Category Archives: Commercial Buildings
11
Dec
Dec
Daniel Burnham, the architect of some of the world’s first skyscrapers, once said “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized.” The developers of Hudson Yards, an entire new neighborhood rising on the West Side of Manhattan, have taken  Burnham’s words to heart. Faced…
04
Dec
Dec
View, a company headquartered in California’s Silicon Valley, has developed glass that can can change its tint in response to changes in an electrical control voltage. The technology promises to do away with the need for curtains and blinds and save up to 23% of the energy spent on lighting, heating and cooling during peak demand. View says…
02
Oct
Oct
With the rapid pace of advancement from energy efficient smart homes, to passive homes, to energy plus homes, the architecture and construction industries are leading the way in terms of building a sustainable future. Japan, however, is hoping to ensure that sustainable design doesn’t become a passing fad by pushing for all public buildings to…
29
Sep
Sep
Old tech- in the form of hydronic heating– meets new in nearby data centers, creating ‘green heating’ in Amazon’s latest new buildings in Seattle, WA. The offices and work areas of the new Amazon buildings will be heated by utilizing the waste heat of a nearby data center, and Amazon’s not stopping there. Heat from the…
08
Sep
Sep
Passive house design has gone from an emerging architectural trend to a firmly established movement that’s entrenched itself in the professional and public mind. Even so, most people – both industry experts and laypeople – take the term literally, and equate “passive house” with, you know, houses. The truth, meanwhile, is that the same principles…
28
Aug
Aug
One of the fundamental qualities of good architecturally designed buildings is that they fit into their own unique site. Two examples that couldn’t be more different but that are both beautifully designed buildings for their spaces are the Transustainable House and the Sempachersee Golf Course Club House. The Transustainable House is a residential home designed…
25
Aug
Aug
Any time we hear about improving energy efficiency we get excited. Read this guest post from Danielle Kershner, with contributing help from Keri Masterson. Intelligent buildings can now match the demands of multi-faceted institutions By Danielle Kershner of Eco Brandit Reducing energy consumption to save money is a concept becoming increasingly important. But how are…
23
Aug
Aug
As cities re-develop and re-define themselves in new urban and sustainable ways, mixed-used mini-cities are becoming popular oasises in the midst of traditional metropolitan areas. In Houston, Texas, one of such, ‘city-with-in-a-city’ exists and is called Memorial City. It is 7.6 million SF of a place that intertwines the living, shopping, working and play parts…
19
Aug
Aug
Shipping containers can offer a multitude of uses. One of these uses is a shipping container clinic – a type of architecture that makes use of the containers as medical clinics that can be set up and shipped off to remote regions of the world. Shipping containers are strong, durable, relatively low cost and widely…
19
Aug
Aug
One of the greatest things in the architectural and design fields that has come from modern technology is the ability to share conceptual solutions with audiences before they become built spaces. These ideas may never actually be built but they allow people to experience a variety of options and to explore uncharted waters of design….
13
Aug
Aug
Introducing a new era in parking garage designs, the “Park ‘N’ Play” in Denmark. About this parking design, JAJA Architects writes: “With the intention of creating a beautiful public space from what is usually one-function building, JAJA architects are redefining what a parking deck can be. Their recent competition entry for a parking garage in the city of Nordhavn, Copenhagen is an inviting structure…
07
Aug
Aug
I recently received word from Kristi McCain promoting a reclaimed 1970s industrial building, located in Sunnyvale, California. The photographs are well worth looking at, plus a case study on the project. This proves you don’t always need to raze the old and build new. The existing structure looks as if it worked quite well, aided…
31
Jul
Jul
For those wanting to understand the issues of large metropolitan infrastructure, take a look at this 2050 infrastructure plan for the City of London. Prepared by the City of London. “The Mayor launches London’s first long-term infrastructure plan. This is a consultation about London’s growth and how we can make the city better for…
25
Jul
Jul
In design, when concepts become creations that the world hasn’t seen before, then the job is well done. A young and upcoming firm is Penda and their goal is to create nothing that isn’t unique and thought out. Penda was started in 2012 by Chris Precht and Dayong Sun. Every project that they undertake becomes…
24
Jul
Jul
“TED celebrated its 30th anniversary by moving the annual TED Conference from Long Beach to Vancouver. For the relocation, Rockwell Group design a temporary theater installed within the Vancouver Convention Centre. Crafted from locally harvested timber, the portable, 1,200-seat theater was designed to enhance the speaker and audience experience, and will be re-installed in the…
10
Jun
Jun
Award-winning proposed Aktivhaus apartment tower at Skyline Plaza complex in Frankfurt (skyscrapercity.com) The European residential high-rise boom has a green twist these days. Magnus Kaminiarz & Cie unanimously won this spring’s design award for…
08
Jun
Jun
Green malls in Singapore are saving money and creating a safer shopping experience More shopping malls in Singapore are going green in the global push to be more environmentally friendly, saving energy and water usage. Â Some consultants say they also help to create a safer shopping experience for consumers. There are 32 eco-malls in Singapore…
05
Jun
Jun
A press release from the Green Building Initiative announces the results of an independent study, funded by GBI, comparing the costs for certifying the same building under Green Globes and LEED. Green Globes Certification is Less Expensive to Achieve than LEED, On Same Project, Drexel University Study Reveals Portland, OR – May 13, 2014 –…