Globe Life Field steps into the brightest spotlight in baseball when the World Series starts tonight in Arlington.

Its also a big moment for an architect with Dallas-based HKS.

Been with the firm for 12 years and very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work on something as significant as Globe Life Field, said Fred Ortiz, principal at HKS.

The latest news from around North Texas.

Ortiz was the lead designer on the billion-dollar ballpark - the largest project to date for a man who grew up wanting to do two things: play football and be an architect.

Ortiz was raised in El Paso, the oldest of five brothers born to parents who immigrated from Mexico. He played baseball with his brothers and other boys in his neighborhood. It was high school football, though, that led to a dream that someday he could be a tight end for the Dallas Cowboys.

He got close. He got to Arlington where the University of Texas at Arlington awarded him a football scholarship. He was in his freshman year when a knee injury sidelined him then the program was sidelined permanently. It was the last year UTA had football.

Ortiz stayed in Arlington and earned a degree in architecture. Now years later, he's the star player on the HKS team that designed the ballpark where the new World Series Champ will be crowned.

A moment of pride, right? Satisfaction. And we tend to put a lot of time and effort into these things. So, once they're built and you see it come to fruition, it is just amazing and more gratifying when you see it being used as it was intended to be used, Ortiz, 53, said.

The architect and design director finally got to see it in use last week and watch a limited number of fans take it all in. As he watched them, his mind also went back to his childhood and an understanding that this accomplishment was not his alone. I thought about how I wasnt just doing this for myself but also for my family, Ortiz told The Dallas Morning News. My dad always pushed us to take pride in our name. Yes, there was personal pride, but it was an overarching family pride.

With coronavirus blowing the big debut of Globe Life Field this season and now capacity limited, most people can along see the ballpark on TV. While there's generous praise, the designer looks forward to the day people can see and appreciate all the work that went into it.

I continue to get notes, texts, 'Wow! It looks great on TV, Ortiz said. Theres so many great things about the project and one of my favorites happens to be the 1,000-foot long, 100-foot high wall that fronts onto Nolan Ryan Expressway. It has a really beautiful plaza and there's these beautiful arches and you get a different vantage point not only into the ballpark but out towards the district and it has these awesome balcony seats that give you great views of the field.

Just as he relied on teammates on the baseball and football fields, Ortiz is quick to credit the players who executed the plans.

Ive been practicing for over 30 years and, it never fails to amaze me, that for me, its so easy to draw things on paper; to come up with ideas, he said, but it's very humbling to see the contractors, right? All those individuals that actually have a hand in building, physically building these structures we create and visualize.

As a designer, Ortiz creates big vision ideas and sketches them all the way down to details. Its a metaphor for his life. His big vision all those years ago growing up in El Paso was to be an architect. His career took him to other firms and in 2007, it brought him back to North Texas and the project just miles away from the university that helped him believe the dreams of a boy drawing in the dirt all those years ago could come true.

I was blessed with an ability to draw, right? And so, I did that quite a bit, he said. Somehow to think over 40 years later, here I am having been a part of a huge team that's doing great things for Major League Baseball. Im thankful for opportunities such as this. Its a blessing. Its not just one guy leading the entire thing. There are several players.

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Architect Designs Career Connected to Love of Sports - NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

SEATTLE, Washington According to the United Nations, more than 1.6 billion people live in inadequate housing, including slums and informal settlements. Densely packed and increasingly gentrified urban spaces have created a global housing crisis. A 2018 report by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy sampled more than 200 global cities and cited only 10% as being affordable. The cost of accessible housing is directly correlated to povertyboth aggravating and mitigating it. As such, many cities are attempting to stem soaring real estate prices and increase housing accessibility in a myriad of ways. Examples of proposed mitigation have included acquiring more governmentally owned land in the case of Chengdu, China, or encouraging private sectors to finance projects such as the Urban Wealth Fund in Hamburg, Germany. However, architects themselves may play a critical role in solving the global housing crisis.

Although the novel coronavirus has dampened the decade-long trend of moving from suburban or rural areas to citiesoften perceived as the soul of real estate, commerce and culturethe percentage of people residing in cities is predicted to reach 68% by 2050. In addition, some of the fastest-growing mid-sized cities, which the U.N. defines as having fewer than one million inhabitants, are in Asia and Africa.

This may appear to be encouraging news as sub-Saharan Africa is home to 27 of the worlds 28 poorest countries and has an average poverty rate of approximately 41%. Logically, urbanization could act as a catalyst for economic growth, increased job opportunities, higher incomes, access to education and a higher demand for food grown in poverty-stricken rural areas.

However, the number of the urban poor is rising as prices for rent, food, transportation and energy consumption in cities soars. For instance, a 2018 study on urbanization showed that in African cities, 39% of renters are insecure about losing their property. Moreover, urbanization also directly impacts the environment. Air pollution, traffic congestion and higher temperatures are the result of previous urban designs, traditionally employing massive tracts of concrete and steel.

The combined factors of insecure housing and environmental risks exacerbate issues of poverty and can correlate to negative health-related issues. Many experts suggest that the housing crisis, specifically the urban housing, is a result of a century of reactive housing policies instead of proactive policies. Evictions have led to mass human rights violations and current designs are unsustainableboth in a literal and environmental sense.

How can architects and architectural firms play an integral role in addressing this growing crisis?

The role of the architect was previously that of designing and completing infrastructure projects. However, the architects role has evolved over the years and now encompasses different aspects of a project.

Luxury high-rise buildings made for mega-companies such as PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Coca-Cola have ushered in attractive and career-defining contracts for architects and firms, and many have followed suit. Yet, this comes at the cost of a global housing crisis.

While some experts cite that giant corporations and private equity firms primarily drive housing markets, some architects are making a change by embracing social responsibility for the environment and the growing renter population.

Some of the leading architect figures and firms around the globe, including Chilean architect Alejandro Aravena, MVRDV and MASS Design Group, demonstrate that there are innovative ways to build affordable, high-quality and environmentally conscious structures.

Today, urban architects face a hefty challenge. Not only are their designs constrained by the aesthetics of an existing neighborhood and limited budgets, but past failed attempts at creating affordable housing make investors wary.

Architects began to move away from mass affordable housing projects due to criticisms of modernist structures being dense, uniform and dysfunctional structures. As such, architects began favoring aesthetics over residents actual needs. These include public housing projects ranging from Les Bosquets in Paris to Pruitt-Igoe in St. Louis.

Social responsibility as an architect is not a clearly defined role nor is it new. William Mangold, a professor of interior design at Pratt Institute, broadly defines architectural social responsibility as characterized by attitudes that value justice, equality, participation, sharing, sustainability and practices that intentionally engage social issues and recognize the consequences of decisions and actions.

Architects such as Alejandro Aravena are prime examples of the ability to both deliver aesthetics and adopt the role of a socially responsible designer.

Chilean architect Alejandro Aravena was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2016, one of the most prestigious awards in the architectural world. What is unusual about Aravena is that architectural experts respect his aesthetic form but Arvena has also designed more than 2,500 low-cost social housing structures. He also coined the idea of half of a good house which consciously stayed within the limited governmental budget to build half a house where families could reside in and then allowed them to build or invest in the second half at the pace that worked for their budget. This gave families a home while enabling them to expand the space beyond the bare minimum governmental mandate.

MVRDV is a firm based in Denmark that has designed projects for cities in India such as Pune in 2018. Their low-cost high-rise structures accommodated around 5,000 residents and took into account the diverse structures of families. Each unit ranged from 45 to 450 square meters based on resident needs and is part of a larger, communal complex that includes public courtyards and green spaces.

A final example is a U.S.-based firm, MASS Design Group. While the design firms work in Burera, Rwanda was not a housing project but instead a hospital project, the co-founder Michael Murphy succinctly affirms the evolving role of the architect: Architecture is an expansive fieldbut too often it has been narrowly considered, ignoring the social justice inherent in appropriate design.

The growing interest in socially responsible architecture for the environment and residents extends beyond individualistic pursuits. Universities are also beginning to offer increased course offerings in ethical design. Conferences are occurring on levels as large as the 2016 U.N. Conference on Housing and Sustainable Developmental (Habitat III) and between stakeholders, designers and local residents that provide platforms for dialogue. Additionally, institutions such as the Smithsonian are collaborating with design students and highlighting the need for socially responsible architecture.

With a new wave of conscious design and direct collaboration between architects and future residences, addressing the growing housing crisis may not seem so monumental. Creating affordable housing addresses many of the underlying issues of global poverty. Studies have shown that stable and secure home environments vastly increase the mental well-being of a person which can translate into areas such as job stability, curbing homelessness, drug abuse rates and health consequences. The overarching fact is that unless cities radically dissipate or design models change, there will be finite space to house the growing global population. As such architects, architectural firms, global organizations and governments need to work together to address the global housing crisis.

Lily Poppen Photo: Flickr

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How Architects Can Ease the Global Housing Crisis - BORGEN - Borgen Project

Solutions Review compiles the most essential books that any network or IT architects need to add to their reading list.

Are you a network or IT architect looking to gain more knowledge in your area of expertise? Books, whether hardcover or digital, are an excellent source for people looking to learn about a specific field of technology, and network and IT architecture is no exception. Weve listed the eight most essential books for network and IT architects that you should add to your reading list. These books are intended for beginners and experts alike and are written by authors with proficiency and/or recognition in the field of network and IT architecture.

If youre looking for resources on network monitoring, our free Network Monitoring Buyers Guide has you covered. It contains profiles on the top network monitoring providers in the market today, including descriptions of the tools they offer and noteworthy features of each. The guide also features 10 questions you should ask prospective vendors and yourself before buying a network monitoring solution. You can check out that guide here!

by Dimitrios Serpanos and Tilman Wolf

Architecture of Network Systems explains the practice and methodologies that will allow you to solve a broad range of problems in system design, including problems related to security, quality of service, performance, manageability, and more. Leading researchers Dimitrios Serpanos and Tilman Wolf develop architectures for all network sub-systems, bridging the gap between operation and VLSI.

by Russ White and Denise Donohue

Two leading enterprise network architects help you craft solutions that are fully aligned with business strategy, smoothly accommodate change, and maximize future flexibility. Russ White and Denise Donohue guide network designers in asking and answering the crucial questions that lead to elegant, high-value solutions. Carefully blending business and technical concerns, they show how to optimize all network interactions involving flow, time, and people.

by John Day

Beginning with the seven fundamental, and still unanswered, questions identified during the ARPANETs development,Patterns in Network Architecture returns to bedrock and traces our experience both good and bad. Along the way, [John Day] uncovers overlooked patterns in protocols that simplify design and implementation and resolves the classic conflict between connection and connectionless while retaining the best of both.

by Orhan Ergun

This book will give you a High Level of overview of the Service Provider Network Design and Architecture. It talks about the unique aspects of Service Provider networks, different types of Service Providers and the business relationships between them. It covers the Service Providers services, different last mile access offerings and transport networks, and their subscribers and services.

by Edward Crawley, Bruce Cameron, and Daniel Selva

System architecture is the study of early decision making in complex systems. This text teaches how to capture experience and analysis about early system decisions, and how to choose architectures that meet stakeholder needs, integrate easily, and evolve flexibly. With case studies written by leading practitioners, from hybrid cars to communications networks to aircraft, this text showcases the science and art of system architecture.

by Stephen D. Burd

Discover the most comprehensive introduction to information systems hardware and software in business today with SYSTEMS ARCHITECTURE, 7E. This new edition remains an indispensable tool for your strong foundation in IS (Information Systems) as the book emphasizes a managerial, broad systems perspective that provides a holistic approach to systems architecture. Thorough updates throughout this edition ensure all concepts, examples and applications reflect the very latest new technologies.

Looking for a solution to help you improve your network performance? OurNetwork Monitoring Buyers Guidecontains profiles on the top network performance monitor vendors, as well as questions you should ask providers and yourself before buying.

Check us out onTwitterfor the latest in Network Monitoring news and developments!

Dan is a tech writer who writes about Enterprise Cloud Strategy and Network Monitoring for Solutions Review. He graduated from Fitchburg State University with a Bachelor's in Professional Writing. You can reach him at dhein@solutionsreview.com

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The Six Essential Books for Network and IT Architects - Solutions Review

It was an odd marriage and it wasn't always perfect.

There was missing team buses after games on occasion, the 'ass-chewing' against Western Kentucky, the personality differences, but in hindsight, they both probably needed each other.

When University of Alabama coach Nick Saban hired Lane Kiffin as his offensive coordinator in January of 2014, he was ready to evolve.On the other hand, Kiffin was looking for a new home, a place to rejuvenate his career following a failed stint as head coach at USC.

"We always had a tremendous amount of respect for Lane," Saban said on this week's SEC coaches teleconference. "Hes a great coach. Hes a very good offensive play-caller. Hes got a great feel for the game, really understands what the defense is trying to do and how to take advantage of it. We wanted to get more in the spread but keep a pro-style passing game, and Lane was well-versed in the pro-style part of it. I think we all grew together in the whole RPO-spread world. That was new for all of us. Did a lot of research on it, did a great job of implementing it and learning it and hes doing a great job with it right now and he did a great job for us here.

Kiffin's dynamic play-calling turned Blake Sims, a running back and scout team player when he arrived at the Capstone, into the school's single-season passing leader at the time in 2014 with 3,487 yards and 28 touchdowns.

In year two of Kiffin's offense, a Heisman Trophy winner was produced with Derrick Henry, who rushed for 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns, propelling Alabama to its 16th national championship in school history.

Then, in his final season in Tuscaloosa, we saw just how special of a player Jalen Hurts could be with Kiffin. Hurts, who ultimately lost the starting job to Tua Tagovailoa, dazzled in 2016, completing 63 percent of his passes for 2,780 yards and 23 scores, while adding 954 yards on the ground and another 13 additional touchdowns.

That offensive revival helped pave the way for what Crimson Tide fans saw with Tagovailoa, and now Mac Jones under assistant Steve Sarkisian an offense that continues to hum, scoring 45 points a game through two games in 2020.

And the offensive unit, led by Jones, is a far cry from what Kiffin saw in 2009, when he was the head coach at Tennessee, squaring off against Saban for the first time, which the Crimson Tide won, 12-10, scoring all its points on field goals.

"I wish it was the old one like we played at Tennessee when they didnt score any touchdowns," Kiffin said earlier this week. "Its very different. Its why Coach [Saban] changed. Theyre explosive, they attack, they pass first. Tons of shots down the field. Way harder to defend."

Kiffin is now getting his first shot at Saban as a former assistant on Saturday when the Ole Miss Rebels host the Crimson Tide at 6:30 p.m inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss.

He will join the long list of former assistants who have tried to bring down the master and all, up to this point, have failed going a combined 20-0 against Saban.

"First off, it gets rid of this whole, 'I know him, so thats an advantage' thing," Kiffin said. "That things kind of shot down because theres been 20 games where the coaches knew him and they went 0-20. I think that just shows that you cant duplicate somewhere just because you worked there. What Coach [Saban] does is very unique. It works for him. I dont think it works for many other people, his style. He has it nailed, and everybody knows what it is when they get there. Its why it works. On the same token, too, the guys undefeated against 95 percent of coaches except for, what, Gus (Malzahn), Dabo (Swinney) and Urban (Meyer) or something?

"No one else has beat him. Hes got that record against everybody."

The first-year Rebel coach poked fun at Saban earlier this week when asked about their matchup, saying that the soon-to-be 69 year old couldn't cover him in a one-on-one situation.

Saban's response was golden and brought a big grin to his face, but the problem for Kiffin is, he isn't the one playing, he's gotta coach against him, which, for former Saban disciples, that continues to be one of the tallest mountains to climb in all of college football.

"I think he's probably right," Saban said. "I wouldn't disagree with him. I guess what I would ask is when he's my age, what's he's going to do? I don't know. I mean, it's a little bit of a disadvantage to be my age and have had a hip replacement. But I still pride myself on my ability to cover. I just don't think I can cover him."

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Nick Saban vs Lane Kiffin: The Once-Architect of Alabama's Modern Offense Is Now Tasked With Dismantling It - Bama Maven

New research commissioned by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) reveals the significant impact of the coronavirus pandemic on how people want to live and work at home.

UK homeowners are increasingly demanding environmentally efficient properties that better support their new ways of living, as well as their mental health, happiness and family cohesion.

The RIBAs research exclusively reveals that the majority of homeowners (70% of survey respondents) believe the design of their home has affected their mental wellbeing during the pandemic.

Spending more time in their home has made people more stressed (11%), anxious (10%) and depressed (10%); theyve found it harder to relax (9%) and its negatively impacted their productivity (6%).

The RIBAs research sought to understand the mental and physical benefits of living in a better-designed home. The findings highlight that 23% believe a better-designed home will increase their happiness; theyd be able to relax more (31%) and sleep better (17%).

Insights also revealed that with working from home now the new normal for many, 15% want to improve the design of their home to help them be more productive. And with families spending more time together at home, more than one in 10 (11%) believe making changes to the design of their home would help them to live more harmoniously with others in the house.

Environmental Psychologist and Lecturer at University of Surrey,Eleanor Ratcliffesaid: For many of us our home is our favourite place and an important part of our identity. Over recent months our homes have had to become the workplace, school, and gym, and yet still be a place to relax and recover from all the everyday stresses and strains impacting entire households. The RIBAs research demonstrates that many people realise that their home in its current form does not cater for all these different uses and users.

A home design that reflects who you are your values, needs, and interests can make people feel good about themselves. A home that meets ones needs because it is appropriately designed can also make people feel more in control, and that is especially relevant when life feels uncertain.

Eight out of 10 respondents (79%) identified one or more of the changes that theyd now like to make to the design of their home after lockdown, these include:

Ben Channon,RIBA Chartered Architect, Head of Wellbeing at Assael Architecture and author of book, Happy by Designsaid: As architects, we understand that every family is unique and the design of their home must be tailored to fit their specific needs. Were trained to be creative and practical problem solvers and will add value, not just financial, but also to your quality of life ensuring that your most sacred space works for you and your loved ones. We will help you to make your home more usable and, put simply, a nicer place to live ultimately making you happier and healthier.

RIBA PresidentAlan Jonesadded: Its clear that the impact of COVID-19 will affect how and where we choose to live for years to come. For many of us, our homes are our sanctuaries, and this new research commissioned by the RIBA clearly indicates that many people are keener than ever to adapt and improve their homes.

I strongly encourage homeowners to seek professional expertise to make their dreams a reality. RIBA Chartered Architects and Chartered Practices offer the highest standards and assurance in the UK. They can support homeowners every step of the way, whether they are extending their home or building a new one from scratch.

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Architects reveal the impact of Covid-19 on housing design Show House - Show House News

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PCL Construction is pleased to announce its work with the University of Denver and WZMH Architects to design, build and deliver a smart screening and testing facility Citizen Care Pod Corporations (CCP) Mobile COVID-19 Testing Pod (Care Pod) to support the return of students to the University of Denver campus during the coronavirus pandemic. From concept to completion, the entire process took three weeks and is providing COVID-19 testing professionals with a permanent facility that provides a secure and comfortable environment.

Having used tents for COVID-19 testing, the university turned to PCL Construction for a more permanent solution to safely conduct testing through changing weather conditions. The 40-foot pod can test individuals who either walk or drive-up. Unlike tents, the pod offers a secure, safe and comfortable environment with climate control, HEPA filters, heating, air conditioning and positive air pressurization. It also is ADA compliant.

We really needed to look for a solution that would last through the summer and winter, said James Rosner, Associate Vice Chancellor, Facilities Management and Planning. Tents really werent a good long-term option. The Care Pod solution was a perfect fit for the university to be able to test students, faculty and staff by providing both drive-up and walk-up options, and an ADA accessible window.

The testing pods are easily modified for future use in administering a COVID-19 vaccine, as well as for flu and other viruses. Click here to see a video of the Care Pods installation.

This is a safe space that is easily accessible for university students, faculty and staff to receive COVID-19 tests to ensure they study and work in a virus-free campus environment, said Zenon Radewych, CCPs Chief Creative Officer.

Utilizing modular construction methods, PCL Construction is manufacturing and assembling the pods by retrofitting shipping containers to support rapid delivery and installation. Heating, air-conditioning, and high-efficiency particulate HEPA filters for mechanical ventilation units are standard features.

Citizen Care Pod also offers an Education Pod and a Long-Term Care Visiting Pod.

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PCL Construction Teams with University of Denver, Citizen Care Pod Corporation and WZMH Architects on COVID-19 Testing Facility - Business Wire

John Kirkpatrick was appointed to carry out site inspections by the developer of a semi-detached house in Belfast.

Architects Certificates were signed in January 2015 and May 2017, and the final certificate confirmed Kirkpatrick had visited the site at appropriate intervals and would be liable for a period of six years from the date of the certificate.

It was alleged Kirkpatrick failed to adequately inspect the site in accordance with the Architects Certificate dated 22 May 2017 and that he acted inappropriately by attempting to enter into a financial settlement with the complainant on condition that she withdraw her complaint from ARB.

It was also alleged that Kirkpatrick failed to co-operate fully and promptly with ARB during its investigation into the complaint against him.

Kirkpatrick did not attend the hearing and was not legally represented. In his written submissions, he maintained that he had trusted the developer to resolve the issues, although that relationship had now broken down.

He also outlined his personal circumstances, which had prevented him from dealing with the matter fully and expressed some regret for the issues that had arisen.

The PCC found the allegations proven and agreed these failings were serious enough to amount to unacceptable professional conduct (UPC).

When determining the sanction, the PCC took into account that Kirkpatrick had no previous adverse regulatory history and his unblemished career spanning 45 years.

The PCC also recognised that he had experienced some personal difficulties, which had impacted on his ability to respond to these matters.

However, the PCC noted that Kirkpatricks failings represented a pattern of poor conduct over an extended period of time rather than an isolated incident, and those failings had resulted in a significant impact on his clients.

It found he also failed to provide any evidence of remorse or real insight into the seriousness of his failings or engage meaningfully with the disciplinary process.

It, therefore, decided a one-year suspension order should be imposed in order to uphold proper professional standards and the reputation of the profession.

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Architect suspended from register failed to inspect sites - Planning, BIM & Construction Today

toledano + architects has refurbished a duplex that occupies the 2 first floors of a 1970s building with a private garden in paris, france. the idea was to remodel the layout in its entirety, in order to accommodate a large family with 3 young children, but also to provide healthy living conditions for the residents, by ensuring sufficient lighting and ventilation all year long.

all images by salem mostefaoui

the master suite is placed on the ground floor, built through several progressive layers of privacy, thanks to the pivot doors that allow residents to decide when to connect the room to the rest of the living space. in this way, the big modular bedroom can share access with the kids rooms. with this design, toledano + architects aim to encourage interaction between parents and children in an apartment interior that calls for togetherness.

the dwelling includes a wide living room, dining room, and kitchen, which are all connected to the wooden terrace and the planted garden through the big sliding windows. in addition, there is also an available home-office, that turned out to be especially useful during the pandemic, as well as a boxing space, and a dressing room. the two floors are connected through a distinct staircase design, which plays with transparency, using perforated metal sheets as well as geometry and gravity. the steps are hanging from the wall and ceiling and wrapped in a triangular metal box, while a wooden closet is integrated underneath.

the materiality generates a minimal, warm environment, while incorporating a japanese feel. in the boxing and dressing room, the wood and fabric floor-to-ceiling spaces were inspired by tatamis. in the rest of the duplex, concrete, black metal, black granite, carrara marble, oak wood, fabric and perforated steel complete the space. on the kids floor, a bright klein blue brings a fun and dynamic twist to the playroom.

playful kids hangout and TV room in klein blue

in order to maximize natural daylight and still be protected against high heat during summer, the windows were replaced by a very thin and highly efficient aluminum model. the glass has solar control properties and is also the source of heat for the whole apartment, providing an innovative soft and comfortable heating solution.

home office with a garden view

perforated metal and solid oak wood form the hanging staircase

the boxing space allows residents to blow off steam when needed

project info:

name: M garden duplexarchitects: toledano + architectslocation: paris, france

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom

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toledano + architects adds geometric wood and metal staircase to apartment in paris - Designboom

Seattle-based LMN Architects has unveiled the highly anticipated Grand Avenue Park Bridge in Everett, Washington. First opening to the public in late August, the $20 million bridge acts as both a long-sought infrastructural asset to a hillside residential community severed from the increasingly enticing waterfront district and a singular new civic space with widespread appeal beyond the immediate neighborhood it serves. An industrial city with deep ties to logging and aerospace manufacturing located on the east-central Puget Sound, Everett serves as the core economic and population center for the northern stretch of the Seattle metropolitan area.

Designed by LMN in collaboration with KPFF Consulting Engineers, the 257-foot-long truss bridge is a pedestrian span meant to carry foot traffic over a modest highway, active train tracks, and electrical lines to and from Grand Avenue Park, a locally beloved bluff-top public green space. On the opposite side of the highway and train tracks, the bridge terminates at an external staircase-wrapped concrete tower with an elevator that links the five-acre park and its namesake bridge to northwest Everetts fast-evolving waterfront, pedestrian promenade, public marina, farmers market, and the in-the-works Waterfront Place mixed-use development at the Port of Everett.

Normally, walking from the park down to, for example, to the new elevator tower, would take nearly 40 minutes along a painfully circuitous route. Now, it takes just a few.

The bridge, described in a news release as a composition of concrete and steel, design and functionality, nature and digital design technology also discreetly doubles as an above-ground utility crossing for hillside sewer and storm drainage pipelines. This function, initially conceived as the structures function until federal grant money made the integration of a pedestrian crossing possible according to LMN, is tucked away beneath an unlikely new form that weaves pedestrian ramps and stairs above, around, and inside a sloping truss.

Whats more, by placing the entrance to the meandering walking path on top of the truss and positioning most of the structure lower down the steep hillside that it extends from, the sweeping views of Possession Sound and from Grand Avenue Park remain interrupted, whereas they could have easily been obscured by a more conventional bridge design. Beyond local residents thrilled to have more convenient pedestrian access to the waterfront, the bridge may serve as less of a means of getting from point A to point B and more of a scenic observation platform of sorts that acts as a meticulously engineered extension of the cliffside park.

In its design, the Grand Avenue Park Bridge is also a destination, said LMN partner Stephen Van Dyck, AIA, in a statement. The bridges paths, stairs, and spaces create a variety of views beyond and within that make it a place of discovery.

LMN elaborated on the bridges unique design:

The bridges iconic presence is rooted in the unexpected formal juxtaposition of muscular and delicate, rustic and refined, symmetrical and asymmetrical, inside and out.

The truss form responds directly to its programmatic needs while recalling the form and character of traditional railroad trusses found across the Pacific Northwest. The structural elements are constructed of weathering steel, a raw form of steel, which uses rust to form a protective layer, providing corrosion resistance and enhancing the bridges maintainability over time. Wrapping around and running through the truss, a shining, lacey guardrail also serves as the bridges de-facto wayfinding system, contrasting with the raw character of the rusted truss with its silvery aluminum panels.

Fabricated using a CNC machine, the bridges shiny aluminum guardrail panelsnumbering 400 in total, each of them uniquehave an intricate, nature-inspired perforated pattern. The perforations, which vary on each individual panel, were specifically designed to enhance the reflectivity of the artificial lighting, improving the performance of the integrated linear lights at the top of the rail while minimizing glare and light pollution, according to LMN. That same distinctive pattern can also be found on the exterior of the concrete elevator tower/utility core.

Preliminary site work on the project first kicked off during the summer of 2017. The million-pound steel structure was lifted into place in September 2019 while its sewer and stormwater connections were brought online earlier this year.

More details on the Grand Avenue Park Bridge, a complex project heralded as a gorgeous new asset for the city by Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin at its opening ceremony, can be found here.

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LMN Architects completes a connectivity-boosting bridge in Everett, Washington - The Architect's Newspaper

New York-based SO IL has shared images and details of its recently completed North Fork House, a subdued and tranquilyet never close to sterileweekend retreat in East Marion, New York, tucked into a 20-acre hillside site overlooking Long Island Sound. The project, finished last year, was designed in collaboration with Shenton Architects with Patrick Cullina serving as landscape designer.

The cruciform residence, wrapped entirely by a continuous porch thats sheltered by generous roof overhangs, is comprised of four distinct rectangular volumes with expansive floor-to-ceiling glass windows and steeply pitched, zinc-clad gabled roofs. This organization of space allows for each distinct wingseparated between living and sleeping quartersto take on its own relationship with the surprisingly varied topography of the property. The house seeks to sample the lively terrain, bringing together different qualities of light, landscape, and vista to define interior spaces, explained the design team.

The wings containing the bedrooms, for example, are positioned within a more wooded, secluded part of the property with the living spaces arranged above a soft clearing that slopes down to the water. A dining area and library have been carved out where two of the living-centered quadrants meet; beyond this section of the home is a spacious, pie-shaped outdoor entertaining area that that extends from a porch area tucked beneath a curving, cantilevered roof that offers a deviation from the largely angular forms that comprise the residence. At the center of the home is a modest roof terrace thats discretely burrowed between the four gables that sneaks vistas bordered by the gables diagonal lines.

Nestled within a collage of disparate landscapes, North Fork House offers a sense of uniformity in its design and organization of spaces yet, above all else, celebrates the varying forms of natural beauty that makes the property so unique.

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SO IL and Shenton Architects complete a porch-wrapped sanctuary on Long Island's North Fork - The Architect's Newspaper