BD+C
JULY 27, 2016
Most of the energy on Earth comes from the sun. Sunshine reaching the earth’s surface, averaged over the entire planet, is about ¾ of a KWh per square foot per day. But that also includes energy filtered or reflected by the atmosphere and areas closer to the poles where the angle of light is highly oblique. When there is bright sunshine at ground level, it rains down about 100 watts per square foot during the sunniest times of the day.
Life of an Architect
JULY 24, 2016
From my earliest memories, summertime in Texas means watermelon and cantaloupe, ice cream, swimming, riding my bike, and being gone all day looking for trouble … as long as I was home before dark. While I am still capable of remembering my childhood challenges, most of the memories I have from summertime are wonderfully nostalgic. Being a kid is great, but being a grownup who still acts like a kid is even better.
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EntreArchitect
JULY 25, 2016
The European Holiday Shut Down. Every summer, much of the European continent takes holiday at the same time. During the month of August, the city streets empty and the summer resorts fill up. Many architects have experienced the result of this shut down when ordering products or materials from European suppliers. If you order tile from France in July, don’t expect delivery until September or October.
BD+C
JULY 27, 2016
Contractors need to be nimble enough to position themselves for whatever the market yields. “We want to be a ‘must consider’ for every project, and to be that, we must constantly improve,” says Pat Di Filippo, Executive Vice President of Turner’s Northeast region. For the past several years, design-build has accounted for 10–15% of Turner’s work. “If you’re going to do design-build, you have to be able to drive the design,” Di Filippo says.
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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 26, 2016
A quick rundown of architecture and A/E firm innovations this year: • Adrian Smith+Gordon Gill Architecture Implemented VR into its standard design and visualization plan; using Grasshopper and Dynamo to create more robust Revit-to-Rhino interoperability. • Architects Hawaii Limited Created the AHL Wahine Collaborative, a forum where female employees can share “talk stories” to create a “workplace of trust for women.”.
Architecture Focus brings together the best content for architecture professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
BD+C
JULY 26, 2016
As part of the Giants 300 survey process, a number of engineering and engineering/architecture firms reported innovations, market trends, and new business ventures.
BD+C
JULY 27, 2016
A bruising presidential election and a tightening labor market are prompting reservations about future spending for nonresidential building, even as the construction industry’s performance has staved off most gloom-and-doom scenarios. Total spending for nonresidential building was up nearly 11%, to $103.3 billion, in the first quarter. The Census Bureau estimated that the value of nonresidential building put in place rose 3.1% in April compared to April 2015, to an annualized $461.8 billion, spu
BD+C
JULY 29, 2016
With surprising frequency, attorneys involved in litigating design and construction issues take a very simple, even myopic view of the use of expert witnesses. In a lawsuit that’s focused on structural problems, for instance, who could carry more authority than a structural engineer? The strategy seems straightforward: enlist the expert most closely aligned with the issue, develop their testimony, and go forward.
BD+C
JULY 29, 2016
Innovation is fundamental to the Valspar company culture. In fact, Valspar was the first paint company to hire an academically trained chemist. In recent years, innovation at Valspar has meant more than expanding our color selection and improving our coating techniques and durability. Valspar collaborates with organizations to drive green innovation in the building industry.
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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 27, 2016
Renovating and upgrading an existing hotel is all about time and budget. It’s essential to plan ahead for the inherent challenges—and costs—this work can pose. Is your project complicated enough to warrant closure during renovations?
BD+C
JULY 26, 2016
Perkins+Will revealed plans for 98 Fourteenth Street, a 920-foot glass tower that will be the second-tallest building in Atlanta. The 74-story mixed-use facility will have 382 luxury residential units and 180 corporate suites, with retail space in the tower’s 135,000-sf base, as ArchDaily reports. It will have the standard amenities that most high-rises have, like media rooms, fitness centers, and studios.
BD+C
JULY 25, 2016
Autodesk has announced the launch of Autodesk LIVE , a service where Revit users can turn designs into interactive 3D models. The company compares LIVE to a first-person video game, where users can adjust navigation points, render styles, and even the time of day, with fluid and quick controls.
BD+C
JULY 28, 2016
A few years ago, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake believed to have been caused by injection of waste water from fracking operations into the subsurface struck Oklahoma. The temblor damaged highways, toppled chimneys, and caused other damage. Last year, there were nearly 900 earthquakes above 3.0 on the Richter scale in the state, and others have been recorded in regions were fracking is underway.
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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.
BD+C
JULY 25, 2016
A new Michigan law allows local governments to fund energy conservation projects with Tax-Exempt Lease Purchase (TELP) plans. . TELPs are not considered debt for local governments, making energy performance contracts that are paid back through annual energy and operational savings more attractive.
BD+C
JULY 28, 2016
Tesla was founded more than a decade ago upon the hallowed ground of Silicon Valley and launched the first Tesla Roadster in 2008. Four years later, the company and its prolific founder Elon Musk would introduce the world to Model S, the world’s first four-door electric car and the first automobile on the market readily available for purchase by the consumer without visiting a dealership.
BD+C
JULY 29, 2016
Though profitability is important, every employer also desires engaged employees.
BD+C
JULY 29, 2016
Real gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 1.2% (seasonally adjusted annual rate) during 2016’s second quarter according to according to an analysis of Bureau of Economic Analysis data released by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). This modest figure follows a 0.8% annualized rate of output growth registered during the year’s first quarter.
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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.
BD+C
JULY 27, 2016
Critics charge that New York City’s approach to resiliency in the face of climate-change-induced sea level rise is shortsighted. New development in Manhattan and Columbia University’s new Manhattanville campus will be at risk in 50 to 80 years, they say. Mayor Bill de Blasio is focused on “an election time scale,” not a more realistic timetable given the challenges the city faces, critics assert.
BD+C
JULY 26, 2016
A new law in Miami Beach, Fla., requires buildings larger than 7,000 sf to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) specifications or pay a fee that is equal to 5% percent of the construction costs. New structures larger than 7,000 sf must be LEED Gold certified. LEED Silver certification is required for new buildings larger than 50,000 sf. .
BD+C
JULY 25, 2016
Bjarke Ingels Group, Snøhetta, MVRDV, and Michele De Lucchi are the four finalists in the S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water’s search to redesign its flagship factory and bottling plant in San Pellegrino Terme, Italy. S.Pellegrino says it's seeking an efficient, sustainable project that would celebrate its history and its region. According to the company, its mineral water comes from a thermal spring at the foot of a dolomite mountain, and that the drink has been in production for the
BD+C
JULY 25, 2016
A new Michigan law allows local governments to fund energy conservation projects with Tax-Exempt Lease Purchase (TELP) plans. . TELPs are not considered debt for local governments, making energy performance contracts that are paid back through annual energy and operational savings more attractive.
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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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!
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