Building Design & Construction articles from December 2008

Building Design & Construction archives from December 2008

Bringing BIM to Public Buildings.(building information modeling)
December 1, 2008... By Jeff Yoders, Senior Associate Editor The GSA streamlined its design and construction process by encouraging the use of 3D, 4D, and BIM. Now Uncle Sam's landlord is mandating BIM in all its capital projects, and many in the AEC industry...

Data center designed to withstand seismic events.
December 1, 2008... Staff Chicago-based architects Sheehan & Partners teamed up with San Francisco-based Paradigm Structural Engineers on the design of a 200,000-sf data center for Equinix, a Foster City, Calif.-based provider of network-neutral data center...

Community college breaks ground on science facility.(Piedmont Virginia Community College)(The Lukmire Partnership)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff The Lukmire Partnership, Arlington, Va., designed the new $11.4 million Kluge-Moses Science Building at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville, Va, which broke ground in October. The 35,000-sf facility, which will be...

University of Texas explores experimental science building.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff The University of Texas, Austin, is working with Los Angeles-based CO Architects on a $126 million Experimental Science Building, a project that also includes $11 million in renovations to the university's existing Welch Hall. The...

Community learning center to showcase green design.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff The Frontier Project, a 14,000-sf community learning center designed by HMC Architects, Ontario, Calif., will serve as a demonstration site for sustainable design and construction. The $14 million facility will have an outer shell...

Mixed-use retail complex under way in Miami.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Flagler Development Group has broken ground on the 400,000-sf expansion of The Palms at Town & Country, a lifestyle and retail complex in Miami. When completed, the open-air, Mediterranean-style complex will house 700,000 sf of mixed...

Hospital anchors mixed-use development.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Dallas-based HKS Inc. utilized BIM software to design the new Presbyterian Hospital of Flower Mound, Texas. The 176,000-sf full-service, acute-care hospital will occupy a 12-acre site within the new River Walk at Central Park, a...

New facility continues university's Bhutanese tradition.
December 1, 2008... Staff The Houston office of PageSoutherlandPage, in collaboration with Carl Daniel Architects of El Paso, Texas, is providing design and engineering services for the 130,000-sf College of Health Sciences and School of Nursing building at...

Billion-dollar mixed-use development under way near Dallas.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Vitruvian Park, a billion-dollar, public-private mixed-use development in Addison, Texas, will add 5,500 multifamily units and 300,000 sf of office and retail space on nearly 100 acres in the north Dallas suburb. Developer UDR Inc.,...

County agency relocates to green offices in mixed-use development.(Solomon Cordwell Buenz and Associates Inc.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Chicago-based architecture firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz & Associates is designing the Broward County Supervisor of Elections' new 72,000-sf office complex, which will occupy 12 acres within the new Riverbend mixed-use transit oriented...

Green builders, preservationists need to team up.(Editorial)
December 1, 2008... Dave Barista, Managing Editor Historic preservationists attending Greenbuild last month were pretty bent out of shape about Mayor Thomas M. Menino's call to demolish the 1960s-era Boston City Hall, recently rated the ugliest building or...

Commercial project starts plunge.
December 1, 2008... By Jim Haughey, PhD, BD+C Economist The credit freeze recession dropped the value of private commercial construction starts 44% from September to October, but public and institutional construction starts declined only 9%, according to BD+C...

Construction pricing pressure finally eases.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... By Jim Haughey, PhD, BD+C Economist A decline in commodity and materials costs has kept overall commercial building construction costs steady during the past three months, according to Turner Construction Co.'s Fourth Quarter 2008 Turner...

RSMeans costs comparisons: Auditoriums, fire stations, gymnasiums, libraries.
December 1, 2008... Jim Haughey [TABLE OMITTED]

V8i: Bentley's $1 billion infrastructure gambit.(Bentley Systems Inc)
December 1, 2008... By Jeff Yoders, Senior Associate Editor Software vendor Bentley Systems, Exton, Pa., has just released the new version of its entire suite of infrastructure analysis and design programs, collectively known as V8i , for 'version 8,...

Tech brief.(Autodesk Inc., NVIDIA Corp.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Jeff Yoders · HP, Autodesk, NVIDIA team up to offer bundled 3D design package. The technology package options include an HP xw4600 Workstation, a NVIDIA Quadro graphics card, and a license of AutoCAD 2009 software in all-in-one...

Graduate students at Harvard get 215 more beds.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff The 115,000-sf graduate housing complex along the Charles River in Cambridge, Mass., will provide 215 beds in more than 30 suite configurations for Harvard University graduate, professional, and doctoral students. Kyu Sung Woo, the...

Students, architects collaborate on UCSB's Student Resource Building.(University of California, Santa Barbara)(Sasaki Associates Inc.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff In designing the University of California, Santa Barbara's new LEED Silver Student Resource Building, architect Sasaki Associates, San Francisco, collaborated closely with UCSB students, who voted to increase their fees to self-fund...

Nearly 88 meters in height, it's 'The 88'.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff San Jose's newest residential tower, The 88, takes its name from its height of-almost-88 meters. With 197 for-sale condo residences, the project includes 32,000 sf of retail and five levels of parking, and is directly adjacent to the...

Center offers community venue for performing arts.(Consigli Construction Co.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Consigli Construction Co., Milford, Mass., has completed the 43,000-sf Cultural Center at Eagle Hill for the Eagle Hill School, a private co-ed college prep high school in Hardwick, Mass. The center houses the Abby Theatre, a...

Utah gets its first LEED Platinum building.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff The 175,000-sf Daybreak Corporate Center in South Jordan has earned LEED Platinum status, the first such building in the Beehive State. Designed by FFKR Architects, Salt Lake City, with Sahara Inc. of West Bountiful as CM, the...

Coral limestone quarry become site for U.S. embassy.(Suman Sorg)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Suman Sorg, architect for the new U.S. embassy in Barbados, took her design cue not from the island's older civic vernacular, with its association with the colonial past, but from its chattel houses, small homes with saw-toothed...

Texas condo community sets sights on 'upscale women'.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Watters Creek at Montgomery Farm, a 52-acre, $333 million master-planned residential community in Allen, Texas, north of Dallas, has opened 230 multifamily units for sale, preferably to 'upscale women ages 25-55' who want to be...

Ahoy! Maritime academy greens Cape Cod with cadet housing.(Prellwitz Chilinski Associates)(Erland Construction)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff A 242-foot-high wind turbine, a rooftop PV array, and natural gas-powered cogeneration turbines are among the advanced energy features that helped earn LEED Gold certification for the new cadet residence hall at the Massachusetts...

Greenbuild 2008 draws 29,752 AEC professionals to Boston.(U.S. Green Building Council)(Conference news)
December 1, 2008... Staff It's hard to believe that just two years ago the U.S. Green Building Council celebrated a milestone attendance record for its annual Greenbuild conference when it finally cracked the 10,000 mark in Denver. The 2008 installment of...

Cylindrical-shaped photovoltaics harness sunlight from every direction.
December 1, 2008... Staff Carlisle Construction Materials has formed a strategic partnership with Silicon Valley startup Solyndra to offer Solyndra's proprietary cylindrical-shaped photovoltaic modules as part of an integrated reflective membrane/PV roof...

Eliminate air leakage in UFAD applications.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Through-wall wire sealing solution is designed to seal cable and wire access holes in buildings that feature raised access floors with underfloor air distribution. AirArrest uses patent-pending brush technology to prevent leakage of...

Finger-touch dimmer.(Lutron Electronics Company Inc.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Easy-to-use dimmer combines sleek, minimalist design with finger-touch functionality. Vierti features a long, illuminated LED bar down the middle, which allows users to turn lights on, off, or to a selected light level with a touch...

AEC professionals sound off on what's hot in green products and services from Greenbuild.(Jamie Qualk)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff In a pair of video podcasts, BD+C Managing Editor Dave Barista asked two industry professionals to talk about their favorite new products, services, and programs from the Greenbuild show. Elizabeth Jennings, sustainability...

Pink Panther would be proud.(Owens Corning)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Owens Corning has increased the certified recycled content in its flagship Pink Fiberglass insulation to a minimum of 40%-a 5% increase over its prior level. With the move, the product line maintains its status as the fiberglass...

Video Podcast: 'High Performance School of the Future' opens at Greenbuild.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Watch Mark Miller, founder and CEO of Project FROG, as he talks about the innovative design features, building systems, and materials in the 'High-Performance School of the Future, Today' demonstration classroom in an exclusive video...

Carbon-neutral modular carpet.(Milliken Contract )(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Milliken Contract has expanded its carbon-neutral modular carpet collection to include three lines: Suitable, Marco Polo (pictured), and Straight Talk. The carpet collections are certified carbon neutral without purchased offset...

EPS roof insulation eliminates cover board.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Composite roof insulation eliminates the need for cover boards in membrane roofing applications, reducing installation costs. SecureTherm is a lightweight, water-resistant expanded polystyrene (EPS) roof insulation with a factory...

Limestone veneer with hand-laid charm.(Eldorado Stone L.L.C.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Architectural stone veneer mimics the look and feel of hand-laid limestone walls by re-creating the coarsely cleaved appearance of traditional limestone walls. RoughCut's embedded, fossilized artifacts and rough, pronounced face...

FSC-certified bamboo.(Smith and Fong)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Smith & Fong, manufacturer of Plyboo bamboo architectural plywood and flooring, has secured certification according to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and established a responsibly managed bamboo forest...

Healthcare flooring.(Nora )(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Nora has expanded its noraplan environcare 3.0 mm flooring product line to include 48 standard colors. The 3 mm-thick flooring withstands the heavy rolling loads typical of healthcare facilities while providing durability, underfoot...

Integrated wall system provides energy efficiency and moisture management in a single panel.
December 1, 2008... Staff Developed specifically for steel-stud commercial buildings, integrated wall system features continuous exterior insulation, a water-resistive layer, and an air barrier in a single panel, providing an energy-efficient,...

Low-flow faucet.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Lavatory faucet for hotel and multifamily applications flows at 1.5 gallons per minute at 60 psi, saving approximately 30% of water compared to 2.2 gpm units. The Leland J Spout faucet can be installed in a single- or three-hole...

LEDs get down.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Recessed LED luminaire for downlight, wallwash, and emergency lighting applications offers the energy savings and long life of LEDs while delivering lumens and visual comfort comparable to conventional light sources, such as compact...

High-speed hand dryer.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff ADA-compliant high-speed hand dryer employs air-wicking technology to completely dry users' hands in five to seven seconds. The Clean Dry Hand Dryer uses about a quarter less energy than traditional electronic hand dryers and has a...

It's lights out for retail store with skylights.(Blain's Farm and Fleet's new store)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Blain's Farm & Fleet recently opened a 114,500-sf store in Verona, Wis., about 12 miles southwest of Madison. While the store is not LEED certified, much of the sustainable features used in the eco-friendly design were inspired by...

Control sound and be green.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Sound control mats and underlayments are available in 'green' formulations. Acousti-Mat II, Enkasonic, and Acousti-Mat 3 are manufactured with 40% pre-consumer recycled content and are covered with a Greenguard-certified...

Architectural panels made from detergent bottles.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff 3form has expanded its 100 Percent architectural surface offering to include a color palette of solid neutrals with subtle metallic accents, including Boulder, Carbon (pictured), Gunmetal, Nordic, and Putty. Comprised of 100%...

Flood your buildings with LED lighting.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Architectural floodlight is one the industry's first LED fixtures powerful enough to illuminate large-scale building façades and structures. With an output of more than 5,000 lumens, ColorReach Powercore provides light...

From milk jugs to lockers.(Bradley)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Bradley showed off its new line of washroom partitions and lockers manufactured with 100% post-consumer recycled material (milk jugs). The high-density polyethelene products will not rust, dent, or delaminate, and are...

As if insulation wasn't green enough-.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Batt insulation combines sand, post-consumer recycled bottle glass, and a new type of binder to create a sustainable insulation solution. Made with a minimum of 30% post-consumer recycled glass content, EcoBatt Insulation contains no...

Touch-free temperature-control faucet.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Proximity faucet is the first to enable users to control water temperature, as well as on-off settings, without touching the faucet. Users control the water temperature by placing their hands near the red LED for hot water and the...

Flooring branches out.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Hardwood flooring for commercial and residential applications is made from reclaimed branches of the mulberry bush. StrandWoven Mulberry can contribute toward three LEED credits-MR 3.1 and 3.2 and EQ 4.1-and can be installed using...

Wall covering made of coconut shells.(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff New line of tile for wall covering applications is made from reclaimed coconut shells. The coconut shells are adhered to sustainably harvested wood backer board with low-VOC resin, providing an environmentally sound wall covering...

Recycled asphalt for concrete patching.(Sakrete )(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Ready-to-use, recycled asphalt for repairing potholes, depressions, or cracks in any asphalt or concrete surface meets the nation's strictest emissions standards. Cold Patch is made from nearly 60% recycled asphalt pavement,...

Hollow core brick.(Glen-Gery Corp.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Staff Line of hollow core brick includes 155 products, such as a 3-inch-wide, 15-inch-long brick that requires less time and labor to install than the standard-sized equivalent. Glen-Gery Hollow Brick has large core holes that help reduce...

Steel Adds Value to Commercial Buildings.
December 1, 2008... By C.C. Sullivan and Barbara Horwitz-Bennett Pop quiz: Can you name the largest steel-framed project currently under construction in the U.S.? Answer: It's the 52-story Palazzo tower, a $1.6 billion, 7 million-square-foot expansion to...

'Neuroscience can inform healthcare design'.
December 1, 2008... Staff Eve A. Edelstein, MArch, PhD, is SVP of research and design with HMC Architects, San Diego. She has overseen research for the Salk Institute of Biological Science, the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture, the Academy of...