1. DensElement Barrier System
Georgia-Pacific Gypsum
Project: Block 20 Condominium Tower, Portland, Ore. Problem: Needed a building envelope that could withstand Portland’s rainy climate. Solution: DensElement Barrier System with AquaKOR Technology integrates a gypsum core and a fiberglass mat to form a hydrophobic, monolithic surface that blocks bulk water but allows vapor to pass through. On the team: Bora Architects (design architect), Western Partitions (subcontractor), Andersen Construction (GC).
2. Majesta windows, Ultra Series doors
Kolbe Windows & Doors
Project: Hoover Hall, DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind. Problem: The windows and doors needed to complement the aesthetics of the campus. Solution: Majesta windows were custom made to meet the large size specified. Ultra Series doors were pre-hung and included hand-routed grooves in the wood to simplify electrical connections. On the team: Robert A.M. Stern Architects,
JC Ripberger (exterior contractor), Turner (GC).
3. Cambridge Mid-Balance mesh
Cambridge Architectural
Project: Thornton Flats, Austin, Texas Problem: The builder desired a relaxed South Austin vibe and wanted to highlight the indoor-outdoor spaces. Solution: The façade was accentuated with a metal mesh leaf pattern. It was created by powder-coating the surrounding mesh in antique bronze, which appears black. A tan wall behind the 50%-opacity mesh creates a 3D effect. On the team: PSW Homes (developer, designer, builder), L&S Erectors (installer).
4. Zipwall dust barrier
Zipwall
Project: King’s Creek Country Club Pro Shop, Rehoboth Beach, Del. Problem: The pro shop needed to remain open during a dusty renovation. Solution: A ZipWall Dust Barrier System and Magnetic Door was installed to contain the dust and debris associated with an outside patio addition and drywall installation. The 50-foot barrier, deemed to be more practical than a temporary wall, was installed in less
than five minutes.
5. PAC-CLAD in Weathered Steel
Petersen Aluminum + Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings
Project: The Parkside at Craig Ranch apartments and townhomes, McKinney, Texas Problem: The design team desired a weathering “corten steel” aesthetic, inspired by the canyons and countryside near El Paso. Color match, availability, and budget were critical. Solution: 11,000 sf of PAC-CLAD standing seam wall panels finished in Weathered Steel. The two-coat finish, by Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings, replicates the multi-tone appearance of actual weathered steel. On the team: JHP Architecture, Stazon Roofing (metal fabricator).
6. bird-friendly Starphire Ultra-Clear Glass
Vitro Architectural Glass + Walker Glass
Project: The National Aviary’s Tropical Rainforest, Pittsburgh Problem: Required a glass roof that would sustain wildlife and plant life throughout the year while keeping the spaces bird-safe. Solution: 3,100 panes of laminated Starphire Ultra-Clear Glass (from Vitro) with a bird-friendly AviProtek acid-etched finish (Walker). On the team: Montgomery Smith (preservation), Dlubak Specialty Glass (fabricator), Greenhouse RSI (installer).
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BIM adoption rate exceeds 80% among nation’s largest AEC firms
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New air-conditioning design standard allows for increased air speed to cool building interiors
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PCA partners with MIT on concrete research center
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Study explains the financial value of green commercial buildings
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Architecture Billings Index flat in May, according to AIA
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Free-span solar energy system installed at REM Eyewear headquarters
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Architecture Billings Index drops to lowest level since June
Another stall in the recovery for the construction industry as the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) dropped to its lowest level since June. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reported the August ABI rating was 41.7, down slightly from 43.1 in July. This score indicates a decline in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings).
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Construction employment declined in 333 of 352 metro areas in June
Construction employment declined in all but 19 communities nationwide this June as compared to June-2008, according to a new analysis of metropolitan-area employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. The analysis shows that few places in America have been spared the widespread downturn in construction employment over the past year.
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Jacobs, Hensel Phelps among the nation's 50 largest design-build contractors
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Construction unemployment rises to 17.1% as another 64,000 construction workers are laid off in September
The national unemployment rate for the construction industry rose to 17.1 percent as another 64,000 construction workers lost their jobs in September, according to an analysis of new employment data released today. With 80 percent of layoffs occurring in nonresidential construction, Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, said the decline in nonresidential construction has eclipsed housing’s problems.
