Select Page

Category: January 2017

Ecodistricts: Building-Based Sustainability Expands to Communities

Ecodistricts have much in common with traditional urban design and planning, but differ because they respond to the relationship of resource flows within the urban framework. There are three major shifts in our urban context that distinguish ecodistrict planning from other planning models: 1) the need for infrastructure renewal and integration into urban spaces, 2) the possibility of adaptive response to resource flows and climate change, and 3) the emerging demand for a new way of community participation.

Read More

Affordable Housing Meets Rigorous Passive House Standards

This collaborative effort is a milestone for Passive House design in North America. A 57-unit affordable housing project, Orchards at Orenco, Phase I is the largest Passive House project on this continent. Located in Hillsboro in the heart of the Silicon Forest tech companies, these units are geared towards providing inexpensive but quality places for people working lower income support jobs at larger companies, earning no more than approximately 50-60% of the MFI.

Read More

The impact of color on healthcare design – A look at 2017 trends

Similar to the design of residential, hospitality or commercial spaces, color is a powerful tool to utilize in healthcare design, and it even has the power to enhance well-being. Understanding the impact that color has on healthcare spaces, PPG develops a specific healthcare color trends report each year for designers and architects to reference for upcoming projects. Our approach to the color selection in the upcoming trends report combines color science with psychology, sociology and human physiology, as well as current general consumer trends and trends in health and wellness to best develop color palettes that will work to symbolize physical and emotional transformation.

Read More

Incorporating Restaurant Design into Senior Living Spaces

These dining room design details may be second nature for most restaurant operators. However, even with a renewed effort toward improving and expanding the dining experience, senior living and assisted living operators often don’t know where to start. By pairing an experienced restaurant designer with a senior living designer and architect, we’ve come up with the following five tips and suggestions for creating welcoming, comfortable dining spaces inspired by the world of restaurant design.

Read More

Health and Housing Policy Recommendations for New Administration

Home and personal well-being go hand in hand, according to a new policy brief that highlights a direct relationship between the design of affordable housing that promotes resident health and potential cost savings for developers, tenants, and public and private health providers. Leaders in the health and development community highlighted this positive ROI in a letter this week to new Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson, M.D.

Read More

ASID Foundation to award 2017 Transform Grants

The ASID Foundation is pleased to accept proposals for its sixth annual Transform Grants through March 15, 2017. This year, the Foundation will continue its mission to elevate the impact of interior design by funding evidence-based research on how interior design can foster well-being for all.

Read More

New construction starts in December slide

New construction starts in December slipped 5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $613.0 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. The latest month’s decline for total construction was due to sharply reduced activity for the nonbuilding construction sector, reflecting further erosion by public works as well as a steep plunge by the electric utility/gas plant category. At the same time, nonresidential building in December held steady with its November pace, and residential building was able to register moderate growth.

Read More

Cradle to Cradle Certified products

The Cradle to Cradle program certifies products based on five quality categories—material health, material reutilization, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness. Click here to see a list of building supply & materials, as well as other products, that are Cradle to Cradle certified.

SiteLock