Living Wall Graces Atrium at University Science and Tech Center

The Jack and Mary De Witt Center for Science and Technology, Cornerstone University puts creation and science on display. The $15.5 million Center for Science and Technology is a three-story, 29,500-sq.-ft. academic building that provides a new home for the university’s science, technology, engineering and math (stem) programs. The center features a 374-sq.-ft. green wall. LiveWall indoor living wall system is one of the industry’s most sustainable, durable and low-maintenance living wall system. The center’s living wall was installed with two separate LiveWall structures (each 14 ft. 6-in. × 4 ft. × 10-ft.) with shared infrastructure.“The wall was also wr

Advances

Surfaces/Finishes

Diagonal Tile Art

Basho geometric artesian architectural glass features a composition of mixed surface finishes for a unique effect. Each 4-in. × 8-in. tile is divided by a diagonal that balances glossy and matte. With six tone-on-tone colors, four contrasting colors and left and right angled compositions, designers can mix and match to form dynamic patterns out of triangles, diamonds and chevrons. Named for the 17th-century Japanese haiku master Basho who invented the term “haiku.”

Case Study

Solar Control/Sun Shading

Library Doubles Down on Daylight

Innovative fabric interlayer allowed extensive glazing without a need for exterior or interior shading. Officials at the University of Birmingham Library in Birmingham, England, wanted a lot of daylight for their new library, but wanted alternative options for dealing with the accompanying solar heat gain. The new library is one of the key features of the university’s £300 million campus regeneration. Birmingham-based Associated Architects, in turn, specified SEFAR’s PR 260/55B Gold SEFAR VISION fabric for glass vertical fins to provide a modern take on functionality. Visually, the interlayer gives a contemporary aesthetic to the library. The high level of laminated glazing

Advances

Lighting & Controls

Arc of a Designer

Arc Adjustable Luminaires can be selected for either recessed or semi-recessed installation, offering two design options in one fixture. Both feature concentric, radiating curves, with hinges that open fixtures to a 90-degree tilt—and the top rotates 350 degreesfor optimal aiming. Judge’s Comment: “Clean and modern-looking fixture with phenomenal adjusting capability.”

Case Study

Lighting & Controls

Blending Historic with Modern

Studio unites historic architecture and modern design for collaborative office space. Eastlake Studio was faced with adversity when plans to convert the building that had been their long-time residence to a hotel and condos became a reality. The studio had been residing in Chicago’s Tribune Tower, for approximately three decades. The change of vocation of the tower from commercial to mixed-use residential provided the architecture firm an opportunity to address the challenges of the former office while opting to move to another historic building. The limitations of the original office were motivators for designing the new space. According to Kevin Kamien, principal at Eastlake Studio,

Case Study

Exterior Panels/Cladding

A Multi-Purpose Product for a Multi-Purpose Renovation

Renovated sports arena enhances appearance and fan experience. In the mid-2000s, an addition to the Clemson Littlejohn Coliseum at Clemson University was completed. But the institution’s popular sports program quickly outgrew the facility. Additionally, the exterior steel cladding plates were originally uninsulated, which transferred an excessive amount of radiant heat into the facility; a more energy-efficient solution was needed for the new building envelope. Visually, the addition was not unified with the rest of the exterior, so a new design had to bring together both the existing and new portions of the stadium. CENTRIA’s Formawall insulated metal panels were selected t

AP ProductWire

November 13, 2019 by Alan Weis

The Cost of Doing Nothing

In the summer of 1993, many of the Midwest’s rivers flooded, including the Iowa River in Iowa City—a 100-year event. Fifteen years later, it happened again. If resiliency practices were incorporated, however, might such disasters be mitigated? Will larger coastal cities like Miami need to move or their populations flee at some point? Or undertake engineering on a massive scale to safely stay put? After all, consider the devastation that Super Storm Sandy brought on Lower Manhattan. What if, like Iowa City, the next 100-year flood happens fifteen years later, and the center of the financial universe is submerged again? It all comes back to mindfulness and planning ahead. “We know that it is less expensive to design resilient buildings and communities in advance of a natural or man-made event, than it is to rebuild after the fact,” says Nadja Turek, who serves as Woolpert’s research and development facilitator. “So we have to help clients make informed design choices with resiliency in mind as early in the planning and design process as possible.” The key to developing a resilience plan is understanding and addressing the specific issues for the project based upon site geographic location, climate zone, function served, demographics of the users, economic parameters and context within the surrounding community. Depending on your specific criteria, we've highlighted four case studies below that may provide insight on you next project.

Advances

Fastening Systems

Bore-ing Solutions

The two-part Fascia-Fastening Solution is designed specifically for the installation of increasingly popular composite and PVC fascia boards, to address expansion and contraction issues that can lead to material failure due to environmental exposure. First, the fascia counterbore bit is used to counterbore a hole through the board that’s wider than the screw shank. Then the fascia screw is driven through this hole and into the backing substrate. The wider hole allows room for expansion and allows the screw head to sit flush with the board.

Case Study

Exterior Panels/Cladding

Forward-Thinking Design at VCU

The Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) will bring the most contemporary art exhibits in the world to the VCU campus and the city of Richmond. Located in the striking new Markel Center and designed by renowned architect Steven Holl, the ICA offers 41,000 sq. ft. of flexible space including an inviting 33-ft. high central forum. It features a dynamic slate of changing exhibitions, performances, files and interdisciplinary programs. In keeping with VCU’s master sustainability plan, the ICA incorporates state-of-the-art technologies and environmentally conscious design elements and makes use of numerous natural resources. The exterior for the con

Advances

Exterior Specialties

Awnings: Form Meets Function

For over 70 years, Feeney has specialized in building components that serve two purposes: strength and beauty. Feeney’s new line of stationary awnings offer superb functionality in all seasons, but they also add a unique style accent to any building. Choose from the classical design of the Era awning for period buildings; or the sleek, architectural Icon awning for more modern projects.Panels are crafted of powder-coated aluminum to resist corrosion; these awnings can withstand snow and wind loads of up to 35.5 psf. Polycarbonate panels are available in textured, tinted, or clear. Feeney makes it easy with awning systems that are pre-assembled and a snap to install, saving time an

Architectural Products

Living Wall Graces Atrium at University Science and Tech Center

Read the Digital Edition

Nov/Dec ’19

Diagonal Tile Art

Library Doubles Down on Daylight

Arc of a Designer

Blending Historic with Modern

A Multi-Purpose Product for a Multi-Purpose Renovation

AP ProductWire

The Cost of Doing Nothing

Bore-ing Solutions

Forward-Thinking Design at VCU

Awnings: Form Meets Function