Archinect - News

Richard Serra, monumental steel sculptor and inspiration to many architects, has died at 85

2024-03-27T11:20:00-04:00

Richard Serra has died. The 85-year-old sculptor who made architecture more or less a permanent condition of his art was known for inventing a process for bending corten steel to create works he explained were about eliciting sensation and intended to display the unseen physical forces of nature.

More than any other contemporary artist (Sarah Sze, Robert Irwin, Richard Estes, etc.) whose work is informed by or makes as its subject architecture, Serra’s use of steel as a means of organizing space and sequencing experience within it is, arguably, the greatest primer for any learner embarking on academic studies in the field.

He began his experimentations first with rubber before advancing to cast lead and then finally steel, a material whose properties and building potential he understood innately thanks to time spent working in steel mills during his early years in California. The opportunity to study art at Yale University changed his life thereafter.

Serra's 'Bend' sculpture at the...

New Buffalo Bills stadium reaches milestone with start of structural steel construction

2024-02-05T08:00:00-05:00

A milestone was reached recently regarding the construction of the new, Populous-designed Buffalo Bills football stadium, the New Highmark Stadium.

The 60,000-seat facility, located in Orchard Park, New York, is now ready for large-scale structural steel work. This marks the completion of excavation work, seven months after the project broke ground in June 2023. Approximately 25,000 tons of steel will be installed, with several massive cranes used to build the superstructure. The steel will be erected in tiers over the next 12–14 months.

Previously on Archinect: Buffalo Bills tap Populous to design proposed stadium

Following the placement of the steel framework, the structure will be clad, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical will be installed, and each of the sections of the stadium will be built out.

Construction on the 1.35-million-square-foot stadium is expected to be completed in 2026. The Gilbane-Turner joint venture is in charge of construction.

This oceanside Nova Scotia home is designed as a ‘prototype for modest living’

2023-10-10T11:22:00-04:00

MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects has completed an oceanside home on Nova Scotia’s South Shore described as “a prototype for modest living.” The Chester House measures 1,350 square feet and was designed to be “culturally and economically appropriate to its setting.”

Image credit: James Brittain

Externally, the home features minimally detailed eaves, corners, and openings to “underscore and elevate the architectural simplicity.” In contrast to the wooden base, the upper story is clad in a weathered steel sleeve which “appears to slide over” the base. The top floor facade is surrounded by glass to create panoramic views of the forest, while small punch windows create vignettes of the landscape features.

Image credit: James Brittain

The ground floor contains two bedrooms and a staircase constructed of an origami-like folded perforated steel plate. The decision to place bedrooms on the ground floor was driven by a desire to create a sheltered, quiet environmen...

Five metal facades by Richärd Kennedy Architects: Your Next Employer?

2023-08-14T12:58:00-04:00

Following last week’s visit to New York-based 1100 Architect, we are moving our Meet Your Next Employer series to Phoenix, AZ this week to explore the work of Richärd Kennedy Architects.

Founded in 1996, the firm has amassed a portfolio “predicated on the idea that sustainable design permeates every level of the work, from site to landscape, building envelope, building systems, interior spaces, and furnishings.” Among the firm’s accolades to date are the American Institute of Architects “National Honor Award” for Architecture and an “Emerging Voice” by the Architectural League of New York.

Over on Archinect Jobs, the firm is currently hiring for several positions. For candidates interested in applying for a position, or anybody interested in learning more about the studio’s work, we have rounded up five projects with metal facades by Richärd Kennedy Architects that demonstrate their design approach.

Environmental and Natural Resources II (ENR II). Photo credits: Bill Timmerman, Liam...

Specifying the future of steel construction could be your next job description

2022-10-05T13:37:00-04:00

Following last week’s look at an opening for a Senior Architect at CHECKSET, we are using this week’s edition of our Job Highlights series to explore roles for a Structural Steel Specialist at the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).

The successful candidate will support the AISC in its mission to write the specifications to which all steel buildings in the U.S. are designed and built, and to produce design standards that advance the quality, economy, and safety of steel bridges. The position, which is available in six different U.S. cities, requires a minimum of three years’ experience in building design and construction, with a preference for technical experience in structural steel fabrication.

Why the role interests us

The importance of effective building codes has been ever-present in our editorial over the past 12 months, whether in relation to the Champlain Towers collapse in Surfside, ...

New study finds that modular construction produces 45% less carbon than traditional methods

2022-06-15T15:03:00-04:00

Factory-produced homes can produce up to 45% less carbon than traditional methods of residential construction, according to new research by academics from the University of Cambridge and Edinburgh Napier University. A study found that two modular housing schemes designed by HTA Design, consisting of a total of nearly 900 homes, saved a combined 28,000 tonnes of carbon.

The two schemes studied were the 44 and 38-story Ten Degrees towers in London’s Croydon borough, the world’s tallest completed modular building, and The Valentine, a 10-story student housing project in London’s Redbridge. Both were completed in 2020. The report found that these developments achieved embodied carbon savings of 41% and 45%, respectively, compared to traditional construction methods.

This difference comes down to modular buildings requiring less carbon-intensive products, such as concrete and steel, and less transport for on-site workers and materials. According to University of Cambridge senior research associate Tim Forman, the study highlights the importance of quantifying carbon in construction and across a building’s life cycle. The results make a strong case for the broader adoption of modular construction, especially as it has the potential to address the challenges of the climate crisis and the shortage of housing.

...

North American crane count yields recovery, increasing 4.74% from Q3 2021 to Q1 2022

2022-04-12T15:00:00-04:00

The number of cranes in North America's major cities increased 4.74% from Q3 2021 to Q1 2022, recovering from the identical decrease from the previous Rider Levett Bucknall crane index report.

Rider Levett Bucknall’s (RLB) index measured five cities with an increase in the number of cranes, six that yielded little change, and three that saw significant decreases, dropping by more than 20%. In total, North American cities added 22 cranes in the first quarter of 2022, in which more than half were in the commercial sector. Toronto continues to host more cranes than any other city measured, with 252 in total. Other findings include hospitality construction seeing a 24% increase in cranes, and residential cranes making up 50% of cranes counted.

Previously on Archinect: North American crane count decreased by 4.5% from Q1 to Q3 2021

While the crane increase is a positive sign, RLB doesn’t expect this trend to continue. With supply chain issues and rising construction costs, namely the high price of steel, the index expects the crane count to plateau and remain steady.

IF_DO designed a modular office building that can be taken apart and reassembled elsewhere

2022-03-17T18:39:00-04:00

Humans have led nomadic lifestyles for thousands of years. We settle in one place, move to another–some of us never even settle at all. Our lives fluctuate, but save for the odd floating office or experimental walking house, our buildings remain anchored in place. Once they’re built, they only have two potential futures: demolish, or reuse. A new building in London, however, offers an interesting alternative: demount and move elsewhere.

The office building, designed by London-based architecture firm IF_DO, was made to be mobile, as it sits atop a “meanwhile space,” a location that hosts temporary buildings until the local council develops permanent plans for the space. This building will occupy the site in London's borough of Southwark for up to 11 years, after which it will be dismantled and reassembled elsewhere.

Photo: Mike Massaro, image courtesy IF_DO

The 3,000-square-foot structure consists of five timber and steel structural modules and contains 12 micro-units wrapped around a central shared space. The modules were prefabricated off-site and assembled on-site over five months. When the building is set to relocate, its steel connectors will be unbolted and the various timber elements will be unscrewed.

Image courtesy IF_DO

Learn more about the building here.

Developer Fabrix employs urban mining to cut carbon footprint in its projects

2022-02-01T17:46:00-05:00

When old office blocks are demolished, their steel frames are typically smelted down to be recycled, emitting thousands of tonnes of carbon in the process. But at One Broadgate, the steel beams that once framed the London headquarters of inter-dealer broker TP Icap Plc will instead be salvaged from the site and recycled by developer Fabrix. Chief Executive Officer Clive Nichol says the example proves it’s possible to “apply the circular economy to structural elements of buildings.”

Fabrix has purchased 139 tons of steel from the contractor behind the demolition of One Broadgate and plans to use it on other projects in London. The process, known as urban mining, recovers and resells raw materials from waste products.

As reported by Bloomberg Green, engineering consultant AKT II estimates that reused steel could reduce the carbon impact of a building by up to 80%. The U.K. is attempting to encourage this practice, in which construction materials with large carbon footprints would be resold through a marketplace. This move comes at a time of ballooned steel prices in the U.K.

Perkins&Will unveils designs for an ecumenical pavilion in Brazil's Minas Gerais region

2021-09-13T16:54:00-04:00

A symbolic new communal space is coming to the Brazilian city of Varginha, Minas Gerais State thanks to a new design from Perkins&Will.

The 85-year-old firm is responsible for a new pastoral pavilion that it says will become an ecumenical space within the country’s coffee capital.

Image courtesy Perkins&Will

Featuring a corten steel structure and organic design elements that pay homage to the region’s economic and material history, the open-ended triangular design creates a dramatic, bench-lined interior while alluding to the Catholic influence around Minas Gerais and represented in the state’s official flag.

Image courtesy Perkins&Will

“Symbolisms in materials and shapes were a simple, smart solution, where the main piece does the entire project work,” Design Principal Douglas Tolaine said in a statement.

Image courtesy Perkins&Will

The São Paulo office of Perkins&Will has completed numerous projects within the country that have designs informed by local plant life and traditions. This...

The world's first fossil-free steel

2021-08-23T16:52:00-04:00

Swedish steel manufacturer SSAB has announced that it has produced the world’s first fossil-free steel. As part of a trial delivery, the steel was sent to its first customer, Swedish automaker Volvo Group.

The first-of-its-kind steel was developed through HYBRIT, an initiative formed in 2016 between SSAB and state-owned firms LKAB and Vattenfall, who specialize in energy and mining, respectively. Its aim was to develop a technology for fossil-free iron and steelmaking.

The group was able to replace coking coal, the process traditionally used for steelmaking, with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. The result is a porous material called sponge iron, which is a combination of fossil-free hydrogen and iron ore. This past June, the team showcased the successful execution of this process at HYBRIT’s pilot plant in Luleå, Sweden. Volvo plans to experiment with the initial batch of steel through the production of prototype vehicles and parts.

This candle holder is the first object mad...

All along the (Marsk) Watchtower: BIG unveils images of its new tourist attraction by the North Sea

2021-08-11T14:03:00-04:00

Images of BIG’s new corten steel Marsk Watchtower have been revealed, showcasing a sculptural design that offers users superlative views of the adjacent North Sea coast.

Image by Rasmus Hjortshoj and BIG

Marsk Tower section. Image by BIG

DNA helices inspire the 80-foot-tall observatory located in Denmark’s Wadden Sea National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tapered structure increases in width as the spiral gradually climbs its way to the top and the 40-foot-wide viewing platform. Two sets of steps totaling 277 connect users to its base, which also contains a built-in elevator for increased accessibility.

Image by Rasmus Hjortshoj and BIG

The tower is meant to lure tourists to the Marsk Camp complex and will now make up the centerpiece of a program that also includes an on-site restaurant. A 250-ton concrete plinth forms the base of the helix-like structure with similarities to the 150-foot-tall Camp Adventure tower installed in the Gisselfeld Klosters Skove forest by Danish s...

World’s first 3D-printed steel footbridge installed in Amsterdam

2021-07-15T14:21:00-04:00

The world’s fist 3D-printed steel footbridge has been installed in Amsterdam. Created by Dutch company MX3D, the bridge measures 40 feet (12 meters) in length and contains 4.5 tons of stainless steel forming a curved, flowing structure.

The bridge, formed of four main pieces, is intended to be more than a purely functional piece of infrastructure but will also serve as an artistic celebration of the potential for 3D printing technology. The structure will also become a “living laboratory,” fitted with dozens of sensors. Over the next four years, researchers from Imperial College London will study data generated by the bridge, which they will use to monitor and measure the bridge’s performance in the real world.

Image: MX3D

The data collected from the bridge will allow researchers to monitor performance in real-time, analyze how its performance changes over its lifespan, and understand how the public interacts with 3D-printed infrastructure. Data will be fed into a “digital twin” o...

Morphosis' Shenzhen skyscraper sets world record with detached core

2021-06-08T11:56:00-04:00

Construction has been completed on the Morphosis-designed Hanking Center, a mixed-use complex with a commercial office tower and retail center located in Shenzhen, China. The 65-story tower is defined by its pioneering steel structural system and a detached-core configuration which places the tower’s primary core on the building’s exterior. This arrangement promotes higher efficiency and adaptability of interior floor plates, as well as the creation of social and work spaces that seamlessly integrate public and private domains. At 359.8m (1180ft) tall, Hanking Center is the tallest detached-core building in the world.

Image: Zhang Chao

“As a typology, skyscrapers tend to emphasize shape as the primary differentiator,” said Pritzker Prize-winning architect and Morphosis Founding Partner Thom Mayne. “Instead, we focused on lived experience within the city. The delamination between the circulation core and the office spaces within the tower generates a threshold, an intensification of t...

10 examples of metal in architecture we liked this week

2021-05-07T13:28:00-04:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Metal.

Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles.

↑ Meinel Optical Sciences Research Lab at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ by Richärd Kennedy Architects; Photo: Bill Timmerman

↑ Shimao · The Wave in Tianjing, China by Lacime Architects; Photo: CAAI

↑ Yellowstone Residence in Big Sky, MT by Stuart Silk Architects; Photo: Whitney Kamman

↑ L'Equatoria Logements in Rennes, France by Christophe Rousselle Architecte; Photo: Takiju Shimmura

↑ Shaftesbury Theatre in London, UK by Bennetts Associates (the firm was also featured in Archinect's Studio Visits series); Photo: Peter Cook

↑ Moose Road in Hopland, CA by Mork Ulnes Architects (the firm was also featured in Archinec...

Spanish architecture studio DelaVegaCanolasso designs a 'Tini Office' perfect for remote work

2021-03-26T15:27:00-04:00

Remote offices took many forms last year, but the Spanish architecture studio, DelaVegaCanolasso, designed an office that focuses on mobility and flexibility. The "Tini Office" was developed for the 'TiniHome' series in Spain.

The prefabricated, 263.7 square foot (22-square-meter) module provides individuals with a fresh and isolated workspace that "brings them back to nature." Constructed out of recycled OSB wood with a corten steel facade, the minimalist office design can turn your backyard or vacant open space into a ready-to-use remote work area. Aiming to promote a customizable tiny office experience, the TiniHome series promotes sustainability, fast production, and ease. "You can choose that your 'Tinis' are totally self-sufficient, with solar panels + batteries, water tank, and septic tank," shares the Tiny Home series team.

Tini Office by delaVegaCanolasso (2020) Image © Imagen Subliminal (Miguel de Guzman + Rocío Romero)

Image © delaVegaCanolasso (2020)

Plans © delaVegaCanol...

Monumental sculptor Beverly Pepper has died at age 97

2020-02-05T18:50:00-05:00

Beverly Pepper, the multi-talented artist who dabbled in monumental sculpture, land art, painting, and site design, has passed away at age 97.

Over a career that stretches back over six decades, Pepper helped create a vast collection of large scale works that engaged materiality, form, gesture, composition, the human body, and nature all at once.

Photo of Perre's Ventaglio III, a sculpture by Beverly Pepper located in the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle. Image courtesy of mcfisher.

Among the artist's most well known works are the various "sentinel" monoliths that are erected around the world, including at the Civic Center Federal Plaza in New York City and in Todi, the Italian town where Pepper lived for much of her later life. Some of these structures rise to over 30-feet in height and present a variety of evocative forms and geometries in materials that include polished stainless steel, stone, bronze, and cast iron.

A tile-clad mound (top) and seating (bottom) designed for th...

Trump shifts steel tariffs from raw materials to products like nails, staples, and cables

2020-01-27T18:20:00-05:00

Imports of steel and aluminum into the United States have declined since the tariffs went into place, he said, but imports of products made with those metals had “significantly increased.” [...] As a result, [President Trump] said, the United States will expand its tariffs to cover products made of steel and aluminum — like nails, tacks, staples, cables, certain types of wire, and bumpers and other parts for cars and tractors — as of Feb. 8.

The New York Times reports that the cost of foreign-made steel products like nails, staples, and cables will go up next month as President Donald Trump moves to reconfigure his unsuccessful efforts to protect these industries from foreign competition. Up until now, the tariffs have applied to raw materials imported from foreign countries, a situation that has negatively impacted the American manufacturers that rely on these raw materials to produce goods in the US to then sell globally. Moving forward, foreign-made goods will instead be taxed, allowing American manufacturers to resume importing raw materials for their manufactured goods at conventional costs.

Economists like Chad Bown, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, tell The New York Times that the failure of the initial approach and the resulting shift in tariff strategy represents a classic case of “cascading protectionism” that, according to textbook definitions of modern economic thinking...

Can Concentrated Solar Power help concrete and steel manufacturers reign in carbon emissions?

2019-11-20T15:55:00-05:00

Can Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology help industrial manufacturing facilities reduce their carbon footprints?

A recent report by Vox shines a light on what had until recently, been considered a somewhat defunct solar energy generation approach. Concentrated Solar Power is harnessed by fields of mirrors that focus the sun's rays on to towers that then use the heat to turn water into steam. The steam turns a turbine that generates electricity. In recent years, CSP technology has been losing ground in most of the world, according to the report, due to breakthroughs in solar panel design and fabrication that have brought the cost of such technologies to historic lows.

The report highlights a recent breakthrough by the company Heliogen that could reinvigorate the industry, however.

Rather than deploying massive arrays, as is commonly the case with CSP facilities, the company operates a series of smaller mirrored assemblies that make use of incredibly sophisticated calibration ...

10 fresh examples of metal in architecture

2019-11-08T03:00:00-05:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

(Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles!)

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Metal.

↑ Zinc House in Chicago, IL by dSPACE Studio

↑ Longgang Cultural Centre in Shenzhen, China by Mecanoo and CCDI (local architect)

↑ Miner Road in Orinda, CA by Faulkner Architects; Photo: Joe Fletcher

↑ Ray-Mont Logistics in Quebec, Canada by Lemay; Photo: Adrien Williams

↑ 8th Street Market in Bentonville, AR by Hufft

↑ House in Sun Valley, ID by James Merrell Architects P.C.

↑ Liva Riverside Book Bar Reconstruction of East China Normal University in Shanghai, China by Lacime Architects; Photo: Zhang Qianxi, Xu Zhe

↑ Muangthongthani Carcare in Nonthaburi, Thailand by Archimontage Design Fields Sophisticated; Photo: Chaovarit...

Eric Owen Moss-designed Vespertine wins the 2019 Atmosphere of the Year Award

2019-03-01T15:31:00-05:00

The World Restaurant Awards reviews restaurants all over the world and considers not only food taste and quality but also recognizes the restaurant as a culture. Created by IMG, the awards celebrate establishments in 12 "Big Plate" categories and 6 "Small Plate" categories. This year it has been announced that the Culver City-based restaurant, Vespertine has received the Atmosphere of the Year Award.

Image courtesy of Vespertine

Dining area; Image courtesy of Eric Owen Moss Architects

Nestled within Culver City's Hayden Tract, the restaurant was the vision of Chef Jordan Kahn who collaborated with famed architect Eric Owen Moss. Together, the two helped reimagine and explore new experiences to dining. By blending food, art, music, architecture, and sculpture the restaurant has received public recognition and fame among the Los Angeles food scene.

Vespertine Dish; Image by Anne Fishbein

Orach, caramelized lobster and quince; Image by Anne Fishbein

At first glance, the restaurant's twi...

10 new examples of metal in architecture

2019-02-01T14:19:00-05:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

(Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles!)

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Metal.

↑ HOME in Paris, France by Hamonic+Masson & Associés with Comte Vollenweider; Photo: Takuji Shimmura/Milène Servelle

↑ House in Peconic Bay, NY by Mapos Architects, DPC

↑ 5300 McConnell in Los Angeles, CA by ShubinDonaldson; Photo: Benny Chan

↑ Natural History Museum of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT by Ennead Architects

↑ Formosa1140 in Los Angeles, CA by Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects; Photo: Lawrence Anderson

↑ SculptureCenter in Long Island City, NY by Andrew Berman Architect; Photo: Michael Moran/OTTO

↑ Rio Vista Residence in Dallas, TX by Buchanan Architecture; Photo: Charles Davis Smith, FAIA

↑ Parametric Car Garage in Berk...

"What's in a name?" Let's have the public decide what Thomas Heatherwick's NYC installation should be called

2019-01-25T19:38:00-05:00

Thomas Heatherwick’s 150-foot-tall, honeycomb-shaped climbable public art installation at Hudson Yards is set to open for public climbing in March along with the complex’s Shops and Restaurants on March 15. Known for some time as “The Vessel,” the bronzed steel and concrete structure has no official title as of yet.

Thomas Heatherwick's highly anticipated bronzed steel and concrete structure will have its public debut on March 15th. Having been in the headlines for the past few months the project's most recent update lies in what the structure will be officially named. According to a source from 6sqft, the Vessel "was always a placeholder until the public experienced it. We're excited to have the public help us with a name."

According to The Hudson Yard's website, the structure has been named "New York's Staircase," a fitting name due to the 154 interconnecting flights of stairs - almost 2,500 individual steps—and 80 landings. Many have expressed their opinions on the project as a whole. Those who are in favor of the public, interactive landmark are excited about its completion while others have shown their contempt for the project overall.

View this post on Instagram Turning heads on the @HighlineNYC, looking back at #HeatherwickStudio’s centerpiece at ...

Thomas Heatherwick's Vessel launches early ticket signup for spring opening

2018-10-22T15:42:00-04:00

If you've been itching to climb that new Thomas Heatherwick-designed 'Vessel' staircase sculpture at the Hudson Yards development in New York City, you'll have to exercise patience first until the $150 million attraction officially opens to the public in spring 2019.

To manage the anticipated crowds, the intricate 150-foot-tall steel structure will require visitors to get tickets for dedicated time slots which will become available in February. An early ticket signup form for ubereager climbers ("in good health and free from any physical limitations") has been launched on Hudson Yard's website.

View this post on Instagram Comprised of almost 2,500 steps and standing 150 feet tall, Thomas Heatherwick’s interactive design piece is opening to the public in Spring of 2019. Head to our story to sign up for tickets when the schedule is released in February. #HelloHudsonYards
A post shared by Hudson Yards New York (@_hudsonyardsnyc) on Oct 18, 2018 at 9:32am PDT

The Ves...

It’s not a high-tech robot thing

2018-10-15T13:55:00-04:00

Instead of the traditional beige- or gray-painted stucco cladding of the local vernacular, the exterior of the three-story apartment building is covered entirely by aluminum and steel panels that open and close hydraulically, like massive petals.

Fred A. Bernstein writes about Ballet Mécanique, designed by the Basel-based architect Manuel Herz.

Construction equipment manufacturers 'extremely disappointed' with Trump's tariffs

2018-06-18T14:33:00-04:00

The American Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has criticised the Trump Administration over the introduction of 25% tariffs on $50bn of Chinese imports. Chinese goods affected include types of construction and agricultural equipment. [...] Since Trump’s trade announcement on Friday, China has said it will impose a similar 25% tariff, also worth $50bn.

"We’re extremely disappointed with the Trump administration’s decision to move forward with these harmful tariffs," said Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) President Dennis Slater in a statement last Friday. "This move jeopardizes many of the 1.3 million good-paying manufacturing jobs our industry supports. The expected retaliatory actions by China also raise costs for equipment manufacturers that rely on a vast supply chain around the world, further eroding the benefits of the recent tax reform. We will continue to fight to end these tariffs immediately."

The latest round of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on a variety of goods imported from China comes on the heels of steel and aluminum tariffs that went into effect on March 23, 2018.

Need an explainer on how the 25% steel tariff could affect the construction cost of your architectural project? Nick Butcher, Cost/Risk Group Managing Director at MGAC, put it into context for us.

...

Stainless Steel Bollard Covers Provide Security in Style

2018-06-18T08:00:00-04:00

This post is brought to you by Reliance Foundry

Long before they began making the news as protection against vehicle attack, security bollards were an important part of the urban landscape. These useful little posts stand guard in front of storefronts, utility meters, playgrounds, and sidewalks.

Bollards are useful because they don’t impede traffic; they create a permeable perimeter for foot traffic. Bicycles, strollers, and wheelchairs can also easily pass through a line of bollards. As an alternative to a
fence, wall, or berm, bollards create security for pedestrians without slowing them down.

As a security feature, bollards can provide a sense of safety—but they should not be an eyesore, nor create the feeling of living in a bunker. Decorative bollard sleeves, like Reliance Foundry’s newly introduced stainless steel bollard cover line, can provide aesthetic enhancements to a security perimeter. Not just guards, bollards are also guides. They direct traffic while protecting people ...

The Steel Tariff and Construction Cost: Putting It Into Context

2018-04-06T19:28:00-04:00

On March 8, 2018, President Trump signed an order to place a 25% and 10% tariff on steel and aluminum imports, respectively, effective March 23, 2018. The new tariff granted a temporary exemption to certain countries including Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, South Korea, and the European Union until May 1, 2018, as discussions continue.

Now that the steel tariffs are in place, the question everyone is asking is “What does this mean to the cost of my construction project?” While this is a straightforward question, the answer may not be as simple.

US Steel Import Volume

The United States is the world’s largest importer of steel, importing approximately 35 million metric tons in 2017, which accounted for 33% of the total steel used in the country.

Nearly 60% of steel imported into the US originates from only 5 countries

Nearly 60% of this total imported volume originates from five countries, including Canada and Mexico which alone accounted for 25% of the total imported v...

While Trump confirms steel & aluminum tariffs, new report predicts loss of 28,000 construction jobs

2018-03-08T19:48:00-05:00

The US construction industry may lose more than 28,000 jobs if Donald Trump’s plan to raise tariffs on imported steel and aluminium goes ahead, a pro-free trade think tank has warned. [...] While Trump claims tariffs would create jobs in America’s steel and aluminium sectors, a Washington, DC, thinktank, Trade Partnership, warned that such a policy would “reverberate throughout” the economy, costing more jobs than it would gain as it pushed up the cost of the metals.

Unswayed by warnings from top economists, industry groups, and members of his own party, Donald Trump today signed two tariff proclamations at the White House that will erect 25% and 10% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports respectively.

While the administration claims that the import tariffs will protect the domestic iron and steel sectors and create thousands of jobs, a new report calculates that this move would actually destroy 179,334 jobs in other sectors—including 28,313 in construction—resulting in a net job loss of nearly 146,000 (not taking into account any potential trade retaliation against U.S. exports; only of the tariffs themselves). "More than five jobs would be lost for every one gained," the report estimates.

AIA leadership contend steel & aluminum tariffs will negatively impact architecture industry

2018-03-06T14:03:00-05:00

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) President Carl Elefante, FAIA, and EVP/Chief Executive Officer Robert Ivy, FAIA, released the following statement today in response to the Administration’s plan to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

"The Administration’s announcement of new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports threatens to drastically increase the prices of many building materials specified by architects. These metal products are some of the largest material inputs in the construction of buildings. Structural metal beams, window frames, mechanical systems and exterior cladding are largely derived from these important metals.

“As creative problem solvers, architects rely on a variety of these materials to achieve functional and performance goals for their clients. Inflating the cost of materials will limit the range of options they can use while adhering to budgetary constraints for a building.

“By the same token, the Administration’s proposed infrastructure fund...