The conversation around climate change is at an all-time high. With that being said, the built environment and construction sector are known to be major contributors to rising global temperatures. One way to start limiting the rise of global temperatures within the built environment is to upgrade or retrofit the hundreds of missions of buildings across the world. Upgrading existing buildings through adaptive reuse, renovation, extension and restoration is a more sustainable and cost-effective strategy compared to demolition and rebuilding. And, with more than 80% of the building stock that will be around in 2050 already built, it is essential to update existing buildings in the most energy-efficient way possible.
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Location: Birmingham, AL
Products: Larson (MCM); Louvers
General Contractor: MJ Harris
Architects: Williams Blackstock Architects
The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s new Altec Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building is designed to accelerate advancements in precision medicine, informatics and data sciences. The state-of-the-art facility provides a modernized space for enhanced collaboration and cutting-edge research. Featuring a double-helix design and bird-friendly glass, the new building will increase the school’s research capacity by 16% and help scientists generate an additional $100 million in new grants.
The new, 175,000-square foot building brings together researchers, technology and staff from UAB’s Hugh Kaul Precision Medicine Institute, Informatics Institute, and Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Additionally, the school will recruit approximately 75 additional investigators and 350 support staff to work alongside the current team of researchers, to cement UAB’s place as the leading research institution in genomic and precision medicine.
MillerClapperton is fabricating and installing 41,100 square feet of Meta Composite Material and 333 square feet of louvers for this project, which is expected to be completed in December.
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What is the relationship between biodiversity and buildings? Are they mutually exclusive or is there a human connection to nature that we need to exist? As cities grow, it is more important than ever to preserve our ecosystems, and with more than half of the global population living in urban environments, we don’t want to risk losing our natural spaces. In this article for USGBC, LEED Fellow Diego Felipe Prada shares his insights into the relationship between biodiversity and buildings.
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How does artificial intelligence (AI) work within the context of the architecture industry? While it is unlikely to replace architects, AI will likely bring a seismic shift in how we think about and accomplish design, creativity and collaboration. In this article, Peter Schwartz, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, and Brian Van Winkle, AIA, NCARB, from Vessel Architecture + Design, discuss some of the ways in which their firm is leveraging AI to enhance the creative process, streamline operations and deliver visionary projects.
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Recommendation: Women Talk Construction | Ines Rivas-Hutchins
Hosted by: Angela Gardner and Christi Powell
In the Women Talk Construction podcast, hosts Angela Gardner and Christi Powell aim to celebrate diversity in construction and other industries through stories and experience. Episode 126 features Ines Rivas-Hutchins, president and owner of INTEC Group LLC, which has made the 2024 Inc. Magazine 5000 list of fastest growing companies. In this conversation, Rivas-Hutchins covers her journey, challenges of business ownership, importance of mentorship, networking and advocacy, and more.
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