Solving the parking dilemma in U.S. cities

ArchDaily's Rory Stott yesterday posted an interesting exploration ("Parking Is Hell [But Designers Can Help]") of progressive parking strategies being employed by cities and designers. The lack of curbside and lot parking exacerbates traffic congestion, discourages visitors, and leads to increased vehicles emissions.

Stott, for example, cited a study that found that the distance traveled by drivers looking for a parking spot in a 15-block area of Los Angeles is equivalent to one trip across the country every day. The city of San Francisco is looking to solve this issue through its SF Park project. The program will utilize sensors to track the demand for parking in specific areas and then adjust the prices accordingly.

Another solution, writes Stott, is the design and construction of parking structures that are not only pleasing to the eye, but also add to the fabric of the surrounding urban environment. As an example, he cites Herzog & de Meuron's 1111 Lincoln Road garage, which includes shops, artwork, event space, and housing.

Read the ArchDaily article, "Parking Is Hell [But Designers Can Help]."

Earlier this month, my colleague and I presented a session to a group of civil engineers and transportation agencies about the tech trends in the AEC space. Along with advice on how to prepare your plan for controlled collaboration, we also talked through some practical use cases. One such use case was especially interesting, as it outlined a challenge not unfamiliar to government agencies who are contemplating the leap from paper to digital processes: how to securely migrate workflows.

For an 1893 academic building in the Collegiate Gothic style at Bryn Mawr (Pa.)

| Apr 16, 2014

Upgrading windows: repair, refurbish, or retrofit [AIA course]

Building Teams must focus on a number of key decisions in order to arrive at the optimal solution: repair the windows in place, remove and refurbish them, or opt for full replacement.

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, East Lansing, Mich. Photo credit: Justin Macono

| Apr 15, 2014

12 award-winning structural steel buildings

Zaha Hadid's Broad Art Museum and One World Trade Center are among the projects honored by the American Institute of Steel Construction for excellence in structural steel design.

| Apr 15, 2014

First look: Zaha Hadid reveals designs for dreamy sculptural hotel - CORRECTED

Hadid's design, which will become the fifth hotel tower in the City of Dreams entertainment hub, features a latticed exoskeleton enveloping the building's exterior. The 40-floor, 150,000-square-foot space is envisioned as a monolith with voids carved throughout.

David Chipperfield Architects has won the Nobel Center architectural competition

| Apr 15, 2014

Chipperfield's sparkling brass-clad scheme selected to be new home of Nobel Prize

The distinctive building, with its shimmering vertical brass elements and glass façade design, beat out two other finalists in the Nobel Center architectural competition.