The Inside Track – April 2012 Welcome to The Inside Track! This page provides the latest news, highlights and case studies from our partners in the architecture and building industry. Highlights Viracon Introduces New VE-45 High-Performance Coating OWATONNA, MN – Viracon, the nation’s leading single-source architectural glass fabricator, is pleased to announce the availability of VE-45 – the latest coating in its wide range of choices for architects and designers. VE-45, a Low-E coating, delivers improved balance between visible light transmittance and solar protection, product features that have increased in popularity among architects. In addition to optimized performance, VE-45’s color enhances the aesthetics of glass in building facades. “Viracon has long been known as a market leader in development of high-performance coatings,” says Kevin Anez, Director of Marketing & Product Management for Viracon. “VE-45 is another example of Viracon’s ability to address the very latest needs in the industry.” VE-45 is available in insulating and insulating laminated glass. It can also be used in combination with a silk-screen, which allows designers to create a customized look along with enhanced performance. Click here to see performance data on VE-45. TOOLS & RESOURCES Navigating the Economy Research Integrated Project Delivery Sustainable Design Continuing Education New Product Marketplace AIArchitect Follow us on Twitter @AIAPartners AIA Partner Facebook In the News Five Ways to Take Part in National Architecture How the 2012 TED Prize, The City 2.0, Aims to Crowdsource the Future Terraced Living in a San Diego Quarry MasterSpec and SpecText are MasterFormat 2012 Compliant! Salt Lake City, Utah (April 3, 2012) — ARCOM is pleased to announce that MasterSpec® and SpecText® master guide specifications are compliant with MasterFormat 2012 as of the 1st Quarter 2012 updates. MasterFormat™ 2012 was recently published by CSI/CSC. “ARCOM is committed to being the leader in specifications by 1 Bligh Street What's built in Vegas stays in Vegas Saving Johansen’s Stage Center Can public-interest design become a providing the most current master guide specifications, specification productivity software, and specification resources," says Christopher Bushnell, President and CEO of ARCOM. "We work hard to ensure that all our products meet the construction industry's latest standards, formats, and classification system.” viable alternative to traditional practice? ARCOM will also discontinue the use of MasterFormat 1995 in its specification and software products as of June 30, 2013. Teen clients become design partners in Scarborough For firms with clients requiring specifications to be submitted in MasterFormat 1995, the MasterFormat 2012 to 1995 converter in ARCOM’s Masterworks is available at no cost to ARCOM clients. Jim Balsillie’s new Waterloo school gets high marks Continue Reading Calling for a Global Design Service Corps Make Way, High Line: Former NASA Engineer Kickstarts “LowLine” Underground Park Viracon Unveils ClearPoint™ OWATONNA, MN – Viracon, the nation’s leading single-source architectural glass fabricator, introduces ClearPoint™ - a pointsupported insulating glass system that increases the transparency of glass façades. Specifically engineered to provide building designers with greater flexibility, ClearPoint allows architects to maximize clear openings and enhance aesthetics, delivering a clean, contemporary look both inside and out. Continue Reading Calatrava’s $182 Million Bridge Favors Park Over Freeway A crime of kitsch – battling the Czech Republic’s ‘cowboy architecture’ Guggenheim Cancels 'High Risk' Berlin Project Promise--and perils--await as landscape architect James Corner, co-designer of New York's High Line, prepares to take on Navy Pier The Motherships Are Landing: What Google’s New Headquarters Reveal About Apple 2 Reed Construction Data Find new project listings in your state for FREE with Reed’s accessArchitecture service. http://www.youtube.com/embed/E5PeDNPC6CM?aiaembed+350+190+@justify Tools to help cities and towns guide green development Wrecking Ball, $67 Million Bill Hang Over Leaky Landmark In New Office Designs, Room to Roam and to Think Did you miss Reed Construction Data’s webcast, Flat, down, or UP: Where is construction heading? The presentation from this webcast is now available. To see the presentation, please click here Building the American Dream in China Imagine a New Kind of Housing Competition to Help Meet a Growing Need Toward an Architecture of Place: Moving Beyond Iconic to Extraordinary Safti First SAFTI FIRST Partners with PPG to Offer SuperLite II-XL with Starphire® Ultra-Clear Low Iron Glass SAFTI FIRST, leading USA-manufacturer of fire rated glass and framing systems, is pleased to partner with PPG, the world’s leading coatings and specialty products company, in offering SuperLite II-XL with Starphire® Ultra-Clear Low Iron Glass. Listed and labeled by UL and Intertek/Warnock-Hersey, this advanced fire resistive glass product provides maximum fire and impact safety with hose stream from 45120 minutes while meeting stringent ASTM E-119/NFPA 251/UL 263 requirements. With the addition of Starphire® Ultra-Clear Low Iron Glass by PPG to SuperLite II-XL, architects now have the ability to create safe, fire rated spaces with increased levels of clarity and transparency like never before. Continue Reading Can wooden skyscrapers transform concrete jungles? Built by forced labor, German bunkers become homes For the New Barnes, Everything Old Is Old Again Bridging the gap between the West Bank and Gaza with a dream MIT Program Comes to Aid of PostTsunami Japan German Village Becomes Model for Renewable Energy Is Vancouver ready for Danish architect Bjarke Ingels? Here’s hoping W.P. Hickman W. P. Hickman Company’s Permasnap 2 Coping is Miami-Dade County Approved The W. P. Hickman Company announces Permasnap 2 Coping has been reviewed and accepted by the Miami-Dade County Department of Permitting, Environment, and Regulatory Affairs. The Notice of The Restoration of the Tugendhat House Brings Mies's Modernist Masterpiece Back to Life Las Vegas: Curtains to open on Smith Center for the Performing Arts Acceptance is listed as #11-0929.08. Continue Reading W. P. Hickman Company Launches Wind Resistant Gutter Product The W. P. Hickman Company announces the immediate availability of their Wind Resistant Gutter System. The design of the gutter has been specifically engineered and tested to meet the requirements of the recently developed ANSI/SPRI GD-1 Structural Design Standard for Gutter Systems Used with Low-Slope Roofs. Continue Reading ThyssenKrupp Elevators THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR AMERICAS LAUNCHES ITS VERSION 2.0 ENERGY CALCULATOR Industry Tool Uses Building Type to Predefine Traffic Patterns to Identify Realistic Elevator Use and Traffic Flow ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas has launched the 2.0 version of its Energy Calculator to further support the company’s commitment to creating global energy-efficient elevator solutions. The calculator offers building owners, facility managers, elevator consultants and architects technical assistance in determining which elevator technology is the most efficient in both new construction and modernization projects. And the tool allows the industry to learn how simple changes can really make a big difference in energy conservation. Continue Reading Back to top Cities are banking on the arts: Once the first thing to be cut in a time of recession, the arts are proving their worth Vishaan Chakrabarti SHoPs Around: Arch-Urbanist Joins Hotshot Architecture Firm CASE STUDIES Newforma: Architecture and Engineering, SHW Group and Newforma Project Analyzer Aerotek: Quality Improvement JELD-WEN: Benefits of Windows in High Performance School Designs LG Hausys: LG Hausys Floors Tandus: Government Facility Design NUDO: Updated Operation: University of Iowa Hospital Unifying Design: Canyon View Elementary School Back to top Industry Knowledge Graphisoft GRAPHISOFT ArchiCAD. GRAPHISOFT® ignited the BIM revolution with ArchiCAD®, the industry-leading BIM software for architects. With GRAPHISOFT ArchiCAD’s Building Information Modeling approach, architects can explore design ideas with full confidence, knowing that every detail is being captured and all documents are synchronized. GRAPHISOFT continues to lead the industry with innovative solutions such as the revolutionary GRAPHISOFT BIM Server™, the world’s first, real-time BIM collaboration environment. Open BIM design collaboration offers intelligent, model-based workflow between the members of the extended design team and architects using ArchiCAD, resulting in greater efficiency in the building process. Continue Reading Back to top Get Involved with the AIA Questions or Comments, please contact us.