MICHIGAN AWARDS EXCELLENCE IN ARCHITECTURE

The Michigan Chapter of the American Institute of Architects has announced its annual Excellence in Architecture awards. Sixteen projects designed by Michigan architects received honors in building, interiors, sustainability, and other categories. All of the firms, including Harley Ellis Devereaux, which received an interiors award for their work on their own Chicago office (photo by Anthony May Photography), were cited for their ability to meet the needs of the client in a fresh and creative way. ArchitectureWeek will take a look at this and some of the other award recipients.

HYBRID WALL SYSTEM SHOWS ITS METTLE

While precast concrete is an outstanding architectural material, its heavy weight can limit where and how it's used. A recently completed project demonstrates, however, that a new type of hybrid wall system combining cold-formed metal studs and precast concrete can reduce the weight of architectural precast and expand opportunities to apply precast technologies. In the next issue, building-materials expert Michael Chusid will explain how this system was used in an addition for the renowned Huntington Library in San Marino, California.

CELEBRATING THE SOLSTICE

All of us at ArchitectureWeek extend our best wishes to everyone enjoying the northern hemisphere's summer solstice, the southern hemisphere's winter solstice, and/or Independence Day in the United States. In observance of these dates, we give you ArchitectureWeek No. 293 as a two-week issue. Our next issue will be ArchitectureWeek No. 294, including the articles previewed here, scheduled for release on July 12, 2006. (Pictured: Stonehenge.)