Located on North Lamar Boulevard just north of downtown Austin, Clayton Korte’s office embodies the firm’s commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and to fostering discourse in the design community. Officially named Design Office, the mid-century office space is home to two design practices, Clayton Korte and Word + Carr Design Group, a landscape architecture firm.
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KTGY Architecture + Planning has completed the second phase of student housing for University of Southern California. The building at 1630 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles is part of the LAC+USC Medical Center. The developer is American Campus Communities, among the largest student housing developers in the U.S. The building exhibits a set of future trends, based on desires of student-housing developers and students themselves.
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Armstrong World Industries, Inc. announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Arktura, LLC, a designer and fabricator of ceilings, walls, partitions and facades based in Los Angeles, California. Founded and led by architects and designers, Arktura is a leader in architectural specialty metal and felt solutions recognized for fusing ingenuity and creativity with leading edge technologies and software to deliver visionary design.
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The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) has updated a test method evaluating the performance and durability of the integration of a fenestration product with a building envelope. AAMA 504-20, Voluntary Laboratory Test Method to Qualify Vertical Fenestration Installation Procedures, was originally created in 2005. This is its first update.
Read MoreLast week, FEMA released its landmark study, “Building Codes Save: A National Study,” featuring an in-depth look at the quantified benefits—avoided losses to buildings and building contents—from adopting modern building codes and standards. The study affirmed the recent finding by the National Institute of Building Sciences that adopting modern codes provides $11 in mitigation savings for every $1 invested. Alarmingly, the FEMA study found that currently 65 percent of counties, cities, and towns across the U.S. have not adopted modern building codes, only 50 percent of cumulative post-2000 construction adhered to the I-Codes, and 30 percent of new construction is occurring in communities with no codes at all or codes that are more than 20 years outdated.
Read More“IRC is one of Canada’s foremost Consulting firms, providing sustainable building performance solutions for both new and existing buildings. They are leaders in the assessment, design, remediation and evaluation of roofing, building envelope, structural, and pavement systems.” said Robert Kocher, President and Chief Executive Officer, Rimkus Consulting Group. “Combined, our teams share a deep commitment to bring value to our clients by providing unsurpassed consulting services to the customers of both companies. This acquisition significantly expands our service offerings and geographic footprint in Canada and positions Rimkus as the top choice for our current and future customers in Canada.”
Read MoreThe Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) has updated a specification establishing minimum performance requirements for self-adhering flashing surrounding common exterior fenestration products. AAMA 711-20, Specification for Self-Adhering Flashing Used for Installation of Exterior Wall Fenestration Products, was originally created in 2007. This is its second update, having last been updated in 2013.
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The Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School expansion by Wheeler Kearns Architects was presented with three Design Excellence Awards from AIA Chicago at its virtual ceremony on Friday November 13. The project received a Distinguished Building Award and two Divine Detail Awards, for the Tallit (exterior brick) and the Makom Rina (sacred space). The firm’s design expresses the building’s unique identity, celebrating its religious and cultural heritage, while providing an innovative and sustainable learning environment.
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A new study published today by The American Institute of Architects (AIA) finds that data and culture gaps are obstacles architects are facing in fighting climate change. The report, “Sustainability in the Architect’s Journey to Specification,” identified a number of common obstacles that could be improved by the building products industry to help architects support climate action.
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Total construction starts rose 12% in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $787.9 billon. While sizeable, the increase does not erase September’s substantial pullback in starts. All three major categories moved higher over the month, nonbuilding starts rose 25%, nonresidential buildings increased 19%, while residential activity gained 2%. “October’s gain was welcome news following the large step back in starts during the previous month,” stated Richard Branch, Chief Economist for Dodge Data & Analytics. “The month’s increase, however, does not mean all is well with the economy and construction sector. The economy lost traction as the stimulus provided by the CARES Act ended. With the next wave of COVID-19 infections looming, the economy will continue to lose steam until more fiscal stimulus is provided and a vaccine has been widely adopted. Until that has occurred, the construction sector will continue to be volatile.”
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