Source: The Daily Telegraph

TWO architects who openly savaged designs released for James Packer's Barangaroo casino worked on construction and redesign of competitor The Star casino.

Joe Agius, the NSW president of the Australian Institute of Architects, who said the design could have belonged in "Dubai" and described Mr Packer's comparison to the Opera House as "ludicrous and offensive" in The Sydney Morning Herald admitted he was employed on "alterations and additions" worth $140 million in construction costs on The Star's $750 million design. Phillip Cox, Mr Agius's partner at Cox Richardson Architects, who also criticised the Crown proposals as "a bit Macau", helped build the original Star building.

Last Friday The Daily Telegraph revealed designs by three leading overseas architects for the building. Mr Agius was forced to admit yesterday that he had done work for The Star, as had his company Cox Richardson, but said it was no longer a client: "This is irrelevant to my comments. Those comments were made in my (position) as NSW chapter president of the Australian Institute of Architects."A spokeswoman for Cox Richardson referred all inquiries about comments made by Mr Cox, who is overseas, to Mr Agius.

Executive vice-president of Mr Packer's company Crown, Todd Nisbet, said last week's unveiling of the three designs was the culmination of months of work by some of the world's best architects to give Sydney a building it could be proud of.

A government panel is to decide whether to give approval to Mr Packer's Barangaroo high-rollers casino as part of the government's "unsolicited proposals" process this month.

Gallery - see the Barangaroo proposals

Experts applaud designer shortlist

Architectural genius won't wear Crown

Keating favours sea shells by the sea shore

See original here:
Barangaroo critics were Star architects

IT WAS an extra-special convention for most Cebuano architects who attended the 39th United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) National Convention in Manila last month.

UAP Sugbu Chapter president Buck Richnold Sia was one of the 20 speakers who were tasked to deliver continuing professional development lectures to close to 2,000 delegates from all over the country. The young architect, who was recently included in BluPrint Magazines 20 Outstanding Filipino Designers Under 40, talked about his firm and practice.

The convention also saw the elevation of another Cebuano architect, Nestor Liston, to the UAPs prestigious College of Fellows. Almost a hundred delegates from Cebus five UAP Chapters (Cebu, Rajah Humabon, Datu Lapu Lapu, Sugbu and Cebu-Leon Kilat) joined the different functions and of course, the fellowship parties that highlighted each convention day.

Forum rules: Do not use obscenity. Some words have been banned. Stick to the topic. Do not veer away from the discussion. Be coherent and respectful. Do not shout or use CAPITAL LETTERS!

See original here:
Cebu Architects at UAP Convention XXIX

Denise Scott Brown in Las Vegas around 1966. She co-wrote the seminal book "Learning from Las Vegas."

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Editor's note: Marika Shioiri-Clark is the principal of SOSHL Studio, an international design consultancy, based in Cleveland. John Cary is the founder of PublicInterestDesign.org, a website focused on design and social change based in Brooklyn, New York.

(CNN) -- An online campaign has started to right a 22-year-old wrong committed against legendary architect Denise Scott Brown. She and Robert Venturi, her partner and husband, have designed iconic buildings together for 40 years -- yet she was excluded when Venturi was awarded the highest honor in architecture in 1991, the Pritzker Prize.

The cause has created an unusual outcry across the architecture profession. Started by two young women active in the Women In Design club at Harvard University, the Change.org campaign has generated more than 11,000 signatures, nine of whom are Pritzker winners. It's a worthy cause, and reflects the dismissive attitude toward women in architecture even today.

Architect Zaha Hadid, one of only two women who have won the Pritzer Prize, stands in front of the Riverside Museum she designed for Glasgow, Scotland.

Endowed by the Pritzker Family, the $100,000 prize has twice been awarded to pairs of architects, both times at the request of the individual to whom the award was originally intended to go. With only one exception, however, female partners have consistently been overlooked. Just last year, Chinese architect Wang Shu was honored without his partner and wife, Lu Wenyu. Only two women have won the Pritzker Prize in its 34 year history.

Since 1991, Venturi has repeatedly insisted that Scott Brown was an equal collaborator and should share the honor with him. It's not a hard case to make: Scott Brown co-wrote the highly influential book "Learning from Las Vegas" in 1972, and has been widely known and appreciated in the field.

Scott Brown described Venturi as being "as brave as you could possibly expect him to be" in his support. Still, they decided "we could not afford to pass up the Pritzker Prize for the sake of our fledgling firm." She is calling for a ceremony to recognize her contributions to the firm's work, which includes the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery in London and the Vanna Venturi house.

Marika Shioiri-Clark

Originally posted here:
Don't tear down female architects

CAPTIONS

Chicago's former main post office The former main Chicago post office that spans the Congress Expressway, at 433 W. Van Buren St. is being auctioned off. The 14-story, 77-year-old building has been vacant since 1995 when the Postal Service moved to a new building on Harrison Street. Since then, ideas floated for the space have included a casino, a water park and an auto mall. (Tribune photo by Antonio Perez /July 8, 2009)

8:16 p.m. CDT, May 3, 2013

Architects for the British developer who owns Chicago's old post office building say they have a new proposal for the structure that will be ready for presentation to the city's Plan Commission in June.

The developer, Bill Davies, unveiled a massive redevelopment plan in 2011 that he promised would transform the area around the old post office, which straddles Congress Parkway, into an "urban mecca" of five residential, office and hotel towers.

The latest proposal is more modest, calling for retail shops on the first three floors of the nine-story building and residential space above that. Davies also wants to construct a 100-story building with residential and hotel space on land between the old post office and the Chicago River.

The plans include a new, high-tech parking structure on a site just to the west of the old post office.

"You'll come to the elevator, push a button, and a robot will go and get your car," said Joseph Antunovich, president of Antunovich Associates, the architecture, planning and interior design firm working on the project.

The architects met Friday morning with city fire officials to discuss fire safety related to the preliminary proposal, a Fire Department official said. Antunovich said the building has improved sprinkler standpipes and has started running its 11 exhaust fans 24 hours a day.

Under a federal agreement with Amtrak and Union Station, the owner of the old post office is required to keep its ventilation system running constantly to suck out diesel exhaust from nearby Union Station.

See more here:
Architects to present new plan for old Chicago post office

(PRWEB) May 02, 2013

The commercial architects and design specialists at OTJ Architects have seen first-hand how a green workplace can not only save companies money, but also help retain and attract employees. Feedback from organizations show they are shifting toward a healthy atmosphere that accommodates all types of employees with goals of helping the environment, while also reducing operational costs and enabling employees to be more productive.

OTJs architectural firm findings are affirmed by a study conducted by the American Journal of Public Health claiming there were reductions in absenteeism and affected work hours as a result of perceived improvements in health in the workplace. In addition, employees said they saw a positive effect on their productivity when working within a green environment.

Organizations want to do what is right for the environment and are seeing that there are a lot of additional bonuses when doing so, said Lance Jaccard, Partner at OTJ Architects. A company that invests in this green market research knows that their brand will successfully stand out from their competitors because as consumers become more aware of their environmental impact, businesses find it financially damaging to continue irresponsible business practices.

The architect consultants at OTJ Architects have put together examples of how a sustainable workplace design can benefit businesses of all sizes:

According to an additional report by FacilitiesNet, there are links between green building and the productivity of staff. The report concluded that the number of work hours affected by depression and stress decreased by 30 percent when companies transition to green work environments.

Greening your workplace makes sense financially when you end up saving money in the long run every year. Cutting energy, waste and water can mean a 60 percent decrease in utility spending saving that money for more important business operation plans. Energy efficiency bills go down, and employee retention and efficiency goes up, says Jaccard.

About OTJ Architects OTJ Architects is a well-respected national architecture and interior architecture design firm that has successfully completed thousands of projects throughout the country. Founded in 1990, OTJ is comprised of five studios headquartered in Washington, DC, with more than 60 architects and designers, many of whom are LEED Accredited Professionals. OTJ is registered in 37 states and is able to consult in all 50 states. The responsive architecture and interior architecture consultants create effective environments through listening, understanding and tailored design. These designs focus on helping clients enhance collaboration, company branding and employee recruitment and retention. OTJs design teams provide clients with personalized attention to create workplace solutions that reflect their unique, individual needs. For more information visit http://www.otj.com/.

See the original post here:
Commercial Architects at OTJ Share Five Benefits of Green Workplaces

5/2/2013 - West Side Leader

The Awards Program recognizes the quality of work produced by firms and individuals in the Akron Chapter. An eight-member jury comprised of fellow design, community and industry members reviewed more than 50 qualified entries.

TC Architects, located in West Akron, was recognized for its redesign of the resident quarters for Akron General Health Systems main campus hospital, transforming it into a retreat for the doctors with triple the locker capacity, an eating area, TV lounge and more areas for computer access within the same square footage, shown below.

Deanne Frank, an employee of TC Architects, also was recognized for her senior capstone project. The University of Cincinnati capstone experience is designed to demonstrate excellence in architectural design strategies and applied skills. Franks project was one of two that received student awards out of 16 entries.

Pictured above at the award presentation are AIA Akron Chapter President Don Rife, of The Ruhlin Co., of Sharon Center; Jeff Dolly, of Akron General; Rebecca Yakovic, of TC Architects; and Joe Plavecski, of Akron General.

Read more:
TC Architects receives design award

An online campaign to have the work of architect Denise Scott Brown recognized by the Pritzker Architecture Prize committee has shed light on the ongoing struggles of women in architecture. Women must push themselves to 'lean in' more to fight internal and external obstacles.

Women make up almost half the graduating architecture classes, but only 17 percent of architecture-firm leadership. Even as women have made great strides in the field over the last several decades, that disconnect hasnt gone away.

Subscribe Today to the Monitor

Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of The Christian Science Monitor Weekly Digital Edition

So a few weeks ago, Harvard architecture students Caroline James and Arielle Assouline-Lichten launched a campaign on Change.org, an online petition platform, which has garnered more than 11,300 signatures. Some of the worlds premier architects have signed it including Rem Koolhaas, Jacques Herzog, and Pierre de Meuron.

These signers are petitioning the Pritzker Architecture Prize committee to formally and equally recognize the work of Denise Scott Brown in the 1991 award given exclusively to her male collaborator Robert Venturi. Now in its sixth week, their campaign continues to gain signatures including from Mr. Venturi and nine other Pritzker prize winners and media attention.

More important, the campaign has raised questions about the challenges facing female architectural designers today and how talented women can face them down.

Why would two young female architects take up Ms. Browns cause 22 years after the fact? I am inadvertently responsible for setting into motion the events that led to this petition. But I hesitated to write this article because my contribution did not come from a moment of insight or inspired action; it came from a moment of desperation and self-doubt.

A few weeks ago, as a student at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, I came to campus distressed and deflated. I had been working hard on an application for a prestigious fellowship that was due later that day, but was convinced that my proposal wasn't good enough. I felt naive and that my work was that of an amateur.

Looking for absolution and emotional permission to give up, I turned to a classmate, Caroline James. Instead of the kind shoulder I sought, she gave me a challenge and asked, Have you ever heard of leaning in?

See the original post:
A blueprint for women architects to overcome doubt, discrimination

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- FOX Architects, an expert in commercial office design, today announced it is celebrating the firm's ten year anniversary as the nation's capital award-winning architecture and interior design firm of choice. Principals and subject matter expert trailblazers includes: Robert Fox, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP, Sabret Flocos, IIDA, LEED AP, Jim Allegro, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP, Andy Yeh, LEED AP and J.P. Spickler, AIA, LEED AP who lead the firm on the principle that the built environment is a business performance tool.

This milestone comes on the heels of receiving two prestigious awards from the International Interior Design Association's Mid-Atlantic Chapter in April. During the 2013 Design Awards program, FOX was recognized for their CQ Roll Call and Sapient projects. These achievements further reflect FOX's philosophy that the built environment enhances corporate vision and brand while inspiring teams to achieve their business goals. In addition, the firm recently designed and implemented an innovative new workplace for their Virginia office to further support the firm's long term strategic goals.

This ten year anniversary marks a decade of growth, industry achievement and lasting influence on the Washington metropolitan area in its architecture and commercial interiors landscape. Bob Fox, Principal of FOX Architects, shared his enthusiasm about this milestone explaining, "FOX Architects believes in its people, and without them, none of this success would be possible. They contribute in creating a distinguished culture, process and approach to design that differentiates FOX as a firm. We are looking forward to celebrating the next ten years with our talented team, existing and future clients, the community and we anticipate continued success and growth."

About FOX Architects, LLC

Ranked among the Largest Design Firms in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area by the Washington Business Journal, FOX Architects is a fully integrated firm of architects, interior designers, and graphic designers with offices in Washington, D.C. and Virginia. Our portfolio highlights our expertise in commercial office design and architecture at the local and national level. Our multi-disciplined design approach seamlessly incorporates both our base building architecture and interior design capabilities. For more information, visit http://www.fox-architects.comand follow us on Twitter @FOXArchitects.

See the rest here:
FOX Architects Celebrates Ten Year Milestone

By BRAVETTA HASSELL World Scene Writer on Apr 30, 2013, at 2:21 AMUpdated on 4/30/13 at 6:30 AM

A home in Bixby includes a fire pit as part of its outdoor renovations. Fire pit/fireplace is the top-ranked design element in a survey about popular outdoor-living features. MATT BARNARD / Tulsa World file

As part of the 2013 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends survey, the American Society of Landscape Architects asked landscape architects who specialize in design to rate the expected popularity of a variety of residential outdoor design elements this year.

Among the results, 94.5 percent of respondents ranked outdoor living spaces, defined as kitchens and entertainment spaces, as somewhat or very popular, tying with gardens and landscaped spaces at 94.4 percent.

Across all categories, 97 percent of landscape architects reported fire pits and fireplaces as somewhat or very in-demand for 2013, followed by grills, seating and dining areas, and lighting.

"In this uncertain economy, homeowners want to get more enjoyment out of their yards," said ASLA Executive Vice President and CEO Nancy Somerville. "They want attractive outdoor spaces that are both easy to take care of and sustainable."

It's a trend Kevin Randol, owner of Randol's Complete Outdoor Living, has been seeing for the past four to five years.

"More hardscaping, less landscaping."

In addition to outdoor kitchens, fire pits and fireplaces, water features are extremely popular - especially waterfalls.

This mirrors the broader trend, in which more than 90 percent of respondents forecast decorative water elements to be in high demand this year.

Read the rest here:
'Hardscaping' grows in popularity as outdoor living ranks high in landscape architects' survey

Northbrook, IL (PRWEB) April 30, 2013

James T. Moyer, a principal of SAS Architects & Planners (http://www.sasarch.com), has completed the City of Chicago Department of Buildings self-certification permit training program. Completing the training allows Moyer to expedite the building permit process for many of the firms Chicago projects by certifying that permit drawings comply with the Chicago Building Code.

Certification gives us, as architects of record, responsibility for code compliance. This streamlines and simplifies the building permit process for the firm and our clients who have endured long waits for plan reviews in Chicago, he explained.

Moyer joined SAS which specializes in senior living, healthcare and commercial use projects in 1996. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Architecture, is a member of the American Institute of Architects, and is a LEED AP (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Accredited Professional).

About SAS Architects & Planners Based in Northbrook, Ill., SAS Architects & Planners provides a wide range of professional services ranging from project development through implementation and post-occupancy support for the healthcare, senior living and commercial sectors. Founded in 1954, it remains committed to translating client goals into functional building environments that are thoughtfully designed, environmentally friendly, and technologically advanced. Past and present clients include: Allstate Insurance Co., CJE Senior Life, LaSalle Group, NuCare Service Corp., Providence Life Services, Senior Lifestyle Corp., and YAM Management. For more information, visit http://www.sasarch.com.

###

Link:
SAS Architects & Planners Principal Completes City of Chicago Self-Certification Permit Program