UVa - John Paul Jones Arena

Charlottesville, Virginia firm VMDO Architects designs a modern arena for sports and entertainment with goliath Ellerbe Becket. The design is an interesting mix of traditional architypes found on the historic campus which are then given a modern twist. Ellerbe Becket's website provides this description of the design, "Your first impression of the John Paul Jones Arena is of the grand pergola crowning the main entrance. This distinctive design feature echoes the architectural vocabulary established by Thomas Jefferson, who founded the University of Virginia nearly two centuries ago. The arena combines the best of traditional design with the modern amenities today’s sports and concert patrons crave – an inviting entry plaza, wide concourses, 20 luxury suites and 100+ courtside seats."

University of Virginia Official Athletic Site Link

Durham Begins Performing Arts Center

The City of Durham, NC has begun its own venture into the performing arts center community while also further revitalizing its downtown. Following the lead of nearby Raleigh, the DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center) should provide an additional venue for the arts in the Triangle above and beyond the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the BTI Center). DPAC is slated to be a 110,000 square foot, 2,800 seat facility designed by Szostak Design, Inc. Currently the project is scheduled to open in 2008 and will be located in proximity to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Endangered Durham Link

Zaha Hadid's 2012 Olympic Aquatic Center

This is an short but interesting animation for Zaha Hadid's Olympic Aquatic Center for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games (XLI Olympiad) to be held in London.

Zaha Hadid Architects Link

Architect...what's in a word?

This week we had a contributor send this interesting article to us from archrecord2. There has been much discussion in recent years over the use of the word, "Architect". Many states currently reserve the right to use this title only when one becomes accredited. However, there seems to be no way of distinguishing a person who has recently graduated from design school from, say, someone with 5+ years of experience in the field who is sitting for board examination. Instead everyone is allowed to use the broad term, "Intern" to describe their current professional status. Perhaps a case recently decided in Colorado will assist as a catalyst for more discourse on this subject. Follow the link below for more information.

archrecord2 Link

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.

Intriguing Earth Architecture 01

Dubai in the fog - Harry Lambert

Although East Coast Architecture is the key feature and tagline for this blog, I could not resist adding new content based on photographic views of Architecture from around our world. In this first installment, we feature a group of photos from Harry Lambert's public Flickr account that show Dubai, UAE. This new weekly series will feature interesting, quirky and visually stimulating architectural images in the hopes of evoking an emotional reaction to our built environment. If you have any comments or suggestions for future postings please leave your remarks under the comments.

Use Flickr

Holl Fires Back at City of Denver

Architect blames city's team - RockyMountainNews.com

As advertised here on October 10, 2006 we have Steven Holl's response to his departure from the Denver Justice Center Project. It should be interesting to see how much the redesign will look like the original Holl solution. The link below is to a Denver architecture blog that contains a more in-depth analysis of the fallout. Feel free to leave your opinion in the comments section.

thartofwhere Link

Steven Holl Out of Denver Project

Architect quits Justice Center project - Denver Post

Steven Holl has apparently had no official comment as yet on his firm's decision to withdraw from the project. Local architecture firm Klipp released a statement in which they stated that the project objectives, "could not allow (Steven Holl Architects, New York) to design a building consistent with Steven Holl's design philosophy." This has got to come as a sense of loss for a city who in the last decade has had a slew of renowned architects propose or design projects within the immediate downtown core. We will await comment from the Holl camp and present it here as it is released.

Related Article Link

Competitions Anyone?

Scion Showroom Design Competition

I have had several competition call for entries come across my desk lately and I will be adding a new sidebar entitled Architecture Competitions to fulfill these requests. The latest comes from car maker Scion and I quote from their competition website, "Scion Floorplan is a competition, open to the design community, where you are asked to design Scion's new dealership showroom. This competition is an opportunity for designers to work with real world design constraints, get noticed by judges working in the design industry, be creative, and possibly win $5,000." The competition submission deadline is November 10, 2006.

Other Competition Links

Ground Zero's New Look

Designs Unveiled for Freedom Tower's Neighbors - New York Times

In the wake of what is almost the 5th anniversary of 9/11 designs finally emerge showing the new Lower Manhattan skyline. But how long will they take to come to fruition? And will New Yorker's be able to accept the new look of Ground Zero? The jury is still out.

Related Article Link

Anish Kapoor has landed in New York City

A Most Public Artist Polishes a New York Image - New York Times

Many people from Chicago may know this artist's work from Millenium Park. Now New Yorker's can partake in his design as well.

Anish Kapoor Link

SINGLE speed DESIGN : WORKS

An Example of Sustainable Architecture by Simple Speed Design from Cambridge, MA

Interesting sustainable architectural solution for reuse of materials involved in Boston's "Big Dig". Well worth a look for those who are interested in contemporary architecture. Perhaps more American's will follow this example and recycle more construction waste for reuse. I recently watched a podcast from Hauz29 that demonstrated how much debris we, as humans, are placing in landfills versus recycling. The podcast is called "Grey to Green" and is sponsored by PBS and design e2.

Link to Hauz29 Podcasts

David Childs of SOM Unveils Latest Incarnation of World Trade Center

Revised Design for Freedom Tower Unveiled - New York Times

The design is still not as powerful and conceptually interesting as the competition winner Libeskind envisioned. However, new refinements to the bomb-proof base should help garner public favor.

Original Libeskind Award Winning Design Link

SOM Going Tall in China

Freedom Tower Architects Tackle China - BusinessWeek online

It seems that Skidmore, Owings & Merrill are concentrating most of their design efforts on skyscrapers in the land of the Great Wall.

Additional Article Link
SOM Web Site Link

Architecture...You Tube Style

You Tube also offers many Architectural distractions.

Rediscovering the Bauhaus using Google

As I have been exploring the realm of Google I have found many methods for experiencing Architecture. Here is a video discussing the history of the Bauhaus in Dessau, Germany.

Thom Mayne to Assist in Rebuilding New Orleans

Architect to Help Revitalize New Orleans - BusinessWeek online

Morphosis among renown architects to help rebuild New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina.

Morphosis Link

Architecture Sites Among 2006 Webby Winners

The latest award winners for best websites have been announced by the Webby Awards and Architecture sites are among them.

Site Link 1
Site Link 2
Site Link 3

Apple's New Fifth Ave Store in NYC

Fifth Ave store will never close (photos) - AppleInsider

Apple unveils its newest retail offering in NYC on Fifth Avenue. The store will reportedly operate 24hrs a day and all 365 days of the year.

Additional Link 1
Additional Link 2

Frank Gehry Redesign for Brooklyn, NY Revealed

New Design for Atlantic Yards Presented - New York Times

It seems Mr. Gehry is having some difficulty in appeasing all parties regarding his design for the proposed Brooklyn development.

Google Rolls Out SketchUp

Google Rolls Out Free 3D Modeling Software -Sci-Tech Today

For those of you who are aspiring Architects...Google has released its recent acquistion SketchUp for free personal use.

Another Article Regarding the World Trade Center Site...

Freedom Tower Construction Begins at Ground Zero - FOXNews.com

More stimulating discourse over the future of the World Trade Center site.

More Turmoil at the World Trade Center Site...

Developer to Accept 'Economic Terms' of World Trade Center Deal - New York Times

Today I found this lovely bit of news regarding the World Trade Center site.

South Carolina Aquarium

Recently I had a chance to experience the South Carolina Aquarium in historic Charleston, SC. The project was designed by Eskew + Architects from New Orleans and was completed in 1999. The aquarium consists of multiple fresh and salt-water aquariums as well as outdoor exhibits which feature many animals and plants native to the mountains, piedmont and coastal areas of South Carolina. The exhibits are contained and integrated within a structure that is stylistically Modern in origin. The South Carolina Aquarium is one of three buildings that include the Ft. Sumter Visitor Education Center and an IMAX Theater and shops. From an urban development standpoint, the entire area contrasts and sits in juxtaposition to the renowned historic context of downtown Charleston. In general, most new developments are occurring between the historic district at East Bay Street and run east to the banks of the Cooper River and have Modernist influences.

South Carolina Aquarium

ecAr Volume 01 No. 01

Today is the launch of my blog site east coast Architecture review (ecAr). Hopefully, I will be able to maintain the fervor to publish something here at least three times a week for everyone to see. It is my hope that I can start and maintain a dialogue with those who are interested in Architecture. Not only those of us in the profession, but also those outside. I hope to show both award-winning and vernacular styles of architecture within this blog whose focus is within the Southeastern United States and specifically, Virginia and the Carolinas.