WTC Complex Striving for LEED Gold

Apparently the latest design incarnation of the World Trade Center Complex will attempt to receive USGBC (United States Green Building Council) LEED Gold Certification. Tower 7 has already been certified Gold as of March of 2006. For those of you unfamiliar with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ here is a passage from the USGBC's website to help explain, "...(LEED Rating System) is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality." Points are earned through research, calculation, analysis and written description in a prescribed manner and submitted for review to USGBC within a LEED Letter Template in one of six categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality and Innovation & Design Process. After successful review points are awarded in the various categories which count towards certification. Below are listed the required point system milestones for various levels of certification:

Certification Level Points

Certified: 26-32
Silver: 33-38
Gold: 39-51
Platinum: 52+

The Freedom Tower and all other towers as well as the World Trade Center Memorial and Museum will submit applications for LEED Certification.

Official World Trade Center Memorial Site
Another Gold Certification Article

Beware Architecture!

Who knew Architecture could be so contagious???

Intriguing Earth Architecture 02

Today we feature a construction photo of National Stadium in Beijing which will play host to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games (XXIX Olympiad). The stadium will seat 91,000+ and will feature the opening and closing ceremonies as well as all of the track & field events during the Olympics. In 2002, Herzog & de Meuron teamed with ArupSport and China Architecture Research & Design Group to win the international competition for the design of the Olympic centerpiece venue.

National Stadium Wikipedia
NAi Herzog & de Meuron Web File

NCMoA Plans Major Expansion

The North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh is planning a major expansion to its existing facility that will open to the public in 2009. Currently, the museum has one expansion designed by Smith-Miller+Hawkinson but in this case they have selected New York architects Thomas Phifer and Partners. The design will be approximately 127,000 sf and incorporate some interesting natural daylighting to be engineered, in part, by renowned engineers Ove Arup. An excerpt from the museum's press release helps to provide insight into the design: "The new NCMoA building is a low-lying, single-story pavilion that merges visually with the rolling green surroundings. The building will be clad in satin polished stainless steel panels flush mounted to seamlessly and softly reflect the landscape and changing conditions of the sky and atmosphere to ethereal effect. A rolling roof plane dotted by occuli every 26 feet echoes the pattern of surrounding hills and hints at a path-breaking lighting system within."

NCMoA Full Press Release

Floating Pool Arrives in NYC

Several days ago I received a request to feature a very interesting project that is scheduled to open to the public on July 4, 2007. Jonathan Kirschenfeld the principal of the New York based firm that designed the structure, Jonathan Kirschenfeld Associates, has developed a modern interpretation of a paradigm from New York City's historic past (e.g. the floating public pool). In his own words he states,"The Floating Pool has been designed to create a lively, unexpected urban space. The locker rooms, showers, and snack bar are collected around a raised sun court and dining terrace overlooking the pool." A non-profit organization aptly named The Neptune Foundation originally commissioned the project in 1999. The floating superstructure was built in Amelia, Louisiana from a reclaimed barge and was recently towed and installed at its final location at Pier 2 in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

The Neptune Foundation Link
Project Profile Page

ecAr relaunch

Regular visitors to this blog may have noticed that there have been a few changes to the site. I am beginning to work more with the template in order to create a more 2.0 website. Stay tuned for more changes. Please feel free to leave me any ideas or additions you would like to see with the relaunched site.