Building Design & Construction articles from August 2003

Building Design & Construction archives from August 2003

Lagrange on steel.
August 1, 2003... GETTING STARTED "'In 1968, I was lucky enough to get a job at SOM in Chicago. They were just finishing the Hancock, which is an incredible steel structure. Beginning my second week in Chicago, I worked with Bruce Graham and Fazlur Khan, and I...

Will the last company to leave the city please turn off the lights?(Editorial)
August 1, 2003... St. Louis has a problem. Practically nobody wants to build there. Too expensive. According to a report in St. Louis Construction News & Review, the cost of construction--labor, land, permits, the whole shebang--is pricing the city out of the...

The need for sustainability.(Letters)
August 1, 2003... Sustainable design will push us from our standard design practices to investigate and incorporate new energy and environmental technologies. As engineers we can be [reluctant] to deviate from the "tried and true"--composting toilets and...

Jahn's latest brings new life to historic Chicago campus.(News & Trends)
August 1, 2003... Largely untouched since the days of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the historic campus of Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago got a much-needed boost with the opening of a student residence complex designed by IIT alumnus and Mies protege...

Smaller convention centers: a thriving market.(News & Trends)
August 1, 2003... Smaller convention centers with 100,000 sq. ft. or less of exhibit space represent an active sector of the nonresidential building industry. With the majority of the U.S. population now living in the suburbs, Michael Beyard, senior...

National Building Museum.(People/firms)
August 1, 2003... Chase W. Rynd has been named president of the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Rynd, who assumes his post effective September 2, previously served as executive director for the Tacoma (Wash.) Art Museum.

BD&C.(People/firms)
August 1, 2003... Gensler Chairman M. Arthur Gensler, Jr. has joined BD&Cs editorial advisory board. The six-member board assists with editorial planning.

Sound idea.(Letters)
August 1, 2003... Another change that will affect the way schools are designed and built is the new ANSI Standard $12.60-2002 ["The ABCs of K-12," BD&C, June]. This standard includes requirements for background and intrusive noise control, sound isolation, and...

Sustainability's future.(Letters)
August 1, 2003... As I've understood it, USGBC only allows corporate memberships and not individual memberships. This is contrary to what you wrote ["What next for sustainability?", BD&C, June]. I've also received numerous comments from architects that they...

Education work stalled by state/local budget deficits.(Industry Data)
August 1, 2003... Spending for educational facilities has declined 3.8% since last October after several years of double-digit increases. Most state and local governments have had to make substantial spending cuts to balance their budgets. This forced the...

Vacancy rate shows hope for industrial sector.(Industry Data)
August 1, 2003... The industrial vacancy rate held steady at 11.5% in the first quarter of 2003 and is expected to trend down slightly beginning in this summer. However, it will not be significantly lower for more than a year. Cyclical in nature,...

Multifamily spending keeps pace.(Industry Data)
August 1, 2003... Is the multifamily sector overbuilt? A rental vacancy rate of 9.6% typically would cause an abrupt decline in multifamily construction spending, but not these days. Spending is expected to fall only slowly in the last three quarters of 2003 and...

Materials price inflation low but rising.(Industry Data)
August 1, 2003... Construction materials prices increased at nearly a 1% annual pace in early 2003 after close to a 0.5% gain last year and a small decline in 2001. Commodities, such as asphalt, concrete, aggregates, and stone, have had the most price increase....

Cost comparisons per square foot in select metro markets.(Industry Data)
August 1, 2003... Cost comparisons per square foot in select metro markets Elementary school Jr. high school '03 '02 % chg. '03 '02 % chg. Atlanta 83.99 80.28 4.6 ...

Contract language best protection against mold litigation.(Legal Insights)
August 1, 2003... The current wave of claims and litigation involving mold creates the impression that this is a new problem. Actually, the problem is literally as old as the hills with stone scientists claiming it has been evolving for more than 550 million...

Integrating life-safety technologies.(Computer Applications)
August 1, 2003... Every building owner and operator will agree that the most important issue facing them today is the life safety of their building's occupants, be they full-time employees or visitors. Individual buildings, whether they may be a low-rise school...

Royal flush: the gaming industry is hitting the jackpot, as Native American casinos, Las Vegas, and Atlantic City raise the stakes on sophistication.(Casino Trends)
August 1, 2003... The economy may be struggling, but you'd never know it from the gaming industry's torrid pace. Native American casinos are exploding--330 of them nationwide totaling $14.5 billion in revenues, according to the Washington, D.C.-based National...

Stately pleasure domes: forget the "slot box." Native American casinos have been transformed into stately pleasure domes to rival anything in North America.(New American Casinos)
August 1, 2003... The transition from "slot box" to mega-resort marks the true arrival of Native American owned-and-operated casinos on a plane with their Las Vegas and Atlantic City counterparts. Centered on their casinos, these resorts, accompanied by...

Bigger, but more intimate: Las Vegas is returning to its Sin City roots and building ever-larger luxury resorts. But the trick for Building Teams is making them seem intimate.(Las Vegas)
August 1, 2003... In Las Vegas, the late 1980s saw the advent of the high-end, themed mega-resort, such as the Mirage and Excalibur, accompanied by a move toward Disneyfication, with gaming operators seeking to turn Sin City into a family destination. The 1990s...

Upping the ante: the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa raises the croupier's stick for luxury gaming resorts in Atlantic City.(Atlantic City)
August 1, 2003... Located off the Boardwalk at Renaissance Point on what was once landfill, the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa hopes to usher in a new era of luxury accommodations for Atlantic City gaming. In July, the resort became the first new hotel-casino...

Shelter from the storm: the sluggish economy makes hotels a frightening market in which to be. Though few new stand-alone hotels are being built, some segments of the industry are being hospitable to Building Teams.(Hotel Trends)
August 1, 2003... If a classic movie could reflect the current hotel market, it wouldn't be "Grand Hotel," but rather "Psycho," whose Bates Motel was dark, foreboding, and had plenty of vacancies. More fitting would be "To Have and Have Not," the movie...

Unconventional: the new 1.5 million sq.-ft., "green" Pittsburgh facility showcases structural, HVAC, daylighting, and water-recycling innovations.(Convention Center)
August 1, 2003... David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Building Team Owner: Pittsburgh Sports & Exhibition Authority Architect and interior architect: Rafael Vinoly Architects Structural engineer: Dewhurst Macfarlane &...

High-tech hazard: generations of abandoned cable can turn a building's air-distribution plenum into a fiery smokestack. Will new codes make your building safer?(Fire/Life Safety)
August 1, 2003... The information era has filled nearly every crack and crevice of office buildings with miles and miles of low-voltage communication cable, whether for phones, fax machines, IT networks, or high-speed Internet. As building owners try to keep up...

Space-efficient system.(Vertical Transportation)
August 1, 2003... Compact elevator system can be installed within a hoistway and mounted directly to the elevator rails, saving traditional machine room space in apartment and condominium buildings, offices, and hotels. The 400A incorporates an easy-access...

Trailer booster.(Vertical Transportation)
August 1, 2003... Top of ground or surface-mounted truck levelers can be used in any building where a truck unloads by raising the rear of the vehicle to align with a raised concrete loading deck. Capacities are 50,000 pounds and 60,000 pounds and platform sizes...

Faster response.(Products at work)
August 1, 2003... Phoenix's Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center has five patient/visitor elevators, four service elevators, and two ancillary elevators. With building expansions housing 570 beds and a medical staff of nearly 1,800 physicians, the growing...

Planned access.(Steel-Framed Structures)
August 1, 2003... Steel floor system comes with flanged knockouts spaced at 4-ft. on center so pipes and wiring can easily be guided throughout. The TradeReady Light Gauge Steel Floor System is mechanical-, electrical, and plumbing-ready. Aegis Metal...

Framing facilitator.(Steel-Framed Structures)
August 1, 2003... Fully engineered, integrated truss system aids the Building Team from the planning stage through fabrication and straight to job-site installation. Nutruss is a complete, flexible, and compatible light-gauge steel load-bearing truss system for...

Integration station.(Bas)
August 1, 2003... Web services technology enables integration between automation and controls systems used in energy and environmental management, manufacturing, and industrial process control, with any corporate business applications or supply-chain partners....

Internet control.(Bas)
August 1, 2003... Web-based service allows facility managers to monitor building systems from one main source, including fire, security, CCTV, and card access, all via the internet. With a user-friendly graphical interface, the UniNet Online provides a quick...

Central control.(Products at work)
August 1, 2003... Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital built a $580 million, 2.2 million-sq.-ft. facility that includes the 17-story Feinberg Inpatient Pavilion and the 22-story Galter Outpatient Pavilion, connected by an eight-story base, which houses...

University connection.(Products at work)
August 1, 2003... Glassboro, N.J.'s Rowan University recently installed a WebCTRL open energy management and control system as part of its five-year, $270 million construction program. The initial phase of the system integration connected eight different...

Multiple building control.(Bas)
August 1, 2003... Automated building control system with programmable executive modules and a network of intelligent controllers provides complete control systems, from single and stand-alone sites to complex networks of remote buildings. The Logic One System...

Wind protection.(Doors)
August 1, 2003... Hurricane-resistant doors provide protection against extreme wind loads and the large flying objects the winds generate. The H-Series doors include a full-height, lock-side reinforcement channel, which ensures stability and functionality of...

Stand-up doors.(Doors)
August 1, 2003... Extruded aluminum doors and frames are used in place of farmed metal, and stiles are internally fastened to top and bottom rails during fabrication. Doors can be customized; off-set aluminum frames, which present a dramatic sight line, are...

Security barrier.(Products at work)
August 1, 2003... Deployable access-control barrier door automatically deploys from side wall pockets, making it safer than roll-down gates, which can cause personal injury. The horizontal SteelCurtain is used at Washington, D.C.'s Ronald Reagan National Airport...

Positive-pressure fire doors.(Doors)
August 1, 2003... Cross-corridor wood doors meet positive pressure fire door standards without having to install thermal pins that lock corridor doors in place during a fire, preventing the doors from opening when tenants need to get out. Instead, the door is...

Coming through!(Doors)
August 1, 2003... Traffic door with a three-dimensional surface opens and closes faster and easier than others, says manufacturer. Special spring and soft-touch technologies enable the XLP 5000 door to absorb an impact, while at the same time the lightweight...

Environmentally friendly doors.(Products at work)
August 1, 2003... Toyota Motor Sales' headquarters in Torrance, Calif., contains 624,000 sq. ft. of office space, will house 2,000 of Toyota's associates, and was awarded a LEED Gold rating for environmental design. The 867 Forest Stewardship Council-certified,...

CAREA architectural stone composite panels.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... CAREA architectural panels are made of "stone composite", a natural mineral based material that provides the best of all worlds Strong yet relatively light, modern yet natural looking, they deliver maximum durability with minimal maintenance....

Industrial door operators.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... New brochure explains advantages of using Air-Lec door automation equipment in your facility. Almost any swing/fold or sliding door can be automated in either new or existing applications. Hardware and track system information is also included....

Barricade Noise Barrier.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... Sound Seal Barricade Noise Barrier is a flexible noise barrier used to reduce noise transmission in drywall/stud construction to reduce noise between rooms, flooring installation, acoustical wrap for noisy pipes/duct work, and more. Ideal for...

Clear solutions for fire rated glazing.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... Vetrotech Saint-Gobain is pleased to otter a new generation of tire and impact safety rated wire free products. From Pyroswiss Extra, to the Keralite family of clear glass-ceramics, to the new Swissflam-N2 line of products that resists fire,...

Sanitary tubing and hose.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... The Products & Services brochure from AdvantaPure[TM] explores the company's sanitary tubing, hose, and fittings. Products are clean-room manufactured for use in clean process applications and facilities, such as chemical, biomedical,...

Turn your sustainable building ideas into reality.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... This new brochure outlines the sustainability contributions of the BASF Engineered Building Envelope System. Learn how the BASF approach can improve building durability, energy efficiency, structural strength and indoor comfort while reducing...

Roof Advisor[TM] Software.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... GAF Materials Corporation's new Root Advisor[TM] Software matches the right roofing system technology to your specific roofing situation. Based on detailed input that you provide, it evaluates all major roofing technologies and thousands of...

CertainTeed Flintlastic SA.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... CertainTeed's new Flintlastic SA self-adhering membrane roof system is featured in this 12 page, color brochure. The clean, odor-free self-adhesive system is ideal for projects such as schools, apartment buildings and public buildings where...

Architectural metals.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... 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...

New Sweet's catalog.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... The new Sweet's catalogue from Hoover Treated Wood Products, Inc. features Pyro-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....

The Bilco fire rated floor door.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... Bilco's Type FR fire rated floor door allows you to specify convenient access through a 2 hour rated floor without jeopardizing fire code compliance. Tested at UL laboratories in accordance with ASTM E119 (NFPA 251), the FR door contains flames...

Structural curbs for proper support.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... When a structural curb is installed and fastened to the top of the bar joists, as shown, additional structure is not required to support roof mounted equipment. Curbs can be mounted up to four feet on either side beyond bar joists or supporting...

Retrofit anchors for masonry restoration.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... The Spira-Lok helical wall tie anchor from Blok-Lok is the most cost effective method to re-anchor unstable veneers. The self-threading stainless anchor mechanically connects multiple wythes of building material without the influence of...

Dry Floors[R]--look better, improve safety & save money.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... FTI Near Systems Dry Floors[R] is a commercial floor drying system that uses radiant floor heating and embedded moisture/temperature sensors to solve a variety of slippery indoor problems. Dry Floors[R] warms and quickly dries indoor flooring...

Mortar Net's[TM] masonry cavity drainage system.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... Mortar Net[TM], the leading mortar dropping collection device, provides the solution tot clogged weep holes in brick cavity wall construction. Featuring a patented shaped design and 90% open mesh weave, Mortar Net[TM] catches and suspends...

AMIRAN[R] anti-reflective glass gives your residential clients remarkably clear nighttime views.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... Once used primarily for commercial applications, AMIRAN anti-reflective glass is now readily available for residential projects. It reduces reflection in insulated glass from 16% to as little as 2%-even at night. AMIRAN anti-reflective glass...

Simpson Strong-Tie anchor systems.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... This 168-page catalog includes comprehensive information on Simpson's adhesives, mechanical anchors, powder actuated fastening systems and carbide drill bits and chisels. From product descriptions to expanded technical data, all is compiled in...

TGP introduces fire-rated Curtainwall.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... The new Fireframes Curtainwall Series from Technical Glass Products is an interior or exterior framing system that gives architects the option of designing with large expanses of glass in locations that are fire-rated. The Curtainwall Series...

One series ... for all your needs.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... One product series lot all yore fire detection needs. That's why NOTIFIER developed the Onyx[TM] Series of products--and why you can choose the Onyx Series with confidence. Look beneath the aesthetic appeal of the Onyx Series high style, black...

Maxxon[R] DPM solves moisture vapor emission.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... Maxxon[R] DPM (Damp Proof Membrane) reduces moisture vapor emission of up to 25 lbs. to 3 lbs. or less This high density epoxy also provides a high alkalinity barrier (pH 13-14). Now there's a solution for damp slabs and for floor covering...

Chicago Faucets catalog.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... The Standard Catalog from the Chicago Faucet Company features their extensive product line Select from Commercial, Food Service, Laboratory and Electronic Faucets for almost every application imaginable. Chicago Faucets... a Geberit Company....

Polysafe slip-resistance safety floors from Polyflor.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... Polysafe slip-resistance safety floors with Supratec are available in Astral and Design patterns. Supratec, a unique, soil-releasing polymer system, provides all the slip and abrasion resistance expected of safety floors and facilitates 60%...

FlowGuard Gold[R] CPVC plumbing systems resource CD.(literature digest)
August 1, 2003... New interactive CD ROM from FlowGuard Gold[R] CPVC plumbing systems simplifies system specification. Self-launching reference manual provides a design and installation manual, technical information, sample specifications, field application case...