June 2016

Advances
Transportation

Passengers at the Forefront of Air Travel

Whether boarding a business flight or embarking on a space odyssey, it is clear that significant advances in air travel will result in increased passenger traffic—a number expected to exceed six billion by 2030, according to Arup.Designing amenities for the airport of the future may not look like the spaceport cantina from classic Star Wars, but integrating technology and infrastructure will be key to accommodating a personalized passenger experience for an expanding and diverse body of travelers, says Arup’s leader of Global Aviation, Susan Baer. For instance, JFK International Airport Terminal 4 just announced an indoor dog relief area as a convenience to those traveling with p

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Case Study
Stone/Masonry

Stone and Fire

The Museum at Prairiefire wanted to blend natural and man-made materials to create an architectural icon on the Midwestern prairie. Located in Overland Park, Kan., the Museum at Prairiefire is more than a building—it is a work of art that rises from the prairie to tell a story of geology, culture and the practice of prairie landscape management through intentional burns. The standout architectural marvel, with a stone-clad backdrop that represents the undulating hillside, is alive with fiery sparks of color, which seem to flicker based on the time of day and the viewing angle. According to Jonathan Kharfen, AIA and LEED senior associate, Verner Johnson, “At dusk, strategically placed LED lig

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Case Study
Structural Wood

Grocery Store Goes Au Naturel

The Madison, Wisc.-based Festival Foods Store was looking to provide a more natural environment for its shoppers. The Madison Festival Foods Store features 12 ash columns culled from local parks due to infestation from an invasive and lethal insect. “The partnership between Madison Parks Department, WholeTrees and Festival Foods has been an excellent example of how the city can work in concert with business to benefit both the private and public sector,” said Madison Mayor Paul Soglin. “Festival Foods is graced with incredible pillars of reclaimed ash trees that needed to be removed because of Emerald Ash Borer, and in return the city received a monetary contribution for treating ash trees i

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Case Study
Plumbing Fixtures

Hotel Restroom Chic

The Hyatt Regency O’Hare Hotel features many amenities, one being its proximity to the airport. But guests may left gawking at the new contemporary design and bathroom upgrades. Visitors come to the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Hotel, Chicago’s sixth-largest hotel, because of its proximity to O’Hare Airport, its covered walkway to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center and its easy access to highways to downtown Chicago. Now, following an interior facelift, guests may find the hotel’s contemporary décor and high-tech features to be equally enticing—including the public restrooms in its lobby, which have a draw of their own thanks to a complete makeover featuring the latest in touchless commercial

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Case Study
Glass Walls/Partitions

Collaborative Nautical

Expedia CruiseShipCenters’ new corporate headquarters—with its nautical theme—features a collaborative environment. Expedia CruiseShipCenters recently moved to a new corporate headquarters in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Designed by Gensler, the 28,497–sq.–ft. facility features a nautical theme that coincides with the company’s core services. Expedia’s goal was to create an open, collaborative environment so Gensler designed the interior with several glass-wall partition systems.

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