Architecture News

Architecture news continually updated from thousands of sources around the net.

• — Marquette Interchange fix to take 4-5 months

     (Tuesday, 07 September 2010 22:14)

  Sept. 7, 2010 7:56 p.m. A flawed support column in the Marquette Interchange will be replaced over the next four to five months, according to a plan released Tuesday by the engineering firm responsible for the problem.

• — AECOM Names Sustainability Chief

     (Tuesday, 07 September 2010 13:03)

  Los Angeles-based AECOM Technology Corporation , which provides professional technical, project, and management support to companies and governments, said this morning that it has named Gary Lawrence as the firm's Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer.

• — Press release distribution, EDGAR filing, XBRL, regulatory filings

     (Tuesday, 07 September 2010 08:49)

  AOL and Telepictures Productions launched a partnership in which AOL and The Ellen DeGeneres Show website will share promotion, traffic and content.

• — New Labor face a familiar one

     (Monday, 06 September 2010 17:15)

  She is being hailed by party bosses as a ''fresh face'' for Labor in the Legislative Council who represents a clean break from the factional appointments of the past.

• — Officials: Obama to back new infrastructure plan

     (Monday, 06 September 2010 12:59)

  Road construction crews contracted by Parsons Brinckerhoff work on a widening project run by the Florida Department of Transportation on February 18, 2009 in Florida City, Florida.

• — Export of labor taking a toll on households

     (Monday, 06 September 2010 08:39)

  Labor has traditionally been the backbone of this country's economy. But with unemployment hovering at 10 percent for the past several months, and the country importing more foreign-made goods than ever, labor leaders and experts in the region contend American workers are struggling and will continue to do so, unless or until more jobs are brought ...

• — Vote on MBTAa s Green Line extension looms

     (Monday, 06 September 2010 04:30)

  The Department of Transportation's board is scheduled to vote tomorrow on a design contract for the Green Line extension that was postponed last month, a contract that has attracted attention because it includes Big Dig partner Parsons Brinckerhoff as a subcontractor.

• — Skyscraper Bloat

     (Monday, 06 September 2010 00:20)

  A s soon as the economy perks up, Manhattan's skyline is going to change, and when it does, the Empire State Building will lose its splendid isolation.

• — Nonprofit news

     (Sunday, 05 September 2010 08:46)

  WHITE PLAINS: Employees from various businesses throughout Westchester participated in Back-to-School Clothes for Kids, outfitting children in need, who are served by Westchester Jewish Community Services, one of the county's premier social service agencies.

• — M-Change: Designer Linked to Missouri Ramp Collapse

     (Saturday, 04 September 2010 02:39)

  The company that's accepted responsibility for a design flaw with a Marquette Interchange support column is linked to another significant ramp problem in Kansas City.

• — Recent Study: Petrofac Limited (PFC) - Financial and Strategic Analysis Review

     (Friday, 03 September 2010 22:35)

  It provides facilities solutions to the oil & gas production and processing industry.

• — I-470 ramp design team faces new problem

     (Friday, 03 September 2010 18:15)

  HNTB, the corporation behind the design of the I-470 ramp that collapsed now faces similar problems in Wisconsin.

• — Firms, city settle over flaws at new fueling and washing center

     (Friday, 03 September 2010 13:01)

  Cracks started appearing in the concrete surface at the the citya s fueling and washing center soon after it opened in 2005.

• — Columbia looking for ways to cut energy costs

     (Friday, 03 September 2010 03:37)

  The city is on its way to saving roughly $55,000 per year by cutting energy costs.

• — Richard B. Beach Named Sediment Management Practice Leader at MACTEC

     (Thursday, 02 September 2010 23:32)

  Allen Kibler, President of MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc., , made the announcement.

• — Portman To Be Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award At ALIS

     (Thursday, 02 September 2010 14:08)

  John Portman Jr., chairman of John Portman & Associates Inc., Portman Holdings LLC and AmericasMart, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit .

• — HNTB is building and supporting the community

     (Thursday, 02 September 2010 09:49)

  HNTB is important to Indianapolis in many ways. The national civil engineering infrastructure company helps design, build and improve city structures.

• — Community Hospital-Fairfax Set for Opening Ceremony

     (Wednesday, 01 September 2010 23:14)

  The new Community Hospital-Fairfax, located in Fairfax, Mo., officially will open on Friday, September 3, following a morning dedication ceremony.

• — Florida Chamber reaches out to Rick Scott

     (Wednesday, 01 September 2010 19:05)

  The Florida Chamber of Commerce reached out to the Rick Scott campaign yesterday when Scott visited Jacksonville on a unity tour.

• — Venice #9: USA bootstraps it

     (Wednesday, 01 September 2010 14:50)

  Some good old-fashioned bootstrapping as the US pavilion celebrates the "proactive, entrepreneurial spirit of architects, engineers and designers who recognize the transformational potential of focused partnerships." Entitled, "Workshopping," the US curators Michael Rooks of the High Museum of Art and John D. Solomon of 306090 invited Archeworks , ...

Made by Monkeys

• — Monkeys designed the computer wiring

     (Tuesday, 07 September 2010 11:52)

  By Ira WilnerI’ve built - or rather more correctly, assembled - my own personal computers since the dawn of personal computing with the Popular Electronics Altair computer project in the 1970s....

• — The monkeys hid the battery

     (Wednesday, 01 September 2010 08:48)

  By A.K. RosenhanAs a firefighter I end up at car fires. Recently we responded to an electrical fire in a  new small Dodge 4 door.  The idea was to disconnect the battery. We couldn’t find it!...

• — Monkeys designed the Mazda MPV master fuse

     (Sunday, 29 August 2010 18:07)

  By Robert RichmondMonkeys placed the master fuse in the Mazda MPV in a very interesting place. You had to disassemble the electrical system to replace the fuse - not an easy project in a parking...

• — Monkeys broke my turn signals

     (Wednesday, 25 August 2010 09:22)

  By Renato FrielloMy 1996 Buick Regal had developed turn signal issues. Upon investigation I found that the turn signal relay was held in place by a spring clip to the steering column....

• — Monkeys assembled my 2007 Toyota Avalon brake calipers

     (Monday, 23 August 2010 13:47)

  By Mobarakh MohammedA routine check on my 2007 Toyota Avalon revealed my front bake pads was wearing more on one side than on the other on each of the two wheels, a sign that something was wrong...

• — Monkeys Like Their Mustangs Hot

     (Wednesday, 18 August 2010 10:53)

  By Randy MillerMy ‘67 Mustang fastback probably wasn’t designed and built by monkeys at Ford, but I think a couple managed to sneak under the hood after it left the factory.This 289 V8...

• — Monkeys Messed with My Hot Water

     (Monday, 16 August 2010 11:57)

  By Doug FortuneMy Monkeys story concerns a Bosch instant-on hot water (natural gas) heater, which was made in Portugal, of all places.The thing needs pampering … the electronics and solenoid...

• — The Maytag Repairman’s a monkey

     (Tuesday, 10 August 2010 11:03)

  By Randy DukeI grew up watching “Maytag Repairman” commercials, so when my wife and I were in the market for a new washer and dryer, nothing else would do. I was honestly proud when they were...

• — Monkeys made my brakes expensive

     (Wednesday, 04 August 2010 09:21)

  By Bob ClarkWhen GM designed the front brake system on the GMC Canyon/Chevy Colorado, for some reason they located the brake rotor inside the wheel hub.  In order to get the rotor off, it is...

• — Remember AMC's Gremlin, introduced on April Fool's Day of 1970?

     (Friday, 30 July 2010 16:01)

  By Larry BaxterOurs performed nicely until 1980, when the motor ran very rough.  I traced the problem to a rich mixture caused by high fuel level in the carburetor (remember carburetors?) caused...

• — Monkeys destroyed my freezer

     (Wednesday, 28 July 2010 14:53)

  By Ernie ColeI bought a GE freezer that only lasted three years. It lost all of its coolant chemical (Freon) due to a leak and was not repairable for less than it would cost to purchase a new...

• — Monkeys made my GM car

     (Monday, 26 July 2010 13:54)

  By Loring ChienI used to be a GM car buyer because my dad always bought them.My fist car was a 1972 Buick Skylark. Something bad about the water pump. First one failed at 20,000 miles, Second...

• — Monkeys overheated my Ford Explorer

     (Friday, 23 July 2010 03:42)

  By Jesse C StigginsAfter reading the April 2010 example concerning Mazda overheating I realized this may be more of a problem than just with Mazda. I had exactly the same problem with my 2004...

• — Monkeys made my Mazda hot

     (Monday, 19 July 2010 23:47)

  By John CroninSeveral weeks ago my daughter started having overheat problems with her Mazda 626. I learned years ago most serious engine problems are caused by overheating. While it is a good...

• — Monkeys tortured me with my Ford Bronco

     (Wednesday, 14 July 2010 17:11)

  By Daniel Pankratz, Human Factors Senior EngineerYou don’t know “made by monkeys” unless you’ve had a 1993 Ford Bronco. The Maintenance Monkeys were in prime form on this vehicle.I was...

• — Monkeys messed with my cooler float

     (Tuesday, 13 July 2010 13:42)

  By James Marr.Evaporative coolers (swamp coolers) cool a room or building by pulling air through wet pads. They work best in a dry climate, but provide some help even in north Alabama summers....

• — Monkeys made my microwave, and refrigerator, and wall oven

     (Tuesday, 29 June 2010 13:25)

  I installed a Jenn-Air microwave wall oven in our new kitchen in 2003. In 2007 the turntable in the microwave stopped revolving. I checked it out and found that the plastic coupling which was...

• — Monkeys made this Hyundai

     (Friday, 25 June 2010 12:14)

  By David Skroch, Process EngineerI went into engineering after a high school shop class trip to Owatonna Tool Company and Mustang Skid Loaders - both located in Owatonna, Minn. All I knew after...

• — Classic fatigue fracture causes bicycle accident, leads to lack of consortium lawsuit

     (Tuesday, 22 June 2010 09:16)

  By Kenneth Russell, Contributing EditorBicycling is touted as healthy exercise, which it usually is. I commuted 16 miles a day this way for years. But there are hazards. My worst scare was from...

• — Monkeys messed up my fridge

     (Tuesday, 15 June 2010 19:25)

  By Wayne Tiffany, CSWP, Automatic Systems, Inc.A little over a year ago we purchased a new Sears refrigerator as our old one was 35 years old and showing its age.  Nice design overall, good...

Material Thoughts

• — Apple Tests Amorphous Metal Injection Molding Machine

     (Thursday, 02 September 2010 12:15)

  Apple will soon make test parts on a newly developed amorphous metal injection molding machine located in Korea, says Leander Kahney, the editor and publisher of Cult of Mac, and author of Inside...

• — PE Ascends for Hip Implants; All-Metal Devices Fade

     (Tuesday, 31 August 2010 17:11)

  The historical weak link in joint implants was a cushion of polyethylene that broke down over time. “Metal-on-metal” hip implants were introduced in 2002, and were widely hailed by surgeons...

• — Get Machined Prototypes Within Five Days

     (Sunday, 29 August 2010 14:52)

  A new CNC machining service provides engineers with CNC machined parts in less than five business days, with material options ranging from aluminum to more than 30 different plastics Users upload...

• — Ford Eyes Parts Made With Wheat Straw Fillers

     (Wednesday, 25 August 2010 15:49)

  One of the interesting exhibits at the annual conference of the Industrial Designers Society of America meeting held this month in Portland, OR, showed parts made from polypropylene compounded...

• — New ABS/ASA Blend Targets Solar Panels

     (Monday, 23 August 2010 12:39)

  Techno Polymer Co. of Japan has developed a new, highly functional ABS film for use in solar panels. The recently developed black-colored backing sheet consists of a special pigment blended with...

• — Why Biodegradable Plastics Are on the Table

     (Tuesday, 17 August 2010 15:02)

  On the surface biodegradable plastics do not necessarily make a lot of sense. They are often more expensive than oil-based plastics, and may require industrial type composters to totally...

• — Almost 50 Years Later, Gorilla Glass Finally Is a Success

     (Wednesday, 11 August 2010 18:18)

  In 1960, Corning told its top researcher to develop a glass that wouldn’t break. The result was a product called Chemcor  that withstood 100,000 pounds of pressure per square inch.Efforts to...

• — Ford Simplifies Design Engineering

     (Thursday, 05 August 2010 11:32)

  Design engineering is becoming much less complicated at Ford Motor Co, which is clearly the most successful American auto company in recent years. Under the “One Ford” plan initiated by CEO...

• — Avantium Inks Nylon Development Partner

     (Tuesday, 03 August 2010 09:55)

  Dutch chemicals’ innovator Avantium will announce later this year a joint application development partner in a specific polyamide (nylon) area. Avantium is now in the second year of a joint...

• — Paper-Making Waste Dominates Feedstock Discussion

     (Thursday, 29 July 2010 15:39)

  Pulp and paper waste is the big new headliner as a feedstock for bioplastics. Corn was the big early play, but that has changed. The latest news: CSM subsidiary Purac said it has signed a contract...

• — NAPCOR Says PET Sorting Systems Aren't Practical

     (Tuesday, 27 July 2010 17:30)

   A dispute is brewing about the recyclability of packaging made from renewable resources. The National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) issued a statement that it “refutes”...

• — ATI, Alcan Fire Salvos in Aircraft Materials' War

     (Wednesday, 21 July 2010 10:12)

  The materials wars in the aircraft industry are heating up. Allegheny Technologies Inc. introduced its new titanium ATI 425 Alloy to the commercial aerospace industry at this year’s Farnborough...

• — Carbon Nanotube Compounding is a Special Art

     (Sunday, 18 July 2010 10:44)

  One emerging technology to watch closely is the integration of carbon nanotubes into high-performance materials. Almost any compounder can mix carbon powder and thermoplastics. But only a handful...

• — 3M Introduces FX Premium Automotive Window Film

     (Wednesday, 14 July 2010 14:49)

  3M introduced a new automotive window film, called FX Premium, which is manufactured without any metals to avoid interference with signals for cell phones and GPS systems.  3M says FX Premium...

• — Toyota Shakes Up Its Engineering Approach

     (Tuesday, 06 July 2010 09:17)

  Toyota is changing its engineering practices in an effort to halt a slide in vehicle quality. In one major shift, more engineering work will be done in house. The amount of engineering work...

• — Pick Up a Grand For a Cool Gadget Idea

     (Sunday, 04 July 2010 12:35)

  Deadline for the Gadget Freak Contest and its $1,000 prize is fast approaching. Visit http://makezine.com/gadgetfreakcontest for official rules and to see examples of some of the coolest projects...

• — GM Expands Launch Plans for the Chevy Volt

     (Thursday, 01 July 2010 15:16)

  GM CEO Ed Whitacre says the company is expanding the initial launch of the Chevy Volt electric vehicle to Texas, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to the launch markets for the Volt. Already...

• — Fastener Problems Still Plague Boeing 787 Dreamliner

     (Tuesday, 29 June 2010 09:52)

  Assembly issues continue to slow delivery of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which is now almost three years behind schedule.  Workers at Italian subcontractor Alenia apparently incorrectly installed...

• — Raytheon Can't Find Enough Qualified Engineers

     (Thursday, 24 June 2010 09:08)

  Raytheon is hiring 4,500 engineers this year but can’t find enough qualified candidates. “That’s a frightening problem for a company like ours,” CEO William Swanson said in remarks...

• — Bacteria Seals Cracks in Concrete

     (Tuesday, 22 June 2010 17:56)

  A self-healing system for concrete developed in Europe was inspired by a Dutch researcher’s trip to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. As concrete ages, water seeps into cracks, which widen...

• — New Delft TU Approach Yields Tough Steels for Landing Gears

     (Monday, 21 June 2010 09:22)

  New, tougher steels for landing gears are being developed at the Delft Technical  University in The Netherlands using a novel engineering research approach. Researchers have identified alloys...

• — PLA Honeycombs May Reduce Aircraft Weight

     (Friday, 11 June 2010 19:04)

  There’s a revolution in technology to make planes lighter. Use of composites in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is well known. Not so well known is a new hexagonal honeycomb core material made of...

Design Observer: Main Posts

Design Observer: Main Posts

• — New Fuel for an Old Narrative: Notes on the BP Oil Disaster

     (Tuesday, 07 September 2010 12:49)

  On Places, geographer Richard Campanella recalls a long hot summer, and sets the BP oil spill into the complex environmental and cultural contexts of America's third coast.

• — The Real Skinny on the Real Skinny

     (Tuesday, 07 September 2010 10:18)

  The is the first of two essays on the visual nature of body image.

• — William Drenttel on Design and Social Innovation

     (Sunday, 05 September 2010 15:12)

  A video of a talk on design and social innovation at the Feast Conference given by William Drenttel on October 1, 2009.

• — Hallowed Ground, Worldly City: Ground Zero and the Struggle for Lower Manhattan

     (Friday, 03 September 2010 15:24)

  On Places, James Sanders looks at the current controversy over the proposed Islamic center near Ground Zero in a larger context, noting that New York City has for most of its history "abhorred the very idea of memorials." 

• — Hell Under Wheels

     (Thursday, 02 September 2010 18:26)

  Photo from Teun Voeten's newly reissued book on New York's Tunnel People.

• — Climate Change Chocolate Update

     (Thursday, 02 September 2010 12:34)

  Update on Climate Change Chocolate and other ideas for offsetting carbon. Originally published August 17, 2009.

• — James Victore: Straight Up

     (Wednesday, 01 September 2010 10:01)

  "Few designers have done more to render typography foundries irrelevant than Victore. The human hand, his hand, is always in evidence." Michael Bierut on James Victore's work.

• — Death to Design Awards

     (Tuesday, 31 August 2010 10:18)

  Essay attacking design awards for stifling innovation

• — Lunch with the Critics: Park51 & 15 Penn

     (Monday, 30 August 2010 13:41)

  "Lunch with the Critics," a new feature on Design Observer: Mark Lamster and Alexandra Lange travel to midtown to visit the Hotel Pennsylvania, across from Penn Station and Madison Square Garden.

• — SELCO: Product Design Philosophy

     (Thursday, 26 August 2010 12:37)

  This video of the SELCO innovation team talking about product development is a part of the SELCO case study, the first in a series of case studies on design and social enterprise funded by the Rockefeller Foundation through a grant to the Winterhouse Institute.

• — SELCO: Founder Harish Hande on SELCO's Future

     (Thursday, 26 August 2010 12:35)

  This video of Harish Hande is a part of the SELCO case study, the first in a series of case studies on design and social enterprise funded by the Rockefeller Foundation through a grant to the Winterhouse Institute.

• — Dogs and Their Designers

     (Thursday, 26 August 2010 11:38)

  Design Observer posted an open call for designers to submit photos of themselves with their canine companions. These are the results...

• — The Insignificance of a Logo (Even When Significant)

     (Thursday, 26 August 2010 10:52)

  On the futility of designing the symbol for a controversial religious organization.

• — Somali Documentary Project

     (Wednesday, 25 August 2010 15:34)

  Report on the Somali Documentary Project.

• — The Good, the Bad, and the Empty

     (Wednesday, 25 August 2010 14:32)

  On Places, watch The Good, the Bad, and the Empty, the latest video from the Brooklyn-based Center for Urban Pedagogy, which explores the community politics of vacant lots.

• — Case Study Use: Teaching History and Notes for Educators

     (Monday, 23 August 2010 17:56)

  A record of where case studies in Design and Social Enterprise series from Yale School of Management have been used or taught.

• — SELCO: Case Study Synopsis & Teaching Objectives

     (Monday, 23 August 2010 17:56)

  This case study about SELCO, a solar energy company in India, provides an opportunity to examine the strategy of a business with a social purpose and a heavy reliance on innovative design.

• — Design and Social Enterprise: A New Model for Case Studies

     (Monday, 23 August 2010 17:56)

  Not many business school case studies have considered the role of design in social innovation or social enterprise management. Yale School of Management, in collaboration with Winterhouse Institute, has created a series focusing on Design and Social Enterprise, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.

• — What Social Entrepreneurship Can Teach Social Design

     (Monday, 23 August 2010 11:59)

  Essay on adapting principles of social entrepreneurship to social design.

• — In the Palm of Your Hand: Dexterity Puzzles

     (Monday, 23 August 2010 10:49)

  A selection of rare dexterity puzzles from the personal collection of Jessica Helfand.

• — Today: The End

     (Saturday, 21 August 2010 13:15)

  Today, our weekly smorgasbord of images curated by Eric Baker, concludes with this final post.

• — The Costs of Ownership: Why Copyright Protection Will Hurt the Fashion Industry

     (Thursday, 19 August 2010 13:30)

  New copyright protection for fashion designs is only going to hurt an already struggling industry.

• — Mitsubishi i-MiEV Electric Car

     (Wednesday, 18 August 2010 17:06)

  Review of Mitsubishi's i-MiEV electric car.

• — Land, Speed and Bonneville

     (Wednesday, 18 August 2010 10:28)

  On Places — coinciding with Speed Week at Bonneville — a gallery created by architect Martin Hogue documents decades of land speed racing on the Bonneville Salt Flats of western Utah.

• — Hot Mountain

     (Tuesday, 17 August 2010 14:24)

  Photo documenting the effects of climate change in Peru, by Susannah Sayler of The Canary Project.

Residential Architect Magazine: Design

The Information Source for the Home Building Industry

• — off the beaten path

     (Thursday, 25 March 2010 02:36)

  Think of architectural hot spots, and you think of big cities: Boston, Chicago, New York. Major metropolitan areas thrive on diversity and innovation, but they're also known for pollution, traffic, and expensive real estate, and not every architect wants to live in one. Small towns have trade-offs too. While they're often equated with sleepy provincialism, the appealing flip side is their relaxed pace, sense of human connectedness, and, in some cases, pristine natural surroundings.

• — shades of gray

     (Wednesday, 24 March 2010 03:39)

  In Naples, Fla., WCI Communities recently completed a beachfront tower that targets well-heeled buyers in their 50s. Its penthouse is priced at $12 million. In Atlanta, James, Harwick + Partners is designing a subsidized apartment building for low-income retirees that includes a surround-sound theater and a fitness center. And in Sarasota, Fla., the master-planned Lakewood Ranch community will include an on-site assisted-living facility.

• — breaking away

     (Monday, 08 March 2010 03:31)

  Company retreats bring to mind dull meetings, stuffy conference rooms, and carbohydrate-laden buffets. Employees can usually count on flip charts, easels, or PowerPoint presentations being rolled out at some point, too. And to shake things up a bit, there

• — diversity how?

     (Monday, 08 March 2010 03:25)

  Donald King, FAIA, a black architect in Seattle, founded his firm in 1989, but he never wanted it to carry the “minority-owned business” banner. Like everyone else, he wanted his work to speak for itself.

• — on thin ice?

     (Monday, 08 March 2010 03:21)

  It's been a little over a year since the housing market hit the skids. The U.S. Census Bureau marked November 2005 as the beginning of the slide, and throughout 2006 new-home sales steadily lost ground, dropping about 20 percent nationwide. Toward the end

• — field maneuvers

     (Monday, 08 March 2010 03:18)

  When Richard Williams, AIA, designed his own house five years ago, he decided to forgo a general contractor and manage the fieldwork himself. He spent nights and early mornings coordinating the various trades before heading to his Washington, D.C., office.

• — the new networking

     (Monday, 08 March 2010 03:16)

  There's a lot of hype around online schmoozing, to be sure, and some see it as a trendy Internet time drain. But there's evidence that it can be a powerful professional ally—especially for small firms and independent practitioners, for whom each connectio

• — peripheral vision

     (Thursday, 04 March 2010 03:33)

  An increasing number of architects, it seems, are getting paid to design Web sites and product packaging and to invent brand identities.

• — smart growth

     (Wednesday, 03 March 2010 03:59)

  The receptionist at a well-known architectural office in Chicago answers the phone with a friendly “Nagle Hartray.” But the proper name—Nagle Hartray Danker Kagan McKay Penney Architects—rolls off the tongue like that of a corporate law firm, offering a clue to its size and ambitions. The architects, who last year had billings of $4 million, specialize in selective types of multifamily housing. For the past decade, the office roster has held steady at 27 employees. But that's about to change.

• — growing green

     (Tuesday, 02 March 2010 11:32)

  Everyone agrees that environmentally sound building materials and methods are quickly drifting toward the architectural mainstream. Google the term “green building,” and a long list of trade shows and directories pops up. But while items such as flyash co

• — partnering with allied professions to bring new ideas to market

     (Tuesday, 02 March 2010 02:45)

  This panel discussion, "Partnering With Allied Professions to Bring New Ideas to Market," brought together three building industry professionals who have accomplished significant things by combining the forces of diverse fields.

• — breaking the circle

     (Tuesday, 02 March 2010 02:16)

  With partner-level turnover increasingly common, smart firms have devised exit agreements that make things easier for everyone.

• — paid in full

     (Tuesday, 02 March 2010 01:36)

  Midway through year two of the grimmest recession in decades, many architects are wondering where their next projects are coming from.

• — the 10-year itch

     (Monday, 01 March 2010 05:25)

  For most architectural firms, it seems that 10-year anniversaries come and go without much ado. If the date's significance registers at all, it's treated as just another day in the routine. And yet, if you look back, there are plenty of reasons for self-c

• — cloning your practice

     (Monday, 01 March 2010 05:16)

  Michael Woodley, AIA, leads a double life. An avid ice hockey fan, he has season tickets to see the Colorado Avalanche in Denver and the Mighty Ducks in Anaheim, Calif. He's an active member of the AIA and the Building Industry Association in Orange Count

• — gilding the cage

     (Friday, 26 February 2010 12:25)

  A 47-year-old architect who owns a six-person firm in the Midwest is worried that her second-in-command is going to leave and start his own business. Her 15-year practice, which she incorporated five years ago, specializes in high-end residential remodeling, so she spends a lot of time training employees and hiring the right mix of personalities.

• — searching for a safety net

     (Friday, 26 February 2010 01:03)

  Throughout the recent economic downturn, residential construction has been a bright spot, a boom that overshot all predictions. As low interest rates fueled the speculative housing market, condominium projects have dominated the construction scene in thriving metropolitan areas.

• — diplomatic design

     (Thursday, 25 February 2010 12:38)

  Designing for 120-degree heat, calculating the costs of building in a city without electricity, and making fortresses seem friendly dare all in a day's work for Sorg Associates, of Washington, D.C. There's a lot to investigate when you're designing embassy housing for the U.S. State Department, as the firm has done in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Residential Architect Magazine: Headlines

The Information Source for the Home Building Industry

• — Home Energy Performance Audits and Advice at Your Fingertips

     (Wednesday, 01 September 2010 13:28)

  A new application for iPad and iPhone helps architects, builders, and homeowners evaluate home efficiency and energy ratings.

• — 2010 Palladio Awards Honor Outstanding Traditional Design

     (Wednesday, 01 September 2010 13:18)

  The seven winning residential projects in the ninth annual Palladio Awards creatively interpret the principles of Western architectural tradition.

• — Cornell's Master of Architecture Program Now Accredited

     (Wednesday, 01 September 2010 13:06)

  The National Architectural Accrediting Board has granted the M.Arch.1 degree program at Cornell University an initial period of accreditation.

• — Glidehouse Makes Its Second Debut

     (Wednesday, 01 September 2010 02:10)

  Green prefab manufacturer Blu Homes launches production of the new version of Michelle Kaufmann's Glidehouse.

• — AIA CRAN Heads to Austin for Annual Symposium

     (Wednesday, 25 August 2010 05:46)

  AIA's Custom Residential Architect's Network will hold its 2010 symposium—"Looking Back to Move Forward"—Oct. 1-4 at the Austin Hilton.

• — Weak Architecture Billings Continue in July

     (Friday, 20 August 2010 04:32)

  The AIA's Architecture Billings Index has improved slightly since June, but demand for design services is still low.

• — Home Building 360: For Architects, Downturn is All About Survival

     (Thursday, 19 August 2010 04:42)

  Architecture firms have laid off workers, closed offices, and filed for bankruptcy protection as their builder clients have cut back or failed.

• — Affordable Housing Project Sets New Standard for Buena Park, Calif.

     (Wednesday, 18 August 2010 13:10)

  $21 million low-rise design uses new concept integrating a green roof over a surface parking enclosure to affordably maximize density on small urban infill sites.

• — RIBA Announces 2010 Stirling Prize Finalists

     (Wednesday, 18 August 2010 03:19)

  Six buildings are in the running for the Royal Institute of British Architects' annual award for excellence.

• — Do Consumers Care About Green?

     (Wednesday, 18 August 2010 03:11)

  Consumers' awareness of their environmental impact is high, but it isn't necessarily their main motivation for making greener choices and it doesn't always lead to action.

• — U.S. Navy Opts For Concrete Modular Housing on Bahamas Outpost

     (Monday, 16 August 2010 05:08)

  New structures are expected to save money on maintenance and energy.

• — Timberframing Company Builds Showcase Green Home

     (Monday, 16 August 2010 03:00)

  New Energy Works marks its Western expansion with a LEED Platinum project that displays the timberframing company's craftsmanship, innovation, and commitment to sustainability.

• — Proposal That Would Penalize S Corps Dropped from Senate Bill

     (Tuesday, 10 August 2010 12:56)

  A provision aimed at closing a payroll tax loophole to small business owners filing as S corporations has been eliminated from the Senate version of the "American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act."

• — Michelle Kaufmann Studio Introduces New Line of Net-Zero Pre-Fab Designs

     (Monday, 09 August 2010 12:11)

  Flexible home designs offer range of sustainability features to bring thoughtfully designed green living to a broader audience.

• — Arizona Startup Introduces $100-Per-Square-Foot ASUL Modular Housing Concept

     (Thursday, 05 August 2010 12:51)

  Other construction options could push pricing as low as $25 per foot.

• — Design Competition Deadlines Approaching

     (Wednesday, 04 August 2010 12:05)

  Get your entries ready for these upcoming architecture and design competitions.

• — Nonresidential Construction to Grow by 3 Percent in 2011

     (Wednesday, 04 August 2010 11:34)

  The American Institute of Architects' Consensus Construction Forecast predicts a 20 percent-plus decline in nonresidential construction spending through 2010 and a marginal increase in 2011.

• — AIA Awards ARE Scholarships

     (Wednesday, 04 August 2010 11:04)

  The six recipients of the 2010 Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship will be compensated for the entire cost of the ARE in recognition of their achievements and early contributions to the profession.

• — Upcoming Architecture and Design Events

     (Wednesday, 28 July 2010 12:13)

  Mark these design conferences, trade shows, exhibitions, and other events on your calendar.

• — Web-based Project Management System Integrates with AIA Payment Forms

     (Wednesday, 28 July 2010 02:54)

  Two of AIA's most frequently used contract documents are now available to users of the Web-based EADOC construction management system.

Residential Architect Magazine: Headlines

The Information Source for the Home Building Industry

• — Home Energy Performance Audits and Advice at Your Fingertips

     (Wednesday, 01 September 2010 13:28)

  A new application for iPad and iPhone helps architects, builders, and homeowners evaluate home efficiency and energy ratings.

• — 2010 Palladio Awards Honor Outstanding Traditional Design

     (Wednesday, 01 September 2010 13:18)

  The seven winning residential projects in the ninth annual Palladio Awards creatively interpret the principles of Western architectural tradition.

• — Cornell's Master of Architecture Program Now Accredited

     (Wednesday, 01 September 2010 13:06)

  The National Architectural Accrediting Board has granted the M.Arch.1 degree program at Cornell University an initial period of accreditation.

• — Glidehouse Makes Its Second Debut

     (Wednesday, 01 September 2010 02:10)

  Green prefab manufacturer Blu Homes launches production of the new version of Michelle Kaufmann's Glidehouse.

• — AIA CRAN Heads to Austin for Annual Symposium

     (Wednesday, 25 August 2010 05:46)

  AIA's Custom Residential Architect's Network will hold its 2010 symposium—"Looking Back to Move Forward"—Oct. 1-4 at the Austin Hilton.

• — Weak Architecture Billings Continue in July

     (Friday, 20 August 2010 04:32)

  The AIA's Architecture Billings Index has improved slightly since June, but demand for design services is still low.

• — Home Building 360: For Architects, Downturn is All About Survival

     (Thursday, 19 August 2010 04:42)

  Architecture firms have laid off workers, closed offices, and filed for bankruptcy protection as their builder clients have cut back or failed.

• — Affordable Housing Project Sets New Standard for Buena Park, Calif.

     (Wednesday, 18 August 2010 13:10)

  $21 million low-rise design uses new concept integrating a green roof over a surface parking enclosure to affordably maximize density on small urban infill sites.

• — RIBA Announces 2010 Stirling Prize Finalists

     (Wednesday, 18 August 2010 03:19)

  Six buildings are in the running for the Royal Institute of British Architects' annual award for excellence.

• — Do Consumers Care About Green?

     (Wednesday, 18 August 2010 03:11)

  Consumers' awareness of their environmental impact is high, but it isn't necessarily their main motivation for making greener choices and it doesn't always lead to action.

• — U.S. Navy Opts For Concrete Modular Housing on Bahamas Outpost

     (Monday, 16 August 2010 05:08)

  New structures are expected to save money on maintenance and energy.

• — Timberframing Company Builds Showcase Green Home

     (Monday, 16 August 2010 03:00)

  New Energy Works marks its Western expansion with a LEED Platinum project that displays the timberframing company's craftsmanship, innovation, and commitment to sustainability.

• — Proposal That Would Penalize S Corps Dropped from Senate Bill

     (Tuesday, 10 August 2010 12:56)

  A provision aimed at closing a payroll tax loophole to small business owners filing as S corporations has been eliminated from the Senate version of the "American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act."

• — Michelle Kaufmann Studio Introduces New Line of Net-Zero Pre-Fab Designs

     (Monday, 09 August 2010 12:11)

  Flexible home designs offer range of sustainability features to bring thoughtfully designed green living to a broader audience.

• — Arizona Startup Introduces $100-Per-Square-Foot ASUL Modular Housing Concept

     (Thursday, 05 August 2010 12:51)

  Other construction options could push pricing as low as $25 per foot.

• — Design Competition Deadlines Approaching

     (Wednesday, 04 August 2010 12:05)

  Get your entries ready for these upcoming architecture and design competitions.

• — Nonresidential Construction to Grow by 3 Percent in 2011

     (Wednesday, 04 August 2010 11:34)

  The American Institute of Architects' Consensus Construction Forecast predicts a 20 percent-plus decline in nonresidential construction spending through 2010 and a marginal increase in 2011.

• — AIA Awards ARE Scholarships

     (Wednesday, 04 August 2010 11:04)

  The six recipients of the 2010 Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship will be compensated for the entire cost of the ARE in recognition of their achievements and early contributions to the profession.

• — Upcoming Architecture and Design Events

     (Wednesday, 28 July 2010 12:13)

  Mark these design conferences, trade shows, exhibitions, and other events on your calendar.

• — Web-based Project Management System Integrates with AIA Payment Forms

     (Wednesday, 28 July 2010 02:54)

  Two of AIA's most frequently used contract documents are now available to users of the Web-based EADOC construction management system.

Slate Magazine - Architecture

What we build.

• — Rediscovering the parking lot, the big-box store, the farmers market, the gas station.

     (Wednesday, 18 August 2010 11:05)

  Rediscovering the parking lot, the big-box store, the farmers market, the gas station.
  
  [more ...]

  
  

  
  

• — Singapore hires Michael Graves to build a casino.

     (Wednesday, 23 June 2010 08:02)

  Click here to read a slide show on the casino Michael Graves has designed for Singapore.
  
  [more ...]

  
  

  
  

• — How Andrea Palladio influenced the design of the White House, the New York Stock Exchange, and other American landmarks.

     (Wednesday, 19 May 2010 08:06)

  How a 16th-century Italian influenced the design of the White House, the New York Stock Exchange, and other American landmarks.
  
  [more ...]

  
  

  
  

• — What Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum looks like without any art on the walls.

     (Wednesday, 14 April 2010 08:01)

  In a 1959 New Yorker review of the recently opened Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Lewis Mumford admired Frank Lloyd Wright's invention but deplored the building's many deficiencies as a place to exhibit art: the distracting ramp, the sloping walls, the lack of conventional galleries. He concluded that perhaps the best solution would be to turn "Wright's monumental and ultimately mischievous failure" into a museum of architecture. Last month, the Guggenheim did something better. As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, for a solo show by a young European performance artist, Tino Sehgal, it left the rotunda empty. The stark space...

• — Adolfo Carrión Jr.'s Office of Urban Affairs should beware of the temptation of centralized city planning.

     (Wednesday, 31 March 2010 07:58)

  A year ago, President Obama signed an executive order creating a White House Office of Urban Affairs whose stated goal is "the development of a comprehensive urban policy." The director, inevitably referred to as the urban czar, is Adolfo Carrión Jr., who is trained as a city planner and who has talked about the need for cities to develop their own "smart plans."
  
  [more ...]