Mid-year special: Top 13 stories for 2013 (so far)

Every six months, we like to take a look back at the stories that generated the most interest from our readers. For the first half of 2013, hot topics on BDCnetwork.com included high-rise projects in the works around the world, senior housing trends, 40 Under 40 winners, a BIM-related lawsuit, and the top trends in kitchen and bath design.

Here's a roundup of the top 13 articles on BDCnetwork.com for the first six months of 2013:

1. 7 hip high-rise developments on the drawing board

We feature a collection of recently profiled high-rise projects in the works around the world. They include Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill's whimsical Dancing Dragons tower in Seoul and a 1,312-foot-tall finance and trade center under construction in Nanning, China. READ THE ARTICLE

2. 8 trends shaping today’s senior housing

The ranks of those age 65 and older are swelling by the thousands every day. Is there an opportunity for your firm in the seniors housing market? READ THE ARTICLE

3. Meet BD+C's 40 Under 40 class of 2013

We’re pleased to present our Class of 2013 “40 Under 40” honorees. Along with the 280 previous recipients of this honor, dating from 2006, they represent the next generation of leadership in the AEC industry. READ THE ARTICLE

4. Top 10 kitchen and bath design trends for 2013

Gray color schemes and transitional styles are among the top trends identified by more than 300 kitchen and bath design experts. READ THE ARTICLE

5. Lawsuit teaches valuable lesson on BIM and communication

BDCnetwork blogger Sasha Reed offers a cautionary tale about one of the first BIM-related lawsuits. The parties involved in this university building project kept their identities private, but it’s been reported that they settled out of court for millions of dollars. READ THE ARTICLE

6. Extreme LEGO: Wondrous micro city built out of 200,000 blocks

Master LEGO builder Mike Doyle unveils his latest creation, an out-of-this-world micro city that celebrates peaceful alien contact. READ THE ARTICLE

7. Will Google Glass revolutionize the construction process?

An Australian architect is exploring the benefits of augmented reality in the design and construction process. READ THE ARTICLE

8. A LEGO lover's dream: Guide to building the world's iconic structures with LEGO

A new book from LEGO master builder Warren Elsmore offers instructions for creating scale models of buildings and landmarks with LEGO. READ THE ARTICLE

9. 8 eye-popping wood building projects

WoodWorks announces the winners of the 2013 National Wood Design Awards. READ THE ARTICLE

10. Supertall 'Sky City' will house 4,400 families in Changsha, China

Up to 30,000 people could be accommodated in planned 'world's tallest building,' at 2,749 feet. READ THE ARTICLE

11. Calatrava projects encounter issues with water, structure

Alleged maintenance, safety problems with several iconic Santiago Calatrava projects give rise to financial claims. READ THE ARTICLE

12. 13 structural steel buildings that dazzle

The American Institute of Steel Construction names its 2013 IDEAS2 winners. READ THE ARTICLE

13. Walgreens to build first net-zero energy retail store

Evanston, Ill., location will utilize solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal. READ THE ARTICLE

Walmart has completed one of the largest free-standing, 3D-printed commercial structures in the US. Alquist 3D printed the almost 8,000-sf, 20-foot-high addition to a Walmart store in Athens, Tenn. The expansion, which will be used for online pickup and delivery, is the first time Walmart has applied 3D printing technology at this scale.

Retail Centers | Sep 17, 2024

Thinking outside the big box (store)

For over a decade now, the talk of the mall industry has been largely focused on what developers can do to fill the voids left by a steady number of big box store closures. But what do you do when big box tenants stay put?

Government Buildings | Sep 17, 2024

OSHA’s proposed heat standard published in Federal Register

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published a proposed standard addressing heat illness in outdoor and indoor settings in the Federal Register. The proposed rule would require employers to evaluate workplaces and implement controls to mitigate exposure to heat through engineering and administrative controls, training, effective communication, and other measures.

Codes and Standards | Sep 17, 2024

New California building code encourages, but does not mandate heat pumps

New California homes are more likely to have all-electric appliances starting in 2026 after the state’s energy regulators approved new state building standards. The new building code will encourage installation of heat pumps without actually banning gas heating.

Mass Timber | Sep 17, 2024

Marina del Rey mixed-use development is L.A.’s largest mass timber project

An office-retail project in Marina del Rey is Los Angeles’ largest mass timber project to date. Encompassing about 3 acres, the 42XX campus consists of three low-rise buildings that seamlessly connect with exterior walkways and stairways. The development provides 151,000 sf of office space and 1,500 sf of retail space.

Education Facilities | Sep 16, 2024

Hot classrooms, playgrounds spur K-12 school districts to go beyond AC for cooling

With hotter weather occurring during the school year, school districts are turning to cooling strategies to complement air conditioning. Reflective playgrounds and roads, cool roofs and window films, shade structures and conversion of asphalt surfaces to a natural state are all being tried in various regions of the country.

Office Buildings | Sep 16, 2024

Maximizing office square footage through ‘agile planning’

Lauren Elliott, RID, NCIDQ, Director of Interior Design, Design Collaborative, shares tips for a designing with a popular and flexible workspace model: Agile planning.

3D Printing | Sep 13, 2024

Swiss researchers develop robotic additive manufacturing method that uses earth-based materials—and not cement

Researchers at ETH Zurich, a university in Switzerland, have developed a new robotic additive manufacturing method to help make the construction industry more sustainable. Unlike concrete 3D printing, the process does not require cement.

Libraries | Sep 12, 2024

How space supports programming changes at university libraries

GBBN Associate Sarah Kusuma Rubritz, AIA, uses the University of Pittsburgh's Hillman Library to showcase how libraries are transforming to support students’ needs.

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