The French Senate doesn’t want your Notre Dame restoration ideas

Don’t expect to see the roof of Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral adorned with an infinity pool or a greenhouse filled with exotic plants in the near future.

After a fire destroyed the building’s spire and much of its roof on the evening of April 15, ideas from both professional and amateur architects and designers alike have been presented for how to restore the centuries-old building. While some have been more realistic than others, the French Senate has decided to put a stop to any theorizing of what is to come.

The Senate recently approved the restoration bill passed by the French Parliament, but added a clause that states the Cathedral must be rebuilt and restored to its last known visual condition. Additionally, the bill allows work on the project to be completed before the Paris Olympics begin in 2024, a timeframe that some fear is too accelerated and concerned more with politics than careful historical restoration.

Due to the changes made in the bill, the Senate and the Assemblée nationale must now come to an agreement on a version of the bill before it can become law, according to The Local, a European news site.

Dividing the outside environment from the interior, the building enclosure is one of the most important parts of the structure. The enclosure not only defines the building’s aesthetic, but also protects occupants from the elements and facilitates a comfortable, controlled climate. With dozens of components comprising the exterior assemblies, from foundation to cladding to roof, figuring out which concerns to address first can be daunting.

Multifamily Housing | May 16, 2023

Legislators aim to make office-to-housing conversions easier

Lawmakers around the country are looking for ways to spur conversions of office space to residential use.cSuch projects come with challenges such as inadequate plumbing, not enough exterior-facing windows, and footprints that don’t easily lend themselves to residential use. These conditions raise the cost for developers.

Sustainability | May 11, 2023

Let's build toward a circular economy

Eric Corey Freed, Director of Sustainability, CannonDesign, discusses the values of well-designed, regenerative buildings.

Office Buildings | May 4, 2023

In Southern California, a former industrial zone continues to revitalize with an award-winning office property

In Culver City, Calif., Del Amo Construction, a construction company based in Southern California, has completed the adaptive reuse of 3516 Schaefer St, a new office property. 3516 Schaefer is located in Culver City’s redeveloped Hayden Tract neighborhood, a former industrial zone that has become a technology and corporate hub.

Higher Education | Apr 17, 2023

Rider University opens a 'Zen Den' for restoring students' mental well-being

Rider University partnered with Spiezle Architectural Group to create a relaxation room for students, dubbed "The Zen Den."

Abandoned T.J. Maxx converted into Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, GBBN architects

Libraries | Mar 26, 2023

An abandoned T.J. Maxx is transformed into a new public library in Cincinnati

What was once an abandoned T.J. Maxx store in a shopping center is now a vibrant, inviting public library. The Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library (CHPL) has transformed the ghost store into the new Deer Park Library, designed by GBBN.

The United States Courthouse in Los Angeles, designed by SOM Photo © Bruce Damonte, courtesy GSA

Government Buildings | Mar 24, 2023

19 federal buildings named GSA Design Awards winners

After a six-year hiatus, the U.S. General Services Administration late last year resumed its esteemed GSA Design Awards program. In all, 19 federal building projects nationwide were honored with 2022 GSA Design Awards, eight with Honor Awards and 11 with Citations.