Friday - June 2, 2023 - MillerClapperton

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05-31-2023 info@millerclapperton.com tel: 770-941-8281

IN THIS WEEK’S FRIDAY5

Architizer, a leading platform for architecture, has announced the winners of its 11th Annual A+ Awards, which honors the best architecture and spaces from across the globe. “From established heavyweight firms to emerging talent, the winning group of designers comprises the leaders of global architectural excellence; the who’s who of the industry, setting standards that impact architecture’s users and designers throughout the entire year. After an unprecedented number of submissions were rigorously reviewed by the jury and the global public, the latest collection of winners forms a vibrant celebration of the world’s most innovative and impactful contemporary design.”

Location: Worcester, MA
Product: ALUCOBOND PLUS (MCM)
General Contractor: Shawmut Design and Construction
Architect: Ayers Saint Gross

A new interdisciplinary building at Clark University is under construction and will become a hub for innovation and collaboration once completed. Known as the Center for Media, Arts, Computing, and Design, the four-story, 70,000-square-foot building will bring together Computer Science, Visual and Performing Arts, and the Becker School of Design & Technology. Among the building’s notable features are a multimedia gallery, augmented reality/virtual reality lab, video game library for researching interactive media, a makerspace, robotics lab, data science lab, and more. On the exterior, the building’s two “wings” will be clad in metal panels of similar color, but different finish to create a rich, layered look. MillerClapperton will fabricate 25,000 square feet of Metal Composite Material for the project, which is set to open this Fall.

Air travel has certainly lost its luster over the years – limited baggage, fees for everything, long lines, cancellations, and more. Amidst the crowds and chaos, there are beautiful (and even luxurious) respites that exist for those lucky enough to have access to quiet, privacy, and cleanliness. These airport lounges act as a haven for travelers pre-flight and offer a range of amenities from warm food and Wi-Fi to gyms and bars – all in a well-designed space. “Though many airport spaces are bland, a great lounge tells you exactly where you are, whether that’s with a spice-scented towel in Istanbul or local California citrus at LAX.” Take a moment to enjoy the finer things in life and check out AD’s guide to the best airport lounges below.

The monthly Architecture Billings Index (ABI) from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) contracted 1.9 points in the month of April. “The ABI is the leading economic indicator of construction activity in the U.S. and reflects a nine- to 12-month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending nationally, regionally, and by project type.” This time of economic uncertainty seems to be impacting many sectors, and that includes architecture and construction. “The ongoing weakness in design activity at architecture firms reflects clients’ concerns regarding the economic outlook,” said AIA chief economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA. April’s sector billing scores expanded slightly with a rise of 2.1 points in the commerical/industrial sector, while the multifamily residential score fell 2.7 points.

Recommendation: See How Termites Inspired a Building That Can Cool Itself | Decoder
Produced By: National Geographic

“In nature, termites build skyscraper-like mounds that are ventilated by a complex system of tunnels. By emulating the ingenuity of termites, Zimbabwean architect Mick Pearce used an approach called biomimicry to design a natural cooling system that harnessed nature. The result is an architectural marvel that achieves 90 percent passive climate control by taking cool air into the building at night and expelling heat throughout the day. In this first installation of the Decoder series, see how the Eastgate Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe utilizes a termite-inspired climate control system.”