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Presents the 1987 winners of the annual Prestressed Concrete Institute design awards program that honors architects and engineers for their aesthetic, functional and economical use of precast, prestressed concrete. Chairman of the jury which selected the winners; A. Epstein and Sons, Architects and structural engineers for the Execute Place building in Westmont, Illinois; Wilson Mumper, architects, Brandon & Johnston Associates, structural engineers for the Meyer Center in Pleasanton, California; Spillis Candela & Partners, architects and structural engineers for the 800 Douglas Entrance in Coral Gables, Florida.

The article discusses the tools and concepts that will help design engineers in the U.S. proactively manage energy efficiency and the sustainable elements of building during and preconstruction phases of energy retrofit project. It suggests the energy modeling or calibrated energy models. It notes the use of whole-building retrofit integrated approach. It mentions the through real-time monitoring and measurement.

The article discusses a competition between geothermal-heat pumps (GHPs) and related systems in the U.S. It is stated that these systems, if designed to be efficient, can produce more energy than they consume and yield a positive coefficient of performance (COP). Among the factors that affect the system's ability to save the owner money include the struggle of engineers with design complexities. It talks about a growth in the market for ground-source heat pumps (GSHPs).

The article focuses on the Engineers Without Borders-USA (EWB-USA) created by civil engineering professor and geotechnical expert Bernard Amadei. Particular emphasis is given to his experience in visiting a Costa Rica hydroelectric project on which he was asked to consult. Participants work on hundreds of small-scale infrastructure and development projects in poor communities. EWB-USA students from tiny Carroll College are mentoring middle-school students to embrace engineering as a way to reduce high school dropout rates.

The article focuses on the flexibility of variable air volume(VAV) systems which proved to be the right fit for the space demands in New York City (NYC). It states that the rising of real estate in NYC have great income potential for commercial applications. It notes that design engineers opted for VAV DX systems for ease of fitout and better control of utility billing. However, the VAV DX systems in the New York high rise help rein in utility bills while maintaining best temperature control.

The article presents information on the use of visualization tools in the construction industry. People up and down the chain of construction are churning out graphics created with blends of digital photographs and three-dimensional design data. Jack Dempsey, a U.S. Coast Guard civil engineer pioneering facilities planning tools based on building information modeling, says the ability to use model data to generate even simple isometric drawings and renderings can propel design meetings directly past explanations to decision-making with surprising ease. John Kruk, a project engineer on the Metropolitan Transit Authority/New York City Transit Authority's $785-million overhaul of the Fulton Street Transit Center in lower Manhattan, also has much recent experience using visualization tools to explain the project to its many stakeholders.

The article focuses on issues related to the construction market for large-scale industrial process plants. The market has long since left U.S. shores, but owners are seeking engineers to redesign and realign existing structures to optimize quality, minimize waste and develop niche products. The maturing of the U.S. industrial process construction market continues, with most big greenfield projects going abroad, particularly to the Mideast region or China, where the cost of both financing and feedstock are significantly less, says Michael A. Pears, senior vice president of Fluor Corp.'s chemical business.

This article focuses on the engineers' call for standards to provide consistency from jurisdiction to jurisdiction during plan review stage in the U.S. When it comes to official approvals for a nontraditional performance-based design (PBD), engineers can feel like turtles trying to make progress by sticking their necks out. Encountering hostile environments, they often retreat into their shells. When they do push on, they find the journey slow, arduous and risky. PBD for commercial buildings, considered on the cutting edge of practice, marries defined demands with defined performance objectives through rigorous engineering.

Discusses how Babcock and Wilcox Co. save time and money by using computer simulation to evaluate the performance of web scrubbers in the United States. Design of the scrubber; Development of a physical model to allow quantitative data to be developed; Benefits for engineers.

Focuses on the design and review of smoke control projects involving hospitality occupancies in the U.S. Role of fire protection engineers in determining the aspects of building design in relation to life safety; Usability of smoke detectors and fire alarm systems to provide early warnings of hazardous conditions and a monitored sprinkler system to control fires; Requirement of smoke control systems for residential occupancies in high-rise buildings.

As they renovate their 100-year-old subway system, New York City's transit officials are taking a fresh look at how to improve functionality, aesthetics and connectivity. Working beneath the surface, within utilities and around trains that never stop operating, contractors and engineers are improving 468 subway stations within four boroughs, performing technical feats while keeping the trains running. A reorganized New York City Transit Authority now emphasizes a variety of contracting methods and engineering techniques. Mysore Nagaraja, president of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Capital Construction Co. and subway chief engineer from 1996-2003, says hazardous material removal is a big issue.

Twenty-four states of the U.S. now have mandatory continuing education requirements for professional engineers. Iowa was the first state to require continuing education for professional engineers in 1970s. Regulations in most states generally adhere to model guidelines for continuing professional competency drafted by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, Clemson, South Carolina. Typical acceptable activities include courses, seminars, in-house programs or training with engineering content, software instruction and management or ethics courses. INSET: Activities Considered Continuing Education.

Focuses on the learning curve of heating, ventilation and air conditioning engineers in the United States. Importance of continuing education; Ways to motivate engineers; Development of an individual goal.

The article discusses the alternatives that should be considered by design engineers in the U.S. who may want to consider in future designs for fire and smoke damper placement. It states a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment that provides heating and cooling. It notes the electrically operated fire dampers. It mentions the area room smoke detectors to initiate smoke dampers.

Reports that the National Society of Professional Engineers has asked the Justice Department to investigate whether the architectural profession is conspiring to deny the public the right to freely secure building-design services. Details of the group's claims against architects; NSPE's criticisms to the principles promoted by the American Institute of Architects.

Highlights the views of panelists composing of architects and engineers at a roundtable discussion in San Francisco, California regarding factors affecting their professional services marketing program. Moderator of the roundtable discussion; Factors in their clients' and prospective clients' businesses that are having the most significant effect on their market; Differences in the opinion of the panelists; Agreement among panelists that clients have changed.

The article focuses on the importance to have appropriate learning designs to foster better thinking for students in the U.S. It notes that aside from the mechanical aspects of buildings, engineers must consider the lighting, power and lighting controls of learning spaces. Moreover, engineers should also need to remember that spaces and technology used by teachers and students are only tools relevant for learning.

The article reports that in the 33 years since the U.S. Justice Department first enforced antitrust laws against engineer and architect associations, the groups stopped updating fee guidance for members. As a result, practitioners found that percentage of construction, a widely used fee determinant among many public sector owners and some private, hardly changed much in that time. Erosion of fees, combined with the changing nature and complexity of services have produced some unrealistic expectations about what engineers and architects are supposed to do. The accomplishments included adjusting the fee schedule using current construction cost indexes, adjusting the distribution of basic fees to provide more time for architects and engineers to support the construction phase and beginning the fee schedule at $500,000 worth of construction cost.

The article reports that one year after the major deployment of the U.S. engineers and contractors to help rebuild Iraq, the country's physical landscape has begun to reflect their involvement and the billions of American dollars committed. Hope that the unexpectedly successful Iraqi elections on January 30 might signal a change in the insurgent terrorism that has dogged reconstruction was dampened by a rocket attack the day before in Baghdad's Green Zone that landed in part of the U.S. Embassy that houses the reconstruction effort's Project and Contracting Office.

Offers advice to engineers on how to prevent design problems. Possible design errors; Preparing for meetings; Knowing the stakeholders. INSET: Five Tips to Help Stay Out of Trouble.

This article features Guy Nordenson, a structural engineer who began his career drafting in the joint studio of R. Buckminster Fuller and Isamu Noguchi. He established the New York office of Arup in 1987 and his own practice in 1997. After the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks of 9/11, he undertook structural inspections of some 400 buildings around the site and continued to provide his services with the various design deliberations that followed, including collaborating with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill on the scheme that became the Freedom Tower.

A team of activists, architects, and engineers who call themselves "Team Twin Towers" recently unveiled a design for the World Trade Center, New York, that is an almost exact replica of the original twin towers. The team, led by journalist Randi Warner, with a design by engineer Ken Gardner and architect Herbert Belton, is lobbying aggressively for its design, called the "Plan of the People." The idea consists of two towers whose sleek, rectangular forms are purposeful reminders of the original towers. In fact, one of the designers, Belton, worked on the twin towers' original construction drawings for New York firm Emory Roth and Sons.

The author of this article likes to share some thoughts about the gypsum board industry with architects, engineers, and designers who read his columns. The gypsum board industry in the U.S. and Canada keeps a low profile outside of the construction trades and related professions and the building code arena. Notwithstanding their inherent unease about being in the public spotlight, the board producers quietly contribute to the success of residential, commercial, institutional, and other types of construction. For many years, manufacturers have invested diligently in research and development in order to bring innovative and quality products and systems onto the market place.

Reports the investigations of engineers on the structural failure in the World Trade Center in New York, New York. Failure to link the bolt and weld connections of interior and exterior columns; Intensity of the heat from the explosion and jet fuel; Formation of Vierendeel truss.

Presents of views of engineers and architects on the implication of building security and safety in the United States. Need of examining resistance of structural fire protection; Integration of security systems in building designs.

Reports the assistance provided by local engineers in the demolition and removal of the World Trade Center wreckage in New York, New York. Mission of the Structural Engineers Association of New York; Determination of the safest sequence of removal; Use of the ATC-20 evaluation system for decisions of continued use and occupancy of damaged buildings.

Presents a preview of the Gas Cooling Technology (GTC) event to be held May 6-7, 1997 at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas. How the 1997 GTC is considered the authoritative source for information on the natural gas cooling marketplace; List of some of the companies and exhibitors with their products to be seen at the conference; Features of the conference.

The article offers information on several aspects associated with the U.S. based engineering jobs comprising the factors which leads to a shortage of an engineering jobs in the U.S. Topics discussed include foreign workers based policies of the U.S. administration under the leadership of Donald Trump, president of the U.S. and a contribution of the periodical to highlight the efforts of women associated with an engineering industry comprising Rebecca Ellis and Stephanie Taylor.

Reports on the debates on issues concerning architecture in California led by the Professional Engineers in California Government (PECG) and the Taxpayers for Efficient Government. Dispute on state rules on contract bidding involving architectural firms; Goal of the organizations to convince the public that lowest contract bids do not guarantee safety or lowest final project costs.

Focuses on the efforts of the American Consulting Engineers Council to oppose competitive bidding in order to obtain federal commissions in the U.S. Information on the law that govern fee bids for engineers; Tax issues affecting consulting engineers in the country; Extent of the problems facing the profession.

The article reports on the move of architects and engineers to consider climate liability on their projects to prepare for climate change and sea-level rise in the U.S. Insight from the American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) director Michael Sanio regarding their own standards and code of ethics that puts public safety first is provided. However, it also emphasis that it is unclear on how their standard applies to design choices that could be affected by climate change.

The article discusses how design engineers in the U.S. avoid problems caused by harmonic distortions. It suggests the use of reactors to reduce harmonic distortion. It mentions the use of options such as addition of passive harmonic input filters, active harmonic input filters, and multi-pulse transformers.

The article reports on the Guidelines for Performance-Based Seismic Design of Tall Buildings Version 1.0 published by the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER) at the University of California, Berkeley. Structural groups and building departments sees the guide as an important, industry-changing document because it will allow practicing engineers to design safer, more reliable buildings. It also addresses soil- foundation-structure interaction modeling.

The article offers an update on several architects and engineers in the U.S. as of March 2010. It reports on President Barack Obama's nomination of Stephen T. Ayers to be Architect of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. It cites the promotion of controller Ron Gasper to chief financial officer at David Evans and Associates. It mentions that engineer Thomas R. Kuesel died on February 17.

The article reports that 10 structural engineers from the U.S. went to Haiti to assess the condition of buildings slightly damaged in the magnitude-seven earthquake on January 12, 2010. The engineers use the rapid evaluation safety assessment method of the Applied Technology Council. Unsafe buildings are tagged red by the group and green if they are safe to occupy. Lack of transverse reinforcement, poor-quality concrete and severe lack of symmetry were among the problems observed by the engineers.

The article provides information on the basic principles and tips for effective contract commissioning on engineering construction phase in the U.S. The issue of Engineered Systems for "Design & Construction Administration for the 21st Century," features the comprehensive information on the 60/40 rule including quipment O&M manual for the service contractor guidance in working the construction phase. Commissioning engineer is also recognized as vital to have an effective commisioning team.

This article focuses on the effort of the Arizona State University to launch the School of Sustainability in September 2007. According to school director Charles Redman, this is the first graduate class at the school where civil engineers are in class right alongside people who want to save the polar bears. The school offers bachelor's and master's degrees and a Ph.D. in sustainability. It is the first school of its kind to focus solely on sustainability education and the first to offer undergraduates a track to pursue majors in it.

Presents letters to the editor commenting on various issues related to engineering systems. Comments on engineers making critical design decisions; Appreciation of the article "Take an Engineer to Work," published in the journal "Engineered Systems;" Discussion on the calculation of fuse current values; Guidelines that are followed subsequent to the process of fuse values determination in the United States.

The article presents information about the second wave of modern engineering concepts for hydronic heating design seminars, which have been scheduled in 10 locations throughout the United States in 2005. The seminars are targeted toward engineers, specifiers, facility managers, and hydronic heating contractors seeking to expand their expertise. Topics include variable-speed circulators, modulating boiler systems, multi-load/multi-temperature systems and mixing options, web-accessible control systems, software-assisted design, radiant wall and ceiling heating methods.

Provides tips on designing a heating and ventilating system in the U.S. Need of referring to the 2004 handbook of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers; Control on the occupied mode of operation; Compliance of the engineers on the specifications of various contracts.

Part III. Presents a series of columns showing to engineers how to build a tool that calculates ventilation costs, evaluates humidification sytems and determines cooling coil condensate flow. Bin data used by the tool; Calculation of latent loads; Elimination of error due to averaging when using conventional bin data.

Describes the design for emergency generator system application basic system, an emergency condition sequence of operation and functional performance test. Need for design engineers to consider both combustion air requirements to the generator engine and ventilation air requirement for limited space; Termination point for engine exhaust; Alternative to large makeup air and exhaust air ducts. INSET: Back to Basics.

A portion of Florida's Clearwater Memorial Causeway Bridge must be torn out and rebuilt, delaying the four-lane, $69.3-million project's scheduled July completion. The decision by the Florida Dept. of Transportation (FDOT) in the latest and potentially costliest snag for PCL Civil Constructors Inc. FDOT completed a code-based review of the columns to reconfirm the validity of the value-engineered design, completed by the engineer of record, Long Beach, California-based Earth Tech Inc. Beginning July 22, PCL must pay $15,089 to the state in damages for every day the bridge is not completed. Marian Scorza, an FDOT spokesperson, would not comment on potential liquidated damages or lawsuits relating to bridge work.

Ohio's Department of Transportation hopes its unusual decision to pave one direction of a new eight-mile, four-lane highway in asphalt and the other side in concrete will help its engineers see through political shades of gray in their future studies of long-life pavement materials. The $53.6-million project, which broke ground on May 26, 2004 mirrors a national quest for highway pavements designed to last beyond typical 20-year life cycles with little or no maintenance. The face-off started three years ago when the department initiated design work on a relocation of U.S. Route 30, an eight-mile trucking corridor between Wooster and Orrville in northeastern Ohio.

Reports on the agreement for partnership through a memorandum of understanding signed between Ashrae and U.S. Department of Energy. Principal and foremost objective of the partnership; Statement of Richard Rooley, president of Ashrae, on partnering with the agency; List of the specific goals under the said agreement.

Reports that U.S. engineers have placed a pipeline in Kuwait which they claim is the largest tactical fuel supply system ever accomplished. Location of the pipeline; Capacity of the supply system; Utility of the supply system.

Focuses on the practice of engineers in Florida to earn mandatory continuing education credits by visiting disciplinary hearings at meetings of Florida Board of Professional Engineers. Response of engineers to the practice of attending hearings personally; Rules for engineers to attend disciplinary hearings; Comments of several engineers regarding benefits of attending meetings personally.

Relates the experience of engineers during the wake of the terrorist attacks in New York, New York. Dedication for the safety of rescue, recovery and construction workers; Courage in the midst of danger; Determination of engineers working on Ground Zero.

Discusses the steps taken by the construction industry and engineering universities in the United States to address the shortage of engineers. Dearth of women and minorities in the industry; Percentage of non-Asian minority engineering freshmen that switch majors or drop out; Promotion of diversity in the engineering profession; Improvement in teaching skills; Internship programs.