Building Design & Construction articles from October 2008

Building Design & Construction archives from October 2008

Thrown For a Loop in China.(Rem Koolhaas' design of CCTV Headquarters)
October 1, 2008... By Dave Barista, Managing Editor Arup engineers use performance-based structural design to pull off Rem Koolhaas's 'drunken towers' for Beijing's CCTV Headquarters. While the Bird's Nest and Water Cube captured all the TV coverage...

Concrete: New Technology, New Approaches.
October 1, 2008... By C.C. Sullivan and Barbara Horwitz-Bennett Durable, versatile, dependable, and easily available, concrete is among the world's time-honored structural and finish materials. Even more compelling than its long-standing benefits are new...

Midtown Manhattan to get luxury condo tower.(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... By Lenora Jane Estes and Sam Oches, Editorial Interns Alexander Plaza, with its distinctive glass-and-aluminum façade and three-story, V-shaped crown, will introduce a contemporary flare to Midtown Manhattan's East Side. Designed by...

Ocean County College breaks ground on social science center.
October 1, 2008... By Lenora Jane Estes and Sam Oches, Editorial Interns Construction has commenced on Ocean County (N.J.) College's new social science center, designed by Hasbrouck Heights, N.J.-based DMR Architects. DMR, assisted by French & Parrello,...

Church to be converted into condos.(Consigli Construction Company Inc.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... By Lenora Jane Estes and Sam Oches, Editorial Interns Milford, Mass.-based Consigli Construction and The Architectural Team of Chelsea, Mass., are overseeing the conversion of the former St. Aidan's Church in Brookline, Mass., into...

Mixed-use skyscraper will take South Korea to new heights.(partnership of Portman Holdings L.P., Samsung C&T Corp., Hyundai E&C, SYM-Associates )(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... By Lenora Jane Estes and Sam Oches, Editorial Interns A consortium led by Portman Holdings in partnership with Samsung C&T Corp., Hyundai E&C, and SYM-Associates is financing the development of a 151-story, 2,000-foot mixed-use tower in...

Lodge-like library planned in Los Angeles County.(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... By Lenora Jane Estes and Sam Oches, Editorial Interns With the use of wood, stone, and Crafstman-style architecture, Los Angeles County's newest library will look more like a tranquil mountain lodge than a community resource center....

University of Wisconsin student union will have something for everyone.(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... By Lenora Jane Estes and Sam Oches, Editorial Interns Packed with everything from a bowling alley to a pub to an art gallery, the University of Wisconsin, Madison's $82 million replacement South Campus Union will aim to please the school's...

Wind turbines will top Houston tower.(Gilbane Building Co.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... By Lenora Jane Estes and Sam Oches, Editorial Interns Gilbane Building Co., Providence, R.I., will construct the 871,000-sf Discovery Tower in downtown Houston at an estimated cost of $156 million. Designed by the Houston office of Gensler,...

Double-skin cavity wall will keep athletic center warm and bright.(RMJM Hillier)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... By Lenora Jane Estes and Sam Oches, Editorial Interns RMJM Hillier of New York has broken ground on the Ian H. Graham Athletic Center at Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J. The athletic center will include a renovation to the existing...

Survival guide: What if your firm is acquired?
October 1, 2008... Robert Cassidy, Editor-in-Chief There's been a whole lotta acquisition going on in the AEC industry lately. "Last year was an all-time high," says George Christodoulo, senior partner with Boston law firm Lawson & Seitzen, whose firm...

Lifestyle Hotel Trends Around the World.
October 1, 2008... By Jay W. Schneider, Senior Editor Catering to guests seeking a heightened travel experience, lifestyle hotels stand out in a market based on the same old same old. When the Rocco Forte Collection opens the Verdura Golf & Spa Resort in...

Surge in multifamily market about to end.
October 1, 2008... By Jim Haughey, Ph.D., BD+C Economist Multifamily construction spending increased 8.4% in the first seven months of 2008--after having dropped 19% during 2007--but the recent annual growth pace is set to slow with no gains expected through...

RSMeans costs comparisons.
October 1, 2008... Jim Haughey [TABLE OMITTED]

BIM on a budget (how does $995 sound?).
October 1, 2008... By Jeff Yoders, Senior Associate Editor For smaller firms, the biggest hurdle to using building information modeling software has long been the exorbitant cost. BIM programs average around $5,000 for a single software license, and the R&D...

Zinc-clad control house sets sail at Chicago Harbor Lock.(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Staff Located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Chicago River, the Chicago Harbor Lock is one of the only lock systems that relies on gravity rather than pumps to shift water levels. With the 70-year-old system aging and in need of...

Aluminum panels accentmasonry-and-glass façade.(Princess Anne Outpatient Medical Center )(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Staff Randy Lyall of Lyall Design, Norfolk, Va., knew that the design of the Princess Anne Outpatient Medical Center in Virginia Beach, Va., needed not only to incorporate architectural drama but also to be sensitive to scheduling and...

Metal in tune with glass at new museum pavilion.(Lowe Art Museum)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Staff Dedicated to the art of glass, the new Myrna and Sheldon Palley Pavilion for Contemporary Glass and Studio Arts at the University of Miami's Lowe Art Museum is the first major addition to the museum in 12 years. The 3,500-sf...

Metal panels get schooled.(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Staff More than 30,000 sf of metal insulated panels featuring a custom reveal system and several custom module widths highlight the new Lapel (Ind.) High School. The system was developed by Metl-Span in conjunction with its strategic...

Stainless-steel panels spruce up supply company's headquarters.(Siskin Steel and Supply Company Inc.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Staff A 2,000-sf addition to the Siskin Steel & Supply building in Chattanooga, Tenn., has made a huge impact on the appearance of the company's headquarters. Linked to an existing brick structure, the expansion includes a new lobby,...

L.A. school opens after 23 years.(Edward R. Roybal Learning Center)(WWCOT)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... By Lenora Jane Estes and Sam Oches, Editorial Interns More than two decades in the making, the Edward R. Roybal Learning Center finally opened on September 3 with more than 2,600 high school students attending classes on the 25-acre campus...

Nanomaterials laboratory achieves LEED Silver certification.(Brookhaven National Laboratory's Center for Functional Nanomaterials )(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... By Lenora Jane Estes and Sam Oches, Editorial Interns The $41 million Center for Functional Nanomaterials at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, N.Y., earned LEED Silver, maximizing efficiency while minimizing exposure to sources...

Yale renovations look for LEED certification.(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... By Lenora Jane Estes and Sam Oches, Editorial Interns Svigals + Partners, New Haven, Conn., designed the $16 million renovation to the second and third floors of the Yale School of Medicine's Laboratory for Surgery, Obstetrics and...

Two of three planned luxury condo towers open in Irvine, Calif.(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... By Lenora Jane Estes and Sam Oches, Editorial Interns Two of the three towers designed for the Plaza Irvine in Irvine, Calif., have been completed. The 15-story luxury towers--Plaza I and Plaza II--provide two-story penthouse townhome...

ConsensusDOCs Addendum takes the worry out of using BIM software.
October 1, 2008... Jeffrey Yoders, Senior Associate Editor In July 2007, Richard Lowe, the chair of the legal subforum of the Associated General Contractors of America's BIM forum, convened the first of many meetings of some 50 attorneys, architects,...

News Briefs.
October 1, 2008... Staff - AIA Architecture Billings Index up slightly for nonresidential construction. The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) for nonresidential construction was up slightly in August, to 47.6, from the 46.8 mark in July, but still below the...

Chicago Dairy Queen becomes first Green Globes-certified retail building.(Dairy Queen Stores Inc.)
October 1, 2008... Jeffrey Yoders, Senior Associate Editor The Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookie Blizzard frozen treat isn't the only green in the new Dairy Queen/Orange Julius shop in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood. It's the first quick service restaurant in the...

People+Firms.
October 1, 2008... Staff - RMJM Architects , Philadelphia, created MERJE , an environmental graphic design studio that creates places and visitor experiences to promote client brands. The group previously operated under Hillier Architecture , New York, prior...

BD+C's 'School of the Future' to debut at Greenbuild 2008.
October 1, 2008... Staff If you're heading to Boston in November for Greenbuild, make sure to stop by Building Design+ Construction 's "High-Performance School of the Future, Today" demonstration project. In what is a first for Greenbuild, BD+C is...

Sage releases Timberline Office 9.5 with added security features.
October 1, 2008... Staff Sage Software has announced the availability of Sage Timberline Office Version 9.5, the newest version of the company's construction management software, offering an array of features designed to improve system security and business...

Awning windows offer eye-level views at children's hospital in Spokane.(Shriners Children's Hospital )(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Staff To create a feeling of comfort and confidence at the new 300-bed Shriners Children's Hospital in Spokane, Wash., designers from Spokane-based ALSC Architects gave thoughtful consideration to user perspectives. They considered "eye...

Tile goes heavy metal.(Dal-Tile Corp.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Staff Marble tile for wall and floor applications is covered in a layer of real brushed stainless steel or oxidized copper, providing a high-end metallic appearance for upscale environments, such as retail stores and luxury condos. The...

Ultimate underlayment.(USG Corp.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Staff Floor underlayment can be poured up to 60 days before the building's permanent windows and doors are installed. Designed for use in buildings with light-gauge steel frame construction, Levelrock CSD Early Exposure can be applied over...

Energy-saving drywall.
October 1, 2008... Staff Drywall incorporates a layer of Aerogel insulating gel to provide an insulation R-value of up to 4.1, compared to 0.5 for typical gypsum board. ThermaRock XI can reduce energy costs by up to 30%, according to the maker. The product...

Fire-classified floor boxes eliminate the need for spray-applied insulation.(Wiremold Co.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Staff Metallic and nonmetallic floor boxes preserve the fire rating of a concrete slab without the need for spray-applied insulation. Wiremold fire-classified floor boxes are UL tested and shown not to impact a floor's fire rating. They...

Platinum Award: Theater Renovation--A First-Class Production.(Balboa Theatre)
October 1, 2008... By Jay W. Schneider, Senior Editor It took 23 years to restore San Diego's historic Balboa Theatre, but the landmark project is receiving rave reviews. In 1985, the city of San Diego ordered the historic Balboa Theatre, its beleaguered...

Special Recognition Award: Harvard Law School Wood-Framed Houses Cambridge, Mass.
October 1, 2008... By Jay W. Schneider, Senior Editor A century ago, majestic Victorian homes lined Massachusetts Avenue in Boston, but few of these grande dames still survive. Harvard Law School owned three such beauties, which they used for office and...

Special Recognition Award: Kansas City Music Hall and Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, Mo.
October 1, 2008... Dave Barista The show will go on in Kansas City's beloved Music Hall and Municipal Auditorium thanks to a fast-track renovation and expansion project that brought the 72-year-old Art Deco playhouse up to 21st-century standards. ...

Special Recognition Award: The Girl Scouts: Building confidence, character and a new Headquarters.(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Staff The Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council Program Place is the headquarters for the largest Girl Scout Council in the U.S., with 63,000 scouts. The building houses the council's administrative offices, a Girl Scout museum, and activity...

Special Recognition Award: Joule Hotel.(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Staff The Joule Hotel in Dallas, designed by local firm Coburn & Smith, was constructed in 1927 as the Dallas National Bank Building. Originally one of the finest examples of gothic revival architecture in Texas, it had had most of its...

Platinum Award: World-Class Revival on Utah's Capitol Hill.
October 1, 2008... By Dave Barista, Managing Editor It took a small army of workers more than 10 years to rescue Utah's treasured state capitol and bring it back to life. Since 1916, the Utah State Capitol building has served as the foundation of Utah's...

Platinum Award: Princeton University: Updating a classic.
October 1, 2008... By Jeff Yoders, Senior Associate Editor Gothic architecture is so ingrained in Princeton University's heritage that the architects and engineers of New York A/E firm Einhorn Yaffee Prescott made no significant changes to the exterior of the...

Gold Award: VA San Diego Healthcare System Building 1 Seismic Correction San Diego, Calif.
October 1, 2008... By Jay W. Schneider, Senior Editor Three decades after its original construction in the early 1970s, the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System Building 1 fell far short of current seismic codes. This not only put the building and its...

Gold Award: Bowdoin College Museum of Art Brunswick, Maine.
October 1, 2008... Lenora Jane Estes Since its founding in 1794, when what is now the state of Maine was still part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Bowdoin College has played a pivotal role in the educational and cultural life of Maine. Contributing to...

Silver Award: Harvard Public Library Harvard, Mass.
October 1, 2008... Sam Oches Five years ago, the town of Harvard, Mass., which lies about 30 miles west of Boston, faced two problems. First, its iconic public schoolhouse, known as Old Bromfield, which was built in 1877, had become outdated. So, too, had...

Silver Award: Rouss & Robertson Halls University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce Charlottesville, Va.
October 1, 2008... By Jay W. Schneider, Senior Editor Rouss Hall, a historic 24,000-sf building designed by Stanford White, served as the home of the University of Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce from 1955 to 1975. Thirty years later, the university...

Bronze Award: Alumni Gymnasium Renovation, Dartmouth College Hanover, N.H.
October 1, 2008... Dave Barista At a time when institutions of higher learning are spending tens of millions of dollars erecting massive, cutting-edge recreation and fitness centers, Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., decided to take a more modest,...

Bronze Award: Lincoln High School Tacoma, Wash.
October 1, 2008... By Jay W. Schneider, Senior Editor Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Wash., was built in 1913 and spent nearly a century morphing into a patchwork of outdated and confusing additions. A few years ago, the Tacoma School District picked Lincoln...

'Water competition will be much more intense'.(Black and Veatch Corp's Daniel W. McCarthy )(Interview)
October 1, 2008... Staff Daniel W. McCarthy is president and CEO of Black & Veatch's global water business, based in Kansas City, Mo. He joined the firm in 1976 and has been a member of its board of directors since 2006. He has served as a board member of...