The Career and Technical Education Center, designed by SHW Group, recently opened in Frisco, Texas. Photo: Terry Wier Photography Extra Large Image

Los Angeles · 2009.0128
HGA Architects and Engineers (Hammel, Green and Abrahamson) has promoted Sean M. Collins, AIA, LEED AP, to associate vice president. A project manager in the firm's Los Angeles, California, office, who has been with HGA for a decade, Collins has worked on seismic compliance for a number of hospital campuses, new college construction projects, and several sustainable design and urban-infill projects. He is currently involved in the planning and design of a major addition to Stanford University's Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.

New York · 2009.0128
The City of New York has revealed the initial conceptual design for the New Amsterdam Plein & Pavilion in Peter Minuit Plaza at The Battery. The project will include a food and information pavilion designed by architect Ben van Berkel of UN Studio of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. From above, the sculptural pavilion suggests a pinwheel. A facade LED system will allow for a constantly changing light show at night. The New York City office of Handel Architects LLP will serve as associate architect.

Landscape architects in New York City's Department of Parks & Recreation have conceived a stone-paved civic platform (plein in Dutch) with a carved stone map of historic New Amsterdam. The open space will include seating and tables designed by UN Studio. The project will also feature berms and perennial garden planting beds using the color palette of Piet Oudolf.

The Battery is a 25-acre (ten-hectare) waterfront park visited by five million people annually.

Taipei · 2009.0127
The Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, has revealed its winning design for the Taipei Performing Arts Centre in Taipei, Taiwan. The design for the 40,000-square-meter (430,000-square-foot) theater complex includes a 1,500-seat theater and two 800-seat theaters designed to be used independently or in combination. A central cube, clad in corrugated glass, will stand on a socle, preserving an existing local food market. Some backstage areas will be exposed to the public.

OMA partners Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren are leading the design. OMA will collaborate with local architect Artech Inc. The center is scheduled to be completed in 2013.

Minneapolis · 2009.0127
Construction continues on a Mississippi Market store in the Victoria Park development in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Minneapolis office of engineering and architecture firm LHB, Inc. is providing architectural design, civil engineering, and landscape design services for the natural and organic foods co-op. The 13,000-square-foot (1,200-square-meter) store will include retail space, a deli, and indoor-outdoor seating space. Sustainable features will include daylighting, energy efficiency, and rain gardens with native landscaping. Completion is expected in June 2009.

Toronto · 2009.0126
International architecture firm HOK has appointed Gerry Faubert, CET, LEED AP, as vice president and director of integrated design, based in the firm's Toronto, Canada, office. In this newly created role, Faubert will lead the integration of high-performance solutions into the early design of projects to achieve optimal sustainable outcomes.

Faubert formerly served as principal of Keen Engineering, which merged with Edmonton, Alberta-based Stantec, for which he served as managing principal. He recently collaborated with HOK and Bergmark Guimond Hammarlund Jones Architects on the design of the Jean Canfield Government of Canada Building in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, a pilot project in the federal government's sustainability strategy.

Brooklyn · 2009.0121
Construction continues on a five-story, 49-unit affordable housing development in Brooklyn, New York City. Amie Gross Architects of New York City designed the project, which is targeting LEED Platinum certification. Norwalk, Connecticut-based Steven Winter Associates is providing LEED consulting services. The developer is the Fifth Avenue Committee of Brooklyn. Construction began in August 2008 and is expected to be completed in spring 2010.

Frisco · 2009.0120
A new Career and Technical Education Center (pictured above) recently opened in Frisco, Texas. Plano-based SHW Group designed the $33 million CTE center for the Frisco Independent School District.

The 126,000-square-foot (11,700-square-meter) facility merges real-world professional environments with educational programs for 11th- and 12th-grade students. The two-story structure features a masonry exterior with composite metal and zinc accent panels, and interior finishes that include exposed structural systems of steel and wood.

The center includes a a full-service restaurant, credit union and bank, court room for mock trials, TV and radio studios, computer and animation labs, architecture lab, marketing and media centers, medical and veterinary science labs, warehouse, and 4,000-square-foot (370-square-meter) greenhouse, as well as technology laboratories, administrative areas, a testing center, an employee training area, and a variety of classrooms.

The Dallas office of Cadence McShane served as construction manager.

Holbrook · 2009.0119
Art-Of-Form Architectural Services, PLLC of Amityville and New York, New York, has acquired Glueckert and Wieber Architects (G&W) of Holbrook, New York. G&W owners Bruce Glueckert and George Wieber plan to retire; their office will be closed and all architectural services will be relocated to Art-Of-Form's existing offices, under the direction of principals Mark Searage and Raymond Caliendo.

G&W specializes in commercial and industrial architecture and design. Art-Of-Form is a full-service architectural and interior design firm, working in the commercial office, medical, industrial, retail, institutional, food processing, restaurant, and residential market sectors.

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