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 October Results of the RIBA Future Trends SurveyThe Royal Institute of British Architects announced the October results of its monthly Future Trends Survey, which was established in January 2009 to monitor business and employment trends affecting the architecture profession.The trends emanating from this months survey reveal modest changes to the September results, both in terms of workload prediction and staffing. More practices predicted an increase in workload, (31 per cent in October, compared to 33 per cent in September), although this indicator has been quite volatile over the last quarter and does not represent a sustained trend of confidence growth. The number of practices predicting a decline in workload remained constant at 16 per cent, in addition to levels of underemployment (30 per cent of practices stated they were underemployed in October, and 29 per cent in September). Both public and commercial work sectors presented improvements with predicted increases in workloads; 19 per cent of practices expected public sector work to increase (growing from 17 per cent in September), and 18 per cent predicted more commercial work, compared to 16 per cent in September. In October, only 28 per cent of practices expected more private housing work, which was a further drop of 4 per cent from the September figures (32 per cent). more October Results of the RIBA Future Trends Survey design directory RIBA > Architecture Organizations added by Levent OZLER |
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 Green Buildings for Cool CitiesThe U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Sierra Club's Cool Cities program today announced the launch of the "Green Buildings for Cool Cities" collaboration.The partnership will leverage Cool Cities' more than 200 local campaigns and USGBC's national network of 80 chapters to encourage and promote the adoption of policies by local governments that will support new and retrofitted energy- efficient buildings - a key part of the solution to global warming and transitioning to a clean energy economy. At a news conference at USGBC's Greenbuild International Conference & Expo in Phoenix, the organizations released a step-by-step green building policy guide for communities of all sizes. The recommended policies range from basic to more advanced plans of action to address energy efficiency and environmental sustainability through the built environment. "Local governments have long been laboratories of innovation when it comes to energy efficiency, proving by example that sustainable building practices can be effectively brought to scale. USGBC is pleased to join forces with the Sierra Club to engage our network of green building practitioners on this important campaign," said Roger Platt, USGBC's Senior Vice President for Global Policy and Law. Highlighted policies include leadership standards for government buildings that serve as models for the community; financial and no-cost incentives to build green for the commercial and residential sectors; and improved minimum efficiency standards through energy code adoption and enforcement. more coolcit... (27) design directory U.S. Green Building Council > Sustainable Design Organizations added by Levent OZLER |
 The Sustainable Sites Initiative Rating SystemThe Sustainable Sites Initiative (SSI) announced the release of the first rating system for the creation and maintenance of sustainable landscapes, a system that will likely have significant impact on the design and development of the nation's public parks and recreation areas.A guiding principle of the SSI is that sustainable sites should not only conserve but also contribute to regenerating resources in developed landscapes. Outlined in a new report, "Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks 2009" along with a companion report entitled "The Case for Sustainable Landscapes," the new national performance rating system provides metrics for how sustainable developed landscapes are to be rated. The Sustainable Sites rating system is composed of prerequisites and credits. If prerequisites are met, up to 250 points will be awarded in 51 separate credits covering areas such as site selection, soils, vegetation, restoration of disturbed sites, recycling of materials and sustainable construction methods. In addition to a credit system, the SSI also requires a continuous cycle of assessment and evaluation, whereby land managers can regularly update their management practices based on results. more www.sus... (21) design directory Sustainable Sites > Sustainable Design Organizations added by Levent OZLER |
 Redesigning of the Area Around Champ-de-Mars Metro StationThe Ville de Montreal announced a nationwide ideas competition for the redesigning of the area around the Champ-de-Mars metro station.The purpose of the competition is to solicit explorations and illustrations of a variety of development concepts made possible by the planned covering of the Ville-Marie expressway and the potential reconfiguration of its exit ramps. Champ-de-Mars station, with its magnificent glassworks by renowned artist Marcelle Ferron, is one of the few landmarks remaining from the time before the construction of the Ville-Marie expressway. The immediate perimeter of the station forms a link between downtown Montreal and Old Montreal, and is one of the main pedestrian access routes to the historic district. The competition invites entrants to submit development proposals that integrate smoothly with the existing public spaces and take into account the current and future built environment, including the impending Centre hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal. Proposals must promote citizen appropriation of the urban environment and provide a development framework that facilitates movement through the city. competition deadline Jan 15, 2010 more design competitions more info www.rea... (34) design directory Architecture Events added by Levent OZLER |
 Marriott Accelerates Green Hotel DevelopmentMarriott International announced that it will expand its green hotel portfolio ten-fold over the next five years by introducing a green hotel prototype that will be pre-certified LEED.The green hotel prototype, which will be available in April 2010, will save owners approximately $100,000 and six months in design time, and reduce a hotel's energy and water consumption by up to 25 percent, based on national averages. These savings, combined with incentives offered in many jurisdictions, could provide a payback for the LEED building investment in about two years. The green hotel prototype, referred to by the USGBC as "volume build certification," has been created for Marriott's Courtyard brand, which has a development pipeline of nearly 160 hotels worldwide. In 2010, the company expects to introduce similar green hotel prototypes for its Fairfield Inn, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites and TownePlace Suites brands, which represent more than 290 hotels in the pipeline worldwide. "Marriott's' commitment makes it among the first in the world to commit to implementing green buildings on this scale," said Doug Gatlin, Vice President, USGBC. Marriott was the first hospitality member of the USGBC, and has more than 20 LEED accredited professionals on staff. added by Levent OZLER |
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