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The article discusses the improvements in stucco-based exterior insulation finish systems (EIFS) in the U.S. Buck Buchanan of Sto Corp. defines the growth of EIFS as occurring in two phases, namely energy conservation and Postmodernism. The Exterior Insulation Manufacturers Association (EIMA) promotes EIFS and works to ensure the model code agencies that theirs are safe, viable products.

The article focuses on the architectural design of the Knott Athletic Recreation/Convocation Complex at a campus in rural Maryland, which incorporates the tension-structured fabric roof designed by Horst Berger Partners. It states that the athletic complex offers space for varsity and intramural sports of the 1,800 students and entices community participation by providing shared spaces. It cites that the double-layered roof consists of a silicone-coated fiberglass and an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) fabric liner, for thermal insulation.

The article discusses developments in the 1980s architectural practice. It is stated that in the past decades, greater public awareness of architecture, both in positive and negative aspects has been brought in the country. Following the interest of people in architecture is the developing abilities of architecture clients. Clients' knowledge on design challenge architects to improve their ability.

The article offers information on Griggs Farm, a 280-unit affordable housing project in Princeton, New Jersey. Half of the units are offered at below market rates for low and moderate-income buyers and renters as a compliance to the Mount Laurel decision in 1975. It carries the name of its owner Burnett Griggs, who appealed to the court to save the area from commercial development. However, the property was sold to the Princeton Community Housing (PCH).

The article focuses on the architectural education of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. It discusses the obsolescence of the department of architecture due to the incorporation of the educational philosophy on the teaching of a small number of students. The Bachelor of Architecture program comprises foundation of studies, professional studies, undergraduate thesis work and off-campus study.

The article offers information on Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin Inc. (RWDI), a Canadian consulting engineering firm specializing in microclimate studies. The company's microclimate laboratory in Guelph, Ontario was introduced in 1972 to conduct studies on the effects of wind, snow, airborne pollutants, and the sun. According to RWDI President William H. D. Rowan, the designers' increased interest in air quality has boosted his firm's business.

The article presents information on several larger-scale commercial buildings that were pioneers in the use of energy-conservation techniques in the U.S. The Lovins House at the Rocky Mountain Institute Research Center in Old Snowmass, Colorado uses air-to-air heat exchangers, air locks for exterior doors, and efficient fluorescent lamps. Meanwhile, the Mississippi County Community College in Blytheville, Arkansas employs photovoltaics (PV) as a source of electrical energy for its new building complex.

The article presents the results of interviews with representatives of seven architectural firms on the commingling of the art and science of design into the reality of architecture. According to Robert J. Frasca of Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership, architects need to recognize that architecture goes beyond just the execution of design. William H. Grover of Centerbrook Architects reveals that the firm has no formal review process among the partners.

The article discusses restorations made to the Octagon House in Washington, D.C. American Institute of Architects (AIA) first conducted repairs to the building to ensure its suitability for office use from 1902 to 1926. Some of the restorations made during the postwar period were the repair of the stairway at the second floor, replacement of floor and recast of cornices and ceiling. The Fellow American Institute of Architects made renovations in the building's basement rooms and fireplaces in 1968.

The article focuses on the restoration of the Union Station in Washington, D.C. The Congress authorized the Department of the Interior to spend $11 million to conduct structural repairs and install a new roof. The Congress has also established Union Station Redevelopment Corp. (USRC) to oversee the restoration and hired Harry Weese & Associates and Gilbane Building Co. as construction manager. Union Station Venture Ltd. (USVL) was selected for the development aspect of the project while Dick Corp. is the contractor.

The article focuses on the architectural acoustics of the technical building at the Skywalker Ranch production facility owned by film director George Lucas in Marin County, California. It says that the technical building is a facility for postproduction sound recording and mixing which has sound stages and mixing rooms. It states that Backen, Arrigoni & Ross Inc. and Charles M. Salter Associates faced a series of challenges in the acoustic requirements for the recording spaces and isolated site.

The article presents several factors to consider when selecting windows and skylights in relation to a series of case studies. They include structural factors which include wind load and operating forces. The architects of the Wroxton Street Town Houses by William F. Stern & Associates strove for interior windows and cameo views to the outside.

An interview with several experts on the role of computer programmers in architecture is presented. David M. Harper of Harper Careño in Miami believes that changes in design approach have assimilated programmers into the design process. Herbert McLaughlin of Kaplan/McLaughlin/Diaz thinks that postmodernism in architecture has made programming a distinct art form. Wilbur H. Tusler Jr. of Stone Marraccini & Patterson opines that programming process of the 1960s and 1970s has been bypassed in the 1980s movement for search of a new product.

The article discusses methods for testing the life span of single-ply roofing. Basic accelerated tests used by manufacturers are the QUV test, carbon-arc testing, xenon-arc testing and the equitorial mount with mirrors for acceleration with water test. According to the article, roof warranty is the indication of roofing system reliability most visible to the owner.

The article focuses on the role of the project team involved in the architectural design and construction of the Liberty Center building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The design involved a combination of prefabricated and traditional structural systems which accommodates the project's mixed uses. Component delivery was the construction management challenge posed by the modular system.

The article focuses on the issue regarding the laws relating to the construction of buildings in the U.S. It outlines the major concerns in response to building fire disasters including fire resistance. According to the author, the building codes of today do not seem to be the target of the complaints but rather the situation of architects working in more than one jurisdiction. She explains that microcomputers will likely influence the future relationship of designers to building codes.

Information about several papers discussed at the International Council for Building Research, Studies and Documentation (CIB) held in Washington, D.C. in September 1987 is presented. The papers presented include "Modern Trends in Rural Housing," "Prospects and Strategies for Local Building Materials Development in Africa" and "Properties of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete Made with Ethiopian Pumice and Scoria."

The article presents views from nine architectural educators on the integration of technical education into the design studio. It also offers some alternative approaches toward accomplishing the technical education of architects. It also features several schools of architecture that offer technology course tied to architectural studios.

The article examines the architectural design of the National Commercial Bank, as applied by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill architects. To break the tradition with the Saudi Arabian practice of spread-out and horizontal architecture, these architects have decided to sit the bank on an irregular shaped and placed it between the old city and the sea. It likewise has been characterized by a central wall to allegedly allow accumulated heat to rise out of the courts.

The article reports on the technological advances utilized in various establishments to ensure safety from any form of calamities. Fire stops and barriers have become prevalent in most buildings due to the occurrence of big fires which damaged properties and produced numerous casualties. Likewise, fire suppression systems were also developed for special building situations. Moreover, homebuilders also formulated solar technologies which include motorized and automated controls.

The article discusses the role of architect professionals in the approval of shop drawings in the U.S. Shop drawings, by nature more detailed than drawings in the contract documents, serve several purposes. Overall, they explain how the contractor intends to construct a portion of the work. Specifically, shop drawings indicate a component of the work.

The article examines appropriate wood connections with emphasis on wood shrinkage and swelling. It notes that excellent anticipation on the mode of shrinkage allows one to locate connections which could help deal about extra stress. It likewise adds that shrinkage, which results from the significant loss of moisture content, must likewise be considered in the connection of wood to other materials. Meanwhile, it provides illustrations that sample problems related to shrinkage.

The article provides information on the solutions to problems related to building rehabilitation in the U.S. It is stated that building rehabilitation involves assessing structural soundness, reconfiguring interior space to meet the needs and upgrading mechanical and electrical systems. It has been noted that access for people with disabilities is another concern with respect to historic rehabilitation projects.

The article explores the architectural design of the Alumni House at University of Connecticut. Shope Reno Wharton Associates elected to design, detail, and construct the 12,000-square-foot alumni house in wood, both inside and out. The facility houses the university's alumni association. The system for the alumni house involved applied moldings attached to painted plywood.

The article describes the remodeling of Modernist University of Denver Law Library. The remodeling involved the use of synthetic stucco to blend with its neighboring buildings surrounding Civic Center Park. The building houses the city's Permitting Center and the remodeling provides comfort and ease to people securing a building permit. Located in Denver, Colorado, the project was carried out by C. W. Fentress & Associates.

The article considers the role of the U.S. National Institute of Standards & Technology's Center for Building Technology (CBT) as an investigator of building failures. Combining laboratory work with field observations and measurements, CBT is able to draw on a number of experts to investigate the cause of building failures. Details of the CBT investigations on the Hyatt Regency Hotel and L'Ambiance Plaza are provided.

The article presents a discussion about the application of sprinklers to buildings, adapted from two stories published in "Factory Mutual Record."

The article focuses on prefabrication. Prefabrication has become integral to building. The benefit of prefabrication is that the amount of site work is lower and financially more predictable. Another attribute of prefabrication is the benefit of higher-quality workmanship derived from controlled factory conditions. According to Bernard P. Spring, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), one element of prefabricated systems that cannot be underestimated is joint tolerance.

The article focuses on the installation of various types of skylights and window-exposed steel at a building in New Jersey by Ronald Schmidt & Associates. Each pyramid of the building was installed with pitched skylight for energy conservation and fabricated frame. According to designer Ronald H. Schmidt, plastic was also used in the skylight design of the structure.

The article focuses on strict testing policies for radon, a naturally occurring, colorless, odorless gas that some experts suspect causes as many as 20,000 deaths from lung cancer each year, recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The government proposed that all detached houses as well as apartments on a second floor or lower be inspected for the gas. Also cited are procedures for reducing radon levels in a dwelling unit, including traditional methods for sealing cracks in basements.

The article focuses on new sets of seismic design guidelines entitled "Seismic Considerations for Elementary and Secondary Schools," "Seismic Considerations for Health Care Facilities" and "Seismic Considerations for Hotels and Motels," issued by the Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC). The books stressed the significance of lessons learned in recent earthquakes. Problems in the building configuration of a number of motels that contribute to seismic damage that are evident in the earthquake in Mexico in 1985 are also mentioned.

The article provides tips on how to select the best glazing type for a specific building design in a particular location in the U.S. Choices for architects include tinted, coated, tempered and heat-strengthened. Defining the design criteria that the selected glass type must satisfy is also important. Design criteria include energy conservation, appearance and cost.

The article focuses on various rules established by standard-setting organizations for stair design safety purposes in the U.S. The standards clarify design details like proper sizing of risers and treads, shapes of nosings and dimensions of handrails. Codes cited include those from organizations like the National Fire Protection Association, the American National Standards Institute and the Department of Housing Urban Development.

The article offers information on the architectural design of the Light of the World church in Littleton, Colorado, designed by Hoover Berg Diamond. The 800-seat Catholic Church used an early basilican concept for its worship area such that it can be used for other secular activities. Energy conservation principles were applied such that the glass doors are shaded by the roof, while quarry tile and concrete slab floors store heat for re-radiation and distribution.

The article reports on the results of the study "A Field Study of Thermal Environments and Comfort in Office Buildings" released by the Center for Environmental Design Research at the University of California in Berkeley. It says that a building with operable windows and non-mechanical airconditioning is the one that best satisfied occupants' thermal preferences during winter and summer. Occupants also preferred temperatures cooler than the ASHRAE Standard temperatures.

The article describes the architectural design of the band pavilion on Minnesota's Lake Harriet designed by Milo H. Thompson of Frederick Bentz/Milo Thompson/Robert Rietow Inc. The banana-shaped acoustic clouds in its ceiling catch sound and project it back to the performing musicians. The acoustic clouds, together with an attic that functions as a reverberant chamber to help capture the music and send it over speakers, minimize shortcomings of outdoor music pavilions.

The article focuses on the Building Officials and Code Administrators Inc.'s (BOCA) proposal of allowing architects direct participation in the final vote of the BOCA model codes change process. The proposal allows the architects to form local chapters, sending voting representatives to the final code hearings. The American Institute of Architects' (AIA's) building codes and regulations committee sponsored a multidisciplinary roundtable in 1986 on voting rights for design professionals.

The article offers information concerning the performance parameters for rehabilitation by the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings in the U.S. The author asserts that they asked four practicing architects with field experience in material restoration to delineate major points of advice they would pass on to practitioners beginning rehabilitation work.