flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Design competition focuses on reducing urban heat island effect

Codes and Standards

Design competition focuses on reducing urban heat island effect

Cool Abu Dhabi aims to transform urban life in the Middle East.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | April 13, 2020

Courtesy Pixabay

An international design competition hosted by the United Arab Emirates’ Department of Municipalities and Transport is focused on reducing the urban heat island effect.

The Cool Abu Dhabi design competition is looking to “transform urban life in the Middle East through climate-focused designs that promote wellness, community, and sustainability.” Judges will select 10 original design ideas from around the globe for a hypothetical public space in Abu Dhabi.

“The winning designs will showcase innovative design strategies that minimize the impact of climate change, reduce heat island effect in UAE, and creatively contribute to the city’s unique and evolving urban fabric, and will be awarded a $10,000 cash prize,” according to a news release. The competition is open to all, but is specifically looking for designers, architects, engineers, landscape architects, material scientists, educators, researchers, students, artists and/or inter-disciplinary teams from across the globe to contribute.

The winning entries will represent the most original and innovative ideas that attempt to reduce the heat island effect in a prototypical urban site in Abu Dhabi through design interventions or material and scientific innovations.

Related Stories

| Oct 13, 2011

New Law: California Building Standards Commission Must Include Green Expert

A new California law, AB 930, requires that one member of the California Building Standards Commission be “experienced and knowledgeable in sustainable building, design, construction, and operation.”

| Oct 13, 2011

AGC Urges Repeal of 3% Withholding On Government Contracts

The U.S. House of Representatives is planning a vote in October on a bill to repeal the 3% withholding requirement on all federal and state contracts for goods and services.

| Oct 13, 2011

House Bill Would Block New OSHA Regulations

Proposed riders in a U.S. House of Representatives spending bill would block the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) from issuing controversial workplace safety and health regulations.

| Oct 11, 2011

AIA introduces five new documents for use on sustainable projects

These new documents will be available in the first quarter of 2012 as part of the new AIA Contract Documents service and AIA Documents on Demand.

| Oct 7, 2011

GREENBUILD 2011: UL Environment releases industry-wide sustainability requirements for doors

  ASSA ABLOY Trio-E door is the first to be certified to these sustainability requirements.

| Oct 6, 2011

Taking tenant behavior into account on building energy codes

Over the past few years, Seattle, San Francisco, Austin, and Washington, D.C., have passed laws requiring property owners to measure and disclose their energy use, which would help place a market value on a building’s efficiency and provide a benchmark for improvements.

| Oct 6, 2011

Constructed properly, green roofs hold up well in a hurricane

The heavy rains and high winds of Hurricane Irene didn’t cause any problems for a Con Edison green roof in New York City. The roof contains sedum, a plant that adapts well to drought and handles periods of heavy rain well.

| Oct 6, 2011

RoofPoint: A new green standard for roofs

Structured much like other rating systems, RoofPoint, establishes green standards specifically for roofs.

| Oct 6, 2011

Roofers critical of new OSHA harness rules

Roofers say a new OSHA rule requiring all residential roofers to wear a safety harness makes workers less safe, and is causing lost business for those who comply with the rule.

| Oct 6, 2011

Florida county proposes saving on construction costs by trumping city regulations

This summer, Pinellas County, FL wanted to save money on an $81 million public safety complex in Largo by using the county’s own building regulations and permit fees, not the city’s more expensive fees.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category




halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021