Article
A/E/C in the Cloud: Five Cloud-Based Applications to Try
2013/05/06 16:12
The “cloud” is everywhere in the news these days, and for good reason. Using cloud-based file storage and applications costs less than buying software outright; it eliminates the worry about upgrading, because everything is upgraded in the cloud; it makes long-distance collaboration easy; and it can give you virtually unlimited storage space with zero extra hardware investment. Read More...
Renovating Classic Sports Venues: Designer Beware!
2013/05/06 16:11
Renovations of classic structures frequently present challenges, but when the structure is a revered sports stadium, the challenges multiply. Read More...
Crowdsourced Architecture: Many Designing for One
2013/03/28 09:45
You’ve probably heard of crowdsourcing, the practice of inviting the public to participate in some kind of project, usually online. But did you know that architecture can be crowdsourced? Read More...
Design, Construction, or Crane Error?
2013/03/28 09:38
Pre-fab construction can save a lot of time and money when it comes to relatively simple structures like parking garages, but sometimes the piper comes to collect. Last October, a big chunk of a five-story, pre-fab parking garage at Miami Dade College’s west campus collapsed, killing four workers. Read More...
Five Tips to Make a Better Architecture Firm Website
2013/02/17 09:59
Your website is probably your best marketing tool. Everyone looking for a firm starts online, so you want to put your best foot forward. Here are five tips to keep in mind when designing your firm’s site: Read More...
Industry Indicators Looking Up for 2013
2013/02/17 09:53
The stock market is slowly climbing, the election is fading into memory, and more people are finding work. Can a recovery in the AEC industry be far behind? Key indicators are showing slow, steady growth for 2013. Read More...
U.S. Pummeled in Energy Architecture Rankings
2013/01/21 20:02
When you consider all the attention LEED and green architecture in general get in this country, you’d think America was a top country when it comes to that area. Think again... Read More...
Robots in Architecture
2013/01/21 19:58
Robots have long been used in manufacturing – it’s probable that your car, computer, and dozens of other possessions were at least partially built by robots. And now you might even find a robot at the drawing board next to yours! Read More...
Six Books to Give as a Gift This Holiday Season
2012/12/16 11:51
Do Big Storms Help Construction?
2012/12/16 11:16
Hurricane Sandy caused billions of dollars of damage along the East Coast – New York Governor Andrew Cuomo estimates that storm damage totaled $42 billion in that state alone. The good news for the construction industry is that $33 billion of that will go to repair damaged housing and infrastructure. But in the long run, does the damage caused by storms like Sandy and Katrina result in an uptick in construction? The evidence is not clear, but it seems that there is at least modest gain. Read More...
BOOM! Demos Go Wrong
2012/11/20 08:13
Demolition is a dangerous business, and modern techniques mean errors are pretty rare. But sometimes they do happen, as these two recent examples show. Read More...
Architecture Going to the Dogs?
2012/11/20 08:07
People love their pets, and some people go to great lengths to make them happy. So it shouldn't surprise anyone that architecture is going to the dogs, too! Read More...
Putting Their Lessons to Work
2012/10/16 15:18
Architecture students doing pro bono design work has long been an important way for them to get hands-on design experience. But based on press reports, more and more students are getting into the act. Here is a round-up of some recent projects handled by classes. Read More...
Six Architects With Amazing Side Jobs
2012/10/16 15:09
Architecture is not always a high-paying profession, so it's no surprise that many architects hold side jobs. But the six architects profiled here are not moonlighting as stockboys in the grocery store; their side jobs are seriously interesting. Read More...
Is it Your Turn to Become a Mentor?
2012/09/09 10:17
Mentors have played a giant role in AEC. Would Stanley Tigerman be the success he is without the guidance of Paul Rudolph, his mentor at Yale? Would we all know the work of Frank Lloyd Wright if it wasn't for the help of Louis Sullivan? Mentorship programs, informal and formal, abound these days, so if you're at the point in your career where you're ready to give back, here are some opportunities to do so: Read More...
AEC Biz: Many Signs Pointing Up
2012/09/09 10:12
We're not out of the woods yet, but many signs are pointing to a decent recovery in AEC this year, from two AIA reports to building data to real estate agent predictions. Here is a synopsis of some key indicators... Read More...
A LEED Alternative?
2012/07/17 15:07
Designers and builders who care about green issues are well versed in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications, which have dominated the green landscape since 2000. An alternative to LEED is slowly gaining recognition: The Living Building Challenge. Read More...
New Life for Old Factories
2012/07/17 15:02
When American manufacturing began fading and moving overseas in the 1970s and 1980s, crumbling abandoned factories became common in once thriving industrial communities. When the jobs left, most communities saw the old factories as sad reminders of a more prosperous past. These days, however, some developers see those old factories as potential goldmines. Read More...
Innovative Ways to Market Your A/E/C Services
2012/06/23 14:16
Many signs are pointing towards better times ahead for the A/E/C industry, but new work isn't going to just float in your door. Get a jump on your competition by trying one of these three innovative marketing ideas. Read More...
Architecture for Rising Waters
2012/06/23 14:11
Architects in certain parts of the world, such as Holland and Venice, have long dealt with the issue of periodic flooding. Now that reports show water levels rising worldwide, however, the ability to create a building that can survive a flood is becoming more widely needed. Here are some ways designers deal with high water: Read More...