Top design features hypersonic jets, vertical takeoff, and public transportation elements

(PRWEB) February 21, 2012

After reviewing 200 innovative student submissions from around the world, Fentress Architects is excited to announce the winning designs for the 2011 Fentress Global Challenge, an international competition launched last fall for architecture and engineering students to present their visions for the Airport of the Future. Expert jury members narrowed the submittals to 16 finalists, and then to the top three with two honorable mentions. Designs were evaluated on Creative Approach, Response to Site, Sustainability and Functionality.

1ST PLACE

Concept: LDN Delta Airport

Student: Oliver Andrew

University: London South Bank University, London

2nd PLACE

Concept: The Airport of the Future

Student: Martin Sztyk

University: University College London, London

3RD PLACE

Concept: Pocket Airports

Student: Alexander Nevarez

University: Art Center College of Design, United States

Honorable Mention

Concept: Aero-Loop        

Student: Thor Yi Chun

University: University of Science of Malaysia

Honorable Mention

Concept: New Arcticity

Student: Daniel Kang

University: National Taiwan University of Science

FENTRESS GLOBAL CHALLENGE JURY                                                                                        

G. Hardy Acree, Airport Director, Sacramento International Airport                                            

Marvin Malecha, FAIA, Dean of the College of Design, North Carolina State University                                

Helen Norman, Editor, Passenger Terminal World                                                                                

Tibbie Dunbar, Executive Director, Architecture + Design Museum                                                                

James P. Cramer, Hon AIA, Hon IIDA, Cofounder & Chairman, Design Futures Council                                

Curtis Fentress, FAIA, RIBA, Principal-in-Charge of Design, Fentress Architects

GRAND PRIZE WINNER: LDN Delta Airport

DESCRIPTION: The LDN Delta Airport is designed as prefabricated, mass-produced islands situated in the Thames Estuary, upstream from London. The airport would ease the overcrowding of the surrounding airports as there are no cars, runways, nor check-in desks, but is served solely via public transportation. Flight information is connected through passengers’ cell phones, providing the departure time and assigned gate. The airport supports vertical takeoff with hypersonic jets capable of flying at the edge of space, lifting off from purpose-built landing pads and uses the tidal currents to run on total sustainable power.

JURY COMMENTS

“This airport proposed two vital elements: unmanned aerial vehicle elements, since future aircraft will rely heavily on technology to control airline cost, and vertical takeoff and landing capability, which reduce the airport landmass footprint.” — Acree

“LDN Delta Airport takes into consideration new technologies with the use of GPS and smart phone technology. It connects to land through public transport, good for inter-modality and the environment, as less people are using their cars.” — Norman

“The connection to a meditation landscape to ease the tensions of travelers is exactly what is needed. Also, flotation devices solve a combination of environmental and urban design concerns.” — Malecha

“The LDN Delta Airport demonstrates innovative and ecological solutions all combined with human scale and user delight in an urban setting.” — Cramer

“This student’s approach captured the challenging elements necessary for a successful airport in the future, including multimodal transportation, conscientious design, and social considerations.” — Fentress

A Word with Fentress Global Challenge Grand-Prize Winner Oliver Andrew

"Taking part in this competition has been fantastic from the moment I read the brief to the moment I put pencil to paper. I spent many long nights sketching and thinking the concept through, in order to create something innovative and revolutionary in airport design. My concept goes beyond today’s airport design to propose a pioneering ecological solution for the future," said Andrew. “A competition at this level is a real honor. I look forward to working with everyone at Fentress Architects."

2nd PLACE: The Airport of the Future     

DESCRIPTION: In the Airport of the Future, algae farms produce biofuel for aircrafts and the airport facility, which can be processed by neighboring oil refineries.    

JURY COMMENTS        

“The airport of the future shows how a self-sustaining concept can become ubiquitous with broad implications for seaside developments.” — Cramer

“This is a strong scheme with vital emotional and intellectual connections to the land. The drawings present an elegant structure that has the ability to grow and change; open spaces complement architecture that seems to sit easily on its landscape.”— Malecha

"I was thrilled to have received 2nd place, let alone being shortlisted for this competition."—Second Place Winner Martin Sztyk

3RD PLACE: Pocket Airports

DESCRIPTION: Pocket airports created a new aircraft, integrating quiet electric propulsion, supersonic speeds, and vertical takeoff/landing capability.

JURY COMMENTS

“The airport uses existing infrastructure within a city for the airport--a good approach where cities have a lot of derelict buildings, as it encourages regeneration.” — Norman

“This is a strong vision of what aviation could look like 150 years from now. By utilizing existing structures, this student improves passenger experience, allows faster travel time, and frees up valuable land to be used for other purposes.” — Fentress

“To be considered among the future up and coming designers and architects, gives me a great sense of personal satisfaction and accomplishment.” — Third Place Winner Alexander Nevarez

Oliver will be awarded the top prize valued at $10,000, including $3,000 cash and a paid internship at Fentress Architects this summer. The runner-up and third place winner will receive cash awards of $1,000 and $500 respectively. The top 16 finalist designs will also gain international exposure in the traveling exhibition Now Boarding: Fentress Airports + The Architecture of Flight, which provides a multi-media journey through the past, present and future of airport design. The exhibit debuts on July 15, 2012 at the Denver Art Museum. Visit http://www.fentressarchitects.com/aof for more about the competition and http://www.nowboarding.org/ for information about the Now Boarding museum exhibition.

Fentress Architects is a global design firm that passionately pursues the creation of sustainable and iconic architecture. Together with their clients, Fentress creates inspired design to improve the human environment. Founded by Curtis Fentress in 1980, the firm has designed US$26 billion of architectural projects worldwide, visited by over 300 million people each year. Fentress is a dynamic learning organization, driven to grow its ability to design, innovate and exceed client expectations. The firm has been honored with over 385 distinctions for design excellence and innovation, and in 2010, Curtis Fentress was recognized by the American Institute of Architects with the most prestigious award for public architecture, the Thomas Jefferson Award. Fentress has studios in Denver, Colorado; Los Angeles, California; San Jose, California; Washington, D.C.; and London, U.K. http://www.fentressarchitects.com

Please contact Angela Potrykus at 303.282.6192 or Potrykus(at)fentressarchitects(dot)com for additional images, jury comments or other information.

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Angela Potrykus, PR
Fentress Architects
303-282-6192
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Fentress Architects Unveils Winning Student Designs for Airport of the Future

The Golf Course Design Architects industry was hit hard by the recession as golf courses drew fewer customers. In addition, the overbuilding of golf courses during the 1980s and 1990s left industry firms with little to design as the demand for golf decreased. However, more people are expected to hit the links in the coming five years, which will boost demand for golf courses, and in turn, demand for industry services. For these reasons, industry research firm IBISWorld has added a report on the Golf Course Design Architects industry to its growing industry report collection.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) February 21, 2012

The number of golf course projects declined since 2007, when the subprime mortgage crisis compressed investor assets and, therefore, resulted in a pause in construction. A weak recovery from the ensuing Great Recession has limited opportunities for the Golf Course Design Architects industry. IBISWorld estimates industry revenue will decline at a 3.5% annualized pace in the five years to 2012; this including a 4.7% rebound in 2012 to $163.3 million. According to IBISWorld industry analyst Agata Kaczanowska, due to stalls in business since 2007, employment fell at an average annual rate of 1.8% to 1,613 employees as companies cut costs through layoffs. Nonetheless the number of businesses in the industry increased at an annualized rate of 1.4% in the past five years to total 1,406 in 2012. This increase in firms resulted primarily from growth in the number of non-employers, as some laid-off employees established their own businesses in the same field because it is so specialized. Unfortunately for these companies, more firms bidding on fewer projects boosted competition for golf course design architects, even on smaller contracts. More bids per project forced prices down, squeezing average industry profit.

Demand for new courses is expected to decline due to a sustained drop in golf participation. According to the National Sporting Goods Association the number of people who golfed more than once during 2010 was 21.9 million, down from 25.6 million in 2008 and 26.4 million in 2000 (most recent data available). “As many golf courses continue to demand smaller projects in the next five years because the market for new golf courses is saturated, golf course managers are anticipated to hire independent architects as opposed to larger design firms, which are usually more expensive,” says Kaczanowska. Consequently growth in the number of firms in the Golf Course Design Architects industry is forecast to exceed employment increases in the next five years as well. Resumed contracts from before the Great Recession are forecast to generate substantial revenue gains for the industry. However, the industry is expected to rebound slowly in the next five years because of limited demand from golf courses and country clubs.

This industry has a medium level of market share concentration. This industry is characterized by many small-scale operators, often individual proprietors and partners that operate in narrow geographic markets. The majority of establishments do not have a payroll. A large percentage of industry participants are sole proprietors that rely on subcontracted labor on a per project basis, or are hired to join construction teams made up of other specialized designers and architects. Most employer firms are two-person enterprises in 2012. For more information, visit IBISWorld’s Golf Course Design Architects report in the US industry page.

Follow IBISWorld on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/IBISWorld

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IBISWorld industry Report Key Topics

This industry plans and designs land developments for golf courses by applying knowledge of land characteristics with the game of golf. Golf course design firms also renovate and remodel existing golf courses.

Industry Performance

Executive Summary

Key External Drivers

Current Performance

Industry Outlook

Industry Life Cycle

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About IBISWorld Inc.

Recognized as the nation’s most trusted independent source of industry and market research, IBISWorld offers a comprehensive database of unique information and analysis on every US industry. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, the company equips clients with the insight necessary to make better business decisions. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IBISWorld serves a range of business, professional service and government organizations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.com or call 1-800-330-3772.

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IBISWorld
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Golf Course Design Architects in the US Industry Market Research Report Now Available From IBISWorld

By Eliot Brown

Here’s a sign that the wounds in the construction sector may be slowly on the mend: Architects are working more.

For three straight months now, the Architecture Billings Index ? a measure from the American Institute of Architects ? has shown slight increases in work levels at architectural firms, with the latest figures showing a score in January of 50.9, compared with 51.0 in December. (Above 50 means work levels go up; below means they went down).

Of course, architectural work doesn?t always translate into new construction. But the index tends to provide a decent lens into the mood of the real estate world, and an increase may lay the groundwork for new construction projects months down the road.

The upward tick comes after what was generally a tough year in 2011, as governments and developers steered clear of much new development.

Broken down by types of work, architects working on apartment buildings registered a slightly greater increase in work than others, with a score for the past three months of 52.6.

One can likely expect this to continue: with empty rental apartments continuing to fill up as home-ownership rates drop, the multifamily sector has been the best-performing area of the commercial real estate world, and few analysts expect it to reverse course anytime soon.

Originally posted here:
Architects See Glimmers of Hope for New Construction

Leader in Microsoft Enterprise Project Management announced today that Microsoft has chosen EPM Architects’ Director, Tony Zink, to speak at the Microsoft Project Conference 2012.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) February 20, 2012

EPM Architects announced today that Microsoft has chosen EPM Architects’ Director, Tony Zink, to speak at the Microsoft Project Conference 2012. The conference will take place at the Phoenix Conference Center in Phoenix, Arizona from March 19-22, 2012.

Michael Samadi, President and CEO of EPM Architects said, “It is very exciting that Microsoft selected one of our most distinguished EPM experts to present at the Microsoft Project Conference 2012. Tony Zink is a captivating speaker who is considered one of the leading subject matter experts in this field. We always get incredible feedback from those who have attended his countless presentations, workshops, webinars, and trainings.”

Tony will be hosting a session on “Managing Resource Supply and Demand with Microsoft Project Server 2010.”

Synopsis: An organization typically has a fixed number of internal resources with known skills and capacities, and upcoming projects have certain skill and effort requirements to accomplish their objectives. Managers often struggle with the task of forecasting the future demands on their resources and deciding how to fill the gaps between demand and supply, whether that means reskilling existing employees, hiring new employees, or temporarily hiring outside specialists to fill those gaps.

Learn how to use Microsoft Project and Project Server 2010 to plan the future demand on the resources within an organization, clearly identify the gaps between demand and supply, and give managers the information they need to make better staffing decisions to meet future project demands.

About Microsoft Project Conference 2012

Microsoft Project Conference 2012 is the premiere Microsoft-led event to share the latest Microsoft Project and Portfolio Management tools and best practices with over a thousand members of the Microsoft Project community from across the globe. It will feature high-impact keynotes, breakout sessions, training sessions and networking opportunities to learn how to be more successful with Microsoft Project and Project Server.

Microsoft Project Conference 2012 is the event for the Microsoft Project Community. With attendees from all across the globe, over a thousand passionate members of the Microsoft Project Community will connect - project professionals, business decision makers, certified partners and the Microsoft Project team. Through the high-impact keynotes, breakout sessions, trainings and networking opportunities, there are multiple opportunities to learn how Microsoft Project 2010 and Microsoft Project Server 2010 can transform and accelerate success.

About EPM Architects

EPM Architects is an Enterprise Project and Portfolio Management consulting and training firm focused exclusively on the Microsoft EPM solution with a Microsoft Certified Gold Competency in Enterprise Project and Portfolio Management.

With clients from Global 50, Fortune 50, 100 and 500 companies, as well as small to mid-sized companies in several industry verticals, they provide unparalleled services in EPM Implementation, Solution Design, Envisioning, Custom Development, and 24/7 Support. Additionally, EPM Architects has a complete curriculum of hands-on open enrollment training courses in Microsoft Project and Microsoft Project Server which are provided at their state of the art Training and Solution Center in Houston, TX. Any training curriculum can also be custom tailored and delivered onsite to meet client needs.

EPM Architects’ mission is simple: To be the leading and most respected Microsoft Enterprise Project Management consulting company in the world by providing outstanding Enterprise Project Management services and solutions through dedication, passion, and excellence.

For more details on EPM Architects’ products and services, please visit their website at http://www.epmarchitects.com or call them at their Houston office at 713.400.9200 or toll free at 1.888.444.3762.

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Lauren Skidmore
EPM Architects
713.400.9200
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EPM Architects’ Director, Tony Zink, Chosen to Speak at the Microsoft Project Conference 2012

Leader in Microsoft Enterprise Project Management announced today that it has been selected by the Project Management Institute (PMI) Houston chapter as its provider of Microsoft Project and Project Server training.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) February 16, 2012

EPM Architects announced today that it has been selected by the Project Management Institute (PMI) Houston chapter as its provider of Microsoft Project and Project Server training.

EPM Architects now offers attendees the opportunity to earn Professional Development Units (PDUs) on all of their courses. Project Managers can earn up to 21 PDUs in some courses.

EPM Architects’ President and CEO, Michael Samadi commented, “We have been working very hard for the past year to establish ourselves as the center of excellence when it comes to Microsoft Project and Project Server training. From our state-of-the-art training center to our exclusively published training material, we have continued our investment in establishing the most complete Microsoft EPM training curriculum. It is a great honor to be recognized and selected by the PMI as their training provider.”

EPM Architects currently offers a variety of courses on Microsoft Project and Project Server. All courses are in-depth, hands-on, instructor-led that are taught by Microsoft certified trainers who are leading experts in the industry. Each training class is open enrollment therefore students typically come from various companies and industries. Because of this diversity, class discussions often include a wide variety of comments, questions, and student experiences to supplement the standard material covered in the course. For complete course details, go to http://www.epmarchitects.com/epm-training

About PMI

PMI is the world’s leading not-for-profit membership association for the project management profession, with more than 600,000 members and credential holders in more than 185 countries. Their worldwide advocacy for project management is supported by their globally-recognized standards and credentials, their extensive research program, and their professional development opportunities.

The Houston chapter is one of the largest PMI chapters in the world with over 3000 members from all industries including Engineering and Construction, Industrial, Information Systems, Oil and Gas, Healthcare, Education, Telecommunications, Government, Marketing and Advertising, and Service / Support sectors.

About EPM Architects:

EPM Architects is an Enterprise Project and Portfolio Management consulting and training firm focused exclusively on the Microsoft EPM solution with a Microsoft Certified Gold Competency in Enterprise Project and Portfolio Management.

With clients from Global 50, Fortune 50, 100 and 500 companies, as well as small to mid-sized companies in several industry verticals, they provide unparalleled services in EPM Implementation, Solution Design, Envisioning, Custom Development, and 24/7 Support. Additionally, EPM Architects has a complete curriculum of hands-on open enrollment training courses in Microsoft Project and Microsoft Project Server which are provided at their state of the art Training and Solution Center in Houston, TX. Any training curriculum can also be custom tailored and delivered onsite to meet client needs.

EPM Architects’ mission is simple: To be the leading and most respected Microsoft Enterprise Project Management consulting company in the world by providing outstanding Enterprise Project Management services and solutions through dedication, passion, and excellence.

For more details on EPM Architects’ products and services, please visit their website at http://www.epmarchitects.com or call them at their Houston office at 713.400.9200 or toll free at 1.888.444.3762.

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Project Management Institute Selects EPM Architects to be its Microsoft Project and Project Server Training Provider

An architectural firm for a possible new jail facility was selected by the Gillespie County Commissioners’ Court following a week of special meetings.

County officials will now, with the help of Vanir Construction Management Inc., enter into contract negotiations with Wiginton Hooker Jeffry Architects, a Plano-based firm with branch offices in Dallas, Austin and Houston, and a local association with Stehling Klein Thomas Architects of Fredericksburg.

“Now we have to determine how far we want them to go in the process before the bond election (in November),” said Judge Mark Stroeher.

“We don’t want to spend a lot of money if it doesn’t pass the bond election, but, at the same time, we feel like we need to provide the public with enough information to see what we’d be dealing with going into the project,” Stroeher said.

Part of the contract negotiations will probably be to ask Wiginton Hooker Jeffry Architects to give the County of Gillespie prices for possibly proceeding in a couple of different ways, the judge added.

“The court will then take a look at those different proposals and see how much detail we’ll feel like we need and then we’ll decide how much money we’re going to spend on this project before a bond election and before we know if it’s going to pass,” Stroeher said.

No matter what, the architects will have to come up with the interior and room layouts, as well as the jail layouts and plumbing and related items.

“They’ll have to provide quite a bit of detail for us in order to get a good cost estimate, which we can then give to the public so they can be informed when it comes time for an election,” Stroeher said.

For more on this story, read this week’s print and online editions of the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post. If you are a print subscriber, your full online subscription is free. All you need to do is call 830-997-2155 to get a password. If you are not a subscriber, call 997-2155 or click on the ?Subscribe’ button on the left side of the home page and sign up today!

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Commissioners okay architects for new jail design

PARALLEL WORDS: The City Gatekeeper's alternative development for the Swan River. Source: PerthNow

PERTH would have its own version of Melbourne's Federation Square on the Swan River under an alternative to the controversial waterfront project.

The plan would also see apartment towers built on a curved wharf along Riverside Drive, a floating stage for theatre productions and floating Olympic-sized swimming pools built in the Swan River.

The City Gatekeepers, a group of urban planners and architects fighting the Barnett Government's "flawed" project, today unveils what it says is a far better concept.

The lobby group, headed by Australian Institute of Urban Studies WA chairman Linley Lutton, sparked fresh debate with an 11th-hour bid for the development to be scrapped last month.

The group is at odds with the Government's plans to dig up the Esplanade to create an inlet and divert Riverside Drive, which it says will cause "traffic chaos".

Instead, Dr Lutton said the waterfront should be developed between Barrack St and the Narrows Bridge, with a focus on "returning civic value" to the city.

"It's a much better site because you can position the buildings to protect the site from wind, we're not touching Riverside Drive, you're getting sun through the whole development and it's right on the natural river, not built around an inlet," he said.

"The Government's project is a commercially driven project, where ours is a community and culturally driven project.

"We're providing civic value, like museums, art galleries and performing arts."

The group's proposal includes plans for a "Perth version" of Melbourne's Federation Square in front of the Esplanade and a new museum.

But Planning Minister John Day has rejected the group's last-minute redesign and said that after more than 20 years of debate work would go ahead in April.

Funding had been committed and the Government had opened expressions of interest for a waterfront hotel development.

"It is too late for a complete re-think of the Perth Waterfront project," Mr Day said.

"Dr Lutton's plan includes no development north of Riverside Drive, which means keeping the Esplanade and four lanes of traffic between the city and the river. This is actually increasing the barrier between the city and the river and would be worse than no development at all."

Details of the long-awaited $440 million waterfront were released last year, with plans to create an inlet on the Esplanade, linking the CBD to the river.

Committee for Perth chief executive Marion Fulkner said she supported debate, but the lobby group's plans had come too late and people were "totally fatigued by the whole discussion".

Dr Lutton said it was irresponsible of the Government to pursue a "second-rate" development.

He expects as many as 6000 people to back the plan when the City Gatekeepers hold a public rally on the Perth foreshore next Sunday.

The group has also gathered thousands of signatures on a petition, which will be presented to parliament on March 6.

 

WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING

- A 10ha development with a 2.8ha inlet

- A "water square" with access for private boats and public ferries

- A hotel

- Apartments and short-stay accommodation

- Commercial space

- A jetty with boat moorings

- A Stage

- A landscaped island in the centre of the inlet

- A bridge providing access for pedestrians and cyclists to the island

- Cafes, bars and restaurants

 

WHAT THE CITY GATEKEEPERS WANT

- Keep the Esplanade and Riverside Drive intact

- A "land bridge" over Riverside Drive connecting the Esplanade to the river.

- Floating public swimming pools

- Apartment buildings no higher than 10 storeys

- Apartments on a curved finger wharf in the river

- A hotel on the water's edge

- Floating public swimming pools

- A floating performing arts stage

- A museum, modern art gallery and Indigenous cultural centre

- Jetty and boat pens

- Cafes, bars and restaurants

 

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Architects challenge foreshore plan

BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The 35-meter-long photovoltaic pavilion adds the finishing touch to the university campus of Potsdam University of Applied Sciences and is to be used as a space for social events, brainstorming ideas and presentations. The Odersun solar modules, which are just under 4 meter high and 1 meter wide, cover the whole building. Made from 25 mm-thick break-proof security glass, the PV modules act as façade elements and were specially developed and manufactured for this project.

The idea of integrating the green building concept into the redesign of the campus site was part of the project from the outset. Architects Ortner + Ortner Berlin developed this idea further in conjunction with students from the University of Applied Sciences and module manufacturer Odersun which specialises in solar architecture. The result is a symbiosis of sustainable architecture, functionality and efficiency – in short, a solar façade that not only generates power, but is also aesthetically attractive.

“In addition to high design standards for the solar modules, the project primarily called for flexibility with regard to size, design and construction of the PV solution,” says Manfred Ortner of Ortner + Ortner, explaining the challenging nature of the project. “Not only does Odersun produce a huge variety of modules, but they also showed themselves to be adaptable over the course of the project during which the requirements were continually changing,” he adds.

Odersun not only manufactured the project-specific modules, it was also involved in a supportive capacity in the electrical concept and the construction planning. Odersun’s CISCuT thin-film technology gives the architects the same design freedom similar to glass while at the same time allowing to achieve sustainable building goals.

“We are delighted to have had the opportunity to implement such a unique project with such a reputable partner,” says Dr. Hein van der Zeeuw, CEO of Odersun AG. “It gave us the chance to show how much flexibility is possible in the field of solar construction, and also the unusual module sizes that can be produced, without any compromises in terms of design and functionality,” he explains.

Thin-film solar modules such as those produced by Odersun are particularly suitable for use in building-integrated photovoltaics (BiPV), because they offer very good yields even in shade and at high temperatures, and even if they are not optimally aligned to the sun. New opportunities for Green Buildings based on a patented technology “Made in Germany” which unites innovation, quality and design.

About Odersun

Odersun AG manufactures customized solar modules which are particularly suitable for use in building-integrated photovoltaics (BiPV). Odersun’s solar modules are tailor made to customers' requirements using a proprietary, worldwide patented CISCuT thin-film technology “Made in Germany”. With their aesthetically pleasing appearance and exceptional ease of integration, they are ideal for use as construction elements in a solar façade.

ORTNER + ORTNER

http://www.ortner-ortner.de

MBM METALLBAU DRESDEN GMBH

http://www.mbm-dresden.de

ODERSUN AG

http://www.odersun.com

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CHELSEA, Mass., Feb. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning architecture, historic restoration, preservation and master-planning firm The Architectural Team has announced that managing principal, Robert J. Verrier, has been elected to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) prestigious College of Fellows.

The Fellowship program, one of the highest professional honors for American architects, was developed by the Washington, D.C.-based AIA to elevate those architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society and who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession.

"It's a tremendous honor to be recognized as an AIA Fellow, and one that reminds us that our mission goes beyond designing buildings," says Verrier, "It is a life-work commitment to making the world a better place in which to work, to live, to learn and to grow."

This year, 105 architects from around the country were awarded the Fellow designation, by showing they are "advancing the living standards of people through an improved environment" and "making the profession of ever-increasing service to society."

Verrier is well known nationally among architects involved in historic landmarks, affordable housing and multifamily development. His projects are noteworthy for revitalizing communities, especially waterfront sites, historic mills, hospitals, and disadvantaged zones of his native greater Boston.

Verrier's love of old buildings, and his passion for the preservation of historic fabric, has overlapped with his devotion to creating "quality, safe and attractive housing for those who could not afford it otherwise." Historic restoration projects with affordable housing include The Franklin Square House and Kenmore Abbey, both in Boston. Verrier enjoys an unusually strong reputation among real estate developers, business and institutional leaders, and charitable groups.

The announcement comes as The Architectural Team celebrates its 41st anniversary, and it adds to Verrier's long list of honors, including a lifetime achievement designation from Habitat for Humanity of Greater Boston in 2010.  

Founded in 1971, The Architectural Team, Inc. (www.architecturalteam.com) is a 60-person master planning and architectural firm with a portfolio of distinctive solutions for large urban mixed-use developments, multifamily residential, commercial, hospitality, recreational, and academic facilities, and a national reputation for historic preservation and adaptive reuse.

Contact: Chris Sullivan
914.462.2096 chris@ccsullivan.com

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The Architectural Team's Bob Verrier Elected to AIA College of Fellows

House Arc, by Bellomo Architects, is a prefabricated off-the-grid housing solution that facilitates compact living. The project was originally designed as an environmentally sensitive and affordable method of housing that is not only functional but also attractive to the eye. Furthermore, it is designed to be easily packed and shipped to any location, where it can then be erected by the user or community. "We designed it to be a kit of parts that can be assembled quickly-like an IKEA house," says House Arc architect Joseph Bellomo.

The House Arc is designed to be flat-packed and shipped in a remarkably small box that measures 4 x 10 x 3 feet (1.2 x 3 x .95 meters). The lightweight base structure consists of a modular system of bent steel tubes that can easily be assembled on site. Constructing the low-impact home requires no special training and is similar to building modular furniture, with a kit of parts and an easy-to-follow, graphic installation manual. Upon assembly, the House Arc becomes a curvaceous 150 square-foot (14 square meter) home that weighs 3,000 pounds (1,360 kg). The house features large windows that allow natural light to filter through the dwelling. A shading trellis limits the amount of heat that can infiltrate inside the building and the raised structure allows air to flow underneath for cooling, whilst also maintaining the permeability of the site. The House Arc can withstand the elements, including tropical winds, and also features a roof designed to support solar energy-generation.

Optional additions to further enhance the sustainability of House Arc include the installation of solar photovoltaic panels and insulation that can be added between panels.

Whilst the House Arc would make an attractive backyard retreat, the lightweight and easy-to-construct house could also function as an emergency shelter. It is a primary focus of Bellomo Architects to develop the House Arc concept so it can be used to house people in devastated areas after a catastrophic event or to replace housing that was not built to withstand such forces. "We foresee the House Arc in locations such as Haiti and New Orleans" says Bellomo Architects.

We just hope that they will drop the US$65,000 price tag for such a noble cause!

The House Arc will be a featured prefab house at this year's Sunset Celebration Weekend in Menlo Park, California from June 2-3.

Sources: Bellomo Architects, Bike Arc

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Modular home comes delivered in a 10 foot box and is assembled “like an IKEA house”