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A description is presented of the design and construction of the global network operations center designed for AT&T by architects Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum. The design of future-proof buildings is discussed.

The use of fabric in architecture enables unique sculptural shapes to be achieved and provides a different type of atmosphere to a building. Issues concerning the use of a variety of tensile fabrics are presented, including case studies such as the Columbus Center in Baltimore.

The considerations surrounding the design and planning of a bathroom from an architect's perspective are discussed, with focus on creating a pleasant environment whilst using fittings that work properly.

A description is presented of the architectural design of four pedestrian bridges including the Miho Museum Bridge, Japan, the Lockmeadow Millennium Bridge, England, the Rockefeller University Bridge, NY, and the Duisburg Pedestrian Bridge, Germany.

The importance of door hardware in architectural design is detailed. The services available from architectural hardware consultants, the categories of door hardware, quality standards and building codes are discussed.

Technological advancements have not only created substantial benefits to architectural companies, but have also posed serious expenditure problems to them. Computer experts claim that technological investments represent the third largest expenditure alloted by firms, proceeding salaries and rents.

An architect must be constantly wary of site conditions which may prove become construction schedule, legal or cost problems. Some of the potential troubles that may come with a project include its potential to be brownfield, a protected area or an archeological site.

The increasing frequency of airplane noise presents a challenge for architects designing houses or buildings located near airports. Properly orienting the building, and the use of high-performance doors and windows as well as weatherstripping and insulation are essential.

BUILDER, a team of top consultants, and a group of leading product manufacturers set out two years ago to build the home of the future. Tour the home on the […]

Epoxy appears in almost any building crevice--as a coating, an adhesive, a filler, and an anchorage system. Its applications range from sealing leaky cracks in old basements to gluing fragments [...]

A Chicago couple bought the condominium next door to theirs and merged the two apartments. The remodeling project produced a roomy family kitchen with custom-made maple cabinets and granite countertops.

A good sales manager is a precious commodity. Here's how to spot the best ones. The agents don't know it yet, but today's sales meeting will demonstrate how to say, […]

New-home buyers need lots of attention during the design process. They want to spend hours examining kitchen counter-top materials. They want to talk colors and swatches and carpet weights. They […]

Discusses the different types of structural seismic design. Functions of seismic systems; Contribution of shear walls in the structural stability of buildings; Effect of braced framing on building design; Function of dampers in supporting buildings; Mechanism of base isolators. INSETS: New International Terminal at San Francisco Airport (case...;Hearst Memorial Mining Center (case study).;Chong-Moon Lee Center for Art and Culture (case study)..

There's no formula to follow in deciding who should sell your houses. But there are a half-dozen issues worth considering before you make the choice. These include the kinds of […]

Presents information on minimizing the ecological impact of a building, which is termed green or sustainable design. Information on design groups which offer awards for sustainable designs; Reference to demonstration house using experimental green technologies; What is the major problem for architects dealing with green materials. INSET: Green communities merge sustainable design with noetraditional....

Cardboard is used as a construction material by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, who has used it for a church, a library and even housing. His work is on display at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY and Expo 2000 in Germany.

The Environmental Protection Agency has widened its definition of brownfield sites to include underused or vacant industrial properties. The challenges facing architects commissioned to redevelop brownfield sites are discussed.

Erecting a new building in an urban setting means coordinating a whole range of challenges not faced in open areas. Just managing the logistics--material deliveries and construction site traffic, for example--takes on a new level of complexity in the face of rush-hour traffic and sidewalks full of people. The proximity of any neighboring facilities, often with their own delivery schedules, adds to the complexity. This is a perfect example of a project type that benefits from close collaboration among all stakeholders--structural engineer, construction manager, architect, contractor, and product manufacturers. Successful projects require careful management of legal issues, site logistics, and building design. However, it also helps when the neighbors are cooperative. INSETS: MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION;MARINA HEIGHTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plaza decks are vulnerable to water and freeze-thaw damage, but they are often excluded in the design and construction of a building's waterproofing layers. Draining water from the surface is a challenge,as slope is minimal or sometimes non-existent. The transition between the vertical wall (or planters) and the horizontal waterproofing should be carefully designed and built, but this critical detail too frequently becomes an afterthought. INSET: RENOVATING A PLAZA DECK AT SCOTTSDALE FASHION SQUA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents guidelines for addition or improvement of a laundry room in a house. To house a full-size stackable washer and dryer, a space that is 31 in. deep (approximately 27 in. for the unit and an additional 4 in. for the hoses, pipes and ductwork), 27 in. wide and 73 in. tall, is required. Most major manufacturers offer smaller washers and dryers, but they don not handle full-size loads. Putting the washer where there is easy access to existing plumbing lines, is cost-effective. Locating the dryer on an outside wall means less time and money spent on running a duct to vent the appliance. Plumbing of the washing machine and the laundry sink should be done separately. Draining the washer into the sink can clog the drain with lint. The dryer must be vented to the outside, not to the attic or under the house. This helps prevent moisture problems and, if the dryer is gas-fired, keeps combustion gases from entering the living space. INSETS: What's coming in washers and dryers;Showpiece laundry room;Pass-through laundry.

The article presents some tricks for making small bathrooms feel larger. When the bathroom is impossibly small and there's no way to add space, you have to rely on lighting, layout, mirrors and a few design tricks to make the room look and feel larger.Jewel box bath is no bigger than a modest walk-in closet. To brighten the bath and create storage space, interior designer Tan Kavale of Lake Oswego, Oregon, added three 14-inches niches. Other techniques used to open up the space. One way to make a bath's diminutive size less noticeable is to create a horizontal line that leads the eye around the perimeter of the room. Scotts Valley, California, designer Pam Dunlap used color to make the bath seem spacious. Windows work wonders in opening up small spaces. But when the bath is surrounded by interior walls, one option is to create your own view. Creating a Tumblestone chevron on the floor at the door that borrows space from the adjacent great-room.When two people must have space in a small master bath, particularly during their morning rush hour, it's essential that the bathroom feel large and that every inch of space be used efficiently. Other space-saving tricks used were using 12-inches floor tiles, laying the tile on the diagonal, adding a 6-inches wide chair rail etc.