Courtesy of Xavier Vendrell Studio

Led by Chicago-based Xavier Vendrell Studio, Team X seeks to respect, reveal and amplify the physical and experiential qualities of the authentic Navy Pier. Team X rejuvenates the Pier with a unifying system capable of evolving and changing over time, understanding that “the transformation of an existing place, done well, is responsive, organic and flexible”. A lush landscape contrasts the hardscape of Chicago, creating an urban park that functions like a plaza. Circular disks of varying circumferences puncture the landscape with various types of program and natural growth, accompanied by pocket parks, terraces and kiosks. “Horizon walk” platform attracts people to the Pier’s edge, as it the final destination that offers unobstructed views of Lake Michigan.

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© Jeff Heatley

Architect: Stelle Architects
Location: Bridgehampton, NY, USA
Design Team: Frederick Stelle, Eleanor Donnelly, Greg Tietjen
Contractor: Ken Wright – Wright and Company Construction Inc.
Landscape Architects: Edwina von Gal, Edwina von Gal and Company
Interior Designer: Tom Flynn, Tom Flynn Inc.
Project Date: June 2008
Photographs: Jeff Heatley, Eric Piasecki

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© Michael Moran / ottoarchive

Architect: 1100 Architect
Location: New York, NY
Completion: Date 2010
Size: 10,500 SF
Photographs: Courtesy of 1100 Architect

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Courtesy of Navy Pier

Aedas Architects, Davis Brody Bond and Martha Schwartz Partners proposal PierESCAPE goes beyond the Navy Pier Centennial Vision as it aims to strengthen the connections between water, land, nature, city, culture, civic space and infrastructure with a “series of dock-like extensions”. The proposal respects the history of the Pier while identifying unique opportunities that will them to create a 21st century waterfront experience that is both a historical and contemporary destination.

Continue reading for more information and video of the team’s presentation.

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© Wikimedia Commons / Jonik

The AIA recently published a reprint from the National Associates Committee journal Forward by author Wellington Reiter, FAIA. The hot topic essay goes into great detail discussing how three U.S. cities – Detroit, Phoenix, and New Orleans – are serving as examples of the impacts of adverse planning and general continuation of unsustainable behavior.  While in times past these cities have flourished, and grew on the assumption that the trend would continue inevitably, they are sharp reminders of the consequences of naivety in regards to long term sustainability. More after the break. read more »

© Joseph Mills Photography

Architects: Fitzsimmons
Location: Oklahoma City, Ok
Construction: Lingo Construction, Oklahoma City, Ok
Project Year: 2011
Photography: Joseph Mills Photography

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Pier Park + Boardwalk - Courtesy of AECOM

A team led by AECOM and New York-based Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) is one of five shortlisted teams invited to participate in an international design competition to renovate and reactivate Chicago’s landmark Navy Pier. This is a once-in-a-century opportunity that will redefine the character and focus of Chicago’s waterfront. It is part of an ambitious effort to create a new Navy Pier for the 21st century, and in doing so, to redefine what the pier and the waterfront means to the city.

Unveiled to the public on January 31, 2012 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the AECOM-BIG design vision aims to “re-colonize the people’s pier,” by maximizing opportunity through a holistic approach. The result is Pier+, a vibrant urban destination that creates a new amenity shared by all while making a positive and progressive statement about Chicago to the world.

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Courtesy of HKS

Don’t forget to check out the building today when Super Bowl XLVI kicks off at Lucas Oil Stadium in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. HKS repeats as designer for two consecutive Super Bowl venues, immediately following the Super Bowl debut at HKS-designed Cowboys Stadium in Dallas in 2011. The 1.8 million-square-foot sports and entertainment venue has normal capacity of 63,000 for Indianapolis Colts Football, but will expand to approximately 70,000 for the 2012 Super Bowl. The stadium and surrounding site will be transformed to incorporate game-day fan plazas, sponsorship zones, media broadcast areas, fan interactive zones and tailgating. The economic impact to the host city is estimated at $300 million to $400 million.

Mark A. Williams, AIA, principal for HKS Sports & Entertainment Group, said, “We are proud to have created the venues selected for the world’s preeminent sporting event. While very different in their designs, Lucas Oil Stadium and last year’s host, Cowboy Stadium, both provide a setting that immeasurably enhances fan enjoyment and contributes to the success of this momentous event.”

Continue reading to learn more about the 2012 Super Bowl venue.

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© Chuck Choi

Architect: Foster and Partners
Location: Midtown Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Project Design: Norman Foster
Structural Engineer: WSP Cantour Seinuk
Construction: Turner Construction
Project Area: 46 stories; 860,000 sq ft 
Project Year: 2003-2006
Photographs: Chuck Choi

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In this video, Brookings expert Robert Puentes discusses the importance of construction projects and infrastructure investments that provide real and lasting value to the American economy. Puentes warns against thinly spreading around smaller infrastructure projects that only provide a short-term, seasonal boost in “shovel ready projects” that temporarily help job creation. Infrastructure investments can and must play a key role in the next American economy. Puentes urges that these smaller infrastructure projects must be connected to a larger infrastructure strategy that focuses on exports and globalization, technological innovation and clean energy. This will not only immediately create jobs and boost the economy, but also provide a framework that will sustain the American economy for the long term.

Also, if you are in the Washington DC area, Brookings will be hosting an event tomorrow, at the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings, to discuss low-carbon development and clean energy in the United States and China. Follow this link for more information.

© Paul Warchol Photography

Architect: Turett Collaborative Architects – Wayne Turett
Location: 2 North Moore, New York, USA
Square Footage: 11,500 S.F
Interior Designer: TCA
Project Year: 2009
Photographs: Paul Warchol Photography

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Via AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA

In 2011, a volatile Architecture Billings Index (ABI) reflected the unstable conditions U.S. practices were struggling to deal with. However, the year ended optimistically as the ABI remained at 52.0 for the month of December. So far, January has prolonged the hopeful outlook for the American design and construction industry, as many reports highlight a “modest recovery” in the nonresidential sector for 2012 and an even stronger upturn in 2013.

“Spending on hotels, industrial plants and commercial properties are going to set the pace for the construction industry over the next two years,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. “The institutional market won’t experience the same growth, but healthcare facilities and places of worship are poised for a positive economic outlook in that sector.”

Continue reading for more. read more »

© Doug Scott

Architect: Schacht Aslani Architects
Location: Port Angeles, Washington, USA
Project owner: Peninsula College (Port Angeles, WA)
Projects Area: 62,950 sf
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: Doug Scott 

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© Jeremy Bittermann

Architects: Allied Works Architecture
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Project Team: Brad Cloepfil, Design Principal Chris Bixby, Project Lead
Project Year: 2011
Project Area: 28,500 sqf
Photographs: Jeremy Bittermann

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© Ludvík Koutný

An architect celebrated for his breathtaking studies of light and materiality in the creation of memorable architecture, Louis Kahn did not fail to maintain his rigor in the Esherick House of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Admired for it’s spatial and luminous qualities, this is the first residence of its kind to convey the grand ideas of Kahn-style architecture. The two story dwelling, which is one of only nine private houses designed by Kahn to come into realization, rests on a lively six acre garden.

More information on the Esherick House after the break.

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Existing Image of the Navy Pier © Stephen Hanafin via flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanafin/

Starting tomorrow, the five design teams selected to redesign the outdoor spaces of Chicago’s Navy Pier will begin to reveal their schemes to the public. Lead by AECOM, Aedas Architects, James Corner Field Operations, !melk and the Xavier Vendrell Studio, each team will be given thirty minutes to present their ideas, followed by a ten minute question and answer session. The presentations will take place on January 31st and February 1st at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Continue reading for the presentation schedules and more information on the competition. read more »

© John Edward Linden

Architects: Brooks & Scarpa
Location: Palm Springs, California, USA
Client: Coachella Valley Housing Coalition
Project Team: Lawrence Scarpa, FAIA – Lead Designer
Angela Brooks, AIA, Omar Barcena, Mark Buckland, Brad Buter, Silke Clemens, Emily Hodgdon, Ching Luk, Gwynne Pugh, Sri Sumantri – Project Design Team
Project Year: 2011
Project area: 93,000 sqf
Photographs: John Edward Linden

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Scott McDonald © Hedrich Blessing

Architects: Elliott + Associates Architects
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Project Team: Rand Elliott, FAIA, David Poerio, Assoc. AIA
Client: Gary and Carolyn Goldman
Civil Engineer: Johnson & Associates, Inc.
Structural Engineer: Engineering Solutions, Inc.
Consultants: Smith Lighting (lighting); Logo designed by: Rachel Shingleton; Smith & Pickel Construction, Inc.(General Contractor)
Project Year: 2010
Project Area: 2,573 sqf
Photographs: Scott McDonald © Hedrich Blessing

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Courtesy of Ennead Architects

Architects: Ennead Architects
Location: New York City, New York, USA
Project Architects: Megan Miller AIA (Design), Tara Leibenhaut-Tyre AIA (Construction Administration)
Design Team: Gary Anderson, Darla Elsbernd, John LaBombard, Apichat Leungchaikul, Ken Mito, Saem Oh, Michael O’Meara, Jesse Peck, Alan Slusarenko, Frederick Tang, Maya Weissman-Ilan
Interior Design: Roman and Williams
Design Partner: Todd Schliemann FAIA
Management Partner: Kevin McClurkan AIA
Senior Designer: Amy Lin AIA
Project Year: 2009
Project Area: 204,500 sqm
Photographs:  Nikolas Koenig, Thomas Loof

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© Jonathan Wallen

Architects: Platt Byard Dovell White Architects
Location: 25 East 104th Street, New York, USA
Cost: $8.4 million
Completed: 2006
Client: The Reece School
Project Team: Charles A. Platt, AIA, Design Principal; Ray H. Dovell, AIA, Design Principal; Elissa Icso, AIA, Project Manager; Steven Dodds, Project Architect; Matthew Mueller, AIA, Naomi Touger, Tim Gaiennie
Photographs: Jonathan Wallen

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