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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.

Building Materials | Feb 19, 2015

Prices for construction materials fall in January, following plummet of oil prices

The decline in oil and petroleum prices finally showed up in the produce price index data, according to ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu.

Codes and Standards | Feb 18, 2015

Buildings with rocking steel-braced frames are advantageous in earthquakes

Research at Case Western Reserve University has found that buildings that rock during an earthquake and return to plumb would withstand seismic shaking better than structural designs commonly used today in vulnerable zones of California and elsewhere.

Codes and Standards | Feb 18, 2015

USGBC concerned about developers using LEED registration in marketing

LEED administrators are concerned about a small group of developers or project owners who tout their projects as “LEED pre-certified” and then fail to follow through with certification.

Office Buildings | Feb 18, 2015

Commercial real estate developers optimistic, but concerned about taxes, jobs outlook

The outlook for the commercial real estate industry remains strong despite growing concerns over sluggish job creation and higher taxes, according to a new survey of commercial real estate professionals by NAIOP.

Museums | Feb 18, 2015

Foster + Partners' National Museum of Marine Science and Technology breaks ground in Taiwan

The museum will be home to an aquarium, exhibition space, and waterfront views. 

University Buildings | Feb 18, 2015

Preparing for the worst: Campus security since Virginia Tech

Seven years after the mass shootings at Virginia Tech, colleges and universities continue to shake up their emergency communications and response capabilities to shootings and other criminal threats.

Office Buildings | Perkins and Will | Feb 18, 2015

Why the mobile workplace isn't always mobile

Perkins+Will’s Janice Barnes addresses the nuance in mobility types and explains the importance of defining terms upfront.

University Buildings | Feb 17, 2015

BD+C exclusive: How security is influencing campus design and construction

Campus crime—whether real or perceived—presents Building Teams with more opportunities for early-stage consultation with university clients. 

Multifamily Housing | Feb 17, 2015

California launches pilot program to finance multifamily retrofits for energy efficiency

The Obama Administration and the state of California are teaming with the Chicago-based MacArthur Foundation on a pilot program whose goal is to unlock Property-Assessed Clean Energy financing for multifamily housing.

Building Team | Steven Burns | Feb 17, 2015

Why diversity matters

Companies in the top quartile for gender or racial and ethnic diversity are more likely to have financial returns above their national industry medians.

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