flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Design competition focuses on reducing urban heat island effect

Codes and Standards

Design competition focuses on reducing urban heat island effect

Cool Abu Dhabi aims to transform urban life in the Middle East.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | April 13, 2020

Courtesy Pixabay

An international design competition hosted by the United Arab Emirates’ Department of Municipalities and Transport is focused on reducing the urban heat island effect.

The Cool Abu Dhabi design competition is looking to “transform urban life in the Middle East through climate-focused designs that promote wellness, community, and sustainability.” Judges will select 10 original design ideas from around the globe for a hypothetical public space in Abu Dhabi.

“The winning designs will showcase innovative design strategies that minimize the impact of climate change, reduce heat island effect in UAE, and creatively contribute to the city’s unique and evolving urban fabric, and will be awarded a $10,000 cash prize,” according to a news release. The competition is open to all, but is specifically looking for designers, architects, engineers, landscape architects, material scientists, educators, researchers, students, artists and/or inter-disciplinary teams from across the globe to contribute.

The winning entries will represent the most original and innovative ideas that attempt to reduce the heat island effect in a prototypical urban site in Abu Dhabi through design interventions or material and scientific innovations.

Related Stories

Codes and Standards | Oct 17, 2022

Ambitious state EV adoption goals put pressure on multifamily owners to provide chargers

California’s recently announced ban on the sale of new gas-powered vehicles starting in 2035—and New York’s recent decision to follow suit—are putting pressure on multifamily property owners to install charging stations for tenants.

| Oct 13, 2022

Boston’s proposed net-zero emissions code has developers concerned

Developers have raised serious concerns over a proposed new energy code by the City of Boston that would require newly constructed buildings over 20,000 sf to immediately hit net-zero emissions goals.

Building Team | Oct 12, 2022

Real estate development practices worsened impact of Hurricane Ian

A century ago, the southwest Florida coast was mostly swamps and shoals, prone to frequent flooding and almost impossible to navigate by boat.

Standards | Oct 11, 2022

Peter Templeton named new USGBC and GBCI president and CEO

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) appointed Peter Templeton as president and CEO.

Legislation | Oct 10, 2022

Chicago’s updated building energy code provides incentives for smart HVAC, water appliances

The Chicago City Council recently passed the 2022 Chicago Energy Transformation Code that is intended to align with the city’s goal of reducing carbon emissions by 62% from 2017 levels by 2040.

Contractors | Oct 6, 2022

Modular construction gets boost from impacts of the pandemic

The impact of the Covid pandemic on the construction industry appears to be fueling demand for modular construction methods, especially in the western U.S. and Canada.

Fire and Life Safety | Oct 4, 2022

Fire safety considerations for cantilevered buildings

Bold cantilevered designs are prevalent today, as developers and architects strive to maximize space, views, and natural light in buildings. Cantilevered structures, however, present a host of challenges for building teams, according to José R. Rivera, PE, Associate Principal and Director of Plumbing and Fire Protection with Lilker.

Resiliency | Sep 30, 2022

Designing buildings for wildfire defensibility

Wold Architects and Engineers' Senior Planner Ryan Downs, AIA, talks about how to make structures and communities more fire-resistant.

| Sep 30, 2022

Lab-grown bricks offer potential low-carbon building material

A team of students at the University of Waterloo in Canada have developed a process to grow bricks using bacteria.

| Sep 27, 2022

New Buildings Institute released the Existing Building Decarbonization Code

New Buildings Institute (NBI) has released the Existing Building Decarbonization Code.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021