AGC releases decarbonization playbook to help assess, track, reduce GHG emissions

The Associated General Contractors of America released a new, first-of-its-kind, decarbonization playbook designed to help firms assess, track, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on projects. The AGC Playbook on Decarbonization and Carbon Reporting in the Construction Industry is part of the association’s efforts to make sure construction firms play a leading role in crafting carbon-reduction measures for the industry.

Mass Timber

Bjarke Ingels Group designs a mass timber cube structure for the University of Kansas

Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and executive architect BNIM have unveiled their design for a new mass timber cube structure called the Makers’ KUbe for the University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design. A six-story, 50,000-sf building for learning and collaboration, the light-filled KUbe will house studio and teaching space, 3D-printing and robotic labs, and a ground-level cafe, all organized around a central core.

Laboratories

Why lab designers should aim to ‘speak the language’ of scientists

Learning more about the scientific work being done in the lab gives designers of those spaces an edge, according to Adrian Walters, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal and Director of SMMA's Science & Technology team.

Airports

The next destination: Passive design airports

Today, we can design airports that are climate resilient, durable, long-lasting, and healthy for occupants—we can design airports using Passive House standards.

Sustainability | Apr 4, 2017

Six connected CLT towers create an urban forest in India

The mixed-use towers would each rise 36 stories into the sky and connect via rooftop skybridges.

Urban Planning | Sasaki | Apr 3, 2017

Capturing the waterfront draw

People seem to experience a gravitation toward the water’s edge acutely and we traverse concrete and asphalt just to gaze out over an open expanse or to dip our toes in the blue stuff.

Mixed-Use | Mar 27, 2017

The Plant brings terrace-to-table living to Toronto

Curated Properties and Windmill Developments have teamed up to create a mixed-use building with food as the crux of the project.

Sustainability | PDR | Feb 28, 2017

Workplace wellbeing

Organizations are starting to realize that there are benefits to addressing employee wellbeing.

Sustainability | Feb 20, 2017

‘Forest cities’ could help solve China’s air pollution problem

The architect behind China’s first vertical forest skyscraper has bigger plans for entire cities filled with vertical forests.

Green | Feb 6, 2017

A to Z: Seoul’s elevated park features 24,000 alphabetized plants

The plants will represent 250 species found in South Korea.

Green | Feb 3, 2017

Nanjing Green Towers will be Asia’s first vertical forest

The project will be covered in 1,100 trees and 2,500 cascading plants and shrubs.

Sustainability | Jan 27, 2017

An office building proposed for Norway would generate more power than it uses

Over it’s 60-year lifespan, the power generated form the project would cover the energy cost of construction, production, and material transportation.

Sustainability | Jan 24, 2017

From an industrial park to an eco-neighborhood in Brussels, Belgium

At the heart of Vincent Callebaut Architectures’ eco-neighborhood will be three 100-meter-tall Vertical Forests.

Sustainability | HDR | Jan 19, 2017

How NYC is slashing 80% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

To help one of the most complex cities in the world develop an actionable strategy to meet visionary GHG reduction goals, we focused on strategies for deep carbon reductions for the city’s entire building stock, which constitutes 73% of citywide emissions, writes HDR's Jennifer Bienemann.