Popular loudspeaker manufacturer Klipsch has a rich history and loyal fan base, but has reached its customers mostly through mainstream consumer channels since its beginnings way back in 1946.The Indianapolis-based company is certainly no stranger to CEDIA, but perhaps has never entered the annual custom integrator tradeshow with as much enthusiasm and dedication to the channel as it is for CEDIA 2017 in San Diego.

Were really trying to change that message to the dealers about our commitment to the channel, says Tyler Nelson, who recently came onboard as Klipschs channel marketing manager, CI/Cinema/Pro, and brought with him channel experience most recently as training director for RTI.

One of Nelsons tasks heading into CEDIA was working with Klipschs in-house creative team on a Home Cinema Solutions product and design leave-behind collateral for dealers to use as an asset for highlighting how the companys various speaker solutions can be integrated into different rooms. Colorful graphics and product suggestions shown in theaters, family rooms, kids rooms, etc., will allow dealers to demonstrate to customers how a range of Klipsch speakers can be integrated or address specific needs.

Its to give to clients so they can get a visualization of what could be done, what the potential is for any situation from a playroom to a home theater room, and how that dealer can help them, says Nelson.

Rob Standley, Klipsch

Klipsch dealers ought to benefit greatly from such a guide with all of the new offerings that will be available to them the company has in its booth (#4812) at the San Diego Convention Center 50+ new products aimed at the custom market, all price protected. They include residential, commercial, architectural, outdoor, wireless and more.

CE Pro got a preview of some of whats on tap for dealers during a recent visit to Klipsch headquarters. In particular, the company demonstrated two types of tool-free installation methods incorporated into its new Professional Reference Premiere Architectural and Professional Referencespeakers, and Design and Custom Architectural series, respectively.

Michael Buratto, product manager, component audio, walked through the quick installation technique called SecureFit that the company is using for its Pro Reference Premiere or Pro Reference models.

The two-part modular system leaves the dog legs exposed after the installation frame hole is cut, and once the frame is in place the installer flips the dog leg in the direction of the arrow. It snaps, keeping the frame in place and machine screws are ejected from the frame; after you wire the speaker and put it in the installation frame, use your screw gun to secure the machine screws and its all set.

Because of the machine screws you get higher clamping force on that speaker module, and it also decouples it from drywall better or the installation surface better than traditional installation methods, Buratto explains. Because of that higher clamping force and decoupling, you get a lot less baffle vibration or baffle vibration transmission into the drywall, so you get better mid-bass and overall a clearer speaker.

Baffle vibration is reduced as much as 40 percent, according to the company.

While everyones jumping on the bandwagon of a faster installation method we were jumping on an installation method that is not necessarily faster, certainly not any slower, but more reliable, adds Buratto (pictured below), which leads to less issues in the field and most importantly creates a better acoustic experience.

The Pro Reference Premiere and Pro Reference loudspeakers take the place of Klipschs 5000 series for the custom channel and deliver 60- to 90-degree dispersion (they sounded very good even listening way off-axis during the demonstration).

The Reference Premiere models feature a new silicone-coated horn, which Buratto says also reduces resonances to lessen mid-range coloration and produce sound a bit more universally appealing to someone whos used to a direct radiator, but still deliver the dynamics, power and controlled directivity of a tried-and-true Klipsch horn.

Meanwhile, for the builder/contractor communities in particular Klipsch is addressing volume and speed of install with its Custom Series (CS) and Designer Series (DS) models that employ a new Sky Hook by Swarm tool-free technology.

Rob Standley, Klipsch

These models will replace the 1000 and 2000 series products, and while we did not hear a demo of prototypes (they will be shown at CEDIA and launch in October) we did see the install technology in action.

Basically you press the top of the speaker into place, the four dog legs clamp into position and youre done and Sky Hook automatically adjusts to whatever the thickness of the surface material is, with teeth that lock into place.

Its an alternative on traditional in-ceiling installation, which can take up to a minute for a speaker; with this, after its wired up its literally a few seconds and youre onto the next speaker, says Buratto.

The Custom Series will be more of an entry-level, contractor-grade product, while the Designer Series is a step-up featuring Tractrix horns and silk-dome tweeters and some with pivoting tweeters and woofers. New architectural products will also give installers round or square grille options, a paint shield that magnetically attaches, and small aperture models that resemble recessed lighting.

One of the big deals at CEDIA for us is all the new Pro Reference and DS/CS lines are designed for integrators specifically and will not be sold to retail online kind of businesses, theyre really aimed at the CI guys, and thats different than where were at today, says Rob Standley, vice president general manager, professional & component audio solutions.

Weve got some products in the market that are those other channels, and these are for this channel specifically," adds Standley. "The other cool thing is the grilles and look of the products. Wether you go from the CS line at the bottom all way to the top Pro Series line, will have same kind of appearance; so if you have a home where youve got these in the theater room, then something in the bathroom thats a mono speaker thats lower priced, its going to maintain the same clean look throughout the project.

In addition to the architectural speakers, Klipsch previewed its Professional Series Landscape speakers and entry-level RSB-3 soundbar during the headquarters/factory visit.

The all-weather Landscape models, good for residential or commercial use, featured easy installation too by which 10- or 18-inch stakes can be hammered in separately and the satellite speakers attached thereafter, with one quarter turn all it takes to be securely mounted to the stake. The sub-sat system has 5- and 6-5-inch two-way horn-loaded satellites that can accompany a full-burial subwoofer.

At CEDIA the company will also have on hand a sub-sat outdoor system from sister brand Jamo, which can be run in 70-volt as well for resi or commercial use and simple scalability.

As a way to expand its RSB (Reference Soundbar) lineup, the company addressed smaller-room installers with the new $299 RSB-3, which launches in September. Its a two-way design with separate tweeter and mid-range drivers and integrated subwoofer, with analog and optical inputs, Dolby decoding, Bluetooth support and universal remote code support.

The main goal is to attach to smaller television sets without the need to have a separate active subwoofer. Some people just dont have the space for it, says Andre Larouche, director of product development systems. Its not intended for large living rooms, but it does a very nice job of reproducing sound, and has ports on the side for low frequency, to keep turbulence low so its not sending low frequencies though the metal grille.

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Klipsch Debuts 50 New Loudspeaker Solutions for Custom Channel at CEDIA - CEPro

Zaha Hadid Architects Wins Competition for Port of Tallinn Masterplan in Estonia

Zaha Hadid Architects has been selected as the winners of an international competition to masterplan the revitalization of the Old City Harbour in Tallinn, Estonia. Beating out an esteemed shortlist of 6 teams, including AZPML, KCAP Architects & Planners and Helsinki-based ALA Architects, ZHAs proposal was lauded by the client for its innovative and integrated approach to Tallinns maritime gateway.

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Zaha Hadid have very skilfully created a balanced connection between urban space and the port area with some carefully considered access roads and traffic solutions, said Valdo Kalm, the chairman of the management board of the Port of Tallinn. What stands out in their designs are the diagonals running through them of the pedestrian footpaths, around which a very diverse and memorable city space has been established.

Interesting details include the water features theyve designed along Reidi Street and their partial and very smooth and effective raising of the areas for pedestrians up to another level. Adding to the overall feel of integration in their designs is the urban square and greenery theyve come up with for the area around Admiralty Basin, stretching all the way from the front of Terminal A to the front of Terminal D. Their entry was also marked out by strong logistics and property development analysis and a convincing and realistic projection of the implementation of the Masterplan stage by stage.

Among other criteria, the jury evaluated each of the finalists entries based on their cohesion with the surrounding environment, the strength of connection between the port and city, the quality of innovation in the solution and the projects overall feasibility.

Aimed at realization by 2030, the masterplan competition was launched with the aim of reconnecting the city and public realm to the port, while spurring new development that will complement and enhance the existing port functions.

Zaha Hadid Architects will now work alongside Latvian architectural firm RemPro, engineering consultant Tyrens UK real estate consultants Colliers Estonia and RLB UK and VA-Render for visuals to further develop the project, with a final scheme targeted for the end of 2017. At that point, detailed architectural and economic plans will be produced to determine an exact timeline for implementation.

News via Port of Tallinn.

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Zaha Hadid Architects Wins Competition for Port of Tallinn ... - ArchDaily

Architects' Sam Carter and Dan Searle talk new music, new lyrics and playing their biggest ever UK headline show at London's Alexandra Palace.

YOU'RE PLAYING ALEXANDRA PALACE! TELL US ABOUT ITSays Sam Carter (vocals): Were going to put on the best show possible. Its one show and youve got to go all in, and were so stoked to have While She Sleeps with us as well.

Dan Searle (drums): We just want to make a massive night of it. Its a big event, a big celebration for everyone. Everyone knows what the band has been through.

Its not your average story, and theres a level of emotional investment with fans now where it really makes for a special event.

Sam: I feel like now, shows and especially big shows like Brixton have meant so much to people in the crowd as well, because its crazy that people have invested so much time in our band over these years to see us get to this level.

I think they understand how much this means to us as well, so theyre equally important to the show.

Dan: Its odd because the trajectory of our band is so unusual. We sort of pottered along for a decade at a lower level barely making ends meet. Weve persevered and to then suddenly find ourselves in this position is quite unusual.

Not many bands break through to that degree on their seventh album. Its really unusual.

AND HAVING WHILE SHE SLEEPS AND COUNTERPARTS INVOLVED MUST BE AWESOMESam: Brendon from Counterparts messaged me being like, Thank you for letting us play a 10,000 capacity show. We will never do that ever again for the rest of our career! Its so funny.

Dan: Has a hardcore band ever played at Ally Pally? Is the closest Suicidal Tendencies supporting Slipknot? I dont know, its really great that we can give a band like that the opportunity to do something like that, because its a very unique and rare thing, so thats really cool.

Sam: And for us live its like, Lets just go in. Were planning and getting carried away already, so its nice to be like, This is our one show. Focus all of the attention on that.

Its obviously a massive venue so you can do things that you couldnt normally do in smaller rooms. You can do more in that room than you can in Brixton, and Brixtons still a big venue.

ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT WHAT COMES AFTER THAT? I REMEMBER AFTER BRIXTON YOU WERE SAYING, WE CAN T BELIEVE THIS...Sam: I always do this thing and I think Dans similar in that while we were playing Brixton my mind was like, Right... next! You always have these little points where youre like, Where are we going to go from here? but with Ally Pally its like... Where do we go?!

Dan: After we played Brixton.... That was the career pinnacle off my bucket list. There was nothing beyond it, and I came offstage at Brixton... I loved the show, but afterwards I felt quite a bit empty, like, Well, thats it.

Weve kind of had to set new targets and new ambitions in order to keep moving forward. Well definitely have one eye on whats beyond that but nothing really matters unless we produce a good album.

Sam: I think from here as well show-wise, its real, actual dream-come-true shit, playing a venue that big and being the band that we are

Dan: Were incredibly insecure though, so we dont get too carried away. Itll probably only do 1,000 tickets, the promoter will lose money and never work with us again-

Sam: -these are genuine conversations we have...

Dan:Genuinely, bands live and die by their songs, so its all well and good doing Ally Pally but were dead in the water without a good album, so up until we play Ally Pally our focus is on making sure we write some good songs.

Thats the most important thing and thats where our focus is, not the shows. So well see.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HOW NEW MUSIC IS PROGRESSING?Dan: Weve got a lot of songs.

Sam: Its going really well. When we finished the last tour we knew that was when the writing was really going to start taking shape.

Dan and Josh have been writing, Alis been writing, its been a lot of work but it seems to be flowing very naturally and its actually fun and we almost have too much stuff.

Now were going to trim it back and work on each song individually that we have and start demoing vocals. Its really coming together.

Dan: Theres just a lot of pressure. The circumstances are unique and we feel the responsibility to... I feel like the attitude should be given that weve lost Tom just to try and make something half decent, but we kind of want to keep getting better.

But the odds are stacked against us and it almost sounds arrogant or deluded to suggest that we want to keep getting better, but that is ultimately our target.

Sam: And I think people know that we have very high standards, and if we didnt truly think it was better than All Our Gods..., it wouldnt come out.

So were very hard on ourselves and we have the standards that we set and well keep working until we smash those standards out of the park.

Dan: Were trying to not settle and not make any promises about when were going to deliver the album or anything like that, because we have enough pressure on the band already without deadlines. Weve got to get our heads down and make it happen.

DO YOU WISH YOUD HAD MORE TIME OFF OVER THE PAST YEAR?Sam: I think for all of us, a way of actually helping what was happening was being all together on tour, having a routine of being together and constantly being busy. I think now were at the point where we need some time to chill and to evaluate.

Dan: We were a little bit silly in that we just said yes to everything. Its been a bit too much. [Reading & Leeds was] our last show of the year so were fine, were right at the end and its been great, but were all pretty burnt now.

Weve said in the past that we wouldnt do this any more, but after we lost Tom we just wanted to dive right back into it, and paid the price for diving in a bit too deep.

Sam: Not that we didnt feel grateful before, but I feel like we feel very honoured to be still able to be in a band and still be playing shows.

Not many bands go through this, and no one really tells you how to deal with stuff after it, so weve just been feeling it out and weve been there for each other through periods of people finding it hard and being tired, but were at our last show and all still smiling and still having a good time.

DOES IT FEEL LIKE THE WORLD NEEDS AN ARCHITECTS ALBUM RIGHT NOW?Sam: We get asked this a lot regarding the next record because obviously of our political stance and what were about.

"I feel like theres a lot of political bands out there as well now doing that, but I think yes, obviously there will be some parts of the record where we may be talking about that sort of stuff, but I think with the things weve been through as a group of people, lyrically its going to be heading in that direction.

Dan: The state of the world is obviously not good, but dealing with personal stuff has taken the spotlight off that stuff for us a little but. Lately weve become a little bit more invested in it

Sam: I feel like for us, writing lyrics about this sort of thing and writing lyrics about what weve been through can be very cathartic and very helpful.

I think were obviously never going to turn away from our beliefs and who knows, maybe therell end up being a few songs on the record that are about it because we are in a very sorry state of affairs right now and I still find it very shocking that Donald Trump is actually the president, but theres a lot of things that we need to get off our chests and our heads and as a band explain what weve been through and also as a family and as a group of best friends.

Architectsplay London's Alexandra Palace alongsideWhile She SleepsandCounterpartsin February. Tickets are on sale now.

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Architects: Writing Lyrics About What We've Been Through Can Be Very Cathartic - ROCKSOUND.TV

One issue that the right and left agreed uponin the 2016 election? Infrastructure. The countrys roads, bridges, highways, hospitals, railways, and water systems need immediate attention. President Trump promised to spend $1 trillion to improve the situation; so far, no comprehensive plan has been releasedbut the presidentis implementing policy that will impact how these projects are designed and built. Andaccording toenvironmentalistsand architects, it might make infrastructure weaker, not stronger.

On August 15, Trump signed an executive order that shortened the permitting process for federal infrastructure projects by overhauling the environmental review process, which he believes has slowed the pace of infrastructure construction and repair. Trump also revoked an Obama-era rule mandating extra flood protections for all federal infrastructure projectsdesigned to build resilience and mitigate damage from climate change. As the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Texas government assess the damage from Hurricane Harvey and its flood waters, and begin to rebuild, this policy change will impact how new infrastructure is designed and to what specifications.

Obamas 2015 executive order was all about using design to reduce the risk of catastrophic damage from flooding. For example, it mandated that all projects receivingfederal funding must use the best-available climate science and hydrological data to assess flood risk and determine what the flood elevation should be. It also went into granular detail and instituted a rule that added two feet to the base flood elevation for non-critical projects and three feet to critical projects. Trumps executive order eliminates the stricter protections Obama mandated on flooding and the effects of climate change, along withshortening the environmental review process. Environmental advocates have railedagainst the order, while the oil industry has showered itwith praise.

To get a fuller understanding of the new policys implications, we spoke to members of two groups that it will directly impact:architects and sustainability experts.

To Margaret Montgomerysustainability leader at NBBJ, an architecture firm based in Seattle that designs for Amazon and Samsungand recently rebuilt the Veterans Administration Hospital, in New Orleansthe new policy is indicative of climate denial, which puts us at risk for long-term planning.

Climate change is here, no matter what any administration does to hide the facts, she says. To blindly act as if nothing is happening sets us up for facilities that fail, people that are hurt, and communities burdened with tremendous additional costs that could have been avoided. It especially damages communities that have less power and ability to react and recover when something happens.

Montgomery, like other architects who commented for this story, believes that specific regions of the country are more vulnerable to the negative consequences of Trumps policy, like communities that are more dependent on federal funding, areas that dont accept that climate change is real, and areas that are underserved. Regionsthat already have strong local climate action planstypically major cities on the coastswill continue to champion sustainable, resilient design. The areas that are at the greatest risk of infrastructure failure in a storm are often the least likely to prioritize resiliency without federal oversight.

I wasnt surprised; we all saw this coming, Mike Cavanaughsustainability leader at CannonDesign, a firm that specializes in hospitals, university campuses, and civic buildingstells Co.Design. Were definitely concerned, but at the same time weve been through this for seven to eightmonths and we know deregulation is the theme of the day.

He points out that, paradoxically, deregulation is detrimental to areas that want it the most. These are regions that already have the worst infrastructure since their economies have not supported new construction or maintenance over they yearsso they urgently need new development, which could sparkjob creation.

[Policy makers] deregulate because they want things to happen faster, Cavanaugh says. So areas without the robust economy feel like they need to get a fast-food version of development going. Thats where planning isnt going to take place properly. Theyll build critical infrastructure below the 500-year floodplain and thats where well see regretting some of these decisions made to quickly get a short-term economic boost, maybe not in 1or 5years, but in 10 or 20 years. So its places in the south, like Louisiana still rebuilding from Katrina, [that want] to accelerate oil and gas infrastructure.

In his executive order, Trump stated that unnecessary rules and regulations cause inefficient decision-making processes, stalling infrastructure development. To spark development, he claimed, the country needs fewer rules. But fewer federal rules might not make development fasterit could actually slow construction down even more, according to Phil Harrison, CEO of Perkins+Will, one of the largest architecture firms in the country.

Right now, perhaps the biggest impact is incongruence and confusion, he tells Co.Design in an email. While a number of sustainability-focused policies are being rolled back, other pre-existing federal environmental policies and executive orders, such as the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildingswhich essentially sets requirements for federal buildings to meet the 2030 Challengeremain in effect. This lack of clarity around whats still applicable and whats not will likely lead to even greater regulatory burden, despite all promises to the contrary.

In his experience, Harrison has found his government clients to be good stewards of public funds and doesnt believe that agencies would put their multimillion dollar investments in harms way. But that might not be the case in every situation.

Since, by rolling back some of these environmental policies, the federal government is reducing its role in protecting the public interest, other groups will need to close the gap, Harrison tells Co.Design. Fortunately, communities, cities, counties, and states already have a more significant hand in public health and safety than the federal government. So for now, this rollback simply means they will need to do more.

If these municipalitiesand the stakeholders footing the billagree that climate-resilient design is a priority, changes at the federal level wont matter. However, there are dozens of climate deniers in office. While resilient design and sustainability have become part of the lingua franca for many projects today, that wasnt the case a decade ago.

In general, my biggest worry is that were just beginning to head in the right direction and gather the resources and forces and momentum to actually respond appropriately to climate change, Margaret Montgomery says. I think its unfortunate were hitting a setback. In the profession were mobilized. Well do what we can do and theres a lot we can do without being told to do it.

In many ways, architects are the first line of defense. As consultants, they are equipped to inform their clients about resilient design. The AIA Code of Ethics includes a section about how environmentally responsible design is a professional duty. CannonDesign incorporates questions about long-term resiliency at the start of its discussions with clients by plainly asking if its a priority. If not, then its architects explain why its worth considering.

Of course, this approach can only go so far when there are many stakeholders involved and many competing priorities, cost and time being two major factors. Flood-resistant design is often more expensive, since it can include things like moving mechanical systems to upper floors and significantly reinforcing structures. When it comes to staying within budget, design elements that arent necessary for day-to-day operation rarely take priority: Why spend extra money to design a structure for an event that might only happen once every 100 years?

Its really handy for us as taxpayers to say we can shave 2% or 3% off the project cost now, but at what cost in a disaster? Montgomery says about investing in resilient design. We just have the heroic sense that we can put off paying, but we cant for very long. The costs of disaster are amounting so muchand its so avoidable.

The countrys current infrastructure problem is a result of putting short-term priorities over long-term consequences. Budgets are severely limited. Building a new bridge might be put off for a few years, but funding emergency services cant be delayed, for example. The cycle repeats, and here we are. The only solution is to be aggressively proactive, and the administrations current trajectory is anything but.

Trump abandoned his plans for an infrastructure advisory councilwhich would have steered his trillion-dollar promiseafter his other councils disbanded in the wake of Charlottesville. Long-term infrastructure planning requires vision and foresight to rally taxpayers, private contractors, counties, cities, and states around projects that will take longer than a political termor annual profit reportto plan and complete. As it is now, Trumps blind need for speed policy robs tomorrow for today.

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Architects Speak Out Against Trump's Latest Executive Order - Co.Design (blog)

Renowned architect Frank Gehry was in North Adams Friday to visit what supporters hope will become the future site of the Extreme Model Railroad and Contemporary Architecture Museum, an initiative being championed by Thomas Krens, former director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.

Gehry, who worked with Krens on the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, signed on earlier this year to design the proposed 83,000-square-foot museum. It has spectacular potential, said Gehry. I dont know of anything quite like what [Krens] has in mind.

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The proposed $65 million museum would boast some 110 continuously operating model trains and would display architectural models by some of the worlds leading architects.

There is no real architecture museum anywhere in the world, said Krens, who accompanied Gehry on the trip. People like miniaturization, and they are drawn to motion.

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The proposed museum is part of a much larger plan Krens and others are championing for Western Gateway Heritage State Park and nearby lands that includes a distillery, a commercial art storage facility, a new park, and multiple structures designed by well-known architects.

In addition to designing the model train and architecture museum, Krens said, Gehry will plan renovations for the Mohawk Theater and design a pedestrian bridge. He added that architect Jean Nouvel has agreed to design a luxury hotel, a museum devoted to American art, and a museum devoted to motorcycles. In addition, he said, architect Richard Gluckman has signed on to design the Massachusetts Museum of Time, which would be devoted to industrial clocks.

I always thought [North Adams] could become an American Florence, Gehry said. Not a wealthy mans Florence, but a normal mans Florence.

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The city of North Adams has submitted an application for a $5.4 million grant from MassWorks to support the planned railroad and architecture museum, which would be built on publicly owned land.

But Krens said the bulk of the funding for the proposed $65 million museum would come from private investors.

This is a for-profit endeavor, said Krens. We are expecting 500,000 to 700,000 annual visitors. If I get that kind of visitor-ship, were running a fairly simple museum. We expect our investors will be very handsomely rewarded.

By contrast, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, also in North Adams, logged about 165,000 visitors last year. In nearby Williamstown, the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute drew 170,000 visitors in fiscal year 2016.

There appears to be regional support for the project. On Friday Krens and Gehry were joined at a press conference by former governor William F. Weld, Mayor Richard Alcombright of North Adams, and Mass MoCA director Joe Thompson. During the press conference, Weld said the project would totally transform the North Adams-Williamstown area. Thompson said it would inject a tremendous amount of life into North Adams.

Gehry, who is known for making splashy architectural statements, said he had no preconception of what its going to look like.

The architectural mandate is simple, since the landscape around us is so spectacular, said Gehry. I dont think Tom is given to excess in his program needs, so itll probably be a modestly budgeted building.

Krens said $2.5 million had already been raised for the project without formal fund-raising.

Connor Orlando

The proposed $65 million museum would boast some 110 continuously operating model trains and would display architectural models by some of the worlds leading architects.

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Architect Frank Gehry to design proposed museum - The Boston Globe - The Boston Globe

In August 2016, Architects guitarist Tom Searle, brother of drummer Dan Searle,passed away at the age of 28. Tom battled melanoma for three years, and among other things left the world with seven Architects albums between 2006 and 2016. At the time, Architects very understandably wasn't sure what the future of the band would hold, though they did keep their touring commitments after Tom's passing.

Now in a new interview with Rock Sound,vocalist Sam Carter says the band is working on a new album. More interestingly, he says Dan Searle and current touring guitarist and vocalistJosh Middleton (Sylosis) are writing the record together, possibly suggesting that Middleton could be a part of Architects officially?

Its going really well. I mean when we finished the last tour it was kind of like we knew that was when the writing was really going to start taking shape. Dan and Josh have been writing. Ali has been writing. It has been a lot of work but it seems to be flowing very naturally. Its been fun and its almost like we have too much stuff ya know? Sort of like now were gonna sort of trim it back and work on each song individually that we have now and start demoing vocals. Its really coming together.

Middleton filled in briefly with Architects in 2012 on guitar, and has been doing so once more pretty much ever since the band has been on tour after Tom's passing.

[via Rock Feed]

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ARCHITECTS Is Working On Its First New Album Since Guitarist ... - Metal Injection.net

AtThe Architects Newspaper, were plain addicted to Instagram. Sure, we love seeing Brutalist concrete through Inkwell or Ludwig filters, but theres also no better place to see where architects are getting their inspiration, how theyre documenting the built environment, andwhere theyve traveled of late.

Below, we bring you some of the best Instagrams of this past week! (Also, dont forget to check out our Instagram accounthere.)

With summer drawing to a close, its time to lay eyes on fall fun, and what better place to start than IG? AlthoughArchtober, New York AIAs October architecture bonanza, is a full month away, the Chicago Biennial opens in just two weeks. Though we didnt find studio pics of bleary-eyed architects on a work binge, surrounded by takeout containers, we did see participating firms working furiously on their installations for the second iteration of the Biennial. Check out a few projects below:

Andrew Kovacs (Archive of Affinities) debuted the colorful first drawing for his Biennial model on Instagram yesterday.

And at Bureau Spectacular, model-making is underway.

Meanwhile,CAMESgibson is hard at work on some sunshine.

Well done.

A post shared by CAMESgibson (@camesgibson) on Aug 17, 2017 at 1:15pm PDT

On the other side of the world, OMA is showing off pics of the nearly-completeLab City, an engineering school in Paris.

And finally, just look at 3XNs magnificent staircase forUN City Copenhagen. Its sinuous curves respond to the dialogue and connection the UN fosters, but it also resembles a writhing snake coated in chocolate shell. (Theres a technical term for that, right?)

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An ophidian staircase, Chicago Biennial prep, and other updates from the architects of Instagram - The Architect's Newspaper

BRIDGEPORT. W. Va. (WDTV) -- Of the many countertop materials out there, you mightve overlooked concrete, which offers unique customization, appearance and strength.

Concrete countertops are very versatile and durable, but remember, it can be a pricey option, so be sure you know youre going to like it before you install," said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List.

David Barnes wanted something different, and chose extra-thick concrete in a gray tone that lightened his kitchen.

I want to go really thick, I dont want the thin countertops, I actually just want to make a statement, and so really with that and I also just being able to choose the color, the finish and the texture of the concrete, thats just kind of why I chose it, said Barnes.

Barnes entrusted his counters to Schurger Concrete Abstracts, which uses a mix unlike normal concrete.

Its kind of like overly-engineered concrete, so its actually much, much stronger than sidewalk concrete, and theres additives, things like that to make stronger, make it last longer, said David Schurger, of Shurger Concrete Abstracts.

Schurger also creates fireplaces, mantles and even concrete tablecloths.

If clients give us a little more artistic liberty, thats when the cool stuff happens, said Schurger.

So how long will it last?

The Hoover Dams still drying, and Romans have been doing it for a couple thousand years, so way longer than anybodys lifetime, Shurger said.

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Angie's List: Choosing concrete countertops - WDTV

Two explosions were reported on Aug. 31 at the flood-hit Arkema plant in Crosby, Tex. (Reuters)

Early Thursday, while Texas wrestled with Hurricane Harvey's aftermath, a powerful reaction belched fireandblack smoke from a chemical factory in Crosby, Tex., 30 miles northeast of Houston.The factory, operated by French chemical company Arkema, lost power in the flood. The refrigeration system used to cool tractor-trailer tankers full of chemicalsfailed.So did the backup generators. There was a popping noise, officials said. Then awarmtanker, full ofliquidorganic peroxides, erupted into flames.

Organic peroxides are extremely flammable, noted the company in a statementon its website Thursday. Arkema said it expected more fires to start and planned to allow the chemicals to burn themselves out.

They're actually very marvelous, said chemistWilliam Carroll,an adjunct professor of chemistry at Indiana University who has worked with organic peroxides for many years. You use them in a way that they fall apart and do so at very specific temperatures. Oneorganic peroxide can be tailored to break up at 30 degrees Celsius [86 degrees Fahrenheit], while another will do so at 40 degrees. The trick is to keep them safely below those temperatures sometimes frozen solid, or, in the case of the Arkema plant, stored as chilled liquids.

When peroxides heat up, they react. Thursday, around 2 a.m. local time, the materials did exactly what they're supposed to do, Carroll said. They decomposed.

A peroxide compound contains two linked oxygen atoms. The peroxide you're perhaps most familiar with, hydrogen peroxide, is a chainof two oxygen atomscapped on both ends with a hydrogen atom. Peroxides are useful because the chemical bond between the oxygen atoms is so unstable. Oxygengreedily snatches electrons from other atoms. Thisrapaciousness makes oxygen a flighty partner when bonded to itself.

Michelle Francl, a chemistry professor at Bryn Mawr, has an antique glass container labeled peroxide in her office. A laboratory safety officer who caught sight of the jaralmost bolted until Francl gave her assurances that it was scrubbed clean. Had it contained dry peroxide, she said, the jar could havecombusted at a jolt.

Peroxides arebasically tiny little molecular canisters of oxygen, Francl said. Theyre designed to break apart and be highly reactive. Its like having a whole bunch of fragile glass molecules.People have used hydrogen peroxide's fizzy instability tobleach hair, disinfect wounds not always arecommendedtechnique and, at high concentrations, propel rockets.

Organic peroxides substitute the hydrogen caps for clusters of carbon plus other elements.There are many kinds of organic peroxides, with almost as many uses. Benzoyl peroxide, as an acnemedication, tears apart proteins inskin bacteria. Arkema advertises a wide range of peroxide products: not just to defeat zitsbut also to kick-startpolymer reactions, to improve the color of resins, to create plastics for pipes and countertops.

Your plastic kitchen countertop, of course, isn't in danger of spontaneous combustion. When manufacturing plastics, the reactive peroxide is aspark, not a building block. Once the peroxide kicks off thea chain reaction,the resulting moleculesbraid together in astable polymer. The beauty of peroxides is their ability to keep the reaction going, churning out free radicals. Every time a radical touches something it turns it into a radical, Francl said. Its like zombies.

It's no coincidence that Texas isthick with chemicalplants, situated alongside natural gas and oil refineries. Where there are fossil fuels there are carbon byproducts, a key component of organic peroxides. Youmight hear oil and think of fuel. But chemists think of lots of little carbon frameworks. Like Lego, Francl said.

And the choice to construct the chemical plant in a rural area was no accident, either, Carroll said. You won't find such a factory in downtown Houston. They're acutely aware that they're working with a reactive material, he said, that has to be handled in a certain way.

The Arkema plant is far from the first to have an accident with organic peroxides. Between 1980 and 2001, there were about a dozen accidents severe enough to trigger reviews from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, Francl noted, including a previous event in Crosby in 1998. A handful took place in Pasadena and other nearby Texas cities.

On Thursday, a deputy with the Harris County Sheriffs Office sought treatment for inhaling fumes, The Washington Post reported. Other organic peroxide accidents have resulted in injuries. In 2008, in Edmonton, Alberta, nine people were hospitalizedafter a peroxide holding tank caught fire. (Terrorists have put organic peroxides to the most horrific use. Bombingattacksin Manchester, London, Paris and Brusselsinvolvedtriacetone triperoxide or TATP, a compound also known as mother of Satan.")

If there is a silver lining to the peroxide accident Thursday,thechemicals' reactivity means that they wont stick around in the environment. The chemicals will burn too quickly for floodwaters to sweep any of the liquid away. This is an acute event, not a chronic one, Carroll said.

What's left after such a chemical reaction? Smoke, but mostly carbon dioxide and more water.

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Jonathan Phelps @JPhelps_MW

HOPKINTON With questions lingering around repeated violations to the town's scenic road bylaw on Saddle Hill Road, the Planning Board ordered a Framingham development company Monday night to stop all tree clearing and site work on the 60-acre property.

Planning Board members are disputing the removal of one or more sections of a stone wall along the designated scenic road, which isn't allowed without a permit from the board.

Representatives of Parsons Commercial Group will return to the Planning Board on Sept. 11 after the board inspects the area and gathers more information. The company is building 11 homes on the property, each of which will have its own driveway. The driveways will require Planning Board approval to remove sections of the wall under the bylaw.

The board will inspect the property Sept. 9 at 9 a.m. The scenic road bylaw applies primarily to removing stone walls and trees along the roadway.

Two weeks ago, principal planner Jennifer Burke learned about the violation. Without a permit, contractors removed a 23-foot section of stone wall so equipment could enter the property. Burke called a halt to the work and Parsons rebuilt the wall with the same stones and used different access for tractor trailer trucks. In a memo to the board, Burke recommended the board fine Parsons $6,900.

"That was a clear violation," she told the board. "They admitted to that."

Planning Board member Frank D'Urso said at Monday night's meeting that he thinks there are at least two violations, and a third possible violation that should be reviewed. He made the motion for all work to be stopped until the next meeting.

"I don't see why they are able to violate scenic road law in three separate places and still be allowed to do whatever they want without answering for what they've done wrong," he said.

John Parsons, president of the company, disagrees with D'Urso.

"I think there is the ability to access the site without breaking the scenic bylaws from the standpoint there was an area located on the street that permitted access because there was no stone wall there," Parsons said.

Saddle Hill Road resident Josh Deisenroth said the company is entering the property from other points.

"There has been a high 18-wheeler in a different spot which had another breach," he said. "They chip all the trees into it and it pulls out and they'll move the rock wall back."

Dave Anderson, project manager for Parsons, said he was on vacation last week and unaware of such activity. He said nothing was done with ill intent.

D'Urso told his fellow board members he has photographs and video of the work.

"I can factually prove what I am saying," he said.

The company previously withdrew a plan to build a 19-home subdivision on the property.

Jonathan Phelps can be reached at 508-626-4338 or jphelps@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @JPhelps_MW.

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Developer ordered to stop land clearing in Hopkinton - MetroWest Daily News