Project Management Software for Architects
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Project Management Software for Architects - Video
To build better and healthier spaces, architects are heeding evidence-based lessons
The Bullitt Center in Seattle has an "irresistable staircase." Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Americans, on average,spend around 90 percent of their time indoors, and now the nations leading group of architects has found inspiration in this somewhat glum fact. The professionals who design our working and living quarters are starting to see all these confined hours as a major opportunity for them to make a meaningful impact on public health. Today, the American Institute of Architects (AIA)announcedits latest effort along these linesa three-year partnership among 11 architectural schools whose research programs will further explore the notion that building design, city planning and health should go hand in hand. Participating institutions will examine topics ranging from the microbiome of buildings to "tele-health" for rural communities to reducing stress via design.We are all familiar with the adage- Healthy mind, healthy body, says Sulan Kolatan, professor of architecture at Pratt Institute in New York City, but we need to add a phrase that goes, Healthy city, healthy mind and healthy body, because we're understanding that those things are integrally connected. Designing for health soon will be as fundamental a responsibility in the minds of architecture students as designing for energy, says Daniel Friedman, chair of AIA's Design and Health Leadership Group. Leading thinkers in architecture as far back as the Roman architect Vitruviusduring the first century B.C. have considered how ones surroundings might influence health and wellbeing.The concepts most recent revival came in September 2003 when the American Journal of Public Health published an issue dedicated to public health and the built environment. The topic snowballed from there, Friedman says. Latelysensors and software have advanced such efforts by allowing architects to better track and measure the physiological, social and psychological effects of building use on occupants. Its not just walk more, weigh less, Friedman says. This is about the health impacts of design and construction at the scale of room to region with much greater attention to evidence, health data and criteria for well-being. The AIA initiative includes Columbia, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Drexel Universities, as well as the universities of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, Kansas, Florida, Oregon, Miami, and Arizona, along wih the NewSchool of Architecture & Design in San Diego. Today, professionals across various fields consider buildings to be a critical tool for combating social isolation, epidemic obesity and depression. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has published recommendations for creating elementary schools that inspire kids to eat healthier and cities including New York are adopting Active Design guidelines meant to encourage building practices that boost physical activity. Robert Ivy, CEO of the AIA, recently penned a column highlighting a few examples of research in this vein and the organization published an infographic on six facets of architecture that have been found to intersect with public healthsafety, social connectedness, environmental quality, sensory environments, physical activity and access to natural systems. Here are a few examples of the highlighted research and initiatives: 1. Design staircases that people want to use
At the Bullitt Center in Seattle, occupants choose to take its irresistible staircase for 75 percent of trips on entering the building rather than opting for the elevator, as compared with the 17 to 23 percent of trips made via stairs in a typical office building, according to results published this year by the Center and lauded by Friedman. While climbing the Bullitt staircase users enjoy panoramic views of Puget Sound and downtown Seattle whereas the elevator is tucked into a back corner of the building and requires a key card to access. Any engineer can design a staircase to meet code but architects have the design and training to design a stair that beckons use, Friedman says. But what about in places with legacy staircases? New York City has posted 30,000 neon green signs with a plea for people to take the stairs in public buildings and facilities. Other examples of built projects that encourage physical activity were highlighted in a 2013 exhibit called FitNation, curated by the AIA. 2. Time lighting to circadian rhythms A 40 percent rise is expected by 2025 in the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimers disease, a form of dementia. To help, Kyle Konis, professor of architecture at the University of Southern California, proposes a way to assuage symptoms such as sleep disturbances with improvements to indoor lighting. Eyes are sensitive to the brightness and color temperature of light (a property that describes its hue ranging from blue to red ends of the spectrum), and these factors influence our circadian rhythms and the wakesleep cycle. In a report for a design and health summit organized by AIA Konis cited a finding that exposing Alzheimers patients to an hour of bright light (typically using a light box) in the morning can help those with the most severe symptoms to sleep better. Most senior facilities, though, rely on dim fluorescent lighting. Also, caretakers struggle to convince residents and patients to sit in front of a lightbox for an hour every day. Konis will conduct a three-month pilot study across four treatment facilities for seniors with dementia near Los Angeles to see if moving a group of patients to a sun-soaked room for two hours daily will reduce symptoms and improve cognitive function as compared with a control group that spends the same amount of time under fluorescent lights. 3. Create opportunities for social interaction
The architects at SGPA Architecture and Planning in San Francisco in charge of designing Lincoln Glen Manor assisted-living community in San Jose, Calif., decided to heed previous research showing that a well-designed facility could boost the frequency of visits by family members and, in turn, the residents' well-being. To make the facility feel more welcoming and foster social interaction, the architects shuffled around the chapel and dining area of the central building to create a more open layout. This change allowed residents to better see one another and encouraged bystanders to join in activities. In what the architects are considering an early measure of success, 90 residents attended this years Thanksgiving dinner as compared with 25 in the year prior, according to a report prepared by the firm. 4. Think of buildings as an educational toolnot just a backdrop A new rural school for K5 students opened with the start of the school year in 2012 in Buckingham County, Va. The school was designed by VMDO Architects, a firm specializing in schools, with the help of academic partners to encourage healthy eating and physical activity. The firm installed water fountains in classrooms, age-appropriate nutritional signage, large staircases and a food lab where students can learn to prepare food. The lead architects presented preliminary results of a study of the 970 students who attend the new school at AIAs spring summit. Their results, which are forthcoming in a peer-reviewed journal, hints that the schools features have helped kids to engage in and enjoy more physical activity while also creating opportunities for staff to organize programs around healthy eating and lifestyles. 5. Continue to design walkable neighborhoods
Most Americans (52 percent) do not get the recommended 30 minutes of moderate activity per day combined with muscle-strengthening exercises. Researchers from the Texas A&M Center for Health Systems and Design tracked 229 residents who moved to a walkable community called Mueller in Austin, Texas. Walkable communities put emphasis on pedestrian rather than vehicular traffic as the primary form of day-to-day transportation by clustering apartments, grocery stores, dining and retail. The teams analysis revealed that after moving to Mueller the percentage of residents who were achieving that recommendation increased from 34 to 49 percent. The time those residents spent walking and bicycling shot up by 40 minutes and 13 minutes per week, respectively.
In a separate study published this year of residents physical activity in three low-income neighborhoods in Detroit over six years, researchers found a positive correlation between exercise and the overall connectedness of neighborhoods, as measured by the ease of movement and efficiency of the street layout.
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Architects Aim to Make Us Healthier with "Irresistible Staircases" and Open Layouts
AIA's 2015 Firm Award goes to Ehrlich Architects, based in Culver City, California.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has announced Moshe Safdie and Ehrlich Architects as recipients, respectively, of its 2015 Gold Medal and Architecture Firm Award, the organizations highest honors. I dont want to call the award a culmination because I am pretty active and I want to keep going, jokes Safdie, who is celebrating his practices fiftieth anniversary.
Photo Stephen Kelly
Moshe Safdie, 2015 AIA Gold Medal recipient.
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Born in 1938 in Haifa, Israel, Safdie cites the young nations solidarity-infused atmosphere as a strong influence in his architectural approacha socially-focused architecture. After an apprenticeship under Louis Kahn (1971 Gold Medal recipient), Safdie designed Habitat 67 in Montreal, which, according to the architect, is still no doubt my most radical achievement. Other celebrated works include Yad Vashem Holocaust History Museum in Jerusalem, the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort in Singapore, and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.
For me this award is so moving because the Gold Medal is something you get from your peers, Safdie says. In his case, these peerswho wrote recommendation letters for Safdieinclude Mohsen Mostafavi, Richard Rogers, and Frank Gehry, who wrote in his recommendation letter: The world at large is a better place because of [Safdies] work.
Safdie won out over two other finalistsRobert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown and Eric Owen Moss. Venturi and Scott Brown were considered leading contenders after this years rule change allowing two collaborating architects to win the medal, and the controversy surrounding a bid for a retrospective Pritzker Architecture Prize for Scott Brown.
Los Angeles-based Ehrlich Architects, founded by Steven Ehrlich in 1979, took home the 2015 Architecture Firm Award, which recognizes practices that have produced notable work for at least a decade. Over the last 25 years, the firm has developed its own genre of architecture, what it calls multicultural modernism, which delves deep into the social norms and context surrounding a project. Notable works include the John Roll U.S. Courthouse in Arizona, which features a porch-like entrance canopy, the Ahmadu Bello University Theater in Nigeria, and the Helal New Moon Residence in Dubai. The firm, which designs residential, commercial, educational, and civic projects, is currently working on its first hotel. We are super humbled that our work, our collective passion, and our way of practicing has been honored in this way, says partner Takashi Yanai. Its kind of a party here at the office today.
The AIA also announced the recipients of its other top honors: Peter Eisenman was awarded the 2015 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion; Rural Studio was honored with the 2015 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award; and Edward Mazria received the 2015 Kemper Award.
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Moshe Safdie Wins AIA 2015 Gold Medal, Ehrlich Architects Recieves Firm Award
A PAIR of architects from Bolton are taking the building world by storm after completing a multi-million pound project to create a landmark library and concert hall inside the Arctic Circle.
Designer Daniel Rosbottom grew up in Westhoughton and Atherton, and now combines the position of Head of Architecture and Landscape at Kingston University with being co-director of London-based company DRDH Architects, which the 45-year-old founded in 2000 with his partner David Howarth.
The firm rapidly expanded and in 2005 they took on another Boltonian, Richard Marks as an associate.
Now the company is celebrating after completing its most ambitious project to date a 110 million library and concert hall for the Norwegian town of Bod, which will be a new home for the Arctic Philharmonic orchestra.
The company was initially chosen from 193 architects who entered a competition to produce a master plan for redevelopment of the towns cultural quarter, which had been badly damaged in the Second World War.
But their design for stark white concrete buildings overlooking the picturesque harbour did not initially find favour with all the residents with some comparing the design to a fish oil plant or margarine factory.
However, over the five years the buildings taken shape they have grown on the towns 50,000 inhabitants and an estimated 20 per cent of the population turned up for the librarys recent opening.
It is thought that 10 per cent of all Norwegians also tuned in their televisions to watch the halls inaugural concert, which was attended by Crown Prince Haakon.
Mr Marks, a 36-year-old former Canon Slade High School pupil, said: It is quite unusual for a small practice to be given a commission like this.
At some point pretty much the whole office was working on it.
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Bolton architects' 110 million library and concert hall - in remote northern Norway
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) - Westgate Resorts on Monday hosted a ground breaking ceremony to celebrate the construction of a new $11 million mixed-use retail development that will feature award-winning restaurants, event and meeting space and a parking garage at Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa on Turkey Lake Road in Orlando.
Westgate Resorts Founder and CEO David Siegel, was joined by Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Orange County Commissioner Scott Boyd, and President and CEO of Visit Orlando George Aguel for a groundbreaking ceremony at the future site of Westgate Lakes Retail Village.
The ceremony celebrated the continuing growth of Central Florida's tourism industry and the impact the locally based company has in that development.
"We're excited about bringing high-quality entertainment, dining and meeting options to our Westgate guests and Central Florida visitors," said Siegel. "The Westgate Lakes Retail Village also will create many new jobs and contribute to the economic development of Central Florida."
Westgate Lakes Retail Village will introduce the company's premium dining concept - already successfully launched at Westgate Park City Resort & Spa (Utah) - Edge Steakhouse to Central Florida. The village also will include Drafts Sports Bar & Grill, retail shops, 32,000 square feet of flexible banquet and meeting space, a full-service marketplace grocery store, game room, two-lane bowling alley and a more than 450-space parking garage.
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Groundbreaking for Westgate Resorts Retail Village
Hobart Historic Restoration wants to start construction on the $9.2 million project by this spring
December 15, 2014 | 5:14 pm
CEDAR RAPIDS A push for more housing in the citys center is getting a boost from two building proposals in Kingston Village across the Cedar River from downtown.
The latest of the two proposals at the most visible of the two locations in the 400 block of First Street SW looking at downtown comes from Hobart Historic Restoration, which has told city officials it will construct a $9.2-million, six-story building with first-floor retail space, four floors of market-rate apartments and a fifth floor with two penthouse condominiums.
B.J. Hobart, an owner of Hobart Historic Restoration, said Monday that the river views that will come with the new project made adding the top-story penthouses to the project too good an opportunity to pass up.
She said the company hopes to start construction this spring.
The second proposal, called Kingston Lofts, features a four-story building with retail space on the first floor and a mix of 23 market-rate apartments and owner-occupied condominiums on floors two through four in the 200 block of Third Avenue SW. The developer, the Ahmann Companies, has put the project cost at $4.1 million.
The Ahmann project, which was first announced some months ago and is further along in the citys development process, is expected to start construction in April with a completion date in July 2016.
The City Council on Tuesday is slated to approve support for the two Kingston Village projects, both of which are slated to go up on city-owned land that the city acquired in its flood-recovery buyout program.
The City Council also is being asked to provide a 100-percent property-tax break for 10 years for the two projects, an incentive permitted by the citys economic development policy for projects that create more downtown housing.
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Developers target Kingston Village for two housing projects
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. Power management company Eaton today announced the introduction of the Portfolio Surface-Mount light-emitting diode (LED) Luminaire from its Cooper Lighting Division. Incorporating patented WaveStream LED optical technology, the high efficacy luminaire provides uniform, glare-free illumination for standard and high ceiling applications in retail, commercial and architectural spaces.
The Portfolio surface-mount product offers customers a high-performing, versatile luminaire, said Mark Eubanks, president, Eatons Cooper Lighting Division. The luminaires superior optical performance, low power consumption, low life cycle cost, multiple mounting configurations and architectural design serve as an ideal solution for both retrofit and new construction opportunities, as well as those with limited plenum space or hard to access areas.
Providing a wide distribution, the WaveStream LED technology features laser-precise AccuAim optics arranged in exacting patterns to provide unparalleled brightness control and visual comfort, while delivering the maximum amount of light on task.
The Portfolio Surface-Mount LED Luminaire is available in five lumen packages ranging from 4,500 to 9,000 lumens, four correlated color temperatures including 2700 Kelvin (K), 3000K, 3500K and 4000K and in 80 or 90 color rendering index to satisfy more application needs. The high efficacy luminaire delivers up to 100 lumen per watt. Featuring a clean, artistic design, the product is offered in multiple mounting options including ceiling-mount, wall-mount, pendant-mount or suspended by aircraft cables. The product is available in white, black, bronze and silver painted finishes.
The luminaire is equipped with a zero to 10 volt or trailing edge standard dimming driver for control. The luminaire is also available with a native Fifth Light Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) driver option for complete digital energy management in some configurations.
For more information on Eatons Cooper Lighting business, visit http://www.cooperlighting.com.
Eatons Cooper Lighting Division delivers a range of innovative and reliable indoor and outdoor lighting solutions, as well as controls products specifically designed to maximize performance, energy efficiency and cost savings. The Lighting business serves customers in the commercial, industrial, retail, institutional, residential, utility and other markets.
Eatons electrical business is a global leader with expertise in power distribution and circuit protection; backup power protection; control and automation; lighting and security; structural solutions and wiring devices; solutions for harsh and hazardous environments; and engineering services. Eaton is positioned through its global solutions to answer todays most critical electrical power management challenges.
Eaton is a power management company with 2013 sales of $22.0 billion. Eaton provides energy-efficient solutions that help our customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power more efficiently, safely and sustainably. Eaton has approximately 103,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 175 countries. For more information, visit http://www.eaton.com.
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Surface Mount LED Luminaire serves high-ceiling applications.
Metal roofing Atlanta | SunTrust Bank Atlanta Ga | metal roofing commercial !
Metal roofing Atlanta | SunTrust Bank Atlanta Ga | metal roofing commercial ! Metal roofing Atlanta for the Suntrust Bank in Hickory Flat Ga. Chocolate brown standing seam room with gutters...
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Metal roofing Atlanta | SunTrust Bank Atlanta Ga | metal roofing commercial ! - Video
Movies starring two Sundance Film Festival regulars multi-hyphenate actor James Franco and festival founder Robert Redford are among the latest additions to the fest's 2015 lineup, organizers announced Monday.
The festival's Premieres section has added "True Story," Rupert Goold's fact-based drama about a disgraced New York Times reporter (Jonah Hill) confronting the accused killer (Franco) who has taken on his identity, and "A Walk in the Woods," Ken Kwapis' adaptation of travel writer Bill Bryson's 1998 memoir about the author (Redford) hiking the 2,000-mile Appalachian Trail with an old friend (Nick Nolte).
"True Story" marks the second Franco film in the 2015 Premieres lineup, joining the previously announced "I Am Michael," about a real-life gay activist who renounced his homosexuality and became a Christian pastor.
The other new additions to the festival are a trio of Sundance Kids films ("The Games Maker," "Operation Arctic" and "Shaun the Sheep"), the student-produced "Pioneers Palace B'92," a restoration of "Paris Is Burning" and three multimedia art installations for the New Frontier section.
The Sundance Film Festival runs Jan. 22 to Feb. 1 in and around Park City, Utah.
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Sundance 2015: More James Franco added to lineup, plus Robert Redford
The main slates were rolled out over the last two weeks but the 2015 Sundance Film Festival isnt done just yet offering a few surprises. Just over a month before Park City becomes Hollywood North, the Robert Redford-founded fest today unveiled a couple more premieres and New Frontier installations plus the second year slate for Sundance Kids. Among those unveiled today is the world premiere Salt Lake City gala of the Redford, Nick Nolte and Emma Thompson starrer A Walk In The Woods. And, of course, this being Sundance, there is another film with James Franco on the offering with True Story with Felicity Jones and Jonah Hill. Check out the full list of SFF additions, including what looks like a very interesting look at the Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern starrer Wild, below.
With the fest running from January 22 to February 1, Deadlines co-Editor-in-Chief, and myself Film Mike Fleming Jr will be covering Sundance as we have in years past. This looks like its going to be a good one indeed.
PREMIERES
A Walk in the Woods / U.S.A. (Director: Ken Kwapis, Screenwriters: Rick Kerb, Bill Holderman) An aging travel writer sets out to hike the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail with a long-estranged high school buddy. Along the way, the duo face off with each other, nature, and an eccentric assortment of characters. Together, they learn that some roads are better left untraveled. Cast: Robert Redford, Nick Nolte, Emma Thompson, Mary Steenburgen, Nick Offerman, Kristen Schaal. World Premiere. SALT LAKE CITY GALA FILM
True Story / U.S.A. (Director: Rupert Goold, Screenwriters: Rupert Goold, David Kajganich) When disgraced New York Times reporter Michael Finkel meets accused killer Christian Longo who has taken on Finkels identity his investigation morphs into an unforgettable game of cat and mouse.Based on actual events, Finkels relentless pursuit of Longos true story encompasses murder, love, deceit, and redemption. Cast: Jonah Hill, James Franco, Felicity Jones.
RELATEDSundance 2015: Festival Reveals Spotlight, Midnight & New Frontier Slates
SUNDANCE KIDS
This section of the Festival is especially for our youngest independent film fans. Programmed in cooperation with Tumbleweeds, Utahs premiere film festival for children and youth.
The Games Maker / Argentina, Canada, Italy (Director and screenwriter: Juan Pablo Buscarini) Ivan Dragos love of board games catapults him into the fantastical world of game invention and pits him against the inventor Morodian, who wants to destroy the city of Zyl. To save his family, Ivan must come to know what it is to be a true Games Maker. Cast: David Mazouz, Joseph Fiennes, Ed Asner, Megan Charpentier, Tom Cavanagh, Valentina Lodovini. U.S. Premiere
Operation Arctic / Norway (Director and screenwriter: Grethe Be-Waal) This modern-day Robinson Crusoe adventure is set in the Arctic. Through a misunderstanding, 13-year-old Julia and her eight-year-old twin siblings, Ida and Sindre, are left on a deserted island. The children have to find ways to survive, battling fierce winter weather, hungry polar bears, and loneliness. Cast: Kaisa Gurine Antonsen, Ida Leonora Valestrand Eike, Leonard Valestrand Eike, Nicolai Cleve Broch, Kristofer Hivju, Line Verndal. International Premiere
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Sundance 2015: Robert Redford Gala Premiere, Kids Slate & Wild Installation Revealed
