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July 2008
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Does green building pay? It certainly does, according to two recently released studies
documenting the energy effectiveness and impact on rental rates and property values of
green-certified buildings.
One study, commissioned by the U.S. Green Building Council and conducted by the New
Buildings Institute, gathered whole-building energy data from 121 occupied LEED NC
buildings. The median energy-use intensity for these structures was 24 percent better
than the national average for conventional buildings. LEED-certified office buildings
performed 33 percent better than average. However, the energy performance for
LEED-certified high-energy-use buildings, such as laboratories and data centers,
was nearly two and a half times higher than predicted, indicating a need for
improvement in performance modeling.
The second study, conducted by the CoStar Group, analyzed occupancy rates and property
values of 1300 buildings. It showed that EnergyStar buldings were selling for $61 per
square foot more than noncertified structures and commanded $2.40-per-square-foot-higher
rental rates. Occupancy rates were 3.6 percent higher. The study also found that
LEED-certified buildings were selling for $171 per square foot higher than noncertified
buildings, commanded $11.33 per square foot more in rent, and had 4.1 percent higher
occupancy.
For more on these two studies, visit
www.newbuildings.org and
www.costar.com.
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Shake and Bake: In May, a half-scale model of a typical precast concrete parking structure underwent a shake-table test as
part of the Diaphragm Seismic Design Methodology program at the University of California at San Diego’s Englekirk
Structural Engineering Research Center. The 393-ton model was 21 feet tall. Tests simulated up to 8.0-magnitude earthquakes.
The structure had a few hairline cracks but no damage. A web cam (http://137.110.165.19) provides views of the testing.
More >
Desert Rock: The Palm Springs, Calif., Architectural Advisory Committee was reviewing proposals for Museum Square,
consisting or two four-story hotels and a retail center, presented by Nexus Development. The committee has already
approved a Hard Rock Hotel by Nexus that is in the drawing stage.
More >
For the Birds: The “Purring Parrot”, a retail cat and bird resort in the Point Loma area of San Diego,
Calif., has been designed by top hospitality-oriented architectural and interior design firm Architectural Concepts
Inc. of San Diego. The facility includes pet suppliers, toys, furnishings, and works by local artists. Each cat family
stays in its own themed guest suite. The project, says the architect, allows them to think outside the box with a smaller,
different kind of guest.
More >
Welcoming the Huddled Masses: The Statue of Liberty’s crown, closed since the September 11 attacks, may soon be
reopened. The National Park Service has requested bids from architectural and engineering firms to bring the internal
stairway up to safe building codes.
More >
Arc D’Atlanta: Inspired by the Arch of Titus in Rome, Italy, Atlanta, Ga., has unveiled an 82-foot-tall Roman
arch called the Millennium Gate. The arch idea was created by urban revivalist Rodney Cook Jr. and was designed by London,
U.K.-based architect Hugh Petter. It was originally planned to be erected in Washington, D.C.
More >
Precast Month: The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute has declared September 2008 to be National Precast Month. The
celebration will include local events, plant and project tours, public proclamations, and recognition of precast concrete.
For a list of local events and plant tours, visit the PCI website.
More >
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First Precast Concrete Connections Manual Released
The first edition of the PCI Connections Manual for Precast and Prestressed Concrete Construction has been released by PCI. The manual
covers the connection applications required to construct all types of buildings using precast concrete components, with design examples
and diagrams highlighting each chapter.
The manual provides an introduction to connection concepts and discusses material properties and design information. It then lays
out specifics for each type of connection, comprising connections for foundations, beams to column and double tees to spandrels,
double tees to walls, wall panels to wall panels, architectural elements, and miscellaneous joints. The manual was designed to
work in tandem with the sixth edition of the PCI Design Handbook. A separate manual is being created to provide details on
designing connections in high-seismic regions.
Each design example begins with a list of assumptions as well as concerns about the application, such as the need for tight
tolerances or structural details that will hide the connection.
The manual costs $140 for PCI members and $280 for nonmembers. Copies can be ordered from the online PCI Bookstore.
More >
For more information on these publications and programs, visit the PCI website at www.pci.org.
New Architectural Resources
PCI Certification >
Precasters: Share Your Tips >
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New Harvard GSD Chair – Preston Scott Cohen has been appointed the Gerald M. McCue Professor of Architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Cohen hopes to integrate green and eco-friendly design so that architects can find direct answers to the concerns of limited resources.
More >
Mellow Jello – As part of the 2008 London Festival of Architecture, dezeen magazine and Bompas & Parr (gelatin manufacturers) asked architects to submit designs that were made into gelatin and exhibited (and eaten) at a special Architectural Jelly Banquet. A sound track of wobbling gelatin was played at the banquet.
More >
Sounds Good – Diamond and Schmitt Architects Inc. of Toronto, Canada, and Oz Architecture of Denver, Colo., have been selected to design the renovation and expansion of Denver’s Boettcher Concert Hall. Six design teams competed for the project. The $90 million renovation will include the development of better acoustics for the hall. Three acoustical design firms were bidding on the work.
More >
A Tall Tale – Three design centers (Dubai, London and Hong Kong) of the huge U.K.-based Atkins design consultants are competing to design a major mixed use skyscraper in Dubai. The project will be one of the world’s tallest structures and will include residential, commercial, and retail facilities; a boutique hotel; and serviced apartments. The 5 million square foot structure will feature state-of-the-art sustainability practices.
More >
GSA Director Nominated – James Williams, head of the Federal Acquisition Service at the General Services Administration, has been nominated by President Bush to be GSA’s new director. Williams has been involved in the development of a new program management office to oversee GSA’s Multiple Awards Schedules program.
More >
Making Music – Atlanta, Ga.-based Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates has been selected as lead designer for the new $595 million Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn. Joining TVS will be a local firm, Tuck Hinton Architects. Initial drawings for the 1.2 million square foot convention center are expected by this winter.
More >
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“Green buildings are clearly achieving higher rents
and higher occupancy, they have lower operating costs, and
they're achieving higher sales prices.”
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Andrew Florance, president and CEO of CoStar Group
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The precast/prestressed concrete industry offers a wide range of AIA/CES approved box lunch programs.
Find out More >
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Going to the Theatre: The North American Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conference will be held July 19–21 at Pace University in New York, N.Y. The conference is designed for those involved in the creation of theatre space.
More >
By the Bay: The fifth annual Architecture and the City Festival takes place from September 1 to September 30 in San Francisco, Calif. The nation’s largest architectural event showcases tours, films, exhibitions, lectures, and green programming to celebrate San Francisco’s unique built environment and design community.
More >
Old Is New: The Traditional Building Exposition and Conference explores the profitability and sustainability of historic preservation. The conference is set for September 19–20 at Navy Pier in Chicago, Ill.
More >
Bright City: The Sustainable City and Creativity meeting, set for September 24–26 in Naples, Italy, is designed to analyze how a creative city works, determine the benefits of such a city, and develop tools to promote creative processes in cities.
More >
Inside Scoop: Arc-Interiors 2008, set for September 25–28 in Newport Beach, Calif., explores such topics as interior architecture and the nanotechnology revolution and advanced workplace strategies.
More >
Heavy Metal: MetalCon International 2008, to be held October 1–3 at the Baltimore Convention Center, examines creative concepts for designing with metal.
More >
Precast Convention: The 2008 PCI Annual Convention/Exhibition and National Bridge Conference will be held October 2–7 in Orlando, Fla. The theme of the convention is “Expanding Opportunities in a Changing World” and the keynote address will be given by Dr. Robert Kriegel, author of If It Ain’t Broke, Break It!
More >
World Fest: The World Architecture Festival, sponsored by Emap, an international media group, will take place October 22–24 in Barcelona, Spain. The festival will include the largest architectural awards program in the world.
More >
Strategy: Arc-US 2008 is a strategic business event for the heads of North America’s largest architectural practices. The conference is set for November 6–9 in Marina Del Rey, Calif.
More >
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