its 726 rooms, and add 63 residences. The space gained from eliminating a good portion of the rooms will be used to create 93,000 sf of commercial space on the hotel’s lower levels. 400 hotel rooms will remain on the upper floors.

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Zurich defies center-core office archetype with stacked, cantilevered HQ

BD+C

Spanning 783,800 sf across its 11 stories, Zurich’s new North American headquarters in Schaumburg, Ill., houses almost 3,000 employees and contractors in a “stacked bars” office complex. Designed by Goettsch Partners, with Clayco as the developer and design-builder, the LEED Platinum-certified building breaks free from the typical center-core suburban office form with a trio of rectangular boxes that are offset and stacked.

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$500 million investment will modernize Chicago’s Willis Tower

BD+C

When the Willis Tower (still called the Sears Tower by some of the more intransigent Chicagoans) was completed back in 1974 it was known around the world as the tallest building on the planet. A title it held for almost 25 years. Since that time, however, the Willis Tower has seen building after building surpass it in height. So many buildings, in fact, that it is no longer even in the top 10.

Modern 74
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Building Design+Construction launches Accelerate Live! AEC innovation conference

BD+C

How should AEC firms—and their clients—prepare for the coming AI revolution? Will machine learning disrupt the design and planning processes? Is it possible to transform the complex, disjointed construction jobsite into a neat, orderly factory setting?

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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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Drone-based hospitality concept looks to make nomads of us all

BD+C

There are only so many times a family can vacation to Disneyland before it grows a bit tiresome. The problem is, as jaded as it may seem, many vacation destinations fail to impress because they all provide similar experiences. But what if your next vacation could take a step off the well-worn path carved by thousands of travelers before you and, instead, become something completely tailored?

Concept 69
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Massachusetts, Colorado, Illinois lead annual Top 10 States for LEED Green Building list

BD+C

Massachusetts, Colorado, and Illinois lead the list of the Top 10 States for LEED, an annual ranking of U.S. states that made significant strides in sustainable building design, construction, and transformation over the past year. Washington, D.C., is not included in the list of top states due to its status as a federal territory, but its 29.04 sf of LEED space per resident is more than any individual state.

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AIA foresees nonres building spending increasing, but at a slower pace than in 2016

BD+C

Despite what it describes as a “chaotic” year saddled with labor shortages and interest-rate creep, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) estimates that spending for nonresidential construction increased by nearly 8% in 2016. That growth is expected to continue for “another couple of years,” albeit somewhat more modestly.

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Machine learning could help buildings notify occupants about critical systems failures before they happen

BD+C

Artificial intelligence doesn’t always get the best wrap. From fictional takes on the technology such as Skynet, from The Terminator series, destroying the world and Westworld’s new foreboding take on AI, to Stephen Hawking’s very real warning that artificial intelligence could end mankind, AI certainly doesn’t get as much love as other novel forms of technology like augmented reality or drones.

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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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Urgent care centers: True pioneers of retail healthcare delivery

BD+C

The nearly 7,100 urgent care centers operating in the U.S. see nearly 160 million patients a year, according to the latest estimate by the Urgent Care Association of America (UCAOA). To say the competition for these patients is fierce would be an understatement: Urgent care is about as close to retail as healthcare gets.

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Denser development could reduce emissions more than building energy retrofits

BD+C

If development in cities became denser, that would do more to reduce emissions from buildings than wide-scale building energy retrofits, according to a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Chicago’s West Loop to receive 500-foot apartment tower

BD+C

Just over one week ago, a Chicago apartment tower project that was revealed in 2011 and approved by the city the following year finally received a construction permit. According to Curbed Chicago , the cylindrical tower, dubbed One South Halsted, will rise 44-stories and 495 feet in the air and become the tallest building in Chicago west of the Kennedy Expressway.

Permits 53
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Planning for world’s first floating city underway

BD+C

The French Polynesian islands are among the most vulnerable areas in the world to flooding due to rising seas stemming from climate change.

Cities 58
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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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Tour ancient buildings and cities as they were when new with Lithodomos VR

BD+C

Millions of people flock to ancient sites every year to feel the wonderment that comes with laying eyes on the ruins of a building or city from thousands of years ago. Viewing the ruins may be a spectacular experience for many, but it often leads people to wonder what that structure or city looked like back when it was a thriving hive of activity. Lithodomos VR, a new Melbourne-based virtual reality archaeological startup, is attempting to create a VR experience that will provide exactly that: a

Cities 49
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Design team for Javits Center’s $1.5 billion expansion announced

BD+C

The Javits Center expansion is already underway as a three-story building that will house transformers, generators, and other mechanicals needed for the expansion has begun construction. Just recently, however, Empire State Development announced it has chosen LendLease and Turner Construction as the design-build team for the project, reports Curbed New York.

Design 45
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Justice in Design initiative to explore how to design a modern jail

BD+C

The New York City Council, the Independent Commission on New York City Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform, and Van Alen Institute recently launched the Justice in Design initiative.

Modern 45
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Nonresidential spending falters slightly to end 2016

BD+C

Nonresidential construction spending slipped 0.7 percent in the final month of 2016, but increased 4.6 percent over the previous year, according to analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data recently released by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Nonresidential spending decreased from $713.1 billion in November to $708.2 billion in December on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis.

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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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Netflix design documentary series to feature Bjarke Ingels

BD+C

A new eight-episode documentary series coming to Netflix hopes to provide a look inside the minds of some of the most influential designers from various disciplines. Architecture, graphic design, automobile design, and photography are just some of the areas the series, titled Abstract: The Art of Design , will focus on.

Design 45
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5.6% growth for nonresidential construction in 2017: AIA Consensus Forecast

BD+C

With construction spending continuing on an upward trajectory, 2016 can be considered a successful year for the nonresidential building sector. For the coming year, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast is projecting growth in overall nonresidential building spending of almost 6%, just below the pace of growth for 2016. .

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From devastation to hope in Haiti

BD+C

In the wake of a massive earthquake in 2010 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016, the small country of Haiti is still working to recover from devastation that took the lives of more than 220,000 people and left hundreds of thousands more in desperate circumstances.

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HOK joins Well Living Lab Alliance sponsored by Delos and Mayo Clinic

BD+C

The Well Living Lab, a Delos TM and Mayo Clinic collaboration, recently announced that HOK is the first design, architecture and engineering firm to join the growing Well Living Lab Alliance. .

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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!