Building Design & Construction articles from April 2004

Building Design & Construction archives from April 2004

Zaha: 'outrageous yet thoughtful'.(Editorial)
April 1, 2004... So, it only took the Pritzker Prize Committee 25 years and 27 tries (there were two years with two winners--1988 and 2001) to figure out that a woman might be worthy of architecture's highest honor. Zaha Hadid, the "outrageous yet thoughtful"...

Steel price volatility spreads through industry.(News & Trends)
April 1, 2004... A surge in steel prices that began last year is creating uncertainty throughout the construction industry--starting with owners debating whether to initiate a project and extending to steel suppliers and contractors wondering whether they will...

A 154,000-sf U.S. Courthouse.(Projects awarded)
April 1, 2004... * The Denver-based team of Fentress Bradburn Architects and PCL Construction Services was selected in a national design/build competition to deliver a 154,000-sf U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The $49.3 million building will contain...

The 647-ft. office tower.(Projects awarded)
April 1, 2004... * The tallest structure to be built in Atlanta since 1992 will rise in the city's Midtown area. Pickard Chilton Architects of New Haven, Conn., is architect for the 647-ft. office tower, and Turner Construction Co. is the general contractor....

A 1.4-million sf U.S. Census Bureau headquarters.(Projects awarded)
April 1, 2004... * The U.S. General Services Administration has selected Parsippany, N.J.-based Skanska USA Building as the design/builder of a 1.4-million sf U.S. Census Bureau headquarters at Suitland (Md.) Federal Center. HKS Inc. of Dallas is the design...

The Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University.(Projects awarded)
April 1, 2004... * The influence of feng-shui--including low-VOC bamboo flooring and a holistic practice room for meditation--will be features of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. The Orlando office of...

Structural engineers develop QC guidelines.(News & Trends)
April 1, 2004... Responding to what it views as a deterioration in the quality of construction documents, the Council of American Structural Engineers (CASE) has developed a guideline aimed at improving collaboration among Building Team members. Entitled...

Einhorn Yaffee Prescott.(People/firms)
April 1, 2004... Ralph Gifford has been named chief operations officer of Albany, N.Y.-based A/E Einharn Yaffee Prescott. He is based in the firm's Boston office. Joseph Galea has joined EYP's New York City office as managing principal.

NBBJ.(People/firms)
April 1, 2004... Doug Parris and Bill Sanford have been made partners of Seattle-based architect NBBJ.

HLW.(People/firms)
April 1, 2004... New York City-based A/E HLW has appointed Andrew Talbot as managing director of its London office.

BSA LifeStructures.(People/firms)
April 1, 2004... Geoffrey Lisle and Henry Stellema have been named principals at architect BSA LifeStructures, Indianapolis.

WDG Architecture.(People/firms)
April 1, 2004... WDG Architecture, PLLC, Washington, D.C., has appointed Frederick Hammann as a principal.

Lord, Aeck & Sargent.(People/firms)
April 1, 2004... Atlanta-based architect Lord, Aeck & Sargent has opened a branch office in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Barton Malow Co.(People/firms)
April 1, 2004... Mark Bahr, formerly executive VP, has been named vice chairman of construction manager Barton Malow Ca., Southfield, Mich.

San Francisco-based URS Corporation has expanded its planning and development practice.(People/firms)
April 1, 2004... San Francisco-based URS Corporation has expanded its planning and development practice with the acquisition of consultant Trkla, Pettigrew, Allen & Payne, Chicago.

A. Epstein and Sons International.(People/firms)
April 1, 2004... Michael Fink has been named a VP in the civil engineering unit of A/E A. Epstein and Sons International. The company also opened an office in San Antonio.

Krusinski Construction Co.(People/firms)
April 1, 2004... Jerry Krusinski has been named president and CEO of Krusinski Canstructian Ca., Oak Brook, Ill.

Harley/Ellis.(People/firms)
April 1, 2004... New principals at Detroit-based A/E Harley/Ellis are Peyman Ramin and Arthur F. Smith.

M-E Engineers Inc. of Denver has acquired Vogel Taylor Engineers.(People/firms)
April 1, 2004... M-E Engineers Inc. of Denver has acquired Vogel Taylor Engineers, a New York City mechanical/electrical consultant.

Architect Ware Malcomb.(People/firms)
April 1, 2004... Architect Ware Malcomb, Irvine, Calif., has appointed four new principals: Matthew Brady, Ruth Brajevich, Gary Drew and Kerri Anne Wilson.

Sasaki Associates.(People/firms)
April 1, 2004... Dennis Pieprz is the new president of A/E Sasaki Associates, Watertown, Mass.

PBM Concrete, Rochelle, Ill., has been merged into concrete.(People/firms)
April 1, 2004... PBM Concrete, Rochelle, Ill., has been merged into concrete precaster J.W. Peters, Burlington, Wis. BDC

Hotel revenues up, but lodging construction continues to lag.(Industry Data)
April 1, 2004... The erratic lodging market has had a more pronounced pause in recovery than the office market. January spending was 18% below the peak 2003 month last May. Annual spending was unchanged in 2003 and will be only slightly higher for all of 2004...

Jobs increase, but not in nonresidential.(Industry Data)
April 1, 2004... Contractors employed a record high 6.86 million workers in March, adding 71,000 jobs. Unfortunately, few of the jobs added were in nonresidential construction. Nonresidential builders are not yet hiring, but are expected to be adding workers by...

Manufacturing remains in doldrums.(Industry Data)
April 1, 2004... Manufacturing remains in a progressive long-term decline, but, cyclically, is now at the bottom of its business cycle. Available manufacturing space fell 0.1% to 11.6% in the fourth quarter, according to the CB Richard Ellis survey. This was as...

Cost comparisons per square foot in select metro markets.(Industry Data)
April 1, 2004... Cost comparisons per square foot in select metro markets College College Laboratory Classroom '04 '03 % chg. ...

Keeping up with software upgrades.(Computer Applications)
April 1, 2004... When I learned late last year that Autodesk was releasing yet another version of its flagship product, AutoCAD 2005, along with all of the vertical applications, my initial reaction was, "Oh, no! How can an average design or A/E firm keep up...

Now that's entertainment! New performing arts centers strive for greater individual identity, while providing flexibility to accommodate a mix of activities.(Performing Arts Centers)(Cover Story)
April 1, 2004... A dynamic entertainment market is prompting changes in the traditional approaches to the design and construction of performing arts centers, from concert halls to venues on college campuses. Performing arts facilities are most successful...

Encore: in Baltimore, ambitious renovation and expansion projects have the spotlights shining anew on three venerable performing arts venues.(Performing Arts Centers)
April 1, 2004... Timing is everything in the theater and performing arts, as well as in building design and construction. In Baltimore, the economic prosperity of the mid- and late-1990s made it possible for three venerable performing arts centers to receive...

Technology takes center stage: movable seating, digital sound enhancement, and innovative HVAC systems allow Building Teams to create flexible, comfortable performance spaces.(Performing Arts Centers)
April 1, 2004... Ever since the world's first gas stage-lighting system was installed at the Chestnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia in 1816, technology has been at the center of performing arts theater design. Complex lighting schemes, sound reinforcement...

Aqua pura: a classic design masks the industrial nature of a high-technology water treatment plant.(Industrial Facility)
April 1, 2004... The new Walter J. Sullivan Water Purification Facility in Cambridge, Mass., can easily be mistaken for a commercial or institutional building. Its brick-clad exterior incorporates such features as a clock tower, arched entrances, and windows...

Embraced by the light: daylighting gives sustainable life to classrooms in two North Carolina schools, saving energy while creating a more conducive study atmosphere for students.(Daylighting)
April 1, 2004... Like many other school districts, the Iredell-Statesville Schools in Statesville, N.C., were searching for a way to create a better learning environment for their students and save on energy at the same time. The result was the demolition...

Back on track.(Lighting)
April 1, 2004... Two-circuit line-voltage track system comes with a complete palette of lighting tools, including a new line of low voltage spotlights, compact-fluorescent wall washers, and HID accent lights. Fixtures and pendants can be placed anywhere on the...

Chilled lamp.(Lighting)
April 1, 2004... High-output PL-L Germicidal SteriLamps line is available in 35-, 60-, and 95-watts and provides sustained UV-C efficiency over lamp life in low-temperature environments, including HVAC systems. In addition, the PL-L construction provides twice...

Long-lasting lighting.(Lighting)
April 1, 2004... Uni-Form pulse-start lamp is 125 watts with a mogul base and is recommended by the manufacturer for parking garages, retail spaces, airports, and other high-bay and low-bay lighting applications. The lamp provides 12,000 initial lumens, 8,400...

Time is running out.(Lighting)
April 1, 2004... Digital time switch automatically turns lights off after a preset, user-selectable time-out setting. The TS-400 (low voltage) and the TS-400-24 (line voltage) count down the time from the preset time-out period (five minutes to 12 hours) and...

Fire-resistant light.(Lighting)
April 1, 2004... Fire-resistant recessed ceiling downlights for multi-story commercial and residential lighting applications are shipped pre-assembled for installation into wood, concrete, steel, suspended, or sheetrock ceilings. FireTight downlights feature...

Light up the sky.(Lighting)
April 1, 2004... Recessed-direct ambient luminaire for high-end architectural spaces wanting glare-free illumination and clean ceiling integration comes in two styles: perforated baffle and translucent acrylic baffle. The Neo-Ray Symbio is available in T5 or...

Deluxe lamp.(Lighting)
April 1, 2004... Self-ballasted, screw-base compact fluorescent lamps are available in wattages ranging from seven to 30 watts. The Dulux EL family includes both mist and mini-twist styles that combine compact size with high lumen output and long life. The...

Good-bye smell, hello light.(Lighting)
April 1, 2004... Compact fluorescent light bulb that eliminates odors from the air contains a special coating on its glass which enables it to break down odors. The Fresh 2Ti is dipped into titanium dioxide, forming a transparent, thin film on the bulb. When...

Plant re-lit.(Products at work)
April 1, 2004... The Mitsubishi-Caterpillar (MCFA) headquarters in Houston occupies approximately 689,651 sf of manufacturing and office space. Insufficient lighting in the plant was causing shadowing on the production floor, while an irregular power supply was...

Multi-task ballast.(Lighting & Ceilings)
April 1, 2004... High-efficiency electronic ballasts for T8 fluorescent lighting systems will operate one or two 17-watt, 25-watt, 28-watt, 30-watt, or 32-watt T8 fluorescent lamps. The Optanium Programmed-Start (PS) ballasts come in two versions: a standard...

Instant light.(Lighting & Ceilings)
April 1, 2004... High-bay lighting luminaire for industrial and commercial applications features four 54-watt or four 80-watt T5/HO linear fluorescent lamps to provide instant on, high CRI, and 95% lumen maintenance. In addition to providing instant light, the...

Computer-mapped lighting.(Lighting & Ceilings)
April 1, 2004... Digital lighting system features AddressPro ballasts, which allow multiple light sources, including fluorescent, halogen, and incandescent, to be controlled as one system. The ballasts work with T5 and T8 linear fluorescent and 13W-42W compact...

Hotel illumination.(Lighting & Ceilings)
April 1, 2004... Expanded line of compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) affords hotel operators an opportunity to fill every guestroom light socket with energy-efficient lamps, and cut energy costs by as much as 77%, according to the manufacturer. The new line of...

Green ceilings.(Products at work)
April 1, 2004... The Brook Green Garden Museum in Pawleys Island, S.C., chose the Luxalon ceiling system because of its different looks and variety of applications. The Luxalon ceilings are available in linear metal in a selection of widths, open cell and cell...

Sustainable ceiling.(Lighting & Ceilings)
April 1, 2004... Ceiling panels with a monolithic appearance are backed by sound absorption, reflectance, and fire resistance. Made from melamine, these panels are recyclable, mold and mildew resistant, inorganic, and free of off-gassing or shedding of fibers...

Way up high.(Lighting & Ceilings)
April 1, 2004... Wall and ceiling system is made of a high-performance integrated glass fiber core with a matte face covering and has tension track arranged around the perimeter of the acoustical core. With NRC values ranging from .80 to over 1.00, the Eurospan...

Curved flight.(Products at work)
April 1, 2004... The Rotunda at the McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas was renovated with lay-in metal panels, which follow the contours and curves of the its unusual ceiling. A crew laid out the entire ceiling grid pattern right on the scaffolding...

Formaldehyde-free insulation tiles.(Ceilings)
April 1, 2004... Formaldehyde-free acoustic insulation ceiling the line is available in three versions. The Whispertone Wallboard XG is manufactured through the combination of fibers bonded with a special formaldehyde-free thermosetting resin to produce...

Ceiling stripes.(Products at work)
April 1, 2004... The 360,000-sf adidas Village in Portland, Ore., installed Squareline standard Metal Ceiling Tiles to add a new look to the reception area, conference rooms, and various office spaces. The tiles, available in two patterns and several color...

Click and choose.(Ceilings)
April 1, 2004... Interactive web site ceiling selector allows architects and designers to view 46 different ceiling the styles and patterns along with all available features and options in minutes. Once a specific ceiling the is chosen, the selector instantly...

Educational sky.(Ceilings)
April 1, 2004... School Zone Fine Fissured line of ceilings for educational facilities feature 30% more impact resistance than standard ceilings, a noise reduction coefficient of .70, and a ceiling attenuation class of 40. Providing a medium-textured,...

United metal products' Chil-Pak[R] package central plant.(literature digest)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2004... The Chil Pak[R] is a true "Plug and Play" for applications from 150 to 540 tons. The Chil Pak[R] brings all the variables associated with the engineering and construction of Oa typical central plant into an energy and space efficient cabinet....

TPO Self-Adhering Roofing Systems.(literature digest)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2004... New Freedom[TM] v. TPO Self-Adhering Roofing Systems from GAF Materials Corporation are especially suited for applications where asphalt fumes, flammable solvents, open torches or conventional roofing equipment are undesirable or would cause...

Architectural metals.(literature digest)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2004... Campbellsville Industries specializes in the design and fabrication of architectural metals. Fabrication processes include forming, casting, and spinning. We work closely with architects, and are recognized by historical preservation groups...

Custom made--folding and roll-up doors.(literature digest)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2004... Woodfold's accordion and roll-up doors serve multiple functions. Each is custom made to exactly fit your finished opening. Our accordion folding doors are offered in a variety of Series suitable for sight, acoustic, or security applications....

New Sweet's catalog.(literature digest)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2004... The new Sweet's catalogue from Hoover Treated Wood Products, Inc. features Pyre-Guard interior fire retardant treated wood, and Exterior Fire-X exterior fire retardant treated wood. Hoover produces a full line of pressure treated wood products....

CAREA Architectural stone composite panels.(literature digest)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2004... For designers seeking a change in cladding solutions, CAREA Architectural Panels bring colour and texture to projects when installed on their own, or combined with traditional materials such as brick, concrete or metal. Create accent bands,...

Masonry veneer ties.(literature digest)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2004... Save time, save money, and build a masonry cavity wall with the Blok-Lok 507 tie. Use in place of expensive hook and eye systems and eliminate the need for joint reinforcement in reinforced masonry applications. The 507 is stronger and stiffer...

CSD Sealing Systems-new products.(literature digest)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2004... CSD Sealing Systems manufactures fire stop devices for cable and cable-tray applications using the NEW Actifoam Technology. These U.L Classified devices can be opened and closed for cable modifications and last the life of the building. For...

New Petersen catalog now available.(literature digest)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2004... A new 40 page, full color catalog is now available from Petersen Aluminum Corporation describing the company's complete line of architectural metal for roofing, mansards and fascia. The expanded catalog features a color chart Illustrating the...

Marvin windows and doors.(literature digest)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2004... The 1908 Jackson County Courthouse was restored to its original beauty using Marvin's custom windows. Call for a FREE catalog that details Marvin's complete line of wood and clad wood windows and doors. 1-888-5378266, www.marvin.com Marvin...

Simpson strong-tie anchor systems.(literature digest)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2004... 172-page catalog presents information on anchoring & fastening systems for concrete and masonry. Product descriptions and detailed technical data provided on epoxy and acrylic adhesives, mechanical anchors, powder actuated fastening systems and...

New Auto-Draft[R] combustion air/draft systems.(literature digest)(Advertisement)
April 1, 2004... CPC-2 Controller regulates fan speed, resulting in perfect draft & combustion air for true enemy savings. Variable &- fixed speed models reduce vent diam. up to 50%, resulting in significant vent system cost savings. Eliminate multiple vents by...