Archinect - News

Oregon pioneers new wooden high-rise building codes

2018-08-28T19:20:00-04:00

Earlier this week, the Oregon Building Codes Division announced a statement of alternate method (SAM) that makes Oregon the first state to allow for construction of wooden high-rises without special consideration. Previously, Portland, Ore., was the first American city to issue a permit for an all-wood high-rise, Project’s 12-story-tall Framework.

The statement of alternate method (SAM) was developed over two years by a committee created from the International Code Council’s Board of Directors. The committee proposed 14 suggestions concerning cross-laminated timber standards and best-practices, which were all accepted by the Oregon Codes Division.

Cross-laminated timber is a new building material made by layering pieces of lumber in alternating directions and bonding them into panels. The material is strong enough to replace structural steel and concrete, and thick enough to resist burning.

The (potential) Impact of Building Energy Codes

2016-10-25T00:07:00-04:00

In terms of financial benefits to consumers from reduced utility bills, energy codes could save $126 billion dollars from 2010 to 2040. This equates to a CO2 reduction of 841 million metric tons (MMT). These savings are approximately equal to the greenhouse gases emitted by 177 million passenger vehicles driven for one year or the CO2 emissions from 245 coal power plants for one year.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) evaluates impacts of model energy codes in residential and commercial buildings. The most recent assessment focuses on the current model codes and their prospective national and state-level impacts from 2010 through 2040.

Editor's Picks #345

2013-12-10T10:33:00-05:00

Space Oddity was conceived by rub-a-dub in 2012, while studying under the DRL at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, a post-professional MArch program. They state that while their proposal "is obviously not a viable option for actual space travel...Lately there has being a lot of noise about space design...We believe a lot of these projects are only solving technical issues". Fred Scharmen was intrigued "Very nice work. Thanks for posting this".

Amelia Taylor-Hochberg Editorial Manager for Archinect, interviewed rub-a-dub (a team of Sebastian Andia, Rodrigo Chain, Apostolos Despotidis and Thomas T. Jensen) to learn about their project 'Space Oddity', for the latest edition of the Student Works series.

Space Oddity was conceived by rub-a-dub in 2012, while studying under the DRL at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, a post-professional MArch program. They state that while their proposal "is obviously not a viable option for actual space travel...the timing is ripe to imagine new versions of living and moving in space...Lately there has being a lot of noise about space design, including contour crafting and 3D printing amongst others. We believe a lot of these projects are only solving technical issues".

Fred Scharmen was intrigued "Very nice work. Thanks for posting this".

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Looser Rules on Illegal Housing Sought

2013-10-15T12:11:00-04:00

New York City’s Department of Buildings issues more than 4,400 violations a year for illegally converted basements, cellars and attics that cannot be occupied because of health and safety hazards, like poor ventilation or a lack of multiple exits. But with the scarcity of affordable housing in the city and with many New Yorkers already living in makeshift apartments, some housing advocates are calling for a new approach.

Cornell professor declares OMA-designed Milstein Hall "a disaster"

2013-10-15T11:56:00-04:00

Cornell University’s new architecture building designed by Rem Koolhaas’ Office of Metropolitan Architecture is a “disaster” says Cornell University architecture professor Jonathan Oschorn. “The code violations are egregious”, states Ochshorn.

Photo by Theodore Ferringer

Editor's Picks #300

2013-01-30T11:35:00-05:00

Orhan Ayyüce published parts 1 + 2 of a multi-part interview with George Brugmans (Executive Director of the IABR)...Thayer-D chimed in "This is an excellent example of how well intentioned architects continue to talk past each other...One of the speakers spoke of the need to create relationships with politicians, developers and the public in general to forge a new way forward...What's amazing is that this has been happening for the last 20 years in the Congress for New Urbanism

In the first edition of our In Focus in 2013 Archinect spoke with Yohan Zerdoun an architectural photographer based in Germany/Switzerland.

Plus, Orhan Ayyüce published parts 1 + 2 of a multi-part interview with George Brugmans (Executive Director of the IABR) in which they continued their discussion from where they left it two years ago. Topics include; the theme of the 5th Biennale itself: Making City, the model used for the 5th IABR of Test Sites and Counter Sites, and also Istanbul as either "the next metropolitan nightmare, or...an inspiring example?".

Thayer-D chimed in "This is an excellent example of how well intentioned architects continue to talk past each other while so many of their interests intersect...One of the speakers spoke of the need to create relationships with politicians, developers and the public in general to forge a new way forward. Again, I'd be in full agreement. What's amazing is that this has been happening for the last 20 years in ...

Nice House, But Is It Legal?

2012-04-19T14:34:00-04:00

If you designed or built a home that met energy code just a few years ago, that same home will probably not be legal to build just a few years from now. Some might say it’s about time, while others may think it’s not a good idea to increase code requirements during a depressed housing economy.

Laws That Shaped L.A.: Why is the Los Angeles Skyline So Bland?

2012-01-16T20:50:00-05:00

Why is it that cities from New York to Shanghai, Dubai to London and Kuala Lumpur to Atlanta can throw up iconic skyscrapers like so many murals, while L.A.'s boxy tops look more like the Appalachians after strip-mining? The answer? Blame well-meaning text inserted in 1974 into the Los Angeles Municipal Code.