What is a Architect? What is a Architect?

Jordan Goldstein, managing director and principal of one of the world's top architectural firms, Gensler, became an architect at age 5. At the time, his parents were house hunting, and they'd bring him along to see the different options. After the visits, Goldstein would return to his Legos he had buckets of them and recreate what he had seen. "Ever since that point, I was looking for the quickest path to becoming an architect and building things," he writes in an email.

Architects are perhaps a rare blend of creativity and practicality. They are artists with grounding in reality. After all, most Lego lovers will tell you that a firm foundation is a necessary component in making a soaring skyscraper. Architects use their skills in design, engineering, managing and coordinating to create aesthetically pleasing and safe buildings that serve a purpose. They're artists, but instead of a canvas, they have cities, parks, college campuses and more to display their work. And their masterpieces are the shops, libraries, office buildings and grocery stores we frequent all the time. Architects are involved at each step of a project, from the initial planning sessions to the ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

One of the biggest advances in the architecture field is digital design and building information modeling, Goldstein writes. "3D models are now layered with information and the models themselves are actually databases on the design that can be utilized for construction, facility management and energy management," he explains. "With the growing usage of digital printing, architects are quickly able to study the 3D implications of design ideas and mature the project. The understanding of computational design is allowing architects to move right from design to fabrication, leaping over the more conventional aspects of the design process and expedite construction."

The economy is recovering, which is good news for everyone, but it's especially good for architects, who took a beating between 2009 and 2011. Job losses have leveled off considerably, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted 7 percent employment growth between 2014 and 2024. Combine these projections with a low unemployment rate, just 5.1 percent, and the job outlook for architects appears to be very solid.

The BLS reports the median annual wage for architects was$76,100 in 2015. The best-paid 10 percent in the profession made approximately $125,520, while the bottom 10 percent made about $46,080. The metropolitan areas of West Palm Beach, Florida; Santa Barbara, California; and Syracuse, New York pay their architects the best.

75th Percentile: $97,760

Median: $76,100

25th Percentile: $58,870

To practice in most states, architects will need to graduate from one of the 123 schools of architecture that are accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. Students can enroll in a five-year Bachelor of Architecture program. Alternatively, if they have an undergraduate degree in a different field, they can get a master's degree that can take anywhere from one to five years to complete.Upon graduation, students must complete a training period or internship, which typically takes three or more years to complete. Only after the training period is complete are they eligible to sit for the Architect Registration Exam. After passing this exam, architects will have to obtain a state-specific license. And to keep licensure in most states, architects will have to keep up with continuing education standards.

Average Americans work well into their 60s, so workers might as well have a job thats enjoyable and a career that's fulfilling. A job with a low stress level, good work-life balance and solid prospects to improve, get promoted and earn a higher salary would make many employees happy. Here's how Architects job satisfaction is rated in terms of upward mobility, stress level and flexibility.

Upward Mobility: Average Opportunities for advancements and salary

Stress Level: Above Average Work environment and complexities of the job's responsibilities

Flexibility: Average Alternative working schedule and work life balance

Continue reading here:
Architect - Career Rankings, Salary, Reviews and Advice | US ...

Related directory pages are highlighted below the Florida architect listings on this page. Links to Architect directory pages for adjacent States are provided at the bottom of the page. Florida directory and map page links are also included there.

http://www.abdesigngroup.com

Located in Seminole County

http://www.arc-arc.com

Located in Orange County

http://www.actarchitects.com

adache.com

Located in Broward County

http://www.alfonsoarchitects.com

Located in Hillsborough County

http://www.alliancedesigngroup.com

Located in Lee County

http://www.alphamrc.com

aiatampabay.com

http://www.designyouryacht.com

Located in Martin County

http://www.archineticsinc.com

Located in Seminole County

archcoatings.com

Located in Hillsborough County

foamsupply.com

Located in Broward County

adgcentral.com

Located in Polk County

architecturebydesign.com

http://www.architecturedynamics.com

http://www.arevaloarchitecture.com

Located in Broward County

http://www.bashamlucas.com

Located in Duval County

http://www.bcarchitectsinc.com

Located in Martin County

http://www.benderarchitects.com

Located in Monroe County

http://www.berriedesign.com

Located in Broward County

bigtimedesignstudios.com

Located in Broward County

http://www.boundsarch.com

Located in Escambia County

http://www.brantchaisson.com

Located in Leon County

http://www.bdcarchitect.com

http://www.brph.com

Located in Orange County

http://www.bsswarchitects.com

Located in Lee County

http://www.bsswarchitects.com

Located in Collier County

http://www.bmsconstruct.com

Located in Brevard County

burkehoguemills.com

Located in Seminole County

mattjoyner.com

Located in Collier County

http://www.caldwell-assoc.com

Located in Escambia County

http://www.carlabbott.com

Located in Sarasota County

cbaarchitects.com

Located in Orange County

http://www.cjlarchitects.com

Located in Lee County

http://www.clark-kuenstle.com

http://www.collman-karsky.com

Located in Hillsborough County

connandassociates.com

Located in Leon County

kosuta.com

Located in Orange County

craiglmeyer.com

Located in Saint Lucie County

http://www.cronkduch.com

Located in Duval County

http://www.cthsu.com

Located in Orange County

http://www.bennettshuman.com

Located in Escambia County

djdesigninc.com

Located in Volusia County

http://www.dagarchitects.com

Located in Okaloosa County

dsdginc.com

http://www.forumarchitecture.com

http://www.foundationimaging.net

Located in Orange County

furrandwegman.com

Located in Polk County

http://www.gbanda.com

Located in Broward County

gatorsktcharchitects.com

Located in Lake County

http://www.genesisstudios.com

genesisstudios.com

Located in Broward County

merlinarchitecture.com

http://www.medicaldesign.org

http://www.grahamdesign.com

http://www.kevingray.com

Located in Duval County

See original here:
Architects in Florida

The Ohio Architects Board and Ohio Landscape Architects Board are authorized under Chapters 4703 of the Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Administrative Code to regulate, enforce and investigate allegedviolations of its laws and rules by architects, landscape architects and non-licensed persons.

The Board reviews all complaints in a timely manner in order to make sure complaints are processed and appropriate action taken. It may, however, take several months to resolve a case, due to the timing of Board meetings and the need to allow related parties the opportunity to respond to the complaint.

Common violations of the registration laws may include:

What the Board Does Not Investigate

Be advised that the Board generally does not become involved in contractual matters, design issues or financial disputes between a licensee and a client, unless it involves an allegation that services were billed for, but were not rendered, or if there is evidence of fraud. Usually, these issues are considered civil matters and should be pursued in a court of law.

However, if wrongdoing by the licensee is proven in court, send the Board a certified copy of the adjudication order issued by the court and the Board will review the matter.

Additionally, the Board does not have the authority to order restitution or recoup money or fees, nor does it establish, set, or review costs and fees for professional design services. Professional services and costs are a private business matter between the licensee and client. Disciplinary action can be taken if an architect fails to comply with a court order.

Public Records / Confidentiality

Most investigative complaints and supporting documentation received by the Board are considered public records. Therefore, complaints are considered public records under O.R.C. 149.43. They can be reviewed or inspected by anyoneafterthe investigation is officially closed.

Due to Ohios Public Records Act, complaints are not confidential. If confidentiality is required, a complainant may file an anonymous, unsigned complaint. Complete supporting documentation must be included because there is no way to contact an anonymous complainant if further information is required.

Anyone may file a complaint. All complaints should be made in writing and may be made via the eLicense Portal at https://elicense.ohio.gov, mailed, or emailed to the Board Investigator. Anonymous complaints are accepted. However, an anonymous complaint makes follow up difficult and the board may be unable to resolve the complaint.

All complaints, including anonymous complaints, must contain a detailed factual summary of the issue along with supporting documentation and evidence to prove a violation; including but not limited to: names, dates, addresses, contracts, invoices, court documents, correspondence, letterhead, business cards, construction documents, drawings, photos etc. Supporting documentation or evidence received will not be returned, so please provide copies

The Complaint Process

After a complaint is received; the complainant will receive written confirmation from the Board indicating the complaint was received. The complaint is reviewed by the Board Investigator to determine if further investigation and information is required.

If further information is needed, a letter will be sent to the respondent via certified mail with a copy of the complaint. The respondent is given thirty days to provide a detailed written response to the allegation. Once a response is received, the case information, including the original complaint and response, is presented to the Board at a regular meeting.

Then based upon the facts, circumstances and applicable laws and rules, the Board has the following options: close citing no violation, close citing no jurisdiction, close citing compliance has been obtained, offer a settlement agreement, seek further information, or file formal charges against the licensee.

If formal charges are filed, the licensee is issued a "Notice of Opportunity" letter outlining the specific charges and laws and rules allegedly violated. An opportunity will be provided for an administrative hearing under Chapter 119 of the Ohio Revised Code. If a hearing is not requested, the Board will review the evidence it has and decide the appropriate disciplinary action and issue a Final Order.

If an administrative hearing is requested, the hearing will take place before an independent Hearing Officer. The licensee may be represented by an attorney. The Board is represented by its legal counsel, a member of the Ohio Attorney Generals staff. The Board's Investigator attends the hearing. Board members are not present at hearings.

After hearing the evidence and testimony presented, the Hearing Officer, generally within thirty days, will issue a written Report and Recommendation.The licensee will be provided a copy of the Report and Recommendation and offered the opportunity to file any written objections to it.

The Board will then consider any objections and review and consider the Report and Recommendation and either accept, reject, or modify the Report and Recommendation.

If the hearing officer finds that there was a violation of the law, the Board, by authority of statute, has the option to suspend or revoke the license as well as issue a fine up to $1,000 per violation up to a maximum of $5,000.

The Board then decides on the appropriate action and issues a Final Order.The Board's Final Order can be appealed to the Court of Common Pleas. Subsequent appeals can be made to the Court of Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court.

Complaints should be forwarded to:

Chad B. Holland, InvestigatorOhio Architects Board

77 S. High St., 16thFloor

Columbus, Ohio 43215-6108

Phone 614-466-1476

FAX 614-644-9048

Unlicensed persons

The Board does not have jurisdiction over unlicensed persons practicing architecture or landscape architecture and cannot take disciplinary action against them. However, after an investigation, in order to prohibit further unlicensed activity, the Board may seek a settlement agreement, a court injunction, or refer the case to the prosecutor for criminal prosecution.

Disciplinary action taken against a licensee may include:

Alternatives to Filing a Complaint with the Board

Disciplinary Actions

The following documents list the disciplinary actions taken by the Board. To view the public records related to the disciplinary action, use the License Verification link in the Information menu and search by the licensee's last name. For public records related to unlicensed person, please contact the Board office.

Read more:
Architects and Landscape Architects Board > Enforcement

A historic building in Oslos locomotive industrial zone has been transformed into contemporary offices filled with natural light. This adaptive reuse project, called Lokomotivstallen, has been praised as a positive example of recycling and historical restoration in the city. Designed by Various Architects, the modern offices house the rail-based intermodal company CargoNet.

The 3,000-square-foot building has a peculiar rectangular footprint thats much longer than it is wide with a 205-meter-long facade and seven-meter width. To break the structures narrow monotony and to widen the footprint of the floors, the architects inserted timber boxes into the facade. Meeting rooms are located in the wooden boxes. The timber additions are of varying sizes and heights, and each are faced with a south-facing floor-to-ceiling glazed wall to let in maximum daylight. The largest wooden box houses the cafeteria that serves as the buildings central meeting area.

Related: Various Architects Stunning Collapsible Stadium

The original brick facade was preserved although the interior was largely gutted to make way for the modern office spaces. A new elevator tower that connects all the floors is also clad in brick and topped with a trademark railway clock. The office building comprises eighty desks distributed between five open landscape areas and can be rearranged to fit different needs. Micro spaces are interspersed throughout the office and provide quieter private working spaces.

+ Various Architects

Images by Ibrahim Elhayawan, Dawid Nowak

See the rest here:
Various Architects turn an industrial Oslo building into contemporary offices - Inhabitat

Biomimicry Marries Aesthetics and EngineeringNot Just One or the Other

The design inspiration for these pillars at the Stuttgart Airport shouldnt stump you very long. This arboretum of branching supports is optimized with respect to a strength-to-weight ratio. (Image courtesy of Altair.)

The purpose of biomimicry is to learn from the way nature has optimized structures, designs and objects for maximum performance so that we can use them to create better solutions.

Considering the strength that nature gets out of lightweight materials, biomimicry can be of considerable use in the architecture engineering and construction(AEC) community.

For many years,the design community looked at nature and tried to replicate it to copy shapes and colors, but we didnt copy performances as we didnt dig into those engineering aspects very well, said Luca Frattari,global director AEC at Altair.

Frattaris point is that biomimicry is about marrying performance and aesthetic; technology and design. Its not about adding a cheetah print to a professional running shoe to scare racing competitors into thinking youre the fastest on the track.This hilariously unscientific claim was made by Nike Director David Schenoneat two separate scientific keynotes (TEDTalks and X-STEM Symposium).

Nikes attempt to pass 1970s fashion as cutting-edge biomimicry aside, this notion supports Frattaris claim that engineers, designers and architects need to learn how to mimic natures aesthetic to improve performance. Biomimicry is not about marketing adspeak; rather, its a tool that can open the door to performance optimization.

For instance, take topology optimization. This technology utilizes a bone growth algorithm to generate designs that maintain a products strength with minimal material usage.

Topology optimization explores the way biological creatures grow, said Frattari. It is defined mathematically.We can use that algorithm in software to create lighter products with better performance.

As seen with Frattaris Pegasus concept bridge, the result isnt just aesthetic. Its functional and its optimal. One could call it the product of computer-aided engineering design (CAED).

Frattari s concept walking bridge, dubbed Pegasus,is optimized using topology optimization. The marriage between nature and engineering, and design and performance, is unmistakable. This is true biomimicry. (Image courtesy of Altair.)

Is this a topology optimized structure? No, its a Xenomorph Hive from Alien vs. Predator. But you had to wonder for a bit. There is a reason why science fiction continually looks to nature for architectural inspiration. Now AEC is following suit. (Image courtesy of Sega and Rebellion Developments.)

There are a lot of sci-fi movies where the results and design are more organic, noted Frattari.In Oblivion, District 9 andAlien,the combinations between form performance and nature is very strong. There is room in the AEC industry to push this forward, noted Frattari.

This suggests a general acceptance that nature produces optimal designs. But if that is the case, then why has it taken so long for the AEC world to adopt such designs and CAED technologies?

The fact that this technology isnt mainstream is because we had no intersections between the expertise, lamented Frattari. We were working in different rooms without talking to each other. Now that this is requested by the users and owners, it forces people to work together toward this to make a better process and product.

Frattari works to increase the interactions between these experts so that CAED technologies like topology optimization and biomimicry can move forward. This is part of his work at Altair and at the solidThinking Converge conference.

The beauty of topology optimization is that within a few minutes it generates an optimal structure based on a design space, loads (say, wind and weight) and constraints (say, anchors and connections). This lightening fast speed gives AEC practitioners a near-optimal design from which to start.

A lot of analysis is done at the end. Now, virtually we can do a lot more analysis in the first week of design, said Frattari. That can help you to plan which designs wear better. Even similar designs can have catastrophically different performance when assessed for structure and wind resistance.

By collecting a handful of output designs from the topology optimization tool, engineers can use these to guide their design exploration,which can then lead to further optimized structures.

A series of designs inspired by topology optimization. The speed with which these design ideas spawned from topology optimization tools encouraged better exploration of the design space. (Image courtesy of Altair.)

If you have three to four alternatives, you dont always explore them all as you dont have time. But, if you have a tool that can do this quickly, like topology optimization, then you can explore all of them and get inspiration fora new technology, said Frattari.

So, is topology optimization a must for AEC? Not really. If you are designing a typical boxy skyscraper, then biomimicry tools like topology optimization are kind of a wasted effort. Everything you need to ensure the strength and safety of the square design is pulled from a library of parts.

However, when you are aiming to design something optimized that is unique and eye catching, then biomimicry and topology optimization tools can be invaluable.

If you have a complex shape where there are no straight lines, then where do you start? asked Frattari. You dont know whats a column or beam or pillar. To do the structural analysis, you need a model, which is hard to do with a free form. That is where topology optimization comes in.

So, this begs the question, does the CAED software build the building or does the AEC practitioner? This is a complex question. However,the role of the engineers and architects at this point is to provide their intuition and emotion to the design. The software helps in the exploration of the alternatives.

In other words, though the golden ratio has certainly served us well as an algorithm for aesthetics, computers are still incapable of seeing beauty. Humans are still better than machines when it comes to emotions.

Im not a fan of machines that build something based on stochastic analysis, agreed Frattari.I want to understand and lead the process.Give me alternatives so I [can] find what I like the best.I dont know if technology will replace engineers and architects one day. I create software, so I trust the code. But Im also an architect, and I know beauty.

Frattari explains that there are two main trends when it comes to biomimicry: intersection and exploration.

The intersection of beauty and structure can be seen in these corrugated supports. Much like the seashell, they maximize stiffness and strength while minimizing weight. But they also look beautiful enough to be added to a collection. (Image courtesy of Altair.)

Intersection is the marriage between two ideas and practices. In the case of AEC, its the meeting of engineers, who want to ensure that structures dont fall down and can be built, with architects,who want to ensure the beauty of their designs.

They might intersect or clash, said Frattari. The engineer might say,You cant build that. We want them to work together to create something that has a quality better than in the past.

Exploration happens when a new technology is introduced. An example of this is the way 3D printing has affected CAED technology like topology optimization and biomimicry. Topology optimization isnt exactly a new technology. Its bottleneck to adoption was that many of the designs it created couldnt be built when the technology first arrived. This caused a clash between the design and construction of these structures.

However, with 3D printing, much of these designs can now be made.All that was needed was the intersection of expertise. The next step was to explore what was possible with the new technology so that you could understand its possibilities as it moved into its maturity.

If a technology isnt mature,you will use it to build something you understand well. At first, architects used 3D printing for their presentations of scale models, for instance, said Frattari. Now, exploration has moved 3D printing to deliver performance. You want to now produce components to be used in the industry. That pushed us to explore new materials, shapes and performances, like 3D printing of metal for parts.

To promote exploration and intersection, solidThinking will be holding its second Converge conference on September 13, 2017.

Frattari will be speaking at the conference, where he will discuss the uses of topology optimization, the future of design, and why engineering firms need to jump onto the CAED bandwagon now or risk being left behind.

solidThinking has sponsored this post. They have no editorial input to this post. Unless otherwise stated, all opinions are mine. Shawn Wasserman

Follow this link:
Lessons Engineers and Architects Should Learn from Nature and Topology Optimization - ENGINEERING.com

BOSTON & CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brightcove (NASDAQ: BCOV), the leading provider of cloud services for video, announced today that Black Spectacles, the leading online platform for architects and designers, has selected Brightcove as its video platform.

Black Spectacles provides aspiring and practicing architects a unique and first-of-its-kind design software curriculum along with an Architect Registration Examination (ARE1) prep curriculum. Black Spectacles is the only ARE test prep provider backed by The American Institute of Architects (AIA). All of its courses are available on any device with an internet connection and are taught by practicing architects at some of the biggest firms in the world.

The technical capabilities of the Brightcove player were a differentiator for us, Marc Teer, Founder and CEO, Black Spectacles, said. Were reaching architects all over the world with our online learning platform, some of whom are in rural areas where the bandwidth is low. The Brightcove player automatically identifies that and allows us to deliver a clean, crisp video regardless of any bandwidth constraints.

Longer term, Brightcove will work with Black Spectacles to explore a number of other ways Black Spectacles can further enhance its video offerings using Brightcove Gallery, Brightcove In-Page Experiences, and Brightcove Social.

Black Spectacles is modernizing eLearning with the video offerings it is providing to its customers, Andrew Feinberg, CEO, Brightcove, said. We are pleased to be enabling that experience and look forward to helping the company further customize its video platform to deliver a world-class customer experience like we do for other eLearning providers, such as Dentinal Tubules, Gaia, GoNoodle, Praetorian Digital and Recruit.

About BrightcoveBrightcove Inc. (NASDAQ:BCOV) is the leading global provider of powerful cloud solutions for delivering and monetizing video across connected devices. The company offers a full suite of products and services that reduce the cost and complexity associated with publishing, distributing, measuring and monetizing video across devices. Brightcove has thousands of customers in over 70 countries that rely on the companys cloud solutions to successfully publish high-quality video experiences to audiences everywhere. To learn more, visit http://www.brightcove.com.

This press release may include forward-looking statements regarding anticipated objectives, growth and/or expected product and service developments or enhancements. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of the following words (among others): "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "plan," "should" or "anticipates," or comparable words and their negatives. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees but are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations contained in these statements. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K. Brightcove assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release in the event of changing circumstances or otherwise, and such statements are current only as of the date they are made.

1 Architect Registration Examination and ARE are registered trademarks or service marks of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

Read more:
Brightcove Powers Black Spectacles' Online Learning Platform for Architects and Designers - Business Wire (press release)

From early, intimately scaled residences designed in the 1950s, like the Hiss Studio in Lido Shores and several Siesta Key pavilion homes, to public projects like the 1960 Siesta Key beach pavilion and later condominiums like Bay Plaza in downtown Sarasota and Inn on the Beach at the Longboat Key Club, Edward Tim Seibert, FAIA has made an indelible mark on the regions architecture.

Now the Sarasota Architectural Foundation will honor Seibert Nov. 10-12, 2017, at its fourth annual MOD Weekend. The three-day celebration of midcentury modern architecture will include parties at Seiberts Hiss Studio and a Bay Plaza penthouse; trolley tours with stops at a home he designed in Whitfield Estates, the CraigHouse in Lido Shores and at his iconic Cooney House on St. Armands; a self-guided walking tour of the Rosemary District, where several architectural firms, including Seibert Architects, are based; and a Q&A with Seibert and AIA Florida president Joyce Owens, where Tim really wants to talk about the future of Sarasota, says SAF board member Janet Minker, an organizer of MOD Weekend.

Tim is one of the leaders of the Sarasota School movement, and a prolific designer of the architecture of the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s; hes gone strong through it all, says Minker. Its important to recognize all of his achievements both in Sarasotas development.

The Hiss Studio, where Seibert will receive the SAF Lifetime Achievement Award at the opening night party, was designed by him in 1953 while he was working for Paul Rudolph. He had just graduated from Stanford, and Rudolph loaned him out to Phil Hiss [the homeowner], says Minker. Tim, as a 25-year-old architect, was working on the Hiss Studio and Rudolph was working on the Umbrella House next door. In the evening, Paul would come and critique Tims work. He said there were some harsh words, but he relished it because he considered Paul Rudolph to be one of the greatest architects.

In his later years, Seibert has turned to designing yachts, and has won awards from Classic Boat magazine. Wooden half-models of some of them will be on display during MOD Weekend at the Pagoda Building. Theyre sculpture; just beautiful, says Minker.

A complete list of MOD Weekend events will be posted here in a few days.

Here is the original post:
MOD Weekend to Honor Architect Tim Seibert - Sarasota

Bedrooms inside this barn conversion extension in the English countryside are defined by the peaks of a sawtooth roof, which Blee Halligan Architects added during the building's renovation.

The Five Acre Barn is home to a bed and breakfast, and is set between the Suffolk seaside towns of Aldeburgh and Thropness in the East Anglia area of England.

The owners of the property previously lived in Peckham, south-east London, but sold their house to start a life in the countryside.

After finding the old barn, the pair commissioned Blee Halligan Architects to transform it into a property that could become their home as well as serving as guest accommodation.

"The client brief was for internal refurbishment of the existing barn, which would be converted to house a communal living space, open-plan kitchen and owner's accommodation," said the practice, which is based in London and the Caribbean island of Providenciales.

"The end result elevates the collection of buildings into a simple piece of contemporary architecture, which sits comfortably in the mature landscape garden setting. This project has been a labour of love for our clients, who did much of the construction work themselves."

During the 1970s, the property had been extended with an annex something the owners were keen to get rid of as it had fallen into a state of disrepair.

The architects replaced this section of the building with a new wing, which contains five en-suite guest bedrooms.

Each of these bedrooms is contained beneath separate peaks of a sawtooth roof, and features double-height living spaces to accommodate mezzanine levels for the sleeping quarters.

Mezzanines are reached by custom-made birch plywood staircases, which incorporate a desk, shelving and storage to make the most of the living space.

A fifth bedroom sits separate from the rest of the annex, and is accessed through a black-stained, weatherboard-clad passage. A dressing room and bathroom are also located off this passage.

This last bedroom is the largest out of the five, and boasts six-metre-high ceilings. Grounds are visible through windows and glass doors on each facade, while a skylight allows natural light to flood the space throughout the day.

The exterior of the entire building has been clad in cedar shingles, which will silver over time to make the structure blend into its surroundings.

"The new building sits comfortably in the wild garden landscape and over time will weather down to a silver-grey to match the guttering, which will further emphasise the pared-down form," said the architects.

To get to the old barn building, guests cross through a passageway clad in black-stained timber.

The barn, which provides the permanent living area for the owners, has been reconfigured to incorporate an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space.

The architects were keen to "enhance" the existing structure, and simply repaired old brickwork and roof tiling using found materials.

Blee Halligan Architects was co-founded by architects Greg Blee and Lee Halligan. Previously the studioextended a bungalow in Manchester, England, to include three pitched roofs that capture sunlight at different times of day andupdated a north London house with a lantern-like extension.

Photography is by Sarah Blee.

View original post here:
Old Suffolk barn transformed into countryside bed and breakfast by Blee Halligan Architects - Dezeen

The old warehouse building at 211 Main St. in North Tonawanda was not built to last.

According to Joy Kuebler, one of two women with plans to bring new life to the building, the structure was made with cheap materials when it was built nearly 90 years ago. The fact that its still standing, she said, is unusual.

Were looking at a substantial reconstruction, but we want to maintain the historic integrity, Kuebler said, adding that theyd like to create a 21st century building that lasts another 100 years.

Kuebler, owner of Joy Kuebler Landscape Architect, P.C., has teamed up with Kelley Culp-Burton, owner of KCB Architecture, P.C., to convert the building into new office spaces for their growing businesses. They plan to move their businesses to the space and expect to have 10,000 square feet left over which can be rented out to other tenants. They plan to use movable walls to allow the space to be reconfigured, as needed, over time.

Under the name Enterprise Lumber and Silo, the two have applied for assistance through the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency. Theyve been approved by the NCIDA for a 10-year tax abatement, a sales tax abatement and a mortgage recording tax abatement to help bring the $3.1 million project to fruition.

Thats just one piece of a handful of things we need to get in place to make this project happen, Culp-Burton said.

She added that theres also the possibility of additional funding from the state Department of Environmental Conservation if they get approved to be part of the brownfield program. Theyve also received a $300,000 Restore New York grant and Culp-Burton said there are programs through both National Grid and National Fuel that help with the restoration of abandoned buildings. She said theyve also received support from state Sen. Robert Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, and state Assemblyman Robin Schimminger, D-Kenmore.

The project is expected to transfer 11 jobs to the new facility, with Kuebler saying they expect to add four to five employees each over the next 10 years. The project summary issued by the NCIDA says they plan to create seven new jobs.

As with any building as old as 211 Main St., there is substantial repair work to be done before theyre ready to open for business. The big issue is the roof, which needs to be replaced, along with the windows and the exterior walls of the structure. Whats still in good shape, Culp-Burton said, is the timber frame. She said thats part of the historical feel to the building that theyd like to preserve.

In addition to enhancing their businesses and providing space for new businesses, they also plan to utilize the space in ways that benefit the community. They plan to use a portion of the building to create a space that can be rented out for community events and theyre also working with students in North Tonawanda High Schools Academy of Engineering and Architecture, who will use their project as a learning opportunity.

The project is expected to enter the construction phase during the spring of 2018 and, if all goes according to plan, open for business by late 2018 or early 2019.

Originally posted here:
NT architects seek to revive old warehouse - Niagara Gazette

Architects show designs for new...

COLUMBIA, Mo. - A new middle school is Columbia should hold 700 students for classes, according to the architects who designed it.

PWArchitects showed off its work on a southwest middle school Monday night. Firm president Chris Davis said the school should hold 700 students for daily classes, but could fit 800 students in total.

CPS moved up the opening date of the middle school to 2020 as overcrowding continues to be an issue at its one middle school south of Stadium Boulevard. The district is targeting land on Sinclair Road for the new school.

The half of the building nearest the parking lot will feature the gym and performing arts center. Two stories of classrooms are further back, and staff will have the ability to close off that half after hours. Superintendent Peter Stiepleman said that allowed for a more accessible feel to the public, allowing easy access to the popular facilities, while also protecting the class space.

Davis said a "flex room" near the gym will serve as one of the building's two storm shelters. Columbia city rules require schools to have them. The school's classroom for students with physical and mental disabilities will also double as a storm shelter. Davis said that stops students who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices to get across the entire building in case of an emergency.

"Columbia Public Schools probably isn't too unique from other school districts," Davis told ABC 17 News. "They started taking into account electronic cameras and surveillance, as well as lockdowns, and control of the door systems, so we incorporate those things, too."

Matt Pitzer, a Columbia City Council member, said he enjoyed the simplicity of the school's design. The three main hallways make it seem easy to navigate, and allow for safer navigation of the school, Pitzer said. The city councilman said that he still wanted to accelerate improvements to Sinclair Road ahead of the school's scheduled opening, including sidewalks and bicycle lanes.

"We don't want everybody in their cars, we want to get people out of their cars and be able to bike and walk, and right now, Sinclair is basically an unimproved road," Pitzer said.

Read more from the original source:
Architects show designs for new Columbia middle school - ABC17News.com