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Rochester, Minn., plans extensive geothermal network

The city of Rochester, Minn., home of the famed Mayo Clinic, is going big on geothermal networks. The city is constructing Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) that consist of ambient pipe loops connecting multiple buildings and delivering thermal heating and cooling energy via water-source heat pumps.




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Architects

Every building starts with a concept and a design. Architects are involved at every stage of the process, even after a design has been finalized, helping other building team members through the snares and missteps in the construction process. Building Design+Construction delivers news, trends, and research to the nation's largest architectural design firms. 

Gabe Savely | Dec 16, 2013

Is the metal building industry in a technology shift?

Automation is the future you can’t avoid, though you may try. Even within the metal building industry—which is made up of skilled tradesmen—automation has revolutionized, and will continue revolutionizing, how we work.

Steven Burns | Dec 16, 2013

Why employees don’t trust their leaders

Trust, one of the key elements to productive business relationships, is in short supply these days. An Associated Press-GfK poll discovered that only one-third of Americans say most people can be trusted and nearly two-thirds says “you can’t be too careful” in dealing with people.
Dec 16, 2013

Construction materials prices remain stable in November

Overall, construction materials prices fell 0.5 percent in November and are up only 1.1 percent year over year, according to the Department of Labor’s Dec. 13 Producer Price Index.

Dec 16, 2013

Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA, inaugurated 2014 AIA President

Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA, executive director of the Virginia Center for Architecture, was inaugurated as the 90th president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) during ceremonies held on December 12th at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium.  She succeeds Mickey Jacob, FAIA, in representing nearly 83,000 AIA members.

Dec 13, 2013

GRW acquires West Virginia design firm Chapman Technical Group

GRW is expanding its capabilities through the recent acquisition of Chapman Technical Group, a 36-person West Virginia-based firm.

Dec 13, 2013

AIA, MIT issue joint report on impact of design on public health

The research looks at the health of eight U.S. cities and lays out a path for translating the research into meaningful findings for policy makers and urban planners. 

Dec 11, 2013

Wyndham unveils hotel prototype for its Hawthorn Suites chain

The extended-stay hotel prototype reduces development costs by 46% for franchisees and enhances the overall guest experience.

Dec 10, 2013

16 great solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors

From a crowd-funded smart shovel to a why-didn’t-someone-do-this-sooner scheme for managing traffic in public restrooms, these ideas are noteworthy for creative problem-solving. Here are some of the most intriguing innovations the BD+C community has brought to our attention this year.

Dec 9, 2013

Tips for designing higher education's newest building type: the learning commons

In this era of scaled-down budgets, maximized efficiencies, new learning methods and social media’s domination of face time, college and university campuses are gravitating toward a new space type: the learning commons.

Steven Burns | Dec 9, 2013

Does technology help or hinder innovation?

Whether digital technology will help or hinder workplace insights remains a topic of ongoing debate. FastCo.Design features insights from business scholars on both sides of the issue.

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