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Government Buildings

One of the country’s first all-electric fire stations will use no outside energy sources

Charlotte, N.C.’s new Fire Station #30 will be one of the country’s first all-electric fire stations, using no outside energy sources other than diesel fuel for one or two of the fire trucks. Multiple energy sources will power the station, including solar roof panels and geothermal wells. The two-story building features three truck bays, two fire poles, dispatch area, contamination room, and gear storage.


Contractors

Nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.2% in June

National nonresidential construction spending declined 0.2% in June, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.21 trillion. Nonresidential construction has expanded 5.3% from a year ago.

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Engineers

Engineering goes hand-in-hand with design, putting a practical lens on the architect’s vision and finding the best way to make it happen. Without a talented engineer, the project will never reach completion, and certainly will not reach the standards of functionality and sustainability that the architect and client are seeking.

K-12 Schools | Mar 1, 2015

Are energy management systems too complex for school facility staffs?

When school districts demand the latest and greatest, they need to think about how those choices will impact the district’s facilities employees.

Industrial Facilities | Feb 27, 2015

Massive windmill will double as mixed-use entertainment tower in Rotterdam

The 571-foot structure will house apartments, a hotel, restaurants, even a roller coaster.

Office Buildings | Gresham Smith | Feb 26, 2015

Using active design techniques to strengthen the corporate workplace and enhance employee wellness

The new Lentz Public Health Center in Nashville, Tenn., serves as a model of how those progressive and healthy changes can be made.

K-12 Schools | Feb 26, 2015

Should your next school project include a safe room?

Many school districts continue to resist mandating the inclusion of safe rooms or storm shelters in new and existing buildings. But that may be changing.

K-12 Schools | Feb 26, 2015

Construction funding still scarce for many school districts

Many districts are struggling to have new construction and renovation keep pace with student population growth.

K-12 Schools | Feb 26, 2015

D.C.'s Dunbar High School is world's highest-scoring LEED school, earns 91% of base credits

The 280,000-sf school achieved 91 points, out of 100 base points possible for LEED, making it the highest-scoring school in the world certified under USGBC’s LEED for Schools-New Construction system.

K-12 Schools | Feb 25, 2015

Polish architect designs modular ‘kids city’ kindergarten using shipping container frames

Forget the retrofit of a shipping container into a building for one moment. Designboom showcases the plans of Polish architect Adam Wiercinski to use just the recycled frames of containers to construct a “kids city.”

Industrial Facilities | Feb 24, 2015

Starchitecture meets agriculture: OMA unveils design for Kentucky community farming facility

The $460 million Food Port project will define a new model for the relationship between consumer and producer.

University Buildings | Perkins and Will | Feb 23, 2015

Future-proofing educational institutions: 5 trends to consider

In response to rapidly changing conditions in K-12 and higher education, institutions and school districts should consider these five trends to ensure a productive, educated future.

Office Buildings | HDR | Feb 23, 2015

The importance of quiet and the consequences of distraction

Recent work style studies show that the average knowledge worker spends 25-35% of their time doing heads-down focused work. Once thrown off track, it can take some 23 minutes for a worker to return to the original task.

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