The Inside Track – December 2011 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 TOOLS & RESOURCES 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 Navigating the Economy Research Integrated Project Delivery Sustainable Design Continuing Education New Product Marketplace AIArchitect Follow us on Twitter @AIAPartners AIA Partner Facebook Armstrong Acquires Simplex Ceilings In the News Lancaster, PA, Nov. 4, 2011 -- Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE:AWI) today announced it has acquired Intalite Inc., operating under the name Simplex (“Simplex”) and based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The acquisition of Simplex strengthens Armstrong’s capabilities in the North American specialty ceiling market and Chandigarh: India's modernist marvel. The pioneering architect Le Corbusier spent the 1950s bringing concrete to Chandigarh and 'the City Beautiful' now celebrates its creator. supports the company’s overall growth strategy, which includes expanding its global leadership and manufacturing presence in targeted markets. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed. Simplex will become part of the Armstrong Building Products division. Continue Reading In building bust's wake, heralded architectural firm splitting in two: DeStefano Partners becoming units that, respectively, will focus on domestic, international projects. The age of flower towers: Architects are tackling the problems of the concrete jungle with ambitious schemes using green technology to grow forests in the sky Architecture Firm Billings Rebound Modestly in August The ABI unexpectedly showed a very modest rebound in architecture firm billings in August with a score of 51.4. This comes on the heels of four consecutive months of fairly substantial declines. Inquiries into new projects continued to grow, and more firms reported an increase in design contracts in August than in July, although the majority of firms continue to report a decline. Architect selected for American Revolution Museum Getting an architecture degree is expensive. Is it worth it in a recession? Continue Reading New Armstrong Commercial Ceiling and Floor Design Competition to Showcase Both Ideas and Reality Barcelona office scheme wins WAF 2011 World's Best Building award Architects debate safety practices Armstrong World Industries announces “ideas 2 reality,” a professional design competition to showcase Armstrong commercial products in either an “idea” or a “reality” stage and to acknowledge Study Clarifies the Energy Savings in Retrofitted Buildings talented and visionary design professionals. Back to top Advantage Program adds new partner, Market Hardware. Are you ready to get more new clients from the Web in 2012? Find out how Market Hardware can help with a FREE 30-minute Web Marketing consultation. Market Hardware is an AIA Affinity Partner for Website design, search engine marketing, mobile-ready websites and social media services. Utilizing social media and web marketing in 2012 is a MUST for all architects. Even if you love your current website – or your rank on Google – you should take advantage of this benefit. Call us at 888-381-6925 to find out about other special offers for AIA Members. Email: jim@markethardware.com. Click: http://www.markethardware.com Mariinsky Complex Expansion Totals $629 Million Architecture's Internship Requirement Needs a Redesign Dyson Award Winner: A Gadget Draws Water From Air, Inspired By A Beetle The Empire State Building's Luster Returns Bird on Fire: Lessons from the World's Least Sustainable City Go to AIA Advantage Member Benefits 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 In the Arkansas woods, an art museum sprouts tall: Alice Walton’s Crystal Bridges Museum opens Friday in Bentonville The Green Man Whose Gardens Defy Gravity Welcome to Ice City: Russia plans to build frozen community 1,000 miles from North Pole... as race for Arctic minerals heats up Maggie's Centre: the jolly green giant: The latest Maggie's Centre in Nottingham is a bright, fresh haven for cancer care Tandus: Government Facility Design NUDO: Denver's Clyfford Still Museum: From the abstract to the concrete Updated Operation: University of Iowa Hospital Unifying Design: Canyon View Elementary School Architectural design brings light to funeral home Back to top Architecture offers new prescriptions for building health 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 American Institute of Architects embraces greater transparency in design Homes for 'Wounded Warriors' Designed with Help of UB Architect Zaha Hadid and Tina Brown Discuss 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. Architecture, Feminism, and More Continue Reading Is Liverpool's world heritage status in ruins? Can a Single Good Idea Save Detroit? Al Boeke, Architect Who Sought Ecological Harmony, Is Dead at 88 Starrett City: A Home of One’s Own — With Party Walls Back to top Should historic Elston Ave. brewing complex be destroyed for a big-box retailer? A Bold Plan, Long Thought Out, to Remake Hamburg Megapolitan America South Africa: From Township to Town Through New Historical Society Exhibit, an Advocate for Women in Architecture Celebrates America's First Professional Female Architect Cooper-Hewitt’s 90% Exhibition Occupies the UN: The Smithsonian museum aims to inspire global leaders by staging its new humanitarian design show in the United Nations Headquarters Film Review: Eames: The Architect and the Painter Elegantly Urbanized While only a few of Yona Friedman's designs have come to fruition, he is responsible for the tiered Spatial City movement, which had a big impact on his field, and his ideas have inspired planners around the world Metro Chooses Six Teams to Submit Master Plan Visions for Union Station Seductively curvaceous greenhouses and eccentric ‘Supertrees’ are transforming Singapore The Shard: its architect's view Rethinking Urban Renewal Small, Gritty, and Green: The Promise of America's Smaller Industrial Cities in a Low-Carbon World Foundation Studies: SCAD's new museum rises from an antebellum railroad depot The Architecture 2030 founder and recent Purpose Prize winner speaks with Architectural Record about being a green building pioneer and how he’s faring in his mission to make all buildings carbon-neutral For Once, the Federal Government Gets Sustainability Right Big Architecture: AIA New York Has Shaped the City, But Can it Reshape City Hall? Colombia architect leads bamboo building crusade Why Use Ipe When You Can Have Black Locust? Living Arts & Science Center plans $5 million expansion project The Trouble With Church Preservation Get Involved with the AIA Questions or Comments, please contact us.