August 2011 Newsletter
August 23, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Brewing Up a Brainstorm:
Part 2: Brainstorming on Your Own
Coming up with ideas is an essential skill for design professionals, but
sometimes the ideas just don’t come. In the last issue of our newsletter we covered the group brainstorm; this article gives you tips for brainstorming by yourself.
Follow the Rules
Even when you’re brainstorming with just yourself, a key part of the process is to let the ideas flow, flow, flow…without criticizing or analyzing any of them. Keep paper and pen handy and write down every idea that you dream up, even if it seems ridiculous. You’ll have plenty of time for analysis and elimination later.
Mind Map
The mind map was described in the previous article on brainstorming; it can also be used when you’re alone. Just write the main idea in the middle of a sheet of paper–say “ideas for Smith kitchen”–and then add related ideas on spokes emanating from the middle–”island,” “stainless appliances,” “skylights.” From each of these items draw new spokes building on those ideas, and so on. The mind map is a great way of organizing ideas as they spill out of your mind.
Word Play
A favorite brainstorming technique that is easily done by yourself is to take a book, open it to any page, point to a random word, and then brainstorm the original idea based on this word. Huh? How does this work? Your brain is an amazing thing, and sometimes the best ideas emerge only when you throw it off track a little. By forcing your brain to connect some random word with your original idea, great ideas sometimes emerge. Let’s say you point your finger at “worm” when you’re brainstorming ideas for a new kitchen. “Worm” might lead you to dirt, which leads to the idea for a window garden; or to a dirt floor, which leads to using some special natural material for the floors; or to composting, which leads to an idea for a “green” kitchen that includes a worm composting tub. Just let the ideas flow!
Idea Analysis
Any good brainstorming session results in dozens of ideas. The key now is to wean them. But don’t start this process too soon — make sure you’ve allowed your mind to wander as far as it can before you start eliminating ideas. Start the elimination process by noting the criteria for your ideas — for the kitchen idea, for example, the criteria may be “affordable,” “elegant,” and “practical.” Then go through each idea and assign a score of 1 to 5 for each criterion. The highest scoring ideas will deserve further attention.
One last tip on brainstorming:
You must make time for it. Don’t assume that good ideas will just magically appear because you’re a creative person. Set aside a specific amount of brainstorming time for each creative problem you have, and you’ll generate many more ideas.
Giants on the March
Biomorphism–using natural shapes to inspire design–has a long history in 
architecture, but has it ever reached these heights? Check out the Land of the Giants, humanoid shaped electricity pylons designed by Choi-Shine studio in Massachusetts.
The giant marching humans were designed for Landsnet, the power transmission company in Iceland. Though they have not been built yet, they did win the Boston Society of Architects Unbuilt Architecture Award for 2010.
The giants aren’t limited to one shape. With minor alterations to the basic frame they can be positioned to “climb” a hillside, crouch, turn to look at a nearby town, or interact with one another. And they come in male and female versions.
Way smaller, but possibly more influential, are some recent biomorphic designs for solar panels. Leaves are natural solar panels, and highly efficient ones, so why are solar panels always an unleaflike square? For ease of manufacturing and installation, presumably, but at least one design firm is using the natural advantages of leaf design to build new solar panels. The round shape of lily pads, for example, makes them ideal for floating in sunny locations unbothered by competing trees or shrubs. ZM Architects in Scotland is using that concept for their new giant floating solar cells designed for the River Clyde in Glasgow. The solar lily pads are not yet built, but the design includes small motors that gently turn the panels to gather the most sun and cables that tether the panels to shore and transfer the gathered electricity.
Want to immerse yourself in biomorphism? Check out the trio of books by Alejandro Bahamon and Patricia Perez that examine the influence of botany, geology, and biology on architecture.
Amazing Architecture
Using indoor elements outdoors and outdoors elements indoors is the key to Loft 24-7 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Architect Fernanda Marques took advantage of the year-around excellent weather of Sao Paulo to create this residential masterpiece
flat, right? Not everywhere. Check out this vertical garden that forms an exterior wall of the Ushuaia Hotel in Ibiza, Spain. It makes an excellent acoustic barrier.
The Juvet Landscape Hotel in Norway takes full advantage of its forest location. Designed by Jensen and Skodvin in Oslo, this remarkable hotel offers views like no other. 
Check out this great house in Lithuania that could pass for a modern art gallery. It’s designed by H Architektu Biuras in Kaunas.
ArchiQuiz
1. If you were an archer defending a medieval castle, you probably positioned yourself behind what architectural element?
2. What’s the name of the type of home that resembles a small island most commonly found in Irish lochs?
3. Who designed St. Paul’s Cathedral in London? Bonus question: What famous New England church was inspired by this architect’s work?
4. In the architecture game Big City, how many neighborhoods are there?
Going Green
Autodesk Green Building Studio helps architects and engineers evaluate energy usage and work towards carbon neutrality early in the design.
OK, this product isn’t available in the United States yet, but surely a dealer will soon pick it up. It’s Bolefloor, a system that uses computers to create wooden floors that maximize quantity by milling planks based on the natural shape of the original piece of wood.
It’s hard to be more green than reclaimed. From old barns to urban tear-downs, reclaimed building products are as environmentally friendly as possible. Check out the offerings from Elmwood Reclaimed Timber.
Old bricks have a certain look that new bricks can’t quite match…and they’re green! Gavin Historical Bricks offers a brick matching service to make sure builders get what they need.
News
Boston architect Miguel Rosales designs three pedestrian bridges in Cleveland. http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.showbriefdetail&newsid=1207
Fan Pier apartment plan on track; architect to be selected this year. http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/real_estate/2011/06/fallon-stays-the-course-on-fan-pier.html
Architects take a close look at Charlestown. http://charlestown.patch.com/articles/architects-take-an-interest-in-charlestown
Kansas City architects win contract for two Iraqi sports stadiums. http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/12/3009970/360-architecture-wins-contracts.html
Praemium Imperiale prize for architecture goes to Mexican architect. http://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/ricardo-legorreta-wins-top-architecture-prize/5021355.article
June 2011 Newsletter
June 16, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Brewing Up an A/E/C Brainstorm,
Part 1: Five Tips to Get the Ideas Flowing
How often do you sit in front of a blank sheet of paper, trying to pry an idea out of your mind? Whether it’s an idea for a house design, a better way to pour concrete, or how to save money on the job site, ideas are the lifeblood of your business, and sometimes they just don’t flow. The next time that happens, try a brainstorm!
This article, the first of two on brainstorming, covers the group brainstorm. Group brainstorms are usually used for major ideas or when a lot of ideas need to be generated. For example, a group brainstorm would be appropriate if you need to figure out how to trim $1 million from your budget next year, or if you’re planning a shopping mall and need dozens of ideas to make it special.
The second article in this series will focus on brainstorming by yourself, which is usually more appropriate for smaller issues.
Here are five tips for raising a brainstorm with a group:
Tip 1. Consider the Environment
Plan the setting for your brainstorming session. Find a leader who understands the dynamics of your group, and who will make the participants comfortable. There is no set amount of time, but sessions longer than two hours definitely require breaks. Major brainstorming sessions are often done in multiple sessions. Make sure the room has enough comfortable seating for everyone, and a white board or flipchart.
Tip 2. Invite a Smart Mix of People
Invite people who are affected by the issue at hand, but who may come at it from different perspectives. Sometimes the best ideas come from individuals who are not directly related to a situation. Most experts recommend small groups of four to seven people. You may invite more people than that, but be prepared to divide them into smaller groups.
Tip 3. Follow the Three Basic Rules of Brainstorming
Before you start, make sure everyone knows three rules: A) Everybody participates; B) No idea is ever criticized — nothing shuts down the flow of ideas faster than smarty-pants snickering at little LuLu’s idea; and C) No analysis of ideas is allowed during the brainstorm. This is a time for suggesting ideas, building on them, and pushing the limits.
Tip 4. Try Different Strategies
There are scores of ways to run a brainstorming session. Here are three effective strategies:
Mind Map. The leader draws a circle on the whiteboard with spokes emanating in all directions. In the circle she writes the topic of the brainstorm – “improving project communication,” “saving money on document management,” etc. Participants share ideas related to the topic, and she writes them in new circles at the ends of the spokes. Soon people suggest ideas that build on the existing ideas, so the leader draws new spokes emanating from those ideas and puts the add-on suggestions there. Eventually the board is a vast collection of circles and lines, all connected one way or another.
Brainwriting. This is a great way to brainstorm among quiet folk. Give each person in the group a small tablet of paper. Each writes one idea related to the topic at the top of the paper, peels it from the tablet, and places it in the middle of the table. Everyone reads the ideas created by the others, and adds to them if they want to. If a person does not want to add anything, she can write a new idea on another sheet and add it to the mix. After all the sheets have made a few laps of the group, someone compiles the ideas into one.
Reversal. In reversal the group examines the goal – say, how to secure new clients – and identifies a number of assumptions about the goal. In this case the assumptions may be that lower prices will attract more clients, more advertising will increase business, and joining the Rotary will uncover new possibilities. Then the group tries to disprove each assumption, often coming up with radical ideas in the process. In the case of lower prices, someone may say “People prefer higher prices,” and it dawns on the group that higher prices have a certain cachet. Aha! An idea is born.
Tip 6. Don’t Let the Feeling Die!
A major complaint brainstorming participants sometimes have is that all the great ideas they developed never bear fruit. To prevent that, take time after the session to write down all the ideas, consider them carefully, and decide which to pursue. Send a memo to all the participants about the results.
Your brainstorming session may generate the idea that launches your firm to new heights. Or it may just be a fun, buzz-generating group project. Either outcome would be a success.
Keeping the Flames at Bay
The U.S. Fire Administration estimates there were 417,000 residential fires in 2008, causing billions of dollars in damage. There may be a limit to what an architect can do to prevent fires, but there is much one can do to limit the damage from a fire. After the fires in San Diego County in 2003, researchers discovered that houses that had been built or remodeled following a stricter fire and building code suffered only a third the damage of other homes.
Today there are more ways than ever to design with fire damage reduction in mind. Some ideas:
– Non-combustible roofing and siding helps prevent fires from spreading from nearby homes. One interesting fire-retardant roofing product is shingles made from recycled rubber tires — paired with a fire-resistant underlay barrier, this assembly is one of the few synthetic roofing materials to get UL’s Class A fire rating. These shingles are available from EcoStar.
– Many fires start on decks. Grills left burning when the party ends, embers from brush fires, or leaf burning getting out of hand can all ignite a deck. Consider specifying a Class A fire rated decking material instead of the usual wood materials. AmeraDeck’s composite materials are one option.
– Residential fire sprinklers can extinguish small fires and contain large fires. But who wants those clunky sprinkler heads in the living room? No one — so consider something sleeker, like Tyco’s Rapid Response Residential Concealed Sprinkler System. This type of system can lower the homeowner’s insurance.
– Steel beats heat nearly every time. If you’re designing a home near a potential wildfire area, consider steel-framed windows with heat-resistant coating. Check out products like this from SaftiFirst.
Do We Know KIP? Yes We Do!
At AIR Graphics, we run KIP equipment all day long, so we understand the needs of other KIP users. That’s why our KIP service department is so amazing!
Led by Russ Manson, a former KIP Direct Service Technician in New England for nearly 20 years, our service staff and factory trained technicians provide fast, reliable, cost-effective solutions to your equipment maintenance needs. We provide installation, customer support, repair, and maintenance for the full line of KIP equipment, from the latest line of HDP printers to the older Legacy models.
Of course, our service expertise isn’t limited to KIP. We also provide exceptional service to HP and Canon inkjet plotters.
Learn more here KIP Service
ArchiQuiz
1. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris is representative of what architectural style? Extra credit: The cathedral was among the first building in the world to use arched exterior supports to hold up its massive walls; what are those called? Answer:
2. How many points does it take to get LEED Gold designation? How many of those points can come from the Innovation in Design category? Answer:
3. Masonry that holds together without the use of mortar or other adhesive is called what? What is each row of bricks in a wall called? Answer:
4. Sheer concrete walls on tall buildings or underground structures are often built by pouring concrete into plywood forms that continuously and slowly move upwards as the concrete hardens at the bottom. What is type of construction called? Answer:
Amazing Architecture
Airports seem to bring out the best in architects. Check out the new terminal building at Sabiha Gokcen Airport in Istanbul. Designed by Tekeli-Sisa Arhcitectural Partnership, the terminal features seven arched bays that provide spaciousness for the passengers and a wavy view for passers-by.
Pupils in Monkseaton High School in Great Britain always face the teacher: The award-winning school building features triangular classrooms with the teacher’s space in the point. “I realized we had to step away from the rows of desks and ‘chalk and talk’ method of lesson delivery associated with typical institutional classroom designs,” explained Ian Lancastle-Smith of London’s Devereux Architects.
A new building for an engineering school better be pretty cool, huh? Devereux Architects designed this one, too, and it is pretty cool. Designed for the National University of Ireland in Galway, the building is designed to “put engineering on display.” Among its many features is a “climate wall,” which due to its orientation provides cooling in summer and heat in winter.
Being Green
The value of shade–Ever wonder how much a shade tree planted in front of a house matters? Now you can estimate its effect with the Tree Benefit Estimator , developed by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.
Green as trees–Think recycled wood is green? Sure, but how about unmilled logs? That’s what Roald Gundersen, owner of Whole Trees Architecture and Construction in Stoddard, Wisconsin uses.
Green blocks–Well, they’re not really green colored, but the Pozzotive concrete blocks from Kingston Block & Masonry Supply are made from 30 percent postconsumer recycled glass and 50 percent postconsumer recycled masonry aggregate.
Mobile power–power generators are sometimes the loudest, smelliest pieces of equipment on construction sites. Not any more: Generators from Mobile Solar Power generate up to 18.71 kilowatt hours per day using just the sun.
News
Boston Architect Helps Rebuild Afghanistan
https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=212108232162666
South End Apartment Project is Super Green
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20064756-54.html
Boston Arc Firm Promotes Five
http://boston.citybizlist.com/7/2011/6/6/Payette-Announces-Five-Promotions.aspx
Boston Architect Designs “Renovated Lab of the Year” Award Winner
Columbus Group LLC Developing Standard-Times Building in Bedford
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110531/NEBULLETIN/106010319
May 2011 Newsletter
May 16, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Social Media for Architects, Part III: Maximizing LinkedIn
Facebook, Twitter, and some other popular social media sites get more attention, but LinkedIn is the most important site for business professionals. Where other sites encourage you to post photos of your latest party and spout off political opinions, LinkedIn is designed for one thing: To help you succeed in business.
LinkedIn profiles of architects are subdued. They have minimal flash, maximum information. Check out the profile of Chris Dunlop and Bettina Mehnert .
Here are five tips to create a winning LinkedIn profile:
1) Focus on reaching potential clients. Rather than just dumping your resume onto your profile (which is possible), use your profile to show potential clients what you can do. Write briefly about what types of problems you solve, the types of clients you work for, and other key introductory characteristics.
2) Make connections. Don’t build a profile and wait for business to roll in; it won’t. LinkedIn makes it easy to locate potential contacts and request a connection. And once you connect, it shows you your contact’s connections so you can attempt to connect with them, and on and on. The goal is a giant web of connections.
3) Give and get testimonials. As advertisers have known for decades, testimonials can be powerful. LinkedIn has a convenient format for adding testimonials to your profile. One of the best ways to get testimonials from trusted clients is to give them one first. Once they see how much you value the relationship, many return the favor.
4) Join LinkedIn groups. Groups on LinkedIn are collections of like-minded individuals. As you can imagine, being in the right groups is a great way to connect with potential partners and clients. There are many architecture groups, including groups sponsored by the AIA, ARCHITECTURE magazine, and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Set the search function to “Groups” to find more. You should also join your local chamber of commerce and other local groups to connect with potential clients in your area.
5) Use “Status Updates” to keep your firm on your clients’ radar. Architects can use Status Updates to report on important new projects, new positions, and other such information. Your connections will get an email about your status update (or a periodic email showing the status updates of all of their connections), so a Status Update is a subtle way of reaching out.
Social media can be a lot of fun, but if you’re serious about using it to help your business, you must maximize your LinkedIn profile.
Psychology of Architecture: Your Work and the Mind
Your client asks for high ceilings because she thinks they make her foyer look impressive. But did you know they will also make her a better abstract thinker? Design’s effect on the mind has been studied for decades, but several recent studies shed new light.
The study about ceiling height, by professor Joan Meyers-Levy at the Carlson School of Management , showed that high ceilings caused occupants to see the “big picture” view of things rather than small details. Clearly the expanses opened the mind to broader thoughts.
Another study revealed some remarkable effects of color in design. Red interior walls help with detail-oriented tasks; blue helps with creative tasks. Check out the details in Science magazine . Using psychology in architecture is a big deal in hospital design — think lots of light, happy colors, easy-to-navigate spaces, all designed with healing in mind. There’s even an organization that advocates this type of design, the Center for Health Design .
Taking it a big step further are Susan Lee Painter, PhD, and Constance Forrest, Psy.D., who began their careers as psychologists but migrated to design. Now they run ForrestPainter Design in Venice, California, where they apply their psychology skills to interior, workspace, and landscape design.
“The Design Psychology assessment tools, adapted from clinical interview and assessment measures, yield the data and insights to choose the color, lighting, texture and arrangement of space for their clients’ residential, office and landscape projects,” according the firm’s website.
Want to use some psychology in your own design? Designer Maria Lorena Lehman offers five tips in her blog Sensing Architecture : Observe occupant behaviors; review their photos and memorabilia; create a survey or conduct an interview; learn about their struggles; and brainstorm with them.
Bottom line: Remember that your clients will be living or working the spaces you design, and it will affect them every day.
An Easy Way to Invite Bids
Inviting bids can be a time-consuming hassle…but not if you use BidCaster from AIR Graphics. BidCaster is an easy-to-use online tool that allows you to send hundreds of ITBs via email or fax, right from your computer. Bidders can preview plans and specs and indicate their interest in your projects.
Bidcaster lowers your pre-construction costs, reduces time and labor for you and your bidders, allows you to be more competitive by receiving more bids, and tracks your bid responses easily and conveniently.
Learn more here BidCaster
ArchiQuiz
1) Which 20th Century architect pioneered modern architecture and was associated with the saying “less is more”?
2) What is the second tallest skyscraper in the United States? (hint: think hairpiece)
3) Which U.S. president was born in a Sears Catalog Home?
4) What school of art and design named by rearranging the German words for “house construction”?
Amazing Architecture
Shipping containers have been used for all sorts of architectural marvels, but you’ll love these five examples, from a 1,000-unit student housing complex in Amsterdam to Container City in London.
The new 33-floor headquarters office tower for CMA CGM in Marseille,
France looks like a giant metallic curving arc that accelerates skyward. It was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. http://www.zaha-hadid.com/offices-and-towers/cma-cgm-headquarters-tower
The Park Hotel Hyderabad, designed by Skidmore, Owings, Merrill, is a 270-room hotel that combines modern, sustainable design with local traditions. Many of the interior surfaces, with a jewelry concept, reflect local designs and were implemented by local artists and craftsman.
Being Green
The new Matrixair Solar Air Heating and Ventilation System uses transpired solar technology — which involves air heated by passive solar panels affixed to the side of a building — to efficiently heat buildings.
The AIRxpert 7000 monitors indoor air quality in large buildings. It provides ventilation system diagnostics, monitors energy conversation, and keeps tabs on environmental quality.
Harmonium linoleum flooring is made from 95 percent natural materials, such as linseed oil, flax seed, wood, and limestone. Plus, 73 percent of these materials are rapidly renewable.
Huvco tubular skylights bring natural sunlight into interiors of small buildings and homes. They’re a great way to provide natural light into spaces that cannot be lit by traditional skylights.
Are trusty photovoltaics reaching new heights? Photovoltaic installations surpassed 14 gigawatts of generating capacity worldwide in 2010.
News
Boston Architect celebrates 30 years
http://irealtywire.org/11474659/boston-architect-celebrates-over-30-years-of-business.html
New Marriott Hotel in Fenway Neighborhood http://www.bostonsf.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=00DFCE13162E4038937C80D17767B829
Paul Comeau joins Sasaki design firm
Boston architect Sean Stewart designs Buffalo renovation
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/city-hall/article418844.ece
JFK Museum expansion opens
Aprill 2011 Newsletter
April 19, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Architects, the New Humanitarians
The notion that architecture can change the world is not new — which architect hasn’t dreamed of creating a structure that inspires, protects, and enhances lives? But that notion is lately taking on new strength. As the world suffers from catastrophes nature-made and man-made, many architects are heeding the call to help.
Consider Architecture for Humanity a non-profit design services firm that brings design and construction expertise to communities in need. Architecture for Humanity can be found in hotspots around the world, from Haiti to Japan to Africa.
What differentiates Architecture for Humanity from some other organizations that help rebuild disaster-stricken areas is that they generally plan long-term. In a recent interview on CBS News, Cameron Sinclair, one of the founders of the organization, said:
“Our architects and designers don’t fly in on weekend trips, they live in the villages and towns from 9 to 18 months. They become part of the community and begin to understand the nuances of how to make the biggest impact with the budget they have. Recently we were asked to build a series of schools in a country emerging out of a bloody civil conflict. By listening to the community we realized they didn’t need schools, they needed a school system, complete with teachers, curriculum and facility support. It was obvious to our team that the first thing that was needed was not a classroom but a teacher training facility and staff housing near existing remote schools.”
Of course, Architecture for Humanity is not the only organization promoting the social value of architecture.
Hasim Sarkis, a professor at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, espouses the social value of architecture in his work and classroom.
“For about five or six years,’’ Sarkis said in an interview in the Boston Globe “there’s been pressure from architecture students. How can they be socially committed? they say. How can architecture be a larger social project?”
Sarkis shows his students that good architecture and socially good architecture are not contradictory. Great design can be applied to modest projects.
For example, Sarkis designed a cluster of 84 apartments for fisherman in Lebanon. The spaces are modest and affordable, but the design makes them bright, practical, and uplifting.
Another example of architecture serving the social good is a project that will give homes to 50 Thai orphans, designed by the Norwegian firm Tyin Tegnestue 
The orphan’s homes, dubbed Butterfly Houses, provide private spaces within a community setting.
“We have searched for a deeper meaning in our profession, and find it in building projects for people that really benefit from improved physical surroundings,” says architect Andreas Gjertsen in an interview on CNN .
Not Your Typical Dormroom
Remember the cramped, drab dorm room you shared with three other students during your freshman year? Well, it’s history. Many of today’s college students enjoy the best work of architects around the world.Check out “The Sponge” on the campus of MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, otherwise known as Simmons Hall. 
Designed by architect Steven Holl, the 350-bed dorm includes a theatre, cafe, and terraces. Large openings throughout the building serve as “lungs,” circulating natural light and air. And each dorm room has nine working windows!
Another non-Animal House student residence is State Street Village on the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. 
Helmut Jahn designed this high-tech complex that includes six U-shaped structures built from steel, concrete, and glass. Jahn designed what he calls the “ultimate” dorm by adding A/V lounges with plasma TVs and a laundry room that alerts students via the web when their load is done. Bet those students aren’t bringing the laundry home to mom!
Of course, American students have nothing on the Europeans when it comes to fancy dorm living. Check out the Bikuben Student Residence in Copenhagen, which is designed to encourage student interaction by connecting all the dorm rooms and common areas in a double spiral around an atrium. Another architecturally significant dorm is found at Ljubljana University in Slovenia. This 2006 building features communal leisure and teaching spaces on the first floor and 56 residential rooms on the second and third floors. The student units are arranged around central service “cores” that contain bathrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms. Privacy of the bedrooms is assured by a series of folding, perforated, aluminum panels.
Makes you want to return to school, doesn’t it?
Amazing Architecture
The Pillars of Hercules have risen again! Spanish architect Rafael de la Hoz designed this double-towered office and retail building in Bay of Algeciras in Cadiz, Spain. The 20-story buildings, designed to honor the legendary Pillars of Hercules, are the tallest buildings in Andalusia. 
Check out this very cool housedesigned by Antonio Cardillo. Built in Melbourne, Australia, the home was inspired by Roman ruins and offers amazing views.
Architecture in Motion: The headquarters 
for Vodaphone in Porto, Portugal is an architectural splendor that matches the brand’s slogan, Life in Motion. Designed by Barbosa Guimaraes Arquitectos, the white-and-glass structure seems to spill to the ground.
ArchiQuiz
How well do you know your profession? ArchiQuiz is a new feature of our newsletter. See how you do!
1) In what Midwestern town did Frank Lloyd Wright open his first studio?
2) What foundation sponsors the Pritzker Architecture Prize?
3) The White House is made in which architectural style?
4) What is North America’s tallest building’s new name? And who designed the building?
Answers
Being Green
Everyone knows about compact fluorescent bulbs, but another high-efficiency option is LED lighting. Viribright LED bulbs last almost 20,000 hours, use 80 percent less energy, and are available for commercial and residential use. http://www.viribright.com/
An attic fan is a great way to keep an entire house cooler. Now homeowners can use solar power to run the fan, with the Solar Aire solar-powered attic fan system. The system cools up to 1,500 square feet in the summer and vents moisture year around. http://solaroenergy.com/products-2/solar-ventilation/
Tired of housewrap? Try ZIP System roof and wall sheathing, which includes built-in protective overlays that eliminate the need for housewrap or felt. Not only is it easier to install, but it helps ensure an energy-efficient structure. http://www.zipsystem.com/
Hot water heaters can consume a lot of energy. The NEXT Hybrid hot water heater from A.O. Smith uses two heating technologies to maximize efficiency. It uses a heat transfer process with a secondary heat exchanger to capture the heated flue gas and route it back through the tank to extract additional heat.
“Green” Your In-House Document Reproduction
Every time you hit “print” on your computer or copier, you are affecting the environment a tiny bit. Add those bits up, and the prints and copies you make can have a serious impact.
Let AIR Graphics substantially reduce the environmental impact of your document reproduction by having us install a “green” facilities management (FM) program in your office. This program includes the following:
* Use of 100 percent recycled paper for small-format documents and 30 percent recycled for large-format.
* PlanWell software, which allows you view plans and specs on-screen and manage access to your projects.
* Electronic work orders and Bidcaster software to minimize paper usage
* Biodegradeable presentation material
* A “green” plotter that uses less energy and toner
* Digital Upload directly to AIR Graphics production facilities for your overflow work and save the emissions from coming to your office for pickup.
Contact Leo Ladas FM director today for more information! lladas@airgraphics.com or phone 1-800-734-3373 x225
News
The Boston Society of Architects has a new home: http://www.archpaper.com/e-board_rev.asp?News_ID=5168
The BSA also has a new executive director: http://www.architects.org/news/welcome-margaret
Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston has been chosen by the Massachusetts College of Art and Design to expand and renovate two galleries: http://gregcookland.com/journal/2011/02/18/massart-picks-architect-for-gallery-renovation/
Wellesley College plans dormitory renovation: http://www.wellesleynewsonline.com/news/residential-planning-committee-established-to-plan-dormitory-renovation-1.2000602
Eduardo Souto de Moura wins Pritzker Architecture Prize: http://pritzkerprize.com/
March 2011 Newsletter
March 18, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Social Media for Architects, Part 2: The Blog
You probably already know how much people enjoy talking to architects. Even people with no relation at all to design fields have opinions and preferences regarding architecture that they discuss with you at parties, right? You can turn that fascination into potential new clients through a blog.
Check out the blog of TMS Architects in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It’s a mix of commentary, news tidbits, photos, and other items related to the New England architecture scene. A similar example comes from HMC Architects , which has several offices in California.
So how do you get started? A little planning helps. First, decide on frequency. The experts say consistency is more important than frequency, but frequency matters, too. “I typically don’t recommend less than once or twice a week because then you become lost in the noise of others who post more frequently,” says social media consultant Jason Falls . “Your content needs to stand out, but if it does, then once a week becomes an event of anticipation for your audience.”
Next, decide what to blog. Your audience is probably already reading the newspaper, so don’t regurgitate what they read there…unless you have your own spin on it. Other ideas include a “behind the scenes” look at your firm (How we designed such-and-such building); commentary about the design community in your city or state; or Q&As with a firm principal, client, or local planning authority.
If your firm specializes in a particular niche, you may want to blog about that. For example, HMN Architects in Overland Park, Kansas, does a lot of healthcare design. Their blog covers issues related to hospital design and major healthcare issues in general.
The ideas are limitless, but whatever topic you blog about, try not to irritate potential clients. If you have strong political views or hate your local NFL franchise, save those thoughts for your personal blog.
Next, think about the tools. WordPress is the most popular tool for creating a blog. It’s simple to launch a blog with WordPress, and the basic package is free. The free features include stats to see how many people are reading, and fun “themes” to make your blog look good.
“WordPress.com is 100 percent free and takes 10 minutes to set up once you pick your theme,” says Jacob Morgan, an expert on social CRM and social customer strategies for Chess Media Group .
There are more sophisticated packages — Falls suggests Compendium if you care about keyword searching — but wordpress is a great place to start.
Finally, consider marketing. Add a link to your blog from your website, note your blog on any other social media sites you use (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.), and include a link to your blog if you comment on other people’s blogs.
For more useful tips, check out this fun blog entry about architect blogs.
Urgent Architecture: The Essential Role of Post-Disaster Design
Did you know that floods, tornadoes, and landslides affect every state in the United States? And that more than 300 major natural catastrophes occur around the world every year? It’s no surprise, then, that architects who deal with the urgent design and construction needs of devastated communities are currently front and center.
The first architects affecting a disaster scene practice what is called urgent architecture–the design of structures that can be used immediately after a disaster. Project Urgent Architecture aims to gather the knowledge of architects and structural engineers who have faced the challenge of designing these structures, and pass that knowledge on to local artisans who can build these structures where they are needed.
“Urgent architecture should not wait until the next disaster strikes to seek solutions to communities’ post-disaster shelter needs,” the organization says.
So what does urgent architecture look like? Imagine a field of high-tech, but rather simple looking, tents.
These structures obviously provide immediate shelter, but perhaps more importantly they provide a sense of security and community to people who have suddenly been forced out of their homes.
The next step is equally important. Once the debris is cleared and the aid workers have left, someone has to rebuild the devastated community. The emerging field called postcatastrophe reconstruction deals with this situation.
Consider the destruction in Haiti after the earthquake in January 2010. Port-au-Prince was a densely populated city before it was nearly wiped out by the earthquake. The housing and other structures would take decades to rebuild under normal conditions, but a group of students from the Schack Institute of Real Estate at New York University who have been studying postcatastrophe construction, is working on speed that up. The students are analyzing the infrastructure, transportation needs, housing and social patterns, and land ownership issues. The students also are assisting a project that trains locals to work in design and construction, and they are working on a 16,000-acre housing project north of Port-au-Prince.
Hopefully post-disaster construction ultimately leads to design that can withstand earthquakes, hurricanes, and other disasters. Consider this fact: The earthquake that killed 316,000 people in Haiti was far less severe than the earthquake that shook populous areas of Chile a few weeks later, but the Chilean earthquake killed only 500 people. The difference? Superior building design and construction.
Amazing Architecture
People seem afraid that this house is about to slide off the hill, but the
architect himself lives there! The “floating house” in the Berkshires, designed by Boston architect Warren Schwartz, offers amazing views of the surrounding woods
Can you imagine the glazing job on this building? The new apartment building in New York by French architect Jean Nouvel features 1,650 different window panels!
It’s not built yet, but Frank Gehry’s latest design–a “wrinkly” building–is naturally already drawing controversy. The 11-story design is for the University of Technology Sydney business school in Sydney, Australia. Groundbreaking is scheduled for 2012 and completion in 2014.
This new Toren condo building in Brooklyn is selling amazingly well, real estate folks say. Designed by SOM, the building is aiming for LEED Gold designation. Among its green attributes is five on-site co-generators.
Being Green
Marmoleum Click flooring so called because the squares “click” together without the need for adhesives, is made from natural ingredients including linseed oil, wood flour, and pine rosins.
Bamdeck decking from Cali Bamboo is a combo of 30 percent recycled bamboo fibers and 70 percent recycled plastic. The result is a composite with twice the density, strength, and durability of other composites.
Team Massachusetts, from two local universities, is competing in the Solar Decathlon, a project that helps students learn about green construction and other environmental architecture issues.
Ever notice how much smoke puffs out of your lawnmower? Imagine how much less you’d pollute if you only had to mow once per month. That’s the promise of Pearl’s Premium Ultra Low Maintenance Lawn Seed . And it’s drought tolerant, so rarely needs to be watered, and requires no fertilizer.
Drexel University’s new science building features a “biowall” that filters the building’s air. The wall is a vertical garden in the middle of the building that absorbs pollutants.
Perfect Plans Makes Wide-Format Color Docs Easy at No Extra Cost
You design in color because it’s easier to show details that way. You can PDF or DWF that design to some extent, but eventually someone will need a hard copy. Hmm, what happens to the color? You can try to use different line weights, patterns, and other tricks, but in the end the monochrome hardcopy doesn’t match your design.
The solution? Perfect Plans from AIR Graphics! Perfect Plans are full-color versions of your color files, printed quickly, easily, and at the same cost as monochrome prints. Coordination drawings, as-built drawings, marked-up drawings for site use…the possibilities are endless.
A recent study by Océ revealed that construction drawings in color can reduce errors and, consequently, construction failure costs. Don’t you want that advantage?
Perfect Plans are available at full or half scale, with no loss of fidelity, line quality, or readability. What you see on your screen is what you get. Best of all, the addition of color doesn’t affect cost!
Click here for details. http://www.airgraphics.com/construction-documents/perfect-plan
News You Can Use
The City of Boston is soliciting bids for architectural work on storefronts in 20 neighborhoods. The two-year contract is worth $580,000, and bidding ends March 28. Learn more http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/real_estate/2011/03/boston-solicites-bids-for-main-streets.html
The AIA named 104 new fellows. Here’s the list and details <http://www.residentialarchitect.com/architects/aia-announces-2011-fellows.aspx>
The archives of Kallmann, McKinnell & Wood Architects has been donated to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The firm, which designed Boston’s city hall in 1962, won Boston’s Harleston Parker Award a record six times. Details http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/museum-architects-collection.html
$30 million development coming to Boston Seaport District. Liberty Wharf will include five restaurants. Details http://www.necn.com/03/02/11/Boston-Harbor-Renaissance/landing_business.html?blockID=431685&feedID=4209
Williamstown elementary school design advances. Details http://www.masslive.com/metrowest/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-30/1298103617105301.xml&coll=1
Awards
The Boston Society of Architects gave four “Unbuilt” architecture awards: http://www.archdaily.com/71383/2010-unbuilt-awards-boston-society-of-architects/
Boston Architectural College honors Stephen Sousa with 2010 Alumni in Practice Awards http://www.wickedlocal.com/brookline/news/business/x750985538/Stephen-Sousa-receives-college-s-architecture-award#axzz1GVPx9yPV
February 2011 Newsletter
February 17, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Social Media for Architects
Sure, most architecture firms already have decent websites, and many even have Facebook pages. But innovative firms take their social media strategy much further.
For example, several thousand architects now connect with others in the field through Architizer. 
This free social networking site, built exclusively for architects and related professionals, allows firms to upload their projects and helps them seek new clients.
Blogging is another growing way for A/E/C firms to connect. A firm’s blog can focus on the local building industry or some wider niche. The idea is to share your thoughts, ideas, concerns, whatever, with people who are interested–including potential clients. Blogs are easy to set up and inexpensive (many services are free). Check out WordPress and Blogger .
Architecture firm Barefoot & Gilles writes about the local property development scene in its blog . In contrast, JDS Architects blogs about a broad range of cultural issues.
Do blogs help a firm land new work? Read this article about how architect Larry Lane got international exposure when he blogged about the collapse of the roof of the Dallas Cowboys practice field.
Many consumer-oriented social media tools can also be applied to architecture. For example, have you considered using Groupon to promote your firm? In Groupon deals, the business offers some service at a discount–usually half off–to the public. Groupon emails details of the offer to thousands of people who have signed up to get the emails. Those who want it buy the “Groupon,” and the business and Groupon split the money. (So basically you end up providing some service for one quarter of your normal fee, but you can limit the deal and it does bring new clients in the door).
Groupon has many competitors, including DealOn, Town Hog ,and Bloomspot. These are just a few of the social media tools an A/E/C firm can use. We’ll feature more in future issues of this newsletter, so stay tuned!
Micro-Homes are Big!
What’s the biggest thing in residential architecture? It’s also the smallest — microhomes. Microhomes, which are generally smaller than 500 square feet, appeal to folks who don’t think bigger is always better.
One advantage of microhomes is lower cost, naturally. The cost of microhomes varies widely, but with less materials and a smaller footprint, they are much more affordable than a conventional residence.
But probably more important are non-economic features. Microhomes
attract buyers who want to consume less resources. People who appreciate a simpler lifestyle, or who like living closer to nature, or who generally want to affect the earth as little as possible, buy and build microhomes.
Not only do these homes take up less space, but most are built with an array of “green” features that reduce the long-term cost of ownership substantially. After all, it’s a lot easier to heat and cool a 300-square-foot house with sustainable technology than it is to do that with a mini-mansion.
What are some common features of microhomes?
Good use of light – lots of windows, skylights, and porches bring in the light, and plenty of mirrors on the walls distribute it.
Simple designs — leave out the fancy amenities and anything else that wastes space or materials. Space for the sake of space is a turnoff to microhome buyers.
Smart storage — under the bed, in the ceiling, above the cabinets — any space that just collects dust in a conventional house is turned into storage in a microhome.
Modularity — some microhomes are designed with modular components so they can be expanded as families grow.
Pre-fab, repurposed, or stickbuilt — Microhomes can be made in a factory; they can be assembled from recycled storage containers; or, probably most common, they can be built from the ground up.
Want to learn more? Check out this article , LittleDiggs blog , and the Tiny House blog .
Are Your Documents Fireproof?
When a fire destroyed the Bolton Public Works building in July 2008, thousands of one-of-a-kind engineering drawings went up in flames. “This should serve as a wake up call to Bolton to make sure their documents are
backed up,” a Bolton public works executive stated.
AIR Graphics stepped in to scan and archive the surviving documents in Bolton. If another fire hits, the damage will be much less. There’s more, though: The newly scanned documents are much easier to find and access than the paper documents they replaced, and they can be easily updated or revised.
What about your own documents? Are they well organized, easy to access, and safe from fire or flood? If not, a call to AIR Graphics today could pay off tomorrow.
Julia Redfern, AIR Graphics scanning and archive specialist, has been working with hospitals, universities, towns, and corporate headquarters to organize their plan rooms and convert their documents into digital format. “Even in this economy, people realize that a project like this can improve efficiency and reduce operating costs,” says Julia. “It also preserves their valuable building information for future use.”
Amazing Architecture
Salvador Dali was an amazing artist, so it’s no surprise a museum in St. Petersburg, Florida <http://www.constructiondigital.com/sectors/architects/architectural-marvel-salvador-dali-museum-opens-tuesday-florida> dedicated to his artwork is also amazing. The museum, designed by HOK, features a hurricane resistant design, a geodesic glass exterior, and a helical staircase.
Libraries aren’t just for bookworms. The Surry Hills Library and Community Center in Sydney, Australia received the Australian Institute of Architects’ National Award for Public Architecture. Designed by the firm Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp, the library is an amazing glass construction that rises above a park.
Residential architecture can be amazing, too. Just check out the Integral House in Toronto. Designed by Brigitte Shim and Howard Sutcliffe of Shim Sutcliffe, the house includes a private concert hall.
The World’s Best Health Building? According to the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona, it’s the Brain and Mind Research Institute – Youth Mental Health Building in Australia. designed by BVN Architecture in Sydney.
Being Green
Solar Power Tiles: Solar panels are nothing new, but now a house can sport solar panels built right into the roofing tiles. The Solé Power Tile , from US Tile, combines flexible solar power technology with a premium roofing tile.
Recycled Rubber Flooring: Old tires litter America; CERES PVC-Free Flooring uses old tires to make CERES Recycled Rubber flooring that is durable, non-slip, and insulating.
Green Campus Building: A million bucks from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Commercial Building Partnership program will help the University of Utah retrofit a 1970 building in the College of Architecture and Planning. The goal? A “net zero” building .
Ancient Green: Locally sourced materials? Long life? Architecture that blends into the environment? No, these aren’t new green ideas. They’re characteristics of most old castles in Europe! These structures were “green” way before it was cool to be green, and can teach modern architects a thing or two about sustainability.
News
AIR Graphics supports Design Boston Museum. The Design Boston Museum celebrates the work of the 48,000 designers working in Massachusetts. Details here Creative Capital
Vacant site near Boston Police Department being developed: Details here Urban Updating .
A greener City Hall Plaza?: Details here www.boston.com/yourtown/news/downtown/2011/02/city_hall_plaza_one_step_close.html
Billings Index jumps two points in December: Details here www.csemag.com/industry-news/more-top-stories/single-article/architecture-billings-index-continues-positive-momentum/bf4d4f9750.html
Awards
Harvard prof wins Brendan Gill Prize www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/2/3/van-valkenburgh-landscape-park/>
Boston architect Charlie Myer wins “Best of Boston” award www.bostonmagazine.com/best_of/detail/best_of_boston_home_2011_architect/
January 2011 newsletter
January 13, 2011 by admin · 2 Comments
Export Architecture: Even Small American Firms Look Overseas to Survive
Think America imports too much from around the world? Well, many architecture firms are tipping the balance by exporting their expertise for design projects overseas.
Designing buildings in foreign countries is certainly nothing new, but American firms have pursued international work much more aggressively since the recession hammered the U.S. market. And it’s not just the giant firms reaching overseas. Consider the Archiventure Group a four-person, Denver-based firm that specializes in resorts and golf clubs. Work is slow in Denver, so now the firm is designing a golf resort in India.
Medium-sized Heller-Manus Architects had no foreign work four years ago, but now does nearly half its work for Chinese clients. Among its Chinese projects is the central business district of Guangzhou.
Why are American firms finding working overseas? The answer is a combination of two factors: First, many other countries, particularly in Asia, are enjoying a building boom; and second, in many cases American architectural expertise is valued more than local knowledge.
There are several strategies to expanding internationally. Some firms partner with existing, local firms; others buy local firms; and some start their own, freestanding offices. Which strategy works depends on the country in question and the size of the firms involved.
Naturally, there are pitfalls to international work. Some firms report not getting paid promptly (who wants collection hassles 2,000 miles away?), while others struggle with local customs are regulations. And you can’t forget the travel expense! Burkett Design in Denver, which has an office in Dubai and also works in Sudan, racks up $40,000 a year in travel, founder Amy Burkett says.
Despite those issues, architecture is sure to continue as one of America’s fastest growing exports.
Space Architecture: International Not Far Enough?
Sure, lots of firms are finding work overseas, but that’s not enough for others. Space architecture the design of buildings for the moon and other planets and orbiting spacecraft–is a bona fide field with unlimited growth potential!
Consider the fact that Virgin Galactic dedicated its “spaceport” in New Mexico in October, and 390 future “astronauts” have plunked down deposits on the $200,000 tickets for few minutes of space flight. The spaceport, 
which is basically an ultra-modern airport, was designed by Foster + Partners in London. And Virgin Galactic is only one of many players in the field of private spaceflight–SpaceX already has NASA and Air Force contracts for its rockets and space vehicles.
Space architecture won’t stop at the spaceport, of course. Many existing projects, such as the International Space Station, contain designed living and working spaces. The future holds much more–habitations on the moon and Mars, for example. Do you think the design of such things is the stuff of science fiction lovers tinkering in the garage? Think again: The International Astronautical Congress , now in its 62nd year, had a special section titled “Space Architecture: Exploration and Tourism” in its 2010 meeting in Prague. Furthermore, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has a committee devoted to the design of the structures and living spaces related to space travel, the Space Architecture Technical Committee . “Architects and industrial designers are now fully involved in the world of space,” according to the SATC website.
Space architecture has a long history, though active participation of architects and designers began with the design of NASA’s Skylab in 1968. The engineers working on Skylab, which was an orbiting laboratory, wanted a windowless workspace; industrial designer Raymond Loewy insisted on a window so the astronauts could observe the Earth from space. Many more architects and designers worked on the International Space Station, and today a growing number of them work on all aspects of space travel, from vehicles to orbiting structures to planetary homes.
Amazing Architecture
The brain is a complicated thing, and Frank Gehry’s design for the Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas does the brain justice. 
The marvelously convoluted design makes passers by think they’re walking by the Ripley’s Believe it or Not building, but the work going on inside–on Alzheimer’s and other cognitive diseases–is totally believeable.
Water inspires a lot of architecture. The latest example is the London Aquatics Center , now being built for the 2012 Olympics. Designed by English architect Zaha Hadid, the building takes its swooping shape from the river beside it and the aquatics inside it. Says Hadid: “The architectural concept of the Aquatic Center is inspired by the fluid geometry of water in motion, creating spaces and a surrounding environment in sympathy with the river landscape.”
Loft apartments are popular, but the wide-open space can be intimidating. Not in the briefcase house . This loft in Chicago has a giant modular “room” that occupants can move and reform as needed. Designed by Bureau Spectacular in Chicago, the modular room is considered a “house within a house”; it’s big enough for the owner to sleep in.
Being Green
AIR Graphics: We Were Green Before it Was Cool
At AIR Graphics, we have worked to minimize the environmental impact of our products since way before it was the popular thing to do. Here are some key dates in our “green” history:
In November 1994, we opened the first all plain paper reprographic center in Boston. Plain paper reprographics equipment reproduces large-format documents without the environmentally hazardous byproducts produced by traditional methods of large-format reproduction.
November 1994 created and Trademarked GREENPRINT to establish a new and accurate description of eco friendly large format printing.
In December 1995, we began recycling all of the paper in our offices.
In August 2008, we began using 30 percent post consumer recycled stock in all of our copies.
What do these initiatives mean for the environment? We expect to save each year:
1,600 trees
4,619 pounds of waterborne waste
679,722 gallons of wastewater
75,278 pounds of solid waste
148,056 pounds of greenhouse gases
1,1333,333,333 BTU of energy
Our world is increasingly fragile, and how we use our resources is important. AIR Graphics believes strongly in our responsibility to protect the earth’s resources.
Eco- friendly banner stands.
Bamboo Banner Stand: AIR Graphics offers a green way to display
presentations, the Bamboo X-Stands . These handsome, sturdy stands are made from bamboo, one of Earth’s most renewable and sustainable natural resources.
Seal in Efficiency:
Southwall Technologies and Dow Corning have partnered to create new “Heat Mirror“ film and sealants for large glass buildings. The new products create the industry’s lightest weight and most energy-efficient multi-cavity insulating glass for large projects.
Arc College Aims for Zero: The University of Utah is aiming for a zero carbon footprint in the renovation of its architecture building . The 1970s building is loaded with opportunities to improve efficiency, so the renovation will save energy and teach students green technologies.
Self-Adhesive Housewrap: WrapShield SA from VapoShield is a self-adhesive, vapor-permeable housewrap. The fact that it’s self-adhesive means many fewer fastener penetrations are required, it doesn’t flap in the wind, and it’s very airtight.
Recessed Light Covers: Slow the energy leak from canned lights by installing Tenmat fire-resistant light covers. The FF Recessed Light Protection Covers stop airflow in and out, and keep the can light away from the insulation. They are designed for CFL lights only.
News You Can Use
MIT Sesquicentennial – 150 artifacts from MIT’s 150 years of existence are on display at the MIT Museum
Student Housing: Will a student “village” come to Boston? http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/news/getting_real/?p=381
Playing Fields Funded: Braintree High School will sport two new synthetic-turf athletic fields www.patriotledger.com/news/x1290144580/Braintree-council-OKs-borrowing-for-construction-of-playing-fields
Billings Up: The AIA reports that the U.S. architectural billings index reached 52 in November 2010, its highest point since 2007. www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BL0FK20101222>
10 Best Architecture Books: Looking for something good to read? Check out this list of the best books on architecture published in 2010. www.archnewsnow.com/features/Feature345.htm
Awards
Boston’s John Hancock Tower wins AIA 25-Year Award
Kansas City Firm Wins AIA Award: BNIM Architects was awarded the 2011 AIA Architecture Firm Award www.bnim.com/news/bnim-receive-2011-aia-architecture-firm-award>
ECO Friendly banner stands
October 29, 2010 by admin · 2 Comments
Environmentally sound banner stands!
Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth and one
of our most renewable and sustainable natural resources.
It is actually a grass, not a tree – no forests are destroyed to
produce bamboo products. The environmental impact is kept
at a minimum. The material gives a very elegant impression
and is extremely durable – comparable to hardwood. Choose
bamboo at your next presentation and signal your commitment
to sustainability!
Easy to transport and set up. Comes in two sizes 24″ x 60″ and 32″ x 86″.
Very affordable as well. The complete package for custom printed banner and stand are $149.95 for the smaller and only $189.95 for the larger.
Once you have your Bamboo X-Stands ordering replacement graphics is easy and inexpensive!
Creative Capital: Designed in Boston
October 18, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Design Museum Boston is pleased to announce the opening of Creative
Capital: Designed in Boston, the inaugural exhibit of the newly formed Design Museum Boston. Opening on October 28, 2010 in Boston’s City Hall and running for 12 months, Creative Capital celebrates the contributions of some of Boston’s best designers.
Read more here : Creative Capital
Mini X Banner Display
September 3, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Introducing the new Mini X Banner Display
AIR Graphics has introduced the new Mini X Banner display to the New England marketplace. This new banner combines the sleek look of a ultra modern design with the ultra easy banner replacement.
This Mini X Banner display comes with the frame, a color graphics banner with grommets and a zipper case all for $24.95. You can order replacement graphics for $9.95.
Imagine the possibilities of this eye catching design in your business. Do you offer monthly specials? instore promotions? unique opportunities? The Mini X Banner display sets the standard for the ease of marketing. Simply change out the graphic in seconds and your new marketing promotion is ON !
The Mini X Banner display’s easy interchange of graphics allows the marketing department to determine the promotions, have graphics created and with a schedule of release dates each location can replace the graphics.
AIR Graphics will print the graphics from your uploaded file and ship to your locations to make it effortless.