New LEED energy and water requirements take effect. All new construction projects seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council must now use version 3.0 of the green building standard, which requires owners either to submit annual data about how much energy and water their buildings use, or face having to recertify their buildings every two years.ASHRAE publishes energy efficiency guide for hotels. Recommendations on achieving 30% energy savings over minimum code requirements are contained in ASHRAE's new Advanced Energy Design Guide for Highway Lodging, which could pave the way for new hotels to achieve net-zero energy usage.ICC launches green building code initiative for commercial structures. The International Code Council has launched its International Green Construction Code (IGCC) initiative, whose aim is to reduce energy usage and the carbon footprint of commercial buildings. "IGCC: Safe and Sustainable by the Book" will seek to develop a model code focused on new and existing commercial buildings.SmithGroup picks up Dallas's F&S Partners. F&S Partners, a Dallas architecture firm specializing in the design of educational, recreational, and religious projects, has merged with SmithGroup, a top 10 U.S. architecture/engineering firm. The 40-person office in Dallas will carry the name SmithGroup/F&S.
For more:www.BDCnetwork.com.
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Section Eight Design wins 2009 Open Architecture Challenge for classroom design
Victor, Idaho-based Section Eight Design beat out seven other finalists to win the 2009 Open Architecture Challenge: Classroom, spearheaded by the Open Architecture Network. Section Eight partnered with Teton Valley Community School (TVCS) in Victor to design the classroom of the future. Currently based out of a remodeled house, students at Teton Valley Community School are now one step closer to getting a real classroom.
| Aug 11, 2010
High-profit design firms invest in in-house training
Forty-three percent of high-profit architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms have in-house training staff, according to a study by ZweigWhite. The 2008-2009 Successful Firm Survey reports that only 36% of firms overall have in-house training staff. In addition, 52% of high-profit firms use an online training system or service.
| Aug 11, 2010
Help Wanted: Architect for $100 million 'Discovery Park' in Union City, Tennessee
The Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation is identifying architects interested in designing a 50-acre, multi-million dollar complex in Union City, TN. Discovery Park of America will be a world-class, multi-faceted venue presenting exhibits and interactive experiences about history, nature, art, and science.
| Aug 11, 2010
Report: Fraud levels fall for construction industry, but companies still losing $6.4 million on average
The global construction, engineering and infrastructure industry saw a significant decline in fraud activity with companies losing an average of $6.4 million over the last three years, according to the latest edition of the Kroll Annual Global Fraud Report, released today at the Association of Corporate Counsel’s 2009 Annual Meeting in Boston. This new figure represents less than half of last year’s amount of $14.2 million.
| Aug 11, 2010
AIA to Congress: Act now to jump start building sector of economy
Tampa-based architect, Mickey Jacob, FAIA, unveiled the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Rebuild & Renew plan for both short- and long-term economic recovery to the House Committee on Small Business at a hearing October 7th.
| Aug 11, 2010
National Intrepid Center of Excellence tops out at Walter Reed
SmithGroup and The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (IFHF), a non-profit organization supporting the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and their families, celebrated the overall structural completion of the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), an advanced facility dedicated to research, diagnosis and treatment of military personnel and veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury.
