Asheville, NC (PRWEB) May 22, 2014

Rowhouse Architects was named winner of two 2014 Griffin Awards for Historic Preservation from the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County (PSABC), in the categories of Adaptive Re-use and Rehabilitation. This is the 35th year the PSABC has presented awards to outstanding projects and individuals that further the goals of historic preservation in the Asheville and greater Buncombe County, NC area.

Awards were given in the categories of Restoration, Rehabilitation, Adaptive Re-use, InFill Construction Within a Historic District or Neighborhood Research, Publication and Education, Stewardship and Preservation, and selected from nominations ranging widely in scope.

We are honored to be recognized in this way by the PSABC, an important force in sustaining the heritage and sense of place that is Asheville and Buncombe County, said Jeff Dalton, founding Principal of Rowhouse Architects. This years awards are for highly visible Rowhouse Architects design projects in Asheville Wicked Weed Ale Company for Adaptive Re-use, and The Windsor Hotel for Rehabilitation, both well designed and successfully completed with strong development, construction and interior design partners. Both of these projects required significant experience in adaptive re-use and historic rehabilitation techniques and construction procedures. We were excited to have a chance to work on something so well suited to our interests and expertise. Both projects turned out really well and we are very proud of the outcomes.

Wicked Weed, originally a service station built in 1941 was renovated and converted into a stunning restaurant on the street level with high use outdoor seating, and a brewery on the lower level. The Windsor Boutique Hotel, a Historic Preservation Tax Credit project at 36 Broadway, was built in 1907 for retail and apartments and is on the National Historic Register. Its renovation refurbished existing apartments into boutique hotel rooms with street level restaurant and retail spaces.

Both of these projects presented special challenges in that they required fitting new, modern uses into older, outdated buildings that were not code compliant, Dalton said of the projects. The renovations had to respect the fabric of the original structures, meet the building code, be functional, aesthetically pleasing and perhaps most importantly, fit in the owners construction budget.

Wicked Weed has brought new life to the south end of Biltmore Avenue and provides two great outdoor seating areas where people can enjoy Ashevilles amazing climate. The Windsor Hotel will enliven the north end of Broadway Street and give visitors a unique chance to experience staying in an important historic structure in the heart of downtown.

ABOUT ROWHOUSE ARCHITECTS

ROWHOUSE ARCHITECTS is a client focused award-winning architecture firm based in Asheville, NC, whose mission is to create significant places of lasting value for its clients and the community. The guiding principle of the firm is the belief that architecture has the power to be a positive force for change in peoples lives and their communities.

Established in 1992 in a historic Atlanta rowhouse, the firm is led by founding Principal Jeff Dalton, a graduate of Georgia Techs College of Architecture and City Planning, and consists of a core group of talented staff and expert consultants in urban mixed-use projects, historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and affordable housing. With exceptional service and a constant focus on client goals and objectives, Rowhouse Architects is well known for outstanding design on successful projects including The Grove Arcade, the Kenilworth Inn and Wicked Weed Ale Company.

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Rowhouse Architects Honored with Two Griffin Awards for Historic Preservation

KUCHING: Inexperienced architects and engineers are urged to learn from experts in the Uniform Building Bylaws (UBBL) as fire safety is not taught comprehensively in institutions of higher learning.

As such, it is important that they attend courses and seminars on the subject to widen their knowledge, said Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim.

Apart from increasing their competency, the courses will provide them with solutions which might help them save lives and stop fires from happening, he said at the state-level fire safety seminar at the State Islamic Complex here yesterday.

He pointed out that questions on why fires occur cannot be answered easily as some fires happen because of negligence.

He warned that a professional would be liable and face legal consequences should any of their project were involved in a tragedy.

The collapse of Highland Towers, explosions at Bright Sparkles firework factory, the fire at the Shell Tiram ship and fire at Sekolah Menengah Agama Taufikiah Khairiah Al Halimiah in Kedah and the collapse of a flyover at the Penang Second Bridge are a few examples of tragedy, which led to the formation of the Royal Commission, Board of Inquiries and court action, he said.

The objective of the seminar was to increase the level of competency of participants and update them on industry practices, code of conduct and new laws.

It also served as a platform for professionals to meet and exchange ideas through dialogues.

Also present were State Fire and Rescue Department director Nor Hisham Mohammad and Malaysian Fire Protection Association president Danny Cheah.

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Learn from experts in fire safety, new architects and engineers told

Jockey Club Innovation Tower by Zaha Hadid Architects
See the entire project: http://ilikear.ch/JCITZahaHadidArchitects Film by Dan Chung Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the Jockey Club Innovation Tower (JCIT) is home to the Hong Kong Polytechnic...

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Under-construction architects

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The Nigerian Institute of Architects on Tuesday urged the Lagos State Government to adequately fund its new Mortgage Scheme.

This is contained in a Communiqu issued at the end of the Lagos Architects Forum 5.0, signed by Mr. Ladipo Lewis, Chairman, NIA, Lagos Chapter, and its Secretary, Mr. Bayo Ogunmefun.

The forum with the theme Architecture and Real Estate Development, noted that funding the new mortgage scheme would enable the government take care of the housing deficit in the State.

There is a massive housing shortage in Lagos State for the low and medium Income classes.

This situation is caused by lack of an effective mortgage system, inadequate provision of finance and difficult access to land.

We believe that funding the new scheme will help the low and medium income earners in both the formal and the informal sectors of the economy, the communiqu said.

It also urged the State Government to make procurement of Certificates of Occupancy and Governors Consents easy.

The communiqu said that the State Government should either adopt the National Building Code or evolve its own State Code, to stem building failure and collapse.

It suggested that the state should put in place policies that would encourage continuous development of quality Hotels of various standards.

The communiqu said that this was necessary because of the mega-city status of Lagos and its economic importance in the country and the West African Sub-Region.

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Fund new mortgage scheme, architects urge Lagos

Regional News of Wednesday, 21 May 2014

Source: Graphic Online

The acting Registrar of the Architects Registration Council of Ghana, Mrs Stella Arthiabah, has cautioned the public to beware of unauthorised persons, who are illegally practising architecture in the country.

She said in a statement that certain individuals and firms, though not being architects or architectural firms, presented themselves to unsuspecting clients and submitted proposals for consideration for architectural design and consultancy services.

Such practices do not only affect the proper planning and adherence to building regulations in the country but also pose great danger to our society since these individuals lack the required coaching to do proper work.

Mrs Arthiabah cited part 3, paragraph 20 of the Architects Decree 1969 (NLCD 357); Part 1, Section 6 of the National Building Regulations 1996 (LI 1630); and related legislation which make clear reference to the practice and engagement of architects and the allied professionals.

The architect is the lead design professional and has the capacity and training in the art and science of building design and the design of spaces in general.

She urged the public to engage only registered architects and architectural firms for architectural services, ensure that Statement of Work (SOW) for consultancy services was clearly stated to avoid any ambiguities, request for proof of valid practice certificates from consultants and also seek assistance from the Council or the Ghana Institute of Architects when developing SOW for building projects.

Mrs Arthiabah noted that the authorised architects had the capacity to embark on core architectural services, including project feasibility/viability studies, concept ideas development, building design and detailing, construction supervision, contract administration, project management, rehabilitation and refurbishment, conservation, interior design, landscape design, building survey and facilitating planning approvals.

The Architects Registration Council of Ghana is mandated by the Architects Decree of 1969 (NLCD 357) to control the practice of Architecture in Ghana, and prescribe and uphold standards of professional conduct and ethics of the practice in the interest of the general public.

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Public cautioned against fake architects

County Commissioners Court will select either MNK Architects or Wiginton Hooker Jeffry to perform the study that will help determine whether the Downtown jail needs to be replaced or repaired.

MNK Architects is an El Paso company. Wiginton Hooker Jeffry's main office is in Plano, Texas. Both companies have formed teams for the study that include other local and out-of-town companies.

MNK Architects has associated with GSBS Architects, a firm with offices in Salt Lake City and Fort Worth, to compete for the project.

According to a presentation, MNK and GSBS together have worked on more than 115 jail projects. Their team includes companies such as Latta Tech, which specializes in security consulting, and AB&P Engineering from El Paso. MNK representatives said they are familiar with the Downtown jail and the city's building code.

Jim Wiginton, president of Wiginton Hooker Jeffry, said his company has built 40 jails more than 30 in Texas and five in New Mexico. The company has a long relationship with ASA Architects, which has had an office in El Paso for about 20 years. Together they built the Doa Ana County Jail. Another local company associated with this team is Walter P. Moore engineers, Wiginton said.

MNK Architects and Wiginton Hooker Jeffry were considered after the county's purchasing department issued the request for qualifications to 151 engineering firms throughout the country and received five consultant proposals back.

MNK Architects and Wiginton Hooker Jeffry were the top finalists as their proposals were rated as equal by the county's evaluation committee. The evaluation committee included members of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, the public works department, the auditor's office and the purchasing department.

Commissioners Court is expected to make a decision in two weeks.

The purpose of the feasibility study is to determine "the best overall operating cost savings" for the Downtown jail over the next 15 years, said Kennie Downing, county's purchasing agent.

"We are looking for a long term cost savings goal," she said.

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Two firms vie for the right to study the Downtown jail

Badih and Kantar Architects Photoshoot by Emile Issa
Corporate Photo Shoot for BK Architects: Partners and Team Members Corporate Portrait Photo Shoot by Emile Issa. Video: Fouad Tadros.

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