The $825-billion economic stimulus proposal that House Democrats unveiled yesterday provides the first solid numbers for those in the design and construction industry who have been searching anxiously for hints about the plan. Infrastructure advocates panned the proposal as far short of what is needed. But with House committee and floor votes and Senate action still to come, the package is far from the last word on the stimulus. As drafted, the plan calls for roughly $550 billion in spending and $275 billion in tax cuts over two years. The plan would have a major impact on construction: By Engineering
Denver architect Peter H. Dominick, Jr., FAIA, will be remembered for his larger than life personality and his impact on redevelopment of the city’s urban core. But his legacy also includes three high-profile hotels designed for the Walt Disney Company: Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge in Orlando, Florida, and the Grand Californian Hotel in Anaheim, California. Dominick, 67, died from a heart attack January 1 while cross-country skiing near Aspen, Colorado, where he was vacationing with his family.
Most canals are built for the purpose of transportation or irrigation. Not so in Dubai, where, despite the economic crisis, work is reportedly under way on The Arabian Canal, a 46-mile-long waterway that will wrap around an inland development, essentially transforming a swath of desert into desirable waterfront property.
The American Institute of Architects has announced the recipients of the 2009 Honor Awards for Interior Architecture. The 10 honorees represent a mix of commercial, residential, and cultural projects that, according to the AIA, "skillfully used natural light and provided unique architectural approaches to common design problems."
The American Institute of Architects has named the six winners of the 2009 Honor Awards in the category of Regional and Urban Design. The AIA said the projects “range from singular buildings with an impact on the urban context, to zoning codes and master plan projects, to designs for entirely new cities.” Many of the selections were proposals to renew neglected or overlooked areas, including two—the Orange County Great Park by TEN Arquitectos and The Treasure Island master plan by SOM— that revitalize former military sites.
The American Institute of Architects has announced the winners of the 2009 Honor Awards for Architecture. The nine honorees represent a range of buildings with widely varying budgets, scales, and contexts. According to an AIA press release, “these projects have a tremendous impact on the social and physical fabric of the communities they serve.”
Harvard ended 2008 a little less rich. The world's wealthiest university announced in December that its endowment had shrunk from $36.9 billion to $28.8 billion during the second half of the year. In light of that asset plunge and the general economic malaise, the school is reconsidering the scope and timing of its ambitious expansion plans. Even the 1-million-square-foot, $1 billion science complex designed by Behnisch Architekten, already under construction and originally slated for completion in 2011, is under the microscope, according to spokesman Joshua Poupore. Image courtesy Princeton University At Princeton University, completion dates for several projects, including elements
Amid the wreckage of China’s massive earthquake last May, the sight of collapsed school buildings served as a powerful symbol of the depth of the tragedy. As architects and engineers ponder how to improve rural building safety, a new program is bringing together local people, young architects, and experienced designers to build a set of new schools that offer more than just safe construction. Image courtesy ZL Architecture The Dangpu school features an outdoor assembly area. Related Links: U.S. Firm Helps China Rebuild After Deadly Quake “This is a big historical opportunity to reconsider many things, like what is the
In recent months, the global financial crisis has hit the city of Dubai, where real estate prices are sinking and development companies are laying off staff. Despite the slowdown, however, construction is progressing on Dubai Metro, an extensive new light rail system intended to ease traffic problems, according to Adnan Al Hammadi, director of rail project construction for the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Partial service is scheduled to begin in September 2009.
Correction appended January 8, 2008 Jean Nouvel’s Los Angeles debut has been delayed. Construction of 10000 Santa Monica Boulevard, a 45-story condominium tower designed by the French architect and 2008 Pritzker Prize winner, has been put on hold due to financing problems. Images courtesy SunCal Country Construction of the Jean Nouvel-designed 10000 Santa Monica Boulevard (pictured at left in top photo) has been put on hold due to financing problems. Lehman Brothers, which declared bankruptcy in September, was underwriting the $400 million project. The project’s developer, SunCal Century City LLC, has since filed for bankruptcy itself. “No work is taking