Architectural design competitions have long served as catalysts for innovation in the building industry, pushing firms to explore bold concepts that address pressing urban challenges. One of the most instructive examples comes from Perkins and Will, a global architecture firm whose annual Phil Freelon Design Competition challenges teams to tackle real-world housing crises through creative […]
University centers serve as the social and academic heart of campus life, housing dining halls, study lounges, event spaces, and collaborative work areas. In these high-occupancy environments, acoustic comfort directly affects student concentration, speech intelligibility, and overall wellbeing. The Christine E. Lynn University Center at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, demonstrates how thoughtful material
When students move into a university center, they expect a space that feels both vibrant and comfortable. Noise control plays a critical role in that experience, yet it is often overlooked until after construction is complete. The Christine E. Lynn University Center at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton demonstrates how careful selection of acoustic
The push for net zero carbon buildings has reached a major milestone with the development of Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. As the world first arena targeting net zero carbon certification from the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), this project demonstrates how large-scale sports and entertainment venues can achieve ambitious sustainability goals without compromising performance
In August 2020, Loyola University in Seville, Spain, achieved what no other higher education institution had accomplished before: the world’s first LEED Platinum certification for an integrated campus. Designed by international architecture firm Luis Vidal + Architects, the 28,986-square-meter (312,000-square-foot) campus demonstrates how sustainable design principles can be woven into every aspect of a university
Modern building design increasingly incorporates a diverse palette of metals, including stainless steel, aluminum, galvanized steel, copper, weathering steel, and painted steel, to achieve distinctive aesthetic effects and structural performance. However, when different metals come into direct contact in the presence of moisture, the electrochemical process known as galvanic corrosion can lead to accelerated deterioration
Loyola University in Seville, Spain, has achieved a historic milestone in sustainable construction by earning the world’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification for an integrated campus. Designed by international architecture firm Luis vidal + architects, the 28,986-square-meter campus demonstrates how comprehensive sustainability strategies can be applied across an entire university
Modern building construction increasingly relies on a mix of metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, hot-dip galvanized steel, copper, and weathering steel to achieve aesthetic goals and structural performance. When these dissimilar metals come into contact in the presence of moisture, the resulting electrochemical reaction can cause accelerated corrosion of one metal while protecting the
Clinical Technology Integration in Healthcare Architecture: How Firms Are Building Specialized Teams The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical gaps in healthcare infrastructure worldwide, forcing architecture firms to rapidly expand their clinical technology expertise. Hoefer Wysocki, a multi-disciplinary architecture firm, responded by growing its clinical technology solutions team and appointing Kelley Irving as senior project manager to
Polyiso Insulation and Moisture Management: How Polyisocyanurate Controls Water, Air, and Vapor in Building Envelopes Polyisocyanurate (polyiso) insulation combines high thermal performance with vapor-retarding capabilities, serving as both a thermal control layer and a moisture management tool. Yet this dual role creates confusion among specifiers. In a given assembly, polyiso can either protect against moisture
