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Postcard from Chicago | |
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Build Boston 2005 | |
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Cityscape 2005 Awards | |
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Build Boston 2005 Design Methods In the session, "Daylighting in Architecture," expert consultants Prasad Vaidya and Doug Maddox of the Weidt Group demonstrated that daylight, when used as a building's major light source, can reduce electricity consumption by one-third or more, a major bonus for architects aiming at high LEED ratings. Vaidya and Maddox also showed how technological aids such as radial lenses, computer-controlled dimmers and shading devices, and computer modeling must always be balanced with common sense steps such as coordinating the various design disciplines, specifying calibration of controls, documenting control use, commissioning the project, and performing postoccupancy verification. They reported that "under-dimming" is seldom reported while "over-dimming" can cause user irritation leading to manual overrides of the whole system. In "CADD Systems Collaboration," computer-aided design expert Geoff Langdon gave his opinion on the pros and cons of several current design packages, including AutoCAD, Revit, IntelliCAD, SketchUp, DesignWorkshop, ArchiCAD, DataCAD, VectorWorks, DWG TrueView, ZipCAD, and ArchiLumos. While many of these programs compete for various niches, Langdon feels that the high-end cutting edge of CAD is now a two-horse race between Revit and ArchiCAD, while Autodesk muddies the waters with its many versions — most of which are largely incompatible with each other — of AutoCAD. Research Another fascinating workshop was "The Future of Libraries," with Anthony Tappe, FAIA and Jeffrey Hoover, AIA showing how libraries reflect changes in culture, historically and today. No more are librarians "shushing" children and enforcing quiet and order. Instead, they foster a spirit of exploration and play that emulates that of theme parks. For adults, new libraries more resemble bookstores and cafes in promoting a welcoming ambience and using display shelving not so much to house books as to showcase circulation materials. Evolving library design also results from changing services and technologies, such as self-checkout terminals, automatic retrieval and sorting systems, and even 24-hour unstaffed "late libraries," such as MIT's Hayden Library. It has been calculated that eliminating one full-time librarian pays for an additional 4,000 square feet (370 square meters) of library construction. The job description for librarians is changing as well, and they are coming out from behind their desks. In the Seattle Public Library by Rem Koolhaus, for instance, roving reference librarians equipped with networked, handheld computers help users in the library reading areas. Some libraries are evolving into the modern equivalent of the bookmobile, a so-called "Information Gas Station" that can be parked in shopping malls or subway stations. Construction Issues At Build Boston, analyst Robert Murray presented the McGraw-Hill annual outlook for the U.S. construction industry. While there continues to be a big concern over the steep rise in material prices, other factors suggest a cautious optimism for modest gains of 3 percent in total construction dollars in 2006. The only exception is a projected decline of 1 percent in single-family housing after large increases over the last four years. The fact that lawyers now routinely present at Build Boston on common construction problems indicates how careful architects and owners must be in dealing with the growing number of "sick" buildings. Such was the message of the seminar "Bad Air Days in the Public Sector," presented by lawyers Sarah Gibson and Leah A. Rochwarg. Their advice was less about how to avoid air quality problems in design than how to minimize postoccupancy litigation problems. Their first rule: mitigate potential damage as soon as it's detected by addressing the source of the problem even though this may make it harder to assess blame later on. Their second rule: insist on a process for "whole-building commissioning" that will help bring attention to neglected factors that can cause toxicity. Case Studies Boston's historic Trinity Church, by H.H. Richardson has recently undergone a massive renovation, almost all of it underground and invisible to the public. The team of Goody & Clancy Architects, Shawmut Design & Construction, and Leggat McCall Properties created a completely new floor of program space under the massive stone structure, which rests completely on spruce piles over filled soil in the former Charles River basin. How they succeeded in this technological feat is a fascinating study in modern construction techniques. One seminar in the "Designing for Memory" symposium reviewed the jury process for the "9//11 Memorial" for Boston's Logan Airport. The winner has yet to be announced, but it was clear that the jury was challenged by a set of rules that limited the construction budget to $1,000,000, offered no prize money, and encouraged participation by nonprofessionals. The Massachusetts Port Authority plans to unveil the winning design on September 11, 2006. My conclusion from attending Build Boston is that the pulse of the construction industry is strong. Whether one spent a single morning there or three full days, whether one attended a dozen seminars or just browsed the trade show, it was clear that all signs point to an industry whose prognosis is robust for the coming year. Discuss this article in the Architecture Forum... Evan H. Shu, FAIA is an architect with Shu Associates Inc. in Melrose, Massachusetts. He is a contributor to publications such as The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice and Architectural Record and is publisher and editor of Cheap Tricks, a monthly newsletter for DataCAD users and computer-using architects.
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