Chris Pedota/ Staff photographer

Avalon at Edgewater

The New Jersey chapter of the American Institute of Architects has formed a task force to review possible improvements to design practices and building code standards in response to the fire that destroyed an apartment complex in Edgewater.

The six-member task force hopes to educate both the public and New Jersey lawmakers about lightweight wood-framed buildings and propose recommendations to enhance safety standards in existing building codes, said Justin Mihalik, the chapter's president-elect.

"We decided to form this as a result of the increased questions we received after Avalon," Mihalik said, referring to a five-alarm fire that destroyed more than 400 apartments in the Avalon at Edgewater complex on River Road on Jan. 21, displacing hundreds of residents. "Our goal is to educate the public and our legislators, and to promote the value of architecture in general."

Officials said the Edgewater complex was built using a style of wood framing in which the roof and floor support systems are constructed using lightweight prefabricated materials. The method is a cheaper and legal style of building that is common in New Jersey and across the United States.

Educational documents

The task force is taking a multi-pronged approach, Mihalik said. Its members first hope to educate people about what different construction approaches encompass light-frame construction, and then transition into looking at how it can be safer in the aftermath of the Avalon fire.

In addition to Mihalik, the task force will include William J. Martin, a Westwood-based architect. The other members are David Del Vecchio, Robert M. Longo, Jason Lutz and Yogesh Mistry, all of whom are New Jersey architects.

First the task force will put together a report, or a "white paper," Mihalik said, that will describe what the building code requires in New Jersey and what protections are currently in place. In addition, the task force would offer suggestions for safety enhancements, Mihalik said.

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Architects group studying Avalon fire

Story highlights Architects design buildings described as "no shadow tower" Concept could help ensure sun around skyscrapers could reach ground level

A concept for a "No Shadow Tower" was recently put forward by the London branch of NBBJ architects. The ambitious structure would be built to reflect light between two high-rises to ensure more sunlight can reach ground level.

It works by using an algorithm in the design phase to calculate which panels on a building will be in view of the sun at certain hours of the day depending on its location, shape and the time of year.

These panels can then be strategically placed during construction to bounce light down into public spaces at the foot of the buildings.

"You can't remove the shadow from one building," said Christian Coop, design director of NBBJ London.

"(But) if you have two buildings, one to the north and one to the south, you could form the building to the north to act like a mirror that would reflect the light in complete sequence to track the shadow from the south."

Promotional literature from the architects says this technique can help reduce shadows by about 60%.

NBBJ submitted the concept for a recent competition run by New London Architecture (NLA) think-tank that aimed to discover how skyscrapers could benefit public spaces.

With the NLA predicting more than 200 new skyscrapers could be built in the UK capital over the next few years, NBBJ think the idea could be of use to designers and architects working elsewhere in the city.

Coop also states it could be of interest in a number of other cities that are developing rapidly.

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Architects plan skyscraper that 'casts no shadow'

PagePark, based in Glasgow, have been named as the design team who will lead the restoration of the world famous building designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

PagePark will lead a "successful reconstruction" of the Mackintosh Library, in particular, a key feature of the building which was gutted by the disastrous fire last year.

The architects firm was one of five short listed for the key role in the restoration of the art school and were named as the successful practice today.

PagePark have what the art school (GSA) describe as an "extensive track record in both restoring and reinvigorating major historic buildings."

They also have experience of working with the legacy of Mackintosh.

The practice has worked at his Hillhouse in Helensburgh, the former office of The Herald in what is now called The Lighthouse in Glasgow city centre, and were lead designers of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project at the art school itself from 2007-9.

David Page, head of architecture at PagePark, said he was delighted the practice had won the commission.

He said that the practice had spent months analysing how Mackintosh had designed and built the building, especially the library, and now it was time to discuss with the GSA how exactly the library could be rebuilt.

Page Park undertook an analysis of the construction of a bay from the Mackintosh Library, including the creation

of an accurate scale model, to answer the question they set themselves: "What do we know about the library that will enable us to do a successful reconstruction?"

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Glasgow architects Page\Park to rebuild Mackintosh Building devastated by fire

PagePark, based in Glasgow, have been named as the design team who will lead the restoration of the world famous building designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

PagePark, the GSA say, will lead a "successful reconstruction" of the Mackintosh Library, which was gutted by the fire in May last year.

David Page, head of architecture the firm, said they had studied the library, how it was designed and constructed, for three months prior to bidding for the job and now had "all the facts" at hand.

However he said the final look of the library was yet to be decided, and would only be constructed after discussions with the school.

Last week Professor Tom Inns, director of the school, appeared to end a public debate about what should be done with the library, saying it would be reconstructed.

PagePark have what the art school (GSA) describe as an "extensive track record in both restoring and reinvigorating major historic buildings".

They also have experience of working with the legacy of Mackintosh - the practice has worked at his Hillhouse in Helensburgh, the former office of The Herald in what is now called The Lighthouse, and were lead designers of the Mackintosh Conservation and Access Project at the art school itself from 2007-9.

Mr Page said he was delighted the practice had won the commission and said "you begin a practice so you can get to this stage".

However, he did not commit to completely restoring the library as an identical replica to the original.

He said the library had been constructed in an extraordinary way, "nailed together like a garden fence", and now the practice was "looking forward to the dialogue" with the school over how it could be reconstructed.

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Architects who will restore Mackintosh Library will rebuild it with 'heads, not hearts'.

Architects - The Distant Blue live @ Roxy, Prague
18.2.2015 ROXY PRAGUE w/ Blessthefall, Everytime I Die, Counterparts.

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ARCHITECTS: Early Grave (Bass Cover)
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Siddaramiah #39;s new bungalow: Architects concerned about the damage to colonial building
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If one can be sure of anything, it's that when architects design their own homes, the end result is going to be high on style. And with a new piece that interviews several architects who've recently built dwellings for themselves, the Wall Street Journal would like to suggest that, compared to structures built for clients, these personal projects are actually quite practical. Granted, architects get to save on design fees and trade discounts, but as this Austin couple has demonstrated already, it's also all about knowing where to spend money and where to conserve. Read on for three quick money-saving takeaways from WSJ's exploration into various architects' "simple, sophisticated structures that merely look expensive."

The general consensus among the architects featured is that less is more, particularly the principle that "streamlined designs take less time to build and are easier to maintainyet are still more aesthetically appealing." But basic design aside, here are a few specific ways they keep their projects in check:

1. PrioritizeDuh.

"We worked really hard to get to the essence of what was important to us," Jeff Stern, from Portland-based firm In Situ Architecture, tells WSJ, "rather than starting the process wanting it all and having to compromise." For Stern, splurging on super energy-efficient triple-glazed windows meant incorporating a mix of budget-friendly solutions like concrete floors, fir cabinetry, and plastic laminate countertops.

Thomas Gluck of NYC-based firm Gluck + Architecture gave the exterior of his Tower House ( ) a tinted-glass treatment usually only used for commercial projects. "Even though the glass itself is inexpensive, the technique of applying the tint can be costly," WSJ's Nancy Keates writes. Still, this was a calculated risk that's central to the design of the home; the dark glass exterior allows the structure to blend in with its woodsy surroundings. Inside the home, he kept the design and finishings simple ( ).

Photo by Paul Warchol via Gluck+

For his upstate New York weekend retreat (), Manhattan architect Doug Larson used "a factory-built stove pipe instead of a brick chimney with a fancy surround and a mantle."

Photo by Tim Street Porter via Larson and Paul Architects

Speaking of cost-effective alternatives...

2. Find off-price stealsit's like bargain-hunting at T.J.Maxx but for building supplies.

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Designer Dwellings : How Architects Save Money When They Build Their Own Homes

San Fernando Architects Basketball Left-Hand Shooters
SAN FERNANDO, (P) Phil. The United Architects of the Philippines, UAP Pampanga- San Fernando Chapter (UAP San Fernando Architects) were recent been invited to play in the University of the...

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San Fernando Architects Basketball Left-Hand Shooters - Video