Source: The Daily Telegraph

Source: The Daily Telegraph

IT looms as the most iconic building to be constructed in Sydney since the Opera House - judging by the architectural royalty lining up to design it.

Four of the finest designers on the planet have been shortlisted to build James Packer's $1 billion six-star Crown Sydney resort at Barangaroo, each promising to gift the city a dramatic masterpiece of world renown.

The Daily Telegraph understands that while there is no prize for the winning design, the commission from the construction could be worth $10 million to the successful firm.

The four, including famous designer Renzo Piano, who graced London's skyline with The Shard, have been given until April to present their concept plans to Crown.

Their objective is simple, as expressed personally by Mr Packer, who is eager to leave his mark on his home town - make it the talk of the world.

"Sydney deserves one of the world's best hotels and with these amazing architects I'm confident we will see the most iconic building constructed here since the Opera House," he told The Daily Telegraph. "I want this hotel resort to be instantly recognisable around the world and feature on postcards and memorabilia promoting Sydney. That's how you attract international tourists, create jobs and put Sydney on the map."

Mr Piano already has his fingerprints on Sydney's CBD skyline, having designed Aurora Place, the award-winning office tower and residential block on Macquarie St.

The Italian also conceived the high-tech post-modern Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.

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Architects make their mark on Sydney

Arsons Architects Clothing Rebirth
Just a little promo I #39;ve worked on the other night. Just to inform our followers that we are not going anywhere. Arsons Architects clothing is here to stay, and 2013 will be our year. http://www.arsonsandarchitects.com Twitter: @AAbrand_Lo Instagram: @arsonsandarchitects Music Copyright: Ronin - Hans Zimmer

By: ArsonsAndArchitects

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Arsons

The Harlem Shake - Ukrainian architects

By: Nazar Shpilchak

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The Harlem Shake - Ukrainian architects - Video

Friday, February 15, 2013 Architects Warn Sandy Hook Panel of Security Limits

By Michael Gambina

School architects gave the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission a blunt lesson today in the limits of physical security measures, warning that the best architecture can do against an attacker like Adam Lanza would be to slow him until law enforcement can arrive.

We can mitigate risk, we can delay risk, we can control risk, but there really is nothing we can do to guarantee a risk-free environment, said James LaPosta Jr., principal and chief architectural officer with JCJ Architecture in Hartford.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy created the commission to recommend public policy changes, including looking at school building standards, in response to Lanzas assault on Sandy Hook Elementary School, where he shattered a locked door with rifle fire, then killed 20 children and six educators.

Putting school violence in context, LaPosta emphasized that incidents like the one in Newtown, although horrific, are a rarity and not the only threat faced in school environments.

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Architects Warn Sandy Hook Panel of Security Limits

A reconstructed Kelly Walsh High School in 2017 will feature open spaces and enhanced safety, and will accommodate a planned curriculum overhaul in the Natrona County School District.

Architects from RB+B Architects Inc. during a public meeting Tuesday night unveiled the preliminary design, which incorporates four academies based on career fields.

Students will attend school on campus throughout construction of the new school, which will stand along 12th Street to the south of the existing building. Parking lots and landscaping will cover much of where the current KW building stands.

The main entrance will look north, an about-face that affords a view down the slope for approaching students, staff members and visitors. Once the first bell rings, inner doors will lock to force traffic through main office areas, a safety feature of modern schools, architects said.

In the first phase, from May until the summer of 2015, crews will build three quarters of the new school while students continue classes in the old building. The exception will be theater classes because the auditorium will be demolished this summer.

Students will move into the new building for the second phase, to take place from summer 2015 until summer 2016. The old building then will be demolished, except possibly the library and gymnasium, where theater classes may take place that school year. The shop areas also will remain standing during the second phase, presenters said.

Demolition of the old building and remaining site work would take place from summer 2016 to summer 2017.

I dont know of anyone who isnt excited about having the opportunity to teach and learn in a new place, KWHS Principal Brad Diller said after the meeting. Besides educational advantages in the new school, Diller said hes also looking forward to more open, bright spaces.

Those include a balcony overlooking a spacious commons area. A highlight of the plans is a grand stairway where students can attend presentations and eat lunch.

It cascades down the hillside to that lower gymnasium level, said Matt Arabasz, an RB+B project manager. He added that its designed to not feel like going into a basement.

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Architects unveil plans for Casper's new Kelly Walsh high school

AWS Designer Notes - Paul Godsell from Crawford Architects
Paul Godsell from Crawford Architects talks about ThermalHEART trade; Series 824 FrontGLAZE trade; Framing

By: SpecifyAWS

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AWS Designer Notes - Paul Godsell from Crawford Architects - Video

Architects - Alpha Omega (Intro)
Blahhh

By: DesiatoChris

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Architects - Alpha Omega (Intro) - Video

Lets start with the unlit parking lots at night: How many men think consciously about carrying their keys in their hands so they can get their car opened quickly, or use them as a weapon? And while many more dads are sharing in the experience, moms still spend the most time pushing the stroller down the street. So does that mean that having more female architects would result in brighter, friendlier and more humane cities?

Christine Murray, the editor of the Architects Journal in England, says a female eye would transform our urban centres making them better designed and more livable.

Women have a unique perspective on the world, Murray told The Telegraph, and it is not to say that men cannot design excellent cities, or a good nursery or workplace, but everybody would benefit from designs by both halves of the gene pool.

Originally from Toronto, Murray and some other leading female architects argue that lack of women in the male-dominated profession has limited the people-friendly development of green spaces and schools.

Their comments, reported in the Telegraph, were really meant to highlight discrimination in architecture a profession in which, a British survey recently found, two inthree female architects reported insidious discrimination or bullying by men during their careers. In Britain, for instance, only 20 per cent of registered architects are women, the article reported. And as a post in Condo.ca observed last year, its hard to know exactly how women might change cities, since none of the worlds starchitects are actually female.

The Telegraph chose to headline the story by saying that having a women build a city would make them prettier, which is not actually a word that any of the female architects used, and had a sexist twinge all on its own. The goal of having functional and elegant urban spaces is hardly gender specific the real problem is that too few of one gender actually have input into their design.

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Why female architects would build safer, more humane cities

It may be time for an office space renovation when the current paint job, flooring or furniture is in need of an update or the present layout is cramped and inefficient. The workplace design specialists at OTJ Architects explain how flexibility and functionality can help a business meet its goals and mission.

(PRWEB) February 12, 2013

Office renovations are worth celebrating because that means a business has accomplished enough growth to make the current function outdated, says Lance Jaccard, Partner at OTJ Architects. In order for a business to develop, constant office renovation is essential to maintain growth.

The architects and designers at OTJ Architects have put together some office design tips to help businesses transform their lackluster office space into an efficient and aesthetically pleasing workplace.

If an office renovation is not in the companys budget, taking simple steps like replacing flooring, repainting the workplace and updating old furniture can drastically rejuvenate and reinvent not just the physical space, but also the morale and confidence of the employees who will enjoy and appreciate its benefits, Jaccard said.

A comfortable, well-ventilated, well-lit and safe workplace will increase productivity as much as 16% and job satisfaction as much as 24%, while reducing absenteeism, according to MakeYourBuildingsWork.com. In an article by CiteHR, some businesses have even seen close to a 150% retention increase once an office has transitioned to a more open workplace design.

OTJ Architects has helped the biggest names in business create their own harmonic and cohesive office spaces featuring fun, vibrant and stimulating open plans that encourage staff to communicate and collaborate. Staying true to each companys heritage and philosophy, OTJs unique design methods reinforce the effective and comfortable maximization of space for employee use and overall company success.

For more information please visit http://www.otj.com/

About OTJ Architects

OTJ Architects is a well-respected national architecture and interior architecture design firm that has successfully completed thousands of projects throughout the country. Founded in 1990, OTJ is comprised of five studios headquartered in Washington, DC, with more than 60 architects and designers, many of whom are LEED Accredited Professionals. OTJ is registered in 37 states and is able to consult in all 50 states. The responsive architecture and interior architecture consultants create effective environments through listening, understanding and tailored design. These designs focus on helping clients enhance collaboration, company branding and employee recruitment and retention. OTJs design teams provide clients with personalized attention to create workplace solutions that reflect their unique, individual needs.

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Commercial Architects at OTJ Share Tips for Office Space Renovation

HEATH, TX--(Marketwire - Feb 12, 2013) - Fund Architects LLC, a provider of dynamic asset allocation portfolios, today announced the firm's risk-based models have been approved for use by AlphaSource Investment Counsel.

AlphaSource, a subsidiary of WE2 Inc., provides fee-based solutions to Investment Advisers and Investment Adviser Representatives around the country. One of its major clients is multi-award winner Broker/Dealer of the Year NEXT Financial Group, Inc.

"We know from experience that AlphaSource services a group of high-quality investment professionals," says Keith Reed, co-founder and Executive Vice President of Fund Architects. "We're confident our asset allocation models will provide a particularly powerful tool for the financial advisers doing business with the firm."

With the addition of Fund Architects, WE2 and its Investment Adviser affiliates now have more than 30 approved money managers for advisers to choose from. For its part, AlphaSource provides personalized investment strategies, professional investment management, and the diversity investors seek for their individual situation.

"With our Investment Adviser affiliates, we're trying to help financial advisers capitalize on their clients' unique portfolio opportunities," says Drew Miller, President of WE2, Inc. "We're pleased to have a proven manager like Fund Architects on board to help maximize the performance potential of these investments."

The Fund Architects models have been designed for a broad range of investors. An SEC-registered investment advisory firm, Fund Architect's strategies include global macro, strategic global diversification, dynamic allocations, high-quality active fund managers, and alternative or non-correlated strategies. The firm employs its allocation models in the design and construction of funds for Separate Accounts, Retirement Management Services, and Private Money Management.

Launched in 2007, Fund Architects today has relationships with most major custodians and clearing firms. Information on the firm's investment strategies is available at http://www.fundarchitects.com or by calling 866-539-4186.

About Fund Architects LLC Fund Architects is a discretionary, fee-based money management firm providing professional asset allocation models and management to financial advisory firms. Headquartered in Texas, the firm has arrangements with Broker/Dealers, Insurance Companies, Qualified Plan Providers, and Registered Investment Advisors around the country. Fund Architects' proprietary asset allocation models are constructed from a broad universe of managers using a fundamental and quantitative analysis to conduct fund selection. Offerings include Separate Accounts, Retirement Management Services, and Private Money Management. For more information, visit http://www.fundarchitects.com.

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Fund Architects to Provide Select Allocation Models to AlphaSource Investment Counsel