Thursday, December 23, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
The Community Network of Convenience Stores within Urban Design
By Kang-Hsin Fan
-Part Two-
How can the community network of convenience stores make life-places better? How can it connect the relationships among the government, private sector, and the community? There are three typical settlements traditions: the organic tradition, the formalist tradition, and the modernist tradition. The organic tradition is people arrange their activities according to natural systems, such as water courses, land contours, arable soils, orientation, and climates. Second, the formalist tradition is it has studies geometry at its formalistic base, which is an orthogonal grid of a hierarchically arranged street system. Finally, the modernist tradition is it’s a reliable path which depended on modern technology for meeting the needs of 20th century urban society. Modernists arrange a high value on efficient and mechanical details for life needs. It also offers a way to improve health, to bring parks and cultural institutions, and to introduce light and air into habitations. Therefore, what’s the new settlement for using the community network of convenience stores as case within urban design?
Urban Design is not only a big architecture, but also a slow aesthetic art. They are creating and building over many years, decades, or even centuries. It is underwritten by a set of rules and must work with a limited palette of materials-the form, site, mass, and detailed public realm design. In addition, a city is a composition of solid and void elements. In other word, a city is the physical environment in which is consisted the natural world and the built world. These void elements include landscape, garden, park, and so on. On the other hand, architecture and building are solid elements. Green has also become the new goal in the development of Urban Design. Urban Design has to support sustainable objectives by improving pedestrian and cycle access. How to reach this goal? The concept of community network will provide a best method to save land and sensitive areas by building, and create more effective densities. With these issues, iconic buildings will be attractive spotlight for the development of urban design. An effective arrangement for a city’s development is primary assignment. How to stimulate a city’s economy? The exciting photogenic buildings will be the components, which can attract a good press that in turn attracts visitors.
-Part Two-
How can the community network of convenience stores make life-places better? How can it connect the relationships among the government, private sector, and the community? There are three typical settlements traditions: the organic tradition, the formalist tradition, and the modernist tradition. The organic tradition is people arrange their activities according to natural systems, such as water courses, land contours, arable soils, orientation, and climates. Second, the formalist tradition is it has studies geometry at its formalistic base, which is an orthogonal grid of a hierarchically arranged street system. Finally, the modernist tradition is it’s a reliable path which depended on modern technology for meeting the needs of 20th century urban society. Modernists arrange a high value on efficient and mechanical details for life needs. It also offers a way to improve health, to bring parks and cultural institutions, and to introduce light and air into habitations. Therefore, what’s the new settlement for using the community network of convenience stores as case within urban design?
Urban Design is not only a big architecture, but also a slow aesthetic art. They are creating and building over many years, decades, or even centuries. It is underwritten by a set of rules and must work with a limited palette of materials-the form, site, mass, and detailed public realm design. In addition, a city is a composition of solid and void elements. In other word, a city is the physical environment in which is consisted the natural world and the built world. These void elements include landscape, garden, park, and so on. On the other hand, architecture and building are solid elements. Green has also become the new goal in the development of Urban Design. Urban Design has to support sustainable objectives by improving pedestrian and cycle access. How to reach this goal? The concept of community network will provide a best method to save land and sensitive areas by building, and create more effective densities. With these issues, iconic buildings will be attractive spotlight for the development of urban design. An effective arrangement for a city’s development is primary assignment. How to stimulate a city’s economy? The exciting photogenic buildings will be the components, which can attract a good press that in turn attracts visitors.
LST 325
By Scott Fisher
LST (Landing Ship Tank) is a World War II vessel designed to transport tanks and troops during coastal beach landings. Mr. John Niedermair from the Bureau of Ships sketched the basic design of LST during WWII, and with few adjustments the first LST was made. LST’s were usually 327 feet long and “typically had no names just numbers”. There were sixteen shipyards building LST’s including the five shipyards in the Midwest. The purpose of an LST was to carry supplies to battlefield landings and often returned men who had been wounded in action. LST 325 has been brought to a permanent dock in Evansville, Indiana, to memorialize LST landing crafts and their crews, and their important contributions in the United States Wars.
The Structure of the LST 325 consisted of a main deck, tank deck control room, port wind deck, aft crew quarters, tank deck, gallery passage, fantail, LCVP, pilot house, and a main & auxiliary engine rooms. On the main deck composed of light cargo like ambulances, trucks, and jeeps. Mounted on the main deck were clover leaves which lashed vehicles and other big cargo down to the main dock to minimize movement. At the front of the ship was a cargo elevator which was used to move cargo from the main dock to the tank deck which cargo could be unloaded of the ship through the bow doors. Throughout the years of the use of the LST the elevator got replaced with a ramp. Next going closed to the front of the ship are the forward guns and Fire control Director. At this location of the ship, which is also called Anchor Windlass, all of the ship’s forward guns could be directed at a target. Go on to the tank deck control room which is a space where the crew could control various functions of the tank deck including the tank deck blowers, opening/closing of bow doors, traffic signals, and bow ramp. The Port Wind deck was a series of compartments. Those compartments are very similar to each other containing troop berthing areas, lavatories and run the entire length of the ship. In the middle of the compartments was a sickbay. The Aft Crew Quarters was where the entire crew would berth allowing both of the other wings for the soldiers. The enlisted crew would also eat here after getting their food for the dining room above. The hatch in the center of the deck allowed access to frozen and dry food storage and the steering of the ship. Next the tank deck, which was the main component of a LST ship. This empty space is where vehicles, equipment and supplies were stored. In addition to that basic role of carrying cargo to the beach during an invasion, some of the LST’s were remodeled to be floating repair ships, troop barracks, and floating hospitals. Below the tank deck is the engine rooms, fuel tanks, and the ballast for the LST. Moving your way up the ship layout there are different hatches. Inside those hatches contain rooms that house various shops, ammunition lockers, and paint lockers. Across from the hatches is the starboard side is where the electrical shop and machine shop is located. Whereas on the front there is a rectangular shape bow, Bow Ramp, which is held in place by heavy gripes. On the top side of the ramp there are the Bow Doors. These Bow Doors and Ramp works: as the ship comes to the shore the doors are opened by electric motors and once the ship is aground the ramp is lowered with a winch to allow equipment to be taken off or on.
The Galley Passage is where all the meals for the crew are prepared and contains the serving line. The fantail contains the winch to lower the ramp which is attached to the Stern Anchor. This Stern Anchor has two functions: to prevent the ship from broaching which means that it helps keep the ship perpendicular to the beach and secondly helps pull the ship seaward. Moving on in the ship to the LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel) which is where anyone can get a good view at the ship’s boats, Higgins boats, are platoon boats that carry men to shore. Next there’s a pilot house (Wheel House or Radio Room) where the ship is steered and orders given to the engine room. The Radio room is equipped with the ships communications equipment which is currently still operational. On the last level are the main & auxiliary engine rooms. On LST’s the propulsion comes from the two general motors’ V-12 Diesel engines each delivering 850 horsepower. Electrical power on the ship is provided by three generators, each being powered by inline-6 Detroit Diesel with output voltages of 440 VDC. The places where AC is required, the DC current are converted through use of the Motor-Generator set. Also on this level of the ship are desalination units. These desalination units are voids and all storage compartments of diesel fuel, lubricating oils and fresh water. The ballast tanks can be filled or emptied of seawater to improve the “trim” of the ship; how high or low the ships ride in the water. These tanks allow the captain to adjust the weight of the ship for better sea handling performance and for proper beaching trim.
Image: http://www.cmh.net/~jpvsr/LST_325.html
LST (Landing Ship Tank) is a World War II vessel designed to transport tanks and troops during coastal beach landings. Mr. John Niedermair from the Bureau of Ships sketched the basic design of LST during WWII, and with few adjustments the first LST was made. LST’s were usually 327 feet long and “typically had no names just numbers”. There were sixteen shipyards building LST’s including the five shipyards in the Midwest. The purpose of an LST was to carry supplies to battlefield landings and often returned men who had been wounded in action. LST 325 has been brought to a permanent dock in Evansville, Indiana, to memorialize LST landing crafts and their crews, and their important contributions in the United States Wars.
The Structure of the LST 325 consisted of a main deck, tank deck control room, port wind deck, aft crew quarters, tank deck, gallery passage, fantail, LCVP, pilot house, and a main & auxiliary engine rooms. On the main deck composed of light cargo like ambulances, trucks, and jeeps. Mounted on the main deck were clover leaves which lashed vehicles and other big cargo down to the main dock to minimize movement. At the front of the ship was a cargo elevator which was used to move cargo from the main dock to the tank deck which cargo could be unloaded of the ship through the bow doors. Throughout the years of the use of the LST the elevator got replaced with a ramp. Next going closed to the front of the ship are the forward guns and Fire control Director. At this location of the ship, which is also called Anchor Windlass, all of the ship’s forward guns could be directed at a target. Go on to the tank deck control room which is a space where the crew could control various functions of the tank deck including the tank deck blowers, opening/closing of bow doors, traffic signals, and bow ramp. The Port Wind deck was a series of compartments. Those compartments are very similar to each other containing troop berthing areas, lavatories and run the entire length of the ship. In the middle of the compartments was a sickbay. The Aft Crew Quarters was where the entire crew would berth allowing both of the other wings for the soldiers. The enlisted crew would also eat here after getting their food for the dining room above. The hatch in the center of the deck allowed access to frozen and dry food storage and the steering of the ship. Next the tank deck, which was the main component of a LST ship. This empty space is where vehicles, equipment and supplies were stored. In addition to that basic role of carrying cargo to the beach during an invasion, some of the LST’s were remodeled to be floating repair ships, troop barracks, and floating hospitals. Below the tank deck is the engine rooms, fuel tanks, and the ballast for the LST. Moving your way up the ship layout there are different hatches. Inside those hatches contain rooms that house various shops, ammunition lockers, and paint lockers. Across from the hatches is the starboard side is where the electrical shop and machine shop is located. Whereas on the front there is a rectangular shape bow, Bow Ramp, which is held in place by heavy gripes. On the top side of the ramp there are the Bow Doors. These Bow Doors and Ramp works: as the ship comes to the shore the doors are opened by electric motors and once the ship is aground the ramp is lowered with a winch to allow equipment to be taken off or on.
The Galley Passage is where all the meals for the crew are prepared and contains the serving line. The fantail contains the winch to lower the ramp which is attached to the Stern Anchor. This Stern Anchor has two functions: to prevent the ship from broaching which means that it helps keep the ship perpendicular to the beach and secondly helps pull the ship seaward. Moving on in the ship to the LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel) which is where anyone can get a good view at the ship’s boats, Higgins boats, are platoon boats that carry men to shore. Next there’s a pilot house (Wheel House or Radio Room) where the ship is steered and orders given to the engine room. The Radio room is equipped with the ships communications equipment which is currently still operational. On the last level are the main & auxiliary engine rooms. On LST’s the propulsion comes from the two general motors’ V-12 Diesel engines each delivering 850 horsepower. Electrical power on the ship is provided by three generators, each being powered by inline-6 Detroit Diesel with output voltages of 440 VDC. The places where AC is required, the DC current are converted through use of the Motor-Generator set. Also on this level of the ship are desalination units. These desalination units are voids and all storage compartments of diesel fuel, lubricating oils and fresh water. The ballast tanks can be filled or emptied of seawater to improve the “trim” of the ship; how high or low the ships ride in the water. These tanks allow the captain to adjust the weight of the ship for better sea handling performance and for proper beaching trim.
Image: http://www.cmh.net/~jpvsr/LST_325.html
Firestone Baars Chapel
By Micah Jacobson
I am from the college town of Columbia Missouri. In Columbia there are three major schools, along with several community colleges. The University of Missouri main campus is located in Columbia, along with Columbia College and Stephens College. Stephens College is all girl school. My mother attended Stephens and received here degree in education there in the early seventies.
On the Stephens College Campus there is a small elegant Chapel in the center of campus, the Firestone Baars Chapel. From the outside it has simple geometry and very little ornamentation. As one enters the building a beautiful environment is presented.
In 1939 a group of twenty young women met with the current president of Stephens College, President Wood. He asked them to tell him what building they would want built if it was to be the last building built on campus. They all answered they would like a Chapel. This began the endeavor to build the Chapel on Stephens College campus. That night they all contributed one dollar and placed them in an envelope. It was placed under the door of the student body president with a note that stated the money was to start a fund to build a Chapel on Stephens College. (Schwarz & Brent, 1997, p. 37)
As the design of the Chapel got underway the student and faculty sought a building that would represent all of their many faiths and be used to reflect a commonality of all of their religions. The design would revolve around the line dividing time and eternity and the relationship of man and God with eternity. The architect chosen for this work was Eliel Saarinen, an architect from Finland, who relocated to the US in 1923. His design was to have a round building with a dome that would cover it. This emphasized the idea of eternity that the students and faculty wanted to portray. There was also to be a reflecting pool that would be used to separate the patrons of the Chapel from the outside world and create a place of seclusion and sanctity. (Schwarz & Brent, 1997, p. 38)
Eliel pasted away on July 1, 1950, seven days after the Korean War began. During this time the College was suffering from a shortage of money. Due to these social and economical conditions the plans for the Chapel where brought to a standstill. During this time the college appointed a new president, Thomas Spragens. In 1953 he was able to commission Eliel’s son, Eero Saarinen. Eero had been working with his father for seventeen years before his death and was branching out on his own
The design was vastly different from Eliel’s; the cylinder was replaced with a cube and the dome with a pyramid. As I entered the chapel I couldn’t help but feel separated from the world. The Chapel is located just off of Broadway, a very busy street, but I found piece and solitude in the Chapel. It is a very spiritual place to go. I found myself looking up at the ceiling, at the wood structure, at the skylight and beyond it into the heavens. The Chapel had a different feeling than other Chapels I had experienced. Being void of any religious symbols it is a welcoming place for all denominations and is used by all. It is a small, very personal, and inspiring space to be in.
The Firestone Baars Chapel holds a lot of meaning for many people in Columbia. My grandfather, Daniel Hall, who was a craftsman, was originally asked to build the Chapel. After the redesign and re-commission he was building another project and couldn’t do the job and another craftsman was chosen. He was able to give me some personal insight into the construction and history of the Chapel. Another person affected by this elegant Chapel was Madeline Grapes (1908-1995). She taught at Stephens College and shared here love with many people, including Dr. Schwarz who was one of the authors of the only document I found written on the Chapel (Schwarz & Brent, 1997, p. 46). Dr. Schwarz shared his experience here and the Chapel to a group of students including myself while setting in it sanctuary. Firestone Baars is a small Chapel that has affected the lives of many people in this small college town. It inspired many who went to school at Stephen’s and many who never sat in a class but just visited the Chapel, sat, and pondered there. I hope more is published in the future to recognize this great Chapel and the great people who contributed to its construction.
I am from the college town of Columbia Missouri. In Columbia there are three major schools, along with several community colleges. The University of Missouri main campus is located in Columbia, along with Columbia College and Stephens College. Stephens College is all girl school. My mother attended Stephens and received here degree in education there in the early seventies.
On the Stephens College Campus there is a small elegant Chapel in the center of campus, the Firestone Baars Chapel. From the outside it has simple geometry and very little ornamentation. As one enters the building a beautiful environment is presented.
In 1939 a group of twenty young women met with the current president of Stephens College, President Wood. He asked them to tell him what building they would want built if it was to be the last building built on campus. They all answered they would like a Chapel. This began the endeavor to build the Chapel on Stephens College campus. That night they all contributed one dollar and placed them in an envelope. It was placed under the door of the student body president with a note that stated the money was to start a fund to build a Chapel on Stephens College. (Schwarz & Brent, 1997, p. 37)
As the design of the Chapel got underway the student and faculty sought a building that would represent all of their many faiths and be used to reflect a commonality of all of their religions. The design would revolve around the line dividing time and eternity and the relationship of man and God with eternity. The architect chosen for this work was Eliel Saarinen, an architect from Finland, who relocated to the US in 1923. His design was to have a round building with a dome that would cover it. This emphasized the idea of eternity that the students and faculty wanted to portray. There was also to be a reflecting pool that would be used to separate the patrons of the Chapel from the outside world and create a place of seclusion and sanctity. (Schwarz & Brent, 1997, p. 38)
Eliel pasted away on July 1, 1950, seven days after the Korean War began. During this time the College was suffering from a shortage of money. Due to these social and economical conditions the plans for the Chapel where brought to a standstill. During this time the college appointed a new president, Thomas Spragens. In 1953 he was able to commission Eliel’s son, Eero Saarinen. Eero had been working with his father for seventeen years before his death and was branching out on his own
The design was vastly different from Eliel’s; the cylinder was replaced with a cube and the dome with a pyramid. As I entered the chapel I couldn’t help but feel separated from the world. The Chapel is located just off of Broadway, a very busy street, but I found piece and solitude in the Chapel. It is a very spiritual place to go. I found myself looking up at the ceiling, at the wood structure, at the skylight and beyond it into the heavens. The Chapel had a different feeling than other Chapels I had experienced. Being void of any religious symbols it is a welcoming place for all denominations and is used by all. It is a small, very personal, and inspiring space to be in.
The Firestone Baars Chapel holds a lot of meaning for many people in Columbia. My grandfather, Daniel Hall, who was a craftsman, was originally asked to build the Chapel. After the redesign and re-commission he was building another project and couldn’t do the job and another craftsman was chosen. He was able to give me some personal insight into the construction and history of the Chapel. Another person affected by this elegant Chapel was Madeline Grapes (1908-1995). She taught at Stephens College and shared here love with many people, including Dr. Schwarz who was one of the authors of the only document I found written on the Chapel (Schwarz & Brent, 1997, p. 46). Dr. Schwarz shared his experience here and the Chapel to a group of students including myself while setting in it sanctuary. Firestone Baars is a small Chapel that has affected the lives of many people in this small college town. It inspired many who went to school at Stephen’s and many who never sat in a class but just visited the Chapel, sat, and pondered there. I hope more is published in the future to recognize this great Chapel and the great people who contributed to its construction.
My First Black Friday Experience in the US
By Bhakti Shah
I knew that the day after Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day of the year in the US, but I did not know that it was such a big thing. When my husband told me that people line-up in queues for hours outside stores, I hardly believed him. I thought it was an exaggeration. However, the opportunity to clear this doubt came sooner than I thought.
My husband I went to the movie theater on the night of Thanksgiving to watch ‘Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows’. It was past midnight when the movie ended and we were on our way back home when my husband took me to Target & Best Buy to show me how people line up for Black Friday shopping. I was surprised to see long queue at 12:30 AM because the stores were supposed to open at 4 AM in the morning. The sight of people camping in tents outside shops was unbelievable to me. We saw some people dancing to the tune of music and some enjoying drinks to keep themselves warm.
We then went to the Grand Prairie mall, an open construction mall in Peoria, as some shops in that mall had opened at midnight. I thought that there wouldn’t be long queues in the mall as many stores in the mall were clothing related stores. But I was surprised to see a longer queue at Old Navy compared to that at Best Buy! As I walked through the open mall, I was not able to withstand the cold weather & hence we decided to go back home after some time. We rested for few hours and then woke up early morning to visit some stores in another mall and thus I made most out of my Black Friday outing.
Hats off to the American shopping enthusiasm, which is virtually unaffected, even by the extreme cold weather!
I knew that the day after Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day of the year in the US, but I did not know that it was such a big thing. When my husband told me that people line-up in queues for hours outside stores, I hardly believed him. I thought it was an exaggeration. However, the opportunity to clear this doubt came sooner than I thought.
My husband I went to the movie theater on the night of Thanksgiving to watch ‘Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows’. It was past midnight when the movie ended and we were on our way back home when my husband took me to Target & Best Buy to show me how people line up for Black Friday shopping. I was surprised to see long queue at 12:30 AM because the stores were supposed to open at 4 AM in the morning. The sight of people camping in tents outside shops was unbelievable to me. We saw some people dancing to the tune of music and some enjoying drinks to keep themselves warm.
We then went to the Grand Prairie mall, an open construction mall in Peoria, as some shops in that mall had opened at midnight. I thought that there wouldn’t be long queues in the mall as many stores in the mall were clothing related stores. But I was surprised to see a longer queue at Old Navy compared to that at Best Buy! As I walked through the open mall, I was not able to withstand the cold weather & hence we decided to go back home after some time. We rested for few hours and then woke up early morning to visit some stores in another mall and thus I made most out of my Black Friday outing.
Hats off to the American shopping enthusiasm, which is virtually unaffected, even by the extreme cold weather!
Architecture Organizations
By Russ Baker
Wondering what to do with all that spare time as a full time college student? Joining student or professional organizations is an excellent way to keep yourself even busier, and you will thank yourself many times over down the road. The extent to which you involve yourself is generally up to you, granted you pay the dues to keep your membership(s) active. Being a member, particularly holding a leadership role, in a professional or student organization will definitely look good on your resume; but if that is the sole reason for joining, and you remain minimally active, you are only robbing yourself of countless opportunities and learning experiences. Some of the benefits of actively involving yourself in some of these extracurricular organizations are gaining real-world experience; attending meetings and conferences; participating in design charrettes and design competitions; earning awards and/or recognition; receiving updates, news and events via postal mail or electronic mail; receiving discounts on magazine subscriptions (sometimes free), travels, textbooks, and other miscellany; attend various workshops and lectures with guest speakers; and meeting new friends and professional connections. Though I did involve myself in several memberships, in hindsight, it would have been more valuable, personally, had I taken advantage of these opportunities by being more active in each organization. Therefore, I recommend actively joining several of these advantageous groups available to architecture students, some of which offer local chapters or divisions. Here is a list of some of these organizations and their descriptions/mission statements:
The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)
“Since 1956, the American Institute of Architecture Students has been the voice of students to the educational system and the profession of architecture and design in North America–and beyond. The association helps to build interest and enrich the educational experience of students (of all ages) and others in architecture and design. The AIAS is an independent, 501c3 non-profit and student-run organization that is more than just a club. This grassroots association is a cooperative between thousands of students in North America (of all ages and academic degrees) committed to helping each other. It provides a sense of community and a forum to share differing views. The AIAS is also a professional organization that is the official voice of architecture students.”
http://www.aias.org/
The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
“Headquartered in Chicago, [AISC] is a not-for-profit technical institute and trade association established in 1921 to serve the structural steel design community and construction industry in the United States. AISC’s mission is to make structural steel the material of choice by being the leader in structural-steel-related technical and market-building activities, including: specification and code development, research, education, technical assistance, quality certification, standardization, and market development. AISC has a long tradition of service to the steel construction industry providing timely and reliable information.
As part of AISC's mission, we emphasize:
o Increasing the structural steel industry’s share of the construction market
o Unifying the industry with a common purpose
o Supporting and improving the ability of the structural steel industry to be both innovative and competitive in a worldwide construction market
For almost 90 years, AISC has conducted its numerous activities with a scrupulous sense of public responsibility. For this reason, and because of the high caliber of its staff, the Institute enjoys a close working relationship with architects, engineers, code officials and educators who recognize its professional status in the fields of specification writing, structural research, design development and performance standards.
AISC represents the total experience, judgment and strength of the entire domestic industry of steel fabricators, distributors and producers. The scope and success of its activities could not be achieved by any one member of the industry. The nation shares the rewards of these activities – through better, safer and more economical buildings, bridges and other structures framed in structural steel. There's always a solution in steel.”
http://www.aisc.org/
Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI)
“PCI, an organization dedicated to fostering greater understanding and use of precast and prestressed concrete, maintains a full staff of technical and marketing specialists. The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) is the foremost developer of standards and methods for designing, fabricating, and constructing precast concrete structures. It was founded in 1954by the engineers and firms that pioneered prestressed concrete technology in the United States. Today, as the technical institute of the precast concrete structures industry, PCI maintains the “body of knowledge” necessary for the safety, quality, cost effectiveness, and continuous improvement of precast concrete structures. PCI also operates the world’s leading certification program for firms and individuals in the precast concrete structures industry, and conducts a wide variety of educational seminars, technical conferences, conventions, exhibitions, and awards programs.”
http://www.pci.org
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
“The U.S. Green Building Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation.”
On the USGBC website, you can certify your green building, join USGBC as an organization, join a chapter as an individual, sign up for courses and workshops, purchase LEED Reference Guides, learn about Greenbuild, sign up for e-newsletters, become a LEED AP or Green Associate, and explore green building research.
http://www.usgbc.org/
The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)
“CSI was founded in March 1948 by the specification writers of government agencies who came together to improve the quality of construction specifications. The Institute’s efforts were essential in improving construction specification quality so that it could meet the demands of the post-war construction boom. Development of specifications best practices, promulgating standards/formats, professional education, and certification were cornerstones of the Institute. The Institute grew quickly to include specification writers in the private sector, design professionals concerned about communicating their vision in construction documents, constructors interested in delivering high-quality facilities, and material suppliers with unique solutions to construction challenges. These construction professionals continue to work together today as CSI members to effectively communicate the designers’ vision, the material producers’ solutions, and the constructors’ techniques to create outstanding facilities that meet facility owners’ objectives. The mission of CSI is to advance building information management and education of project teams to improve facility performance. CSI is a national association of more than 13,000 volunteers, including specifiers, architects, engineers, contractors, facility mangers, product representatives, manufacturers, owners and others who are experts in building construction and the materials used therein. They are dedicated to improving the communication of construction […].”
http://www.csinet.org/
Illuminating Engineering Society (IES)
“The IES seeks to improve the lighted environment by bringing together those with lighting knowledge and by translating that knowledge into actions that benefit the public. The IES will build upon a century of excellence to create the premier lighting community dedicated to promoting the art and science of quality lighting to its members, allied professional organizations, and the public.”
http://www.ies.org/, http://ies.rso.siuc.edu/
Wondering what to do with all that spare time as a full time college student? Joining student or professional organizations is an excellent way to keep yourself even busier, and you will thank yourself many times over down the road. The extent to which you involve yourself is generally up to you, granted you pay the dues to keep your membership(s) active. Being a member, particularly holding a leadership role, in a professional or student organization will definitely look good on your resume; but if that is the sole reason for joining, and you remain minimally active, you are only robbing yourself of countless opportunities and learning experiences. Some of the benefits of actively involving yourself in some of these extracurricular organizations are gaining real-world experience; attending meetings and conferences; participating in design charrettes and design competitions; earning awards and/or recognition; receiving updates, news and events via postal mail or electronic mail; receiving discounts on magazine subscriptions (sometimes free), travels, textbooks, and other miscellany; attend various workshops and lectures with guest speakers; and meeting new friends and professional connections. Though I did involve myself in several memberships, in hindsight, it would have been more valuable, personally, had I taken advantage of these opportunities by being more active in each organization. Therefore, I recommend actively joining several of these advantageous groups available to architecture students, some of which offer local chapters or divisions. Here is a list of some of these organizations and their descriptions/mission statements:
The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS)
“Since 1956, the American Institute of Architecture Students has been the voice of students to the educational system and the profession of architecture and design in North America–and beyond. The association helps to build interest and enrich the educational experience of students (of all ages) and others in architecture and design. The AIAS is an independent, 501c3 non-profit and student-run organization that is more than just a club. This grassroots association is a cooperative between thousands of students in North America (of all ages and academic degrees) committed to helping each other. It provides a sense of community and a forum to share differing views. The AIAS is also a professional organization that is the official voice of architecture students.”
http://www.aias.org/
The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
“Headquartered in Chicago, [AISC] is a not-for-profit technical institute and trade association established in 1921 to serve the structural steel design community and construction industry in the United States. AISC’s mission is to make structural steel the material of choice by being the leader in structural-steel-related technical and market-building activities, including: specification and code development, research, education, technical assistance, quality certification, standardization, and market development. AISC has a long tradition of service to the steel construction industry providing timely and reliable information.
As part of AISC's mission, we emphasize:
o Increasing the structural steel industry’s share of the construction market
o Unifying the industry with a common purpose
o Supporting and improving the ability of the structural steel industry to be both innovative and competitive in a worldwide construction market
For almost 90 years, AISC has conducted its numerous activities with a scrupulous sense of public responsibility. For this reason, and because of the high caliber of its staff, the Institute enjoys a close working relationship with architects, engineers, code officials and educators who recognize its professional status in the fields of specification writing, structural research, design development and performance standards.
AISC represents the total experience, judgment and strength of the entire domestic industry of steel fabricators, distributors and producers. The scope and success of its activities could not be achieved by any one member of the industry. The nation shares the rewards of these activities – through better, safer and more economical buildings, bridges and other structures framed in structural steel. There's always a solution in steel.”
http://www.aisc.org/
Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI)
“PCI, an organization dedicated to fostering greater understanding and use of precast and prestressed concrete, maintains a full staff of technical and marketing specialists. The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) is the foremost developer of standards and methods for designing, fabricating, and constructing precast concrete structures. It was founded in 1954by the engineers and firms that pioneered prestressed concrete technology in the United States. Today, as the technical institute of the precast concrete structures industry, PCI maintains the “body of knowledge” necessary for the safety, quality, cost effectiveness, and continuous improvement of precast concrete structures. PCI also operates the world’s leading certification program for firms and individuals in the precast concrete structures industry, and conducts a wide variety of educational seminars, technical conferences, conventions, exhibitions, and awards programs.”
http://www.pci.org
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
“The U.S. Green Building Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation.”
On the USGBC website, you can certify your green building, join USGBC as an organization, join a chapter as an individual, sign up for courses and workshops, purchase LEED Reference Guides, learn about Greenbuild, sign up for e-newsletters, become a LEED AP or Green Associate, and explore green building research.
http://www.usgbc.org/
The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)
“CSI was founded in March 1948 by the specification writers of government agencies who came together to improve the quality of construction specifications. The Institute’s efforts were essential in improving construction specification quality so that it could meet the demands of the post-war construction boom. Development of specifications best practices, promulgating standards/formats, professional education, and certification were cornerstones of the Institute. The Institute grew quickly to include specification writers in the private sector, design professionals concerned about communicating their vision in construction documents, constructors interested in delivering high-quality facilities, and material suppliers with unique solutions to construction challenges. These construction professionals continue to work together today as CSI members to effectively communicate the designers’ vision, the material producers’ solutions, and the constructors’ techniques to create outstanding facilities that meet facility owners’ objectives. The mission of CSI is to advance building information management and education of project teams to improve facility performance. CSI is a national association of more than 13,000 volunteers, including specifiers, architects, engineers, contractors, facility mangers, product representatives, manufacturers, owners and others who are experts in building construction and the materials used therein. They are dedicated to improving the communication of construction […].”
http://www.csinet.org/
Illuminating Engineering Society (IES)
“The IES seeks to improve the lighted environment by bringing together those with lighting knowledge and by translating that knowledge into actions that benefit the public. The IES will build upon a century of excellence to create the premier lighting community dedicated to promoting the art and science of quality lighting to its members, allied professional organizations, and the public.”
http://www.ies.org/, http://ies.rso.siuc.edu/
Greenbuild 2010
By Ben Temperley
From November 17 – 19 I had the opportunity to attend Greenbuild in Chicago, IL at McCormick Place. McCormick Place is a huge convention center. I definitely got my exercise walking around the place. This was my first time at Greenbuild. I learned about Greenbuild through the USGBC student group on campus. USGBC stands for United States Green Building Council. USGBC is interested in promoting sustainable building practices.
Greenbuild has a great practice of allowing students to attend for free if they agree to volunteer for 8 hrs at the conference. I volunteered at a recycling station. There were hundreds of stations and each had 4 bins. Recycling may sound simple enough, but one Starbucks coffee cup can comprise 5 pieces which go into 3 different bins. If you are curious, the container is compostable, the lid is a #6 plastic which had to be trashed at Greenbuild, the sleeve is paper, a straw is trash and a wooden stir stick is compostable. I learned quite a bit about recycling and even began to feel bad about how much trash goes into landfills. It is a shame that the Styrofoam cups that places like Dunkin’ Donuts sell end up in landfills. Other volunteer opportunities involved helping people find seats and checking name tags.
When not volunteering, I had the opportunity to attend sessions put on by leaders in sustainable practices. The presenters were all very smart and professional. There were many topics to choose from that ranged from calculating your carbon footprint to urban agriculture.
The convention floor had hundreds of exhibitors. You could spend an entire day trying to see every exhibit. There were great examples of green roofs, photovoltaic glass, rain water collecting systems, insulating concrete forms and water saving fixtures. I liked the toilet with a sink above the tank for hand washing. The water from the sink collects in the tank and can be used for toilet flushing.
I have to admit that my favorite part of Greenbuild was the food. Each lunch was free for volunteers and catered by the convention center staff. The food was all organic. We had lots of healthy fruits and veggies. Even the cookies and potato chips were organic. On the final day the volunteers were treated to some Chicago deep dish pizza. That was probably not organic, but it was very good.
Next year Greenbuild will be in Toronto. You may want to take advantage of the free admission for students while you can. This year in Chicago was a good experience, and I am glad that I attended.
From November 17 – 19 I had the opportunity to attend Greenbuild in Chicago, IL at McCormick Place. McCormick Place is a huge convention center. I definitely got my exercise walking around the place. This was my first time at Greenbuild. I learned about Greenbuild through the USGBC student group on campus. USGBC stands for United States Green Building Council. USGBC is interested in promoting sustainable building practices.
Greenbuild has a great practice of allowing students to attend for free if they agree to volunteer for 8 hrs at the conference. I volunteered at a recycling station. There were hundreds of stations and each had 4 bins. Recycling may sound simple enough, but one Starbucks coffee cup can comprise 5 pieces which go into 3 different bins. If you are curious, the container is compostable, the lid is a #6 plastic which had to be trashed at Greenbuild, the sleeve is paper, a straw is trash and a wooden stir stick is compostable. I learned quite a bit about recycling and even began to feel bad about how much trash goes into landfills. It is a shame that the Styrofoam cups that places like Dunkin’ Donuts sell end up in landfills. Other volunteer opportunities involved helping people find seats and checking name tags.
When not volunteering, I had the opportunity to attend sessions put on by leaders in sustainable practices. The presenters were all very smart and professional. There were many topics to choose from that ranged from calculating your carbon footprint to urban agriculture.
The convention floor had hundreds of exhibitors. You could spend an entire day trying to see every exhibit. There were great examples of green roofs, photovoltaic glass, rain water collecting systems, insulating concrete forms and water saving fixtures. I liked the toilet with a sink above the tank for hand washing. The water from the sink collects in the tank and can be used for toilet flushing.
I have to admit that my favorite part of Greenbuild was the food. Each lunch was free for volunteers and catered by the convention center staff. The food was all organic. We had lots of healthy fruits and veggies. Even the cookies and potato chips were organic. On the final day the volunteers were treated to some Chicago deep dish pizza. That was probably not organic, but it was very good.
Next year Greenbuild will be in Toronto. You may want to take advantage of the free admission for students while you can. This year in Chicago was a good experience, and I am glad that I attended.
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