Institutional Facilities News
Design of US embassy in Berlin triggers debate - 5/11/2008
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Dubai to build AED23 million religious institute - 5/5/2008
WAM Dubai, April 30, 2008 (WAM) -- Dubai Municipality is currently undertaking a AED 23 million project to construct a religious institute in the Academic City in Al Ruwayya.
Restoration drama for Edith Wharton's home - 4/30/2008
Stephanie Copeland, the president of the Edith Wharton Restoration, was hoping for sunshine on the April morning, two years ago, that she was to receive First Lady Laura Bush at the Mount, Wharton's country house, in Lenox, Massachusetts; but, like so many spring mornings in the Berkshires, that day dawned blustery and chill. Copeland, a tall, forceful woman of about sixty, with snow-white hair and eyes the color of sea glass, was undaunted. The previous day, a heated tent had been erected on the grounds-an irrigation line or two had been punctured by the stakes as they were driven in, but no matter-and a midnight trip to Kinko's had secured an enormous blown-up photograph of the Mount as seen on a brilliant day, to serve as a backdrop for the proceedings. A little wind and rain would not spoil this visit, for which Copeland had been lobbying for almost a year, ever since being invited to the Oval Office to receive a Preserve America Presidential Award on behalf of the Edith Wharton Restoration, the not-for-profit organization that is the proprietor of the Mount. On that occasion, the First Lady, grasping Copeland's hand in valediction, had said, "I want to come see that beautiful house."
San Diego school to build 450 kW solar energy system - 4/22/2008
Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) announced today plans to build a 450 kW solar energy system on its campus. What began as a student research project on the viability of solar energy for PLNU soon developed into a collaborative effort between students, staff and faculty that resulted in an official Request for Proposal and bidding process. With construction slated to begin this July, this will be the first large commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) system for a San Diego university. After an extensive competitive proposal review process, PLNU selected SPG Solar, Inc. to design and install the solar energy system which will produce 80 percent of the peak energy for six major PLNU buildings: Bond Academic Center, Cooper Music Center, Fermanian School of Business, Golden Gym, Goodwin Hall, and Hendricks Hall. In total, more than 50 percent of the buildings' annual electricity costs will be offset by clean, solar power. The 450 kW system, comprised entirely of Kyocera solar modules, will also reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions by 586 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually that would have been emitted from a traditional fossil-fuel power plant - the equivalent to removing 110 cars off the road for one year or requiring 130 acres of trees to absorb that much CO2.
Battle over preservation at Gettysburg site - 4/21/2008
Apr. 20--While tourists and Civil War buffs crowded the new Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center on opening day Monday, the civil dispute over the fate of the historic Cyclorama Center continues.
NYU expansion planned for Abu Dhabi - 4/17/2008
John Sexton's office, which sits on the top floor of NYU's Bobst Library and boasts an impressive view north to Washington Square Park, has recently begun to resemble a shrine to Abu Dhabi. The university president has installed a massive Oriental rug, a gift from the crown prince, on one entire wall. On another hangs a framed portrait of the sunglasses-clad founder of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. In the center of the room is a large framed photograph of an Emirati woman, hand covered in a henna tattoo, gazing provocatively from behind a sequined veil. When we start to talk about NYU's expansion plans in Abu Dhabi, Sexton props his sneakers up on the coffee table, then folds them beneath his chair, kindergarten style. He looks uncomfortable, as if he'd rather play the schlumpy college professor-unkempt hair, rumpled clothes, rotund paunch-than a global tycoon. And over the next two hours, Sexton tries to downplay his own role in the university's Abu Dhabi plans. But he just can't help himself.
AIA honors 11 educational and cultural facilities - 4/15/2008
The following information was released by the American Institute of Architects: The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) honored 11 educational and cultural facilities with this year' CAE Educational Facility Design Awards. Two received Awards of Excellence, four received Awards of Merit, and five received Citations. The purpose of the design awards program is to identify trends and emerging ideas, honor excellence in planning and design, and disseminate knowledge about best practices in educational and community facilities. Serving as jurors for the 2008 awards were: Chair Jeanne Jackson, AIA, VCBO Architecture; W. Bryan Bowles, PhD, Davis School District Superintendent; Vasso Kampiti, Assoc. AIA, The City University of New York Office of Facilities Planning, Construction, and Management; Gerald I. Reifert Jr., AIA, Mahlum Architects; RK Stewart, FAIA, Hon. FRAIC, Perkins + Will; and Amy M. Yurko, AIA, BrainSpaces. Awards of Excellence
9/11 memorial and museum meets fundraising goal - 4/11/2008
National September 11 Memorial & Museum Chairman and New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced at its quarterly Board of Directors meeting successfully reaching the $350 million fundraising goal for the construction of the Memorial & Museum. The most recent major donation that helped achieve the $350 million goal was a $10 million contribution made by Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. Over $217 million of the funds were raised in the past year and a half toward this first phase of fundraising. More than 60,000 individuals contributed from all 50 states and 31 countries. The Board will continue to fundraise to support Museum programming as well as an endowment and today set an initial fundraising goal for this phase of $25 million.
Courthouse is 2nd country facility in US to get LEED - 4/5/2008
Apr. 5--The Whatcom County Courthouse is the second county facility in the nation to be awarded LEED certification.
Green features planned for Hong Kong University - 4/4/2008
Wind turbines, solar panels, rooftop gardens and more than 400 extra trees are among eco-friendly features planned for the University of Hong Kong's $2HK.5 billion campus extension.
