Minneapolis public works facility earns LEED Platinum

The Hiawatha Public Works Facility in Minneapolis received LEED Platinum certification, making it the state’s greenest government building. Designed by local firm RSP Architects, the 200-person facility has 32,000 sf of office space and 26,000 sf of shop and interior storage space. The complex also has more than 250,000 sf of yard space for multiple public works divisions, including maintenance, paving construction, sewer maintenance, sewer construction, bridge maintenance, and central stores. The facility occupies the site of 18 existing city buildings—all but two of which were removed; 90% of demolition material was recycled. The new building’s footprint is 43% smaller than the combined footprint of the previous buildings.

LEED certification of the Lutron facility was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include: optimization of energy performance through the use of lighting power, lighting controls and HVAC, plus the use of daylight.

| Dec 12, 2011

AIA Chicago announces Skidmore, Owings & Merrill as 2011 Firm of the Year

SOM has been a leader in the research and development of specialized technologies, new processes and innovative ideas, many of which have had a palpable and lasting impact on the design profession and the physical environment.

| Dec 12, 2011

Skanska to expand and renovate hospital in Georgia for $103 Million

The expansion includes a four-story, 17,500 square meters clinical services building and a five-story, 15,700 square meters, medical office building. Skanska will also renovate the main hospital.

| Dec 12, 2011

CRSI design awards deadline extended to December 31

The final deadline is extended until December 31st, with judging shortly thereafter at the World of Concrete.

| Dec 10, 2011

10 Great Solutions

The editors of Building Design+Construction present 10 “Great Solutions” that highlight innovative technology and products that can be used to address some of the many problems Building Teams face in their day-to-day work. Readers are encouraged to submit entries for Great Solutions; if we use yours, you’ll receive a $25 gift certificate. Look for more Great Solutions in 2012 at: www.bdcnetwork.com/greatsolutions/2012.

| Dec 10, 2011

BIM tools to make your project easier to manage

Two innovations—program manager Gafcon’s SharePoint360 project management platform and a new BIM “wall creator” add-on developed by ClarkDietrich Building Systems for use with the Revit BIM platform and construction consultant—show how fabricators and owner’s reps are stepping in to fill the gaps between construction and design that can typically be exposed by working with a 3D model.