RENZO PIANO'S NEW YORK TIMES BUILDING Ask most architects to name the most elemental ingredients of great architecture, and chances are they will say "space and light." But these are not necessarily the first two words that come to mind when thinking about skyscrapers, especially tall buildings in New York City. — Published 2008.0416
	TEACHING CLIMATE On February 20, 2007, architects and students worldwide demonstrated en masse that they are ready to go to work to stop global climate change. Their "gathering" was virtual, however, as schools, firms, and individuals from 47 countries tuned in to the 2010 Imperative Teach-In webcast. During several hours, a panel of three experts from different disciplines discussed the building sector's impact on global warming. Their presentations are available online. — Published 2007.0314
	STONE GREEN Architects Busby Perkins+Will and KEEN Engineering, which is now part of Stantec, combined multiple green strategies within a single project to achieve Canada's first LEED Gold certification for new construction for the City of White Rock Operations Building in British Columbia. — Published 2006.1101
	PATAGONIAN LUXURIES An exotic location like Chilean Patagonia demands an exotic hotel. Hotel Remota's design draws from the dazzling explosion of islands, glaciers, icebergs, and mountains on this southern tip of South America. Inspired by Patagonian sheep farm buildings, Hotel Remota offers warm interiors to shield visitors from the wind and cold. A central courtyard introduces visitors to the Patagonian wilderness: except for a few large boulders, the plaza is empty, but full of suggestion. — Published 2006.0405
	REGARDING WATER A building can outwardly but subtly express the functions it shelters and express institutional regard towards its surrounding context. An example of this is the new office building for Rijkswaterstaat Zeeland, the Department of Water Management and Transport (RWS), in Middelburg, The Netherlands. Through its many sustainability features, it shows deference to energy and water conservation and to the well being of its occupants. — Published 2005.0413
	SUSTAINABILITY NORTHEAST "Green" Building design, as it becomes increasingly adopted by U.S. architects, is about more than conserving energy and natural resources. In green building, design criteria broaden to include fostering a sense of community, maintaining healthy environments, and preserving historic properties. These were some of the themes of the 2003 awards program of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), which recently made awards to workplaces, schools, and residential projects. — Published 2003.0521
	BUILDINGS FOR EARTH DAY As architects become more aware of their role in protecting the natural environment, they begin to view "sustainable design" more broadly. In addition to reducing consumption of fossil fuels, successful "green" architecture also improves comfort for building occupants, protects and repairs its immediate surroundings, and makes a positive contribution to the community. — Published 2003.0430
	SUBURBAN RENEWAL Two years ago I moved into a modest, 1950s-era, one-story house. From the beginning, my intention has been to make better use of on-site resources such as sun, rain, and soil while using the existing house and property as points of departure for my own local suburban renewal project. A primary strategy of "permaculture" central to this work is to develop what I call "chains of benefits," when single actions produce multiple positive outcomes. — Published 2002.0814
	ARCHITECTURE EARTH DAY It began over 30 years ago, as growing numbers became alarmed at the seemingly inevitable human-caused destruction of the planet. Since then, concerned citizens, scientists, politicians, and other professionals have gathered each April to celebrate "Earth Day" and to figure out ways to slow or reverse the damage. — Published 2001.0411
	ELEGANT EFFICIENCY AT ZION CANYON Out in the beautiful Utah desert, the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) is elegantly demonstrating how bringing the outside in and the inside out can enhance our appreciation of the built and natural environment. The 7,600-square-foot (706-square meter) Zion Canyon Visitor and Transportation Center, in Springdale, Utah, is a showcase of efficiency and sustainability for the NPS. — Published 2001.0103

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