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Paris's Palais de Chaillot, home to the Musée national de la Marine (MNM), has recently reopened after a renovation by h2o architectes and Snøhetta. The architects faced the challenge of integrating new program into the historic galleries of the building, resulting in a design that emphasizes voids and creates a contrast between old and new. The renovation includes a low, dark entrance with hanging aluminum rods that generate a wave of light, a white and spacious Galerie Davioud with a barrel-vaulted inner shell, glass-fronted mezzanines, and ancillary facilities such as a restaurant and auditorium. While there are some awkward moments in the ancillary areas, the overall design successfully highlights the grandeur of the Galerie Davioud. [Extracted from the article]

Among them were the directors of Stockholm's Lilla Akademien, who approached Palù and his acoustician - Yasuhisa Toyota of famed Japanese firm Nagata Acoustics - to create something similar in the Swedish capital. Trumpet-shaped polished-steel pendants light the stage area, while the balconies' steel railings and the undersides of their concrete floors are painted golden bronze, so that everything merges in a symphony of mellow ormolu. BUILDING TYPE STUDY 1,056 RECORD INTERIORS "I'LL BUILD YOU a hall that rings like a violin", said the great Auguste Perret to the pianist Alfred Cortot, an ambition that Italian architect Giorgio Palù of Arkpabi Architecture Studio no doubt had in mind when imagining his very first concert hall 15 or so years ago. [Extracted from the article]

To the south, where a triple-height internal street forms the building's principal circulation spine, WilkinsonEyre has replaced underwhelmingly small entrance doors with a voluminous glass foyer. The most significant alteration is to the upper floors, where the architects saw an opportunity to relocate the main university library to the Hub by repurposing two of the building's three open-air lightwells, around which offices were previously arranged. BUILDING TYPE STUDY 1,047 COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES WHEN LONDON South Bank University (LSBU) opened its hulking centerpiece building in 1976, a long review in an architectural journal identified numerous shortcomings, but concluded on a positive note: "It is a building which could be loved.". [Extracted from the article]

Originally designed by Vasili Bashkirov, the building has been radically reinvented by Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW) to become a glowing contemporary-art space, the new permanent home of the V-A-C. Foundation, created by director Teresa Mavica and Leonid Mikhelson, the country's wealthiest man, to promote contemporary art from Russia and nations of the former Soviet Union. BUILDING TYPE STUDY 1,038 RENOVATION, RESTORATION, ADAPTIVE REUSE JOINING MOSCOW'S cathedrals, skyscrapers, and industrial chimneys, spewing steam and smoke as stark vertical elements on the skyline, are the four bright blue, slender pipes of GES-2 House of Culture. In the course of its its operating life, the power station had become hemmed in by a dense amalgamation of redundant industrial buildings, most of which have now been cleared away to make open space once again around the GES-2 site. [Extracted from the article]

While the architects at first had imagined a roofless amphitheater, they eventually settled on a flat roof with a large, cloud-shaped opening that brings a dramatic shaft of light into the auditorium. Visitors ascend a winding stair in the dimly lit, crevice-like gap between the inner and outer walls to reach the cavelike performance hall, the outdoor stage, and the viewing terraces. BUILDING TYPE STUDY 1,036 CULTURAL BUILDINGS CULTURAL BUILDINGS APPROACHED ALONG a winding gravel path and nestled in a scenic valley just 200 yards from the Great Wall of China, the Chapel of Sound, by Li Hu and Huang Wenjing, of the Beijingbased OPEN Architecture, looks like a giant boulder. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on a transformative seminar attended over 40 years ago, where doctor W. Edwards Deming emphasized the need for organizational change and continuous improvement. Topics include the initial understanding of Deming's teachings, the imperfect progress of transformation in organizations like Ford Motor Company, and the ongoing relevance of Deming's principles despite not being universally embraced.

The article informs that for 25 years, Polshek Partnership Architects has orchestrated incisive master-plan enhancements of Carnegie Hall, long viewed as one of the country's premier concert venues. During the 1980s, the firm restored both the main Isaac Stern Auditorium and the smaller Sanford I. Weill Recital Hall. With the completion of a third performance space, the 644-seat Judy and Arthur Zankel Hall, Polshek has reached beyond its role as conservator of the historic building to that of innovator, expanding the notion of what a Carnegie Hall concert can be. Carnegie Hall's mandate was to create an intermediate-size performance space with excellent acoustics and modern architectural details that remained sensitive to its historic surroundings. INSET: Construction required careful excavation below the main hall.

San Francisco, California's building Moscone West does not follow rules. Eschewing the black-box formula, Moscone West is a daylight-filled building that rises 110 feet on a crowded downtown street. It defies all old rules of convention centers and yet has bookings 20 years out. The program called for a 45 percent increase in net usable area. The only suitable site, on a block to the west of Moscone North across Fourth Street, was 189,000 square feet, little more than 20 percent of the combined area of two existing sites, but expected to add 45 percent to the net usable capacity.

Focuses on the Auditorium de Dijon in Dijon, France, designed by architectural firm, Arquitectonica International. Praises for the building's acoustics; Design challenges posed by the auditorium's triangular site; Glass-enclosed bridge; Signature design of the firm; Beige-hued stone exterior.

Looks at the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Auditorium at the Brooklyn Museum, a multi-use facility designed in collaboration by James Stewart Polshek and Arata Isozaki. Discusses each partner's influences and how they mesh. Design; Materials; Goals; Layout.

The article highlights K-12 auditorium design trends and factors driving changes. These include technology design for structure network cabling systems to support e-learning, live streaming events, wireless coverage, video surveillance and video broadcasting systems, multifunction to accommodate different scenes, use of modular and adaptable technology systems, user-centered design, adoption of light-emitting diode (LEC) lighting technology, and management of equipment lead times.

Deals with the design of the El Pomar Great Hall at Pikes Peak Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Design requirements of the multipurpose theater; Efforts to improve the acoustics of the auditorium; Cost of building the auditorium.

The article informs that local contractor Hydro-Temp Mechanical (HTM) was tasked with renovating the Keller Auditorium's, in downtown Portland, Oregon, basement level mechanical room .It reports that HTM knew the room needed a complete re-imagination so they partnered with Victaulic, a producer of mechanical pipe joining solutions, to design and install a new piping system that wouldn't disrupt the day-to-day operations of the auditorium.

A review is offered for the Ngeringa Cultural Centre, designed by architect Anton Johnson, located at the Adelaide Hills Region of South Australia.

The article focuses on the reinvention of the Northrop Auditorium at the University of Minnesota from 2009 to 2014. It mentions that the building's interior was gutted, with the exception of the Historic Preservation Zones that were set at the project outset, such as staircases and the Memorial Hall lobby. The original single deep balcony was taken and replaced with three balconies and the seat count was lessened to 2,800.

The article reports that the $1.1-billion McCormick Place West Building, an expansion of Chicago's convention center, has not only kept costs in check but also on course for completion three months early. The five-story expansion with 475,000 sq ft of exhibit space, is expected to become the largest certified green building in the U.S. INSETS: Superintendent's Uncommon Sense Yields Extra-Productive…;Access Scheme Gives Welders a Boost.

The article focuses on the rise of construction projects in Snohomish County in Washington. In 2005, the county has generated more than 15,700 jobs due to the increase in development projects. Mortenson was selected to manage the construction of the Providence Cancer Center which is set to open in May 2007. Sellen Construction is constructing the Edmonds Center for the Arts in a high school in Edmonds.

Provides information about the production of the landmark project of the Oslo Opera House in Norway. Number of design competition; Inclusion of submission from renowned architects; Determination of the structural design.

Details the renovation of the Newton Auditorium in Denver, Colorado in 2004. Issues faced by the design team; Cultural history; Source of funding for the project; Renovation plans for the Studio Theater.

Reports the renovation of Boardwalk Hall auditorium in New Jersey. Addition of a steel-and-precast seating bowl; Incorporation of sound preservation practices and principles in the remodelling process; Designers in charge of the project.

Discusses the update of the acoustical design of the Alumni Auditorium in New York City, New York. Cost; Acoustical problems of the auditorium prior to its updating; Other technologies integrated into the auditorium.

Features the lighting designs of two university lecture halls, one in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the other at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Description of the Bechtel Lecture Hall at MIT; Lighting systems of the two halls; Washington University's James S. McDonnell Hall; Integrated lighting.

The article focuses on the challenges encountered in the Quigg Newton Auditorium renovation project in Denver, Colorado. The materials used for the permanent construction of the foundation elements are enumerated. The disadvantage of the auditorium's wasted space to the performing arts scene is described.

The article focuses on the renovations made in the historic Quigg Newton Auditorium Theater in Denver, Colorado. The features of the theater are enumerated. The construction of the Denver Performing Arts Complex is described. The building's shortcomings are addressed. The approval of the bond issue for the renovation project is also reported.

The article presents an update on the progress of the construction of convention centers and other event venues in Louisiana as of November 2005. The expansion of the convention center in New Orleans is scheduled to begin. The design and construction of the Natchitoches Event Center is described in detail. Information on the construction of Shreveport's Convention Center and Parking Garage is provided.

Highlights several convention centers that are being developed in Washington as of July 2005. Salem Conference center; Kitsap Conference Center; New Alaska Civic and Conference Center.

Reports on the construction of a hotel and event center at Delta Towns Racetrack and Casino in Vinton, Louisiana in 2004. Measures taken to ensure safe delivery of materials; Repositioning of the escalators and redesigning of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning and lighting systems in the gaming area; Safety measures in the construction area.

The article evaluates the architectural design of El B Auditorium and Congress Hall in Cartagena, Spain that was designed by architectural firm Selgascano.

Focuses on the application of rooftop DX cooling and gas-fired heating systems, basic system-design for auditoriums. Maximization of space cooling; Cycle of airside economizer; Minimization and maximization of heat.

The article reports on the retention of Tigerman McCurry Architects in the Pacific Garden Mission headquarters project. The building will house more than 1,000 homeless people in separate dormitories. It will feature a landscaped courtyard atrium, as well as energy-efficient greenhouses that will provide organic produce to the residents and function as a job-training site. The new facility will also include a barbershop, beauty salon, chapel, gymnasiums and an auditorium.

Features the Maxim Gorki Theatre in Rouen, France designed by Jakob+MacFarlane. Background on its location; Size of the auditorium; Efforts of the architects to solve the technical problems in the venue.

This article focuses on matters related to Sauder Manufacturing. Sauder Manufacturing has added Clarity auditorium seating to its line of worship furniture, including pews, upholstered wood chairs and chancel furniture. The chairs feature integrated accessories designed specifically for worship facilities, including book holders, communion-cup holders, seat and row identification, aisle lighting and card and pencil holders. A proprietary pivot-mechanism design harnesses gravity to provide quiet and consistent seat-lift performance. The seating is upholstered in such a way that the fabric is renewable; an armless version of the chair is available, as well.

The article reports that a new urban oasis may soon come to the Las Vegas desert. Stuttgart-based Behnisch, Behnisch & Partner is designing a 150-acre, mixed-use park that combines toy galleries and entertainment venues with landscaped gardens and children's playgrounds. The site will include family-oriented restaurants, theaters, and auditoriums. A flowerlike structures measuring up to 120 feet tall and 300 feet wide, will line the park paths, providing shade and cool-air relief. The leaves can additionally be used as energy collectors, transforming radiation into electricity or heat during winter months.

The article reports that on November 11, just weeks after Los Angeles's Disney Concert Hall celebrated its first anniversary, a study of the effects of glare from some of the building's steel panels Record, May 2004, page 44 was completed. Research conducted by consulting firm Schiler&Associates confirmed earlier recommendations that panels on the building's Founder's Room be sandblasted as a way to diffuse the glare directed at neighbors in an adjacent residential tower. Troubles began shortly after the polished steel panels were put in place on the north side of the building.

This article reports that the seat and arms of the Tulip auditorium seat, from Kron USA, fold up in unison against the back, forming a compact profile for easy access or exit. By way of a proprietary synchronized mechanism. A range of raw configurations can be specified by joining three, four, or five seat units. Outside backs are available fully upholstered, or in wood or resin, and retractable tablets for writing.

"We took the digital files from the designers, and 12,000 man-hours later, we had ourselves some shop drawings!" said Tony Micielli, a project manager at CAPCO Steel of Providence, Rhode Island, at the opening of Stata Center of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His comment drew laughter from a crowd who packed the center's auditorium to hear the project's team members discuss how the building's digital model was used during design and construction. Building Frank Gehry's work has always necessitated a combination of technical prowess and close relationships with contractors and fabricators that's still uncommon in architecture today.

Features the Barcelona Auditorium, home of the Symphonic Orchestra of Barcelona and Catalunya in Spain, designed by Rafael Modeo. Rectangular design of the building; Incorporation of the small side street into a roofed entry plaza; Seating capacity; Color theme.

The article focuses on the acceptance of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems in the Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) marketplace. Topics discussed include views of Jamison Bloebaum, vice president (VP) at HVAC Rock Hill Mechanical Corp., on how the firm offered VRF systems, how Dave Heckler, president of HVAC Comfort Supply Inc., started specifying VRF systems in 2001, and VRG systems not suitable for auditoriums and shell-and-core office buildings.

The article discusses the interior design of Robert Frost Auditorium at Culver City Unified School District in Culver City, California designed by Hodgetts + Fung, and mentions that it was recognized as the periodical's Award of Merit.

Reports on the lighting design of the auditorium at the Randall Museum in San Francisco, California. Design of the foyer.

Reports on the lighting system used in the renovated Mitchell Hall, a multi-purpose auditorium at the University of Delaware. Theater consultant Robert Davis as lighting designer; Description of the lighting system.

Reports on the ongoing renovation and expansion plan unveiled by Carnegie Hall in New York City in 1986. Designer of the building to be build in a site adjacent to the landmark auditorium; Spaces to be included in the building; Description of the tower's architectural design.

Focuses on the passage of a referendum for a facility that will occupy the eastern edge of the central business district in Houston, Texas. Schedule of completion of the first phase of the project; Features of the facility, including assembly auditoriums; List of designers for the project, including Mario Bolullo of Golemon & Rolfe Associates.

The article focuses on the use of portable cooling solution at the University of California (UC) Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall auditorium. The solution helps Cal Performances' show happened. Also, the solution was used to ensure that the noise and heat buildup from a vintage 1940 slide projector, which was incorporated to the show, would not ruin the performance or create a fire hazard in the theater.

The article focuses on the construction of the Southwest Las Vegas Library and Service Center in Nevada. This building includes a library, an auditorium and administrative offices housed under one roof for operational efficiency and cost savings. Martin-Harris Construction is general contractor, while URS Corp. is the construction manager. It states that this project is also seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold certification.

The article profiles the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center in Troy, New York. The area of the building is 221, 200 gross square feet with a total budget of $200 million including its construction, technology and furnishing. It states that the building incorporates a wide variety of venues, such as a concert hall, theater and artist-in residence studios which aims for LEED silver certification. Moreover, it mentions that the building was completed in October 2008.

The article focuses on the popularity of home theaters or media rooms in the U.S. It is noted that a hands-on environment will lead to best experiences and skill development when it comes to home theaters and media rooms. It is mentioned that the cost of those projects has risen substantially over the first half of this decade while installers are also taking on more projects.

Reports on the renovation work undertaken at the auditorium of Philadelphia Academy of Music in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Objectives of the renovation program; Plans for auditorium roof framing; Problems in fixing timber trusses above the roof of the auditorium.

Reports the expansion of the hotel casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Enhancement of the arena; Ability to host a wider variety of sporting and entertainment events; Creation of an auditorium style viewing.

Discusses the construction of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saint's auditorium in Salt Lake City, Utah. Actions taken by the contractors for the temporary completion of the building; Design of the building's roof; Problems faced in the construction.