By Tom Ichniowski Congress has approved a narrowly focused measure that aims to encourage—but not require—commercial buildings owners and tenants to improve their facilities’ energy efficiency. Final congressional action on the bill came on April 21, when the House passed it under suspension of the chamber’s rules. The Senate approved the legislation on March 27, which next goes to the White House for President Obama’s expected signature. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), termed it “good for the economy and good for the environment.” … Continue reading Congress Clears Bill to Improve Buildings’ Energy Efficiency→
New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina was in dire need of positive social and structural restoration when the Grow Dat Youth Farm was conceived in 2010. Since it was completed in 2013, it has become an architectural model of environmentally conscious design, innovative reuse of construction materials, and successful social entrepreneurship. Now entering its fourth year, the Grow Dat Youth Farm has employed more than 150 high school students to grow more than 30,000 pounds of healthy food for the community. The students receive a … Continue reading Youth farm design proves effective in both savings and uniting community→
By Louise Poirier Technology and sustainability were at the forefront of design considerations on East Baton Rouge Parish’s $35-million, 126,000-sq-ft main library. The new building includes a north wall made almost entirely of glass to take advantage of natural lighting and a sloped roof that will capture rainwater for plants. The library houses at least half a million books and more than 130 public computers. “The East Baton Rouge Parish Library has been steadily working through a 30-year capital improvements plan (CIP) and had already … Continue reading Baton Rouge Embraces Green, High-Tech Library→
Communication and early planning help keep the $1-billion Veterans Affairs Hopsital in New Orleans on track By: Craig Guillot It’s no easy task to construct more than a million sq ft of hospital facilities spread out over 12 city blocks. It’s even more difficult when that hospital has to be meticulously designed and constructed from the ground up to withstand high winds and storm surge from a major hurricane. Now more than 60% complete, the new Veterans Affairs Hospital in New Orleans will be one … Continue reading Storm-Resistant Hospital Rises in Tight Quarters→
by: Helene Combs Dreiling One of the best examples of this effort—even amidst bankruptcy and a historic unraveling of a once-dominant American city—is the Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC), a nonprofit architecture and urban design firm that offers proof that neighborhoods that facilitate holistic wellness and preventative care are as valuable as doctors who make house calls. What began as an effort to encourage healthy living surrounding a new health care center morphed into a 40- to 50-year plan for an entire neighborhood in southwest Detroit built … Continue reading Healthy Community Planning Means Healthier Neighbors→
