Building Design & Construction articles from March 2002

Building Design & Construction archives from March 2002

Fall backward, spring forward. (Editorial).(Alan Greenspan discusses United States economy in address to Congress)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
March 1, 2002... When Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan delivered his semiannual report to Congress on Feb. 27, the unflappable economist pronounced the U.S. economy to be surprisingly... unflappable. "If ever a situation existed in which the fabric...

New air terminal keeps Detroit on comeback trail. (News & Trends).(Northwest Airlines opens new terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... In the latest and largest example of the Motor City's ongoing renaissance, Northwest Airlines Feb. 24 opened its new $1.2 billion main terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The heart of an ongoing $2 billion expansion, the new Edward H....

CNA settles Chicago fatality suit for $18 million.(CNA Insurance)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... * CNA settles Chicago fatality suit for $18 million. A lawsuit by the family of a woman killed by glass falling from a Chicago office building in 1999 has been settled for $18 million. The incident occurred when glass fell from a cracked window...

Another key boost for NYC market.(Durst Organization starts commercial real estate project)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... * Another key boost for NYC market. Ground has been broken in New York City for the first major commercial real estate project to begin there since Sept. 11. The 300,000-sq.-ft. NYCyberCenter is billed as the first telecom/data center to...

Eyeing 2012 Olympics bid, NYC nears new stadium deal. (News & Trends).(New York Jets hope for new stadium in New York City)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Olympics torch may still be smoldering in Salt Lake City, but proponents of a new football stadium in the Big Apple are hoping that the prospect of hosting the 2012 Summer Games this spring will light a fire under local officials. ...

Developer hopes Mississippi won't be cruel. (News & Trends).(J.D. Stacy aims to develop Elvis Presley Ranch and Resort)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Las Vegas may have been the glitzy site of Elvis and Priscilla Presley's 1967 wedding, but a Georgia developer is gambling that fans will also flock to the couple's honeymoon spot near Horn Lake, Miss. On Feb. 28, Atlanta businessman J.D....

Princeton, N.J.-based Hillier has sold its engineering subsidiary. (Mergers/Acquisitions).(sells Hillier Engineering and Technologies Inc. to Greenman-Pedersen Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Princeton, N.J.-based Hillier has sold its engineering subsidiary, Scranton, Pa.-based Hillier Engineering and Technologies Inc., to Babylon, N.Y.-based Greenman-Pedersen Inc., a civil engineering and design firm.

The Presnell Group of Companies, an A/E/CM firm based in Louisville, Ky., has changed its name to Qk4. (Mergers/Acquisitions).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Presnell Group of Companies, an A/E/CM firm based in Louisville, Ky., has changed its name to Qk4. According to CEO Wendell Wright, the name is derived from quintessential knowledge of the four basic elements (earth, air, fire and water).

Pavarini McGovern LLC. (Mergers/Acquisitions).(changes name from Pavarini Construction Co.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Pavarini McGovern LLC is the new name for the former Pavarini Construction Co. The New York City-based company's vice chairman, Gene McGovern, is best known as a founder of Lehrer McGovern Inc. in 1979. His son, Eric, is CEO.

Neil Rauenhorst, ex-president and CEO of Opus South Corp. (Mergers/Acquisitions).(starts NJR Development LLC)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Neil Rauenhorst, ex-president and CEO of Opus South Corp., has started NJR Development LLC in Florida.

A/E HarleyEllis. (Mergers/Acquisitions).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Southfield, Mich.-based A/E HarleyEllis has opened an office in Cincinnati. Architects Joseph B. Power and Jeffrey R. Zokas will lead.

HNTB Companies. (On The Move).(personnel appointments)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Paul A. Yarossi, formerly president of U.S. operations and CEO for HNTB Corp., has been appointed CEO of the HNTB Companies. Yarossi succeeds Harvey K. Hammond Jr., who continues as chairman of HNTB Ltd. Kenneth R. Graham, who was president of...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2002... * The World Trade Center wall section referred to in the Feb. 2002 editorial (page 5) was from the North Tower, not the South Tower. * In the Jan. 2002 article, "Office development designed to ease commutes" (page 9), Smallwood Reynolds...

Steelmakers lobby for tariffs as bankrupt LTV finds a buyer. (News & Trends).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... With sparks flying from a cauldron of controversy, thousands of union steelworkers descended on Washington, D.C., Feb. 28 to lobby Pres. Bush for high tariffs on imported steel. At press time, the White House was expected to make its "delicate"...

Calendar.
March 1, 2002... * April 14 ASTM Symposium on the Use of Glass in Buildings, Hilton Pittsburgh. Visit www.astm.org. * April 17-19 FAECOM 2002 World Technology Conference and Expo, Wyndham City Center Hotel, Washington, D.C. Phone: (202)682-0110 or...

New York City-based Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates is architect for the $52 million Marie P. DeBartolo Center for the Performing Arts at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind. Turner Construction Co. is the construction manager. (Projects awarded).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... New York City-based Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates is architect for the $52 million Marie P. DeBartolo Center for the Performing Arts at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind. Turner Construction Co. is the construction manager. The...

Heart Hospital. (Projects awarded).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... * Columbus, Ohio-based Karlsberger Companies is architect for a $47 million Heart Hospital for Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. Turner Construction, in joint venture with Elford Construction, Columbus, is the general contractor. The...

Oklahoma City Federal Building. (Projects awarded).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... * The U.S. General Services Administration has selected Tulsa-based Flintco Inc. as general contractor for a new Oklahoma City Federal Building to replace the former Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building that was destroyed by a terrorist bombing in...

160,000-sq.-ft. Kimpton Hotel. (Projects awarded).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... * Somerville, Mass.-based Arrowstreet is architect for a 160,000-sq.-ft. Kimpton Hotel in Cambridge, Mass. The contractor is a joint venture of Boston-based Beacon Skanska Inc. and Atlanta-based Hardin Construction Co. The hotel, scheduled for...

Helsinki's latest high-rise, the 18-story KONE Building, incorporates a transparent facade, exposing the tower's elevators. (International update).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Helsinki's latest high-rise, the 18-story KONE Building, incorporates a transparent facade, exposing the tower's elevators. "The idea was that because the client is an elevator company, we would have a `moving facade' to the south by exposing...

China Electronics Corp. (International update).(designing new building)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... * Construction is expected to begin this summer on China Electronics Corp.'s new 1 million-sq.-ft., 19-story office tower in Beijing. DMR Architects, Maywood, N.J., is partnering with JAO Design International, Beijing, to design the $54 million...

The first phase of a 7.4 million-sq.-ft. mixed-use job in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, will begin construction this spring. (International update).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... * The first phase of a 7.4 million-sq.-ft. mixed-use job in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, will begin construction this spring. Designed by RTKL Associates, Baltimore, the project involves construction of an 11-story shopping center, called Dream Mall,...

New weapon for winning bid wars. (Computer applications).(proposal-writing software)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Generating proposals is one of the most important tasks for A/E/C firms. For many firms, however, proposal preparation remains a manual process. Once a lead is identified, the marketing staff mobilizes by pulling information such as...

Solar flare. (News bits).(website gives information on solar energy)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Compiled by the American Society of Solar Energy, this "fact base" serves as a resource of technical information and market data on solar energy technologies, including photovoltaics, building design, wind and solar thermal. The Web site...

Let there be light. (News bits).(Wisconsin website promotes daylighting)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The goal of the State of Wisconsin's new Web site is to promote the use of cool daylighting, which reduces the need for electric lighting and space cooling. The site includes sample projects, papers and design strategies, information about...

Dynamic design. (News bits).(Airpak 2.0, design features)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Airflow modeling software incorporates computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology for the design and analysis of HVAC systems. Airpak 2.0 allows users to build a model building using predefined objects, such as rooms, people, fans,...

Proper procedure. (News bits).(Associated General Contractors of America offers construction policy guidelines)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Associated General Contractors of America offers guidelines to help construction firms implement inspection policy and procedures necessary for enforcement of OSHA's new steel erection standard. Topics include site layout, construction...

Office demand nosedives in shadow of terrorism. (Industry Data).(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... After growing rapidly during the last five years, demand for new office space in U.S. metropolitan areas has waned. Employment declines moved from the manufacturing sector throughout the rest of the U.S. economy during the second half of 2001,...

Health care entering 10-year growth spurt. (Industry Data).(health facility construction expected to accelerate)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... Net dollars spent on health facility construction have not increased much, on net, during the past 10 years, especially when compared to the education subsector of the institutional market. But the last two years have been good ones for the...

Consumer confidence rebounds from 9-11. (Industry Data).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)(Polling Data)
March 1, 2002... Consumer confidence has fought back from the gloom that enveloped the nation following the events of Sept. 11. The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) rose by a strong 10.4 percent during the final month of 2001, following steep...

Flat glass prices refuse to flatten. (Industry Data).(increases 2.1 percent over year 2001)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... Average flat glass prices increased 2.1 percent over the course of 2001, on the heels of 3.1 percent inflation the year before. Although still moderate by most standards, recent price increases in this product group far exceed the average for...

Job growth slows, but construction still bests other areas. (Industry Data).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... There were an estimated 6.74 million Americans employed by the construction industry in December -- only 1 percent more than during the final month of 2000. But although the total number of jobs in the nation's construction sector...

Cost comparisons per square foot in select metro markets. (Industry Data).(public building construction costs)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... Cost comparisons per square foot in select metro markets Jail '02 '01 % chg. Atlanta 161.95 158.42 2.2 Baltimore ...

When can firms `lien' on the government? (Legal Insights).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... It is generally understood that contractors and design professionals may not place mechanic's liens against government property But this concept takes on different shades of meaning in different circumstances. Interestingly, there may be...

OSHA revises steel erection standards. (Legal Insights).(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... After years of study, OSHA implemented revised steel erection standards in January. Changes will affect requirements for site layout and construction sequence, site-specific erection plans, hoisting and rigging, structural steel assembly,...

High-tech high: Chicago college preparatory school is a model of technical sophistication. (Educational Facilities).(Walter Payton College Preparatory High School )(Cover Story)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... "A challenging program on an incredibly visible site. An outstanding environment for learning." These capsule comments about Chicago's new Walter Payton College Preparatory High School by Richard Mann highlight its immediately obvious...

New hope for a former Memphis bank that's now an inner-city school. (Adaptive Reuse).(TRO/JMGR designs Memphis school building)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The first school of any kind to be located in downtown Memphis, Tenn., occupies a building that once was a Federal Reserve Bank branch. Constructed in 1928, the bank was a traditional limestone Memphis-based architect TRO/JMGR (formerly JMGR)...

Charging ahead: MasterCard's high-tech campus incorporates state-of-the-art data center designed to withstand any disaster. (High-Tech Facility).
March 1, 2002... Whether it's an earthquake, tornado, blackout, flood or terrorist attack, MasterCard can rest assured that its new data center will be operational, processing 26 million credit card transactions every day. Built like a fortress, the facility is...

New York Stock Exchange goes virtual. (Digital Architecture).(Asymptote Architecture and Securities Industry Automation Corp. design virtual trading floor to assist renovation project)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... As part of the interior renovation of the New York Stock Exchange's (NYSE) Trading Floor Operations Center, a virtual, 3-D trading floor (3DTF) was designed by Asymptote Architecture, New York City, and Securities Industry Automation Corp., a...

Fundamentals of the post-boom Internet data center. (Data Center Design).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Back when the Internet economy was booming, a mere 10 months ago, the main concern for owners and developers of Internet data centers was not construction costs, but rather "speed to market" and system reliability. The demand for server space...

Capitol idea: a multimillion-dollar restoration of the Wisconsin State Capitol means out with the new and in with the old. (Stone And Wood Restoration).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Instrumental in the birth of the skyscraper, the late New York City architect George B. Post designed a more ornate type of building in 1906 that has remained a monument to him and to classic design. His Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison was...

Banking on steel: structural steel proves a wise investment for a Maryland bank's new home. (Steel Structures).(construction of Chevy Chase Bank's new headquarters)
March 1, 2002... When Chevy Chase Bank decided to build its new $175 million headquarters on the last available site at the highest profile intersection in Bethesda, Md., the owner had two primary building requirements: an open floor plan and high...

Framing system not without its holes. (Steel Construction).(Tadjer-Cohen-Edelson overcomes structural design issues in the construction of new Chevy Chase Bank headquarters)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Structural engineer Tadjer-Cohen-Edelson (TCE) resolved several challenging issues in the course of the structural design of the new Chevy Chase Bank headquarters: * To obtain 8-ft.-10-in. ceiling heights, the enginner limited all steel...

Cleaner vision: new coatings activated by sunlight and water promise to give glass self-cleaning capabilities. (Building technology: self-cleaning glass).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... With the introduction of coatings that let sunlight and the dispersion of water droplets assist the cleaning process, the glass industry is pledging to make the cleaning of its product easier. Industry observers characterize this product...

Bolted basics. (Access & Egress).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Commercial grade deadbolts accommodate three cylinder options, two keyways and lockless cylinders as well. The BC100 features a heavy-duty 1-in. metal bolt with a hardened steel roller pin to help prevent kick-in attacks and sawing of the bolt....

Don't panic. (Access & Egress).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Panic entrance features a slimline panic device to create a low-profile panic door. The VIP Series entrances are offered in concealed and rim types, are constructed of all metal working parts for durability, and include linear tread pattern in...

Blink of an eye. (Access & Egress).(iris recognition-based processing system from EyeTicket Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Two thousand passengers who travel frequently with Virgin Atlantic and British Airways will go through passport and access control at London's Heathrow International Airport with the blink of an eye. An iris recognition-based processing system...

Tighter security raises the test bar. (Access & Egress).(new ANSI/BHMA standard for exit devices, locks, alarms)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Exit devices, locks and alarms that are used in the United States are now subject to additional regulations established last year by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)....

Who's there? (Access & Egress).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Door stations with a digital-key telephone system function with hands-free operation and call forwarding. After pressing the integral doorbell button, the visitor will be answered from an internal intercom station or a phone station using the...

Long-range control. (Access & Egress).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Infrared-based receiver system, designed to work with any access control system, is ideal for applications where a high level of convenience and long reader range is required. InfraClick receivers are effective at ranges up to 30 feet and...

Exit strategy. (Access & Egress).(panic device for tempered glass doors)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Panic device for tempered glass doors features top and bottom rods that are flush with the door surface, virturally eliminating catch hazards while offering the security of a double-latching device. The Glas DRS mechanical rail system clamps...

Keyless entry. (Access & Egress).(electronic pushbutton lock from Kaba Ilco Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Key-in-lever lock is the first electronic pushbutton lock that is time-sensitive without requiring hardwiring. The 4400 Oracode KIL will fit into most locking applications and is easy to use for management and employees, providing secure access...

Exit control. (Access & Egress).(electromechanical delayed egress exit device from Yale Security Group)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Electromechanical delayed egress exit device is used to secure interior or exterior openings. When armed, SecureX delays egress for 15 to 30 seconds upon depression of a push pad. Once the delay cycle is timed out, the device releases for...

Delayed leave. (Access & Egress).(integrated door movement exit delay package from Securitron)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Integrated door movement exit delay package includes built-in delay electronics, audible alarm and keyswitch for reset and authorized release, self-contained in a stainless steel housing. The iMXD allows code-compliant door movement initiation,...

Hefty hardware. (Access & Egress).(heavy-duty hardware for folding door panels, from L.E. Johnson Products Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Heavy-duty hardware is designed to be used with folding door panels weighing up to 125 pounds and sliding doors weighing as much as 300 pounds. Best for commercial applications where durability and trouble-free operation are a priority,...

Book it. (Cladding).(curtain wall from Vistawall)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Because each floor of the Northbrook (Ill.) Public Library has different zig-zagged patterns, the curtain wall system was a challenge. First, a grid was laid out at three building levels. Then templates were fastened to each building corner to...

Majestic scene. (Cladding).(church uses Slenderwall panel system from Smith-Midland)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The precast concrete panel system of the New Jerusalem Baptist Church in New York City covers the entire exterior of the 30,000-sq.-ft. structure. The customized panels feature cutouts lined with ribbons of stained glass that transform sunlight...

Blue jewel. (Cladding).(curtain wall truss system from EFCO)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The School of Engineering at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville incorporates more than an acre of azure glass, featuring a three-story curtain wall with a truss system that spans from the first floor to the roof. The aluminum plate...

The face and future of curtain wall. (Cladding).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Curtain wall is becoming an increasingly sophisticated building envelope system. A current and continuing trend, according to Kirt Osgood, vice president and principal of Dallas-based Curtain Wall Design and Consulting, is control of solar...

Dual colors. (Cladding).(cladding from Alcan Composites USA Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Sun Healthcare Corp. in Albuquerque, N.M., used 38,900 square feet of 4 mm silver metallic color cladding and 2,350 square feet of wild grape color cladding to create the building's envelope. The Alucobond material used covers the six-story...

Curving flexibility. (Cladding).(Curveline Inc. offers building panels that can be curved as desired)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Profiled metal panels can be curved in both concave and convex directions for increased design flexibility. Most commonly used in siding applications, these curved panels are made of galvanized or zinc aluminum-coated steel, aluminum, anodized...

Integral insulation. (Cladding).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Insulated metal panel system is factory-foamed and its panels have skins of continuously galvanized sheet steel with an insulating core of poured-in-place, polyurethane high-resistance foam. The Bausysteme panels are specifically designed for a...

Fast-track wall. (Cladding).(Wausau's curtain wall cladding)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Metro Transit Authority (MTA) of Manhattan has completely renovated its 1.6 million-sq.-ft. building with 325,000 square feet of curtain wall. Rising 32 stories and spanning an entire city block, the MTA office building was renovated one...

Wood works. (Cladding).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Wood siding is best applied over standard sheathing material with stud spacing of no more than 16 inches on center. The siding contains natural preservatives that make it resistant to decay and insects. It has been used on resorts throughout...

Union Pacific Center. (Project Chronicles).(advertisement)
March 1, 2002... Omaha, Neb. For Union Pacific Corp., the decision to build a new headquarters adjacent to its current home in downtown Omaha, Neb., was an easy one. Even at $260 million, the project makes good economic sense, says Jim Young, Union Pacific...

835 Market Street. (Chronicles update).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... San Francisco With groundbreaking slated for summer 2003, developer Forest City Enterprises, Cleveland, is negotiating with contractor Swinerton Inc., San Francisco, for construction services for the 27-month project, which involves...

Tacoma Convention Center. (Chronicles update).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Tacoma, Wash. Demolition of 16 existing buildings on the future site of the convention center has commenced. In mid-January, R.W. Rhine, Tacoma, was awarded the $866,000 contract for demolition, hazardous materials abatement and salvage of...