GBCI begins testing for new LEED professional credentials. The Green Building Certification Institute last week began testing candidates who wish to pursue credentials through the new LEED Green Associate or LEED Accredited Professional Operations and Maintenance programs. The LEED Green Associate program is intended for individuals seeking knowledge and skills in the non-technical fields of green practice. LEED AP O+M is for those seeking advanced knowledge in sustainable operations and specialized expertise in greening existing buildings.Architects rank durability over 'green' in product attributes. Architects say durability is the most important attribute for a green building product, according to a new industry survey commissioned by PPG Industries. Durability was followed by Energy Star compliance, life cycle assessment, no- or low-volatile organic compound (VOC) content, and the ability to source products regionally.Architecture Billings Index falls slightly in April, but shows market improvement. After an eight-point jump in March, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) fell less than a full point in April. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the April ABI rating was 42.8, down from the 43.7 mark in March. This was the first time since August and September 2008 that the index was above 40 for consecutive months. The new projects inquiry score, however, was positive at 56.8.ASHRAE's building energy label set to launch in June. A label for grading commercial buildings according to their energy efficiency is being developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The label, due out in June, will measure both the design efficiency and operational performance of buildings, similar to the government's Energy Star program.AIA names bus shelter, restroom, Cleveland Arts Center among small project winners. The American Institute of Architects has selected 20 recipients of the 2009 Small Project Awards, including: the Media Arts Center in Cleveland, Ohio, by Robert Maschke Architects; the Public Bus Shelters of New Haven Conn., by David Thompson Architects; and the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail restroom facility in Austin, Texas, by Miro Rivera Architects. See below for more on restrooms.Half of U.S. design firms cut staff, profit margins stabilize. Half of architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms cut staff in 2008, while profit margins on net service revenue remained virtually unchanged from 2007 to 2008, according to ZweigWhite's newly released 2009 Financial Performance Survey.DOE sets partnership with hospitals for energy efficiency. The U.S. Department of Energy has launched the Hospital Energy Alliance (HEA), an industry-led partnership between the DOE and national healthcare sector leaders to promote the integration of advanced energy efficiency and renewable technologies in hospital design, construction, retrofit, operations, and maintenance.More than 30 new Marriott hotels seek LEED certification. Marriott International recently announced that its global headquarters building in Bethesda, Md., and more than 30 of its hotels in design or development or under construction are expected to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Related Stories
Laboratories | May 24, 2024
The Department of Energy breaks ground on the Princeton Plasma Innovation Center
In Princeton, N.J., the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) has broken ground on the Princeton Plasma Innovation Center (PPIC), a state-of-the-art office and laboratory building. Designed and constructed by SmithGroup, the $109.7 million facility will provide space for research supporting PPPL’s expanded mission into microelectronics, quantum sensors and devices, and sustainability sciences.
MFPRO+ News | May 24, 2024
Austin, Texas, outlaws windowless bedrooms
Austin, Texas will no longer allow developers to build windowless bedrooms. For at least two decades, the city had permitted developers to build thousands of windowless bedrooms.
Resiliency | May 24, 2024
As temperatures underground rise, so do risks to commercial buildings
Heat created by underground structures is increasing the risk of damage to buildings, recent studies have found. Basements, train tunnels, sewers, and other underground systems are making the ground around them warmer, which causes soil, sand, clay and silt to shift, settle, contract, and expand.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | May 23, 2024
The Cincinnati Open will undergo a campus-wide renovation ahead of the expanded 2025 tournament
One of the longest-running tennis tournaments in the country, the Cincinnati Open will add a 2,000-seat stadium, new courts and player center, and more greenspace to create a park-like atmosphere.
Mass Timber | May 22, 2024
3 mass timber architecture innovations
As mass timber construction evolves from the first decade of projects, we're finding an increasing variety of mass timber solutions. Here are three primary examples.
MFPRO+ News | May 21, 2024
Massachusetts governor launches advocacy group to push for more housing
Massachusetts’ Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll have taken the unusual step of setting up a nonprofit to advocate for pro-housing efforts at the local level. One Commonwealth Inc., will work to provide political and financial support for local housing initiatives, a key pillar of the governor’s agenda.
Building Tech | May 21, 2024
In a world first, load-bearing concrete walls built with a 3D printer
A Germany-based construction engineering company says it has constructed the world’s first load-bearing concrete walls built with a 3D printer. Züblin built a new warehouse from a single 3D print for Strabag Baumaschinentechnik International in Stuttgart, Germany using a Putzmeister 3D printer.
MFPRO+ News | May 21, 2024
Baker Barrios Architects announces new leadership roles for multifamily, healthcare design
Baker Barrios Architects announced two new additions to its leadership: Chris Powers, RA, AIA, NCARB, EDAC, as Associate Principal and Director (Healthcare); and Mark Kluemper, AIA, NCARB, as Associate Principal and Technical Director (Multifamily).
MFPRO+ News | May 20, 2024
Florida condo market roiled by structural safety standards law
A Florida law enacted after the Surfside condo tower collapse is causing turmoil in the condominium market. The law, which requires buildings to meet certain structural safety standards, is forcing condo associations to assess hefty fees to make repairs on older properties. In some cases, the cost per unit runs into six figures.
Office Buildings | May 20, 2024
10 spaces that are no longer optional to create a great workplace
Amenities are no longer optional. The new role of the office is not only a place to get work done, but to provide a mix of work experiences for employees.