NBWW BLOG…

It involves how we construct buildings, how we use them, and where they’re located. By Diana Budds We know reducing carbon dioxide emissions is the only way to slow climate change. But what’s actually the biggest polluter? Judging from recent soundbites, it’s often hard to tell. Global warming is caused by the combustion of fossil fuels, which leads to high levels of carbon dioxide—a greenhouse gas—accumulating in the atmosphere. During CNN’s Climate Change Forum earlier this month, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said: “I want to think about the three areas where we get the most carbon pollution in America right now. And what are they? They’re in our buildings and homes, right, what we’re burning. It’s our cars and light-duty trucks that we drive. And it’s the generation of electricity where...

Both design contracts and billings posted a score of 47.2 last month. By Katharine Keane AIA’s monthly Architecture Billings Index (ABI) for August came in at a score of 47.2. This is a 2.9-point decrease from July’s score of 50.1, a markedly downward swing. The ABI is a leading economic indicator of construction activity in the U.S. and reflects a nine- to 12-month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending nationally, regionally, and by project type. A score above 50 represents an increase in billings from the previous month, while a score below 50 represents a contraction. “The sizeable drop in both design billings and new project activity, coming on the heels of six months of disappointing growth in billings, suggests that the design expansion...

MARKLEY STREET HOTEL Greenville, South Carolina 163 guestrooms 20,000 sq ft food and beverage (brewery, coffee shop and restaurant) 5,000 sq ft event space 202 stacked valet parking spaces Client: Hostmark Hospitality Group — Located north of the West End Historic District, the proposed hotel development is intentionally designed to provide a significant balance between the historical buildings and urban fabric of Greenville, with a contemporary aesthetic. The purposeful setback on the main facades at the ground level activates and anchors the public realm to the hotel’s retail and entertainment spaces. At the site’s main intersection, the building opens and extends a bar terrace to connect with the public realm. Source: NBWW Markley Street Hotel – NBWW | Nichols Brosch Wurst...

The Urban Land Institute’s annual look at the year ahead finds some direction within a fog of uncertainty. By Patrick Sisson A market as large and dynamic as United States real estate rarely moves quickly. But the most striking narrative running throughout the annual Emerging Trends report from the Urban Land Institute is the sense of static and stasis. Economic and political uncertainty have made things feel unmoored, but the overall insight conveyed by the authors—Urban Land Institute and PricewaterhouseCoopers researchers personally interviewed 750 industry members, and surveyed 1,450 more to create this report—is that we’re in for a soft landing, not a sudden crash. There may be less sudden moves, but that doesn’t mean some of the trends emerging this year won’t become breakout...

Exhibits and installations from around the world hope to reframe – and sometimes challenge – the very idea of architecture at this year’s event. We get a preview. Quinn Myers For many Chicagoans, pride in local architecture is as natural as rooting for the Cubs or White Sox. But at the 2019 Chicago Architecture Biennial, you won’t find much in the way of Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan. Instead, exhibits and installations from around the world hope to reframe – and sometimes challenge – the very idea of what architecture is in the first place. Every other fall since 2015, the biennial has transformed the lobbies, courtyard and ballrooms of the Chicago Cultural Center into a four-month exhibition of cutting-edge ideas in urbanism and design. There are also programs and...

Climate Week NYC 2019 kicks off next week with hundreds of events, panels, and dialogues around climate change and its diverse intersections with the city. By Emily Conklin Climate Week NYC 2019 kicks off next week with hundreds of events, panels, and dialogues around climate change and its diverse intersections with the city, from transportation to urban farming. Here we’ve rounded up some of the best events surrounding design and the built environment not to miss. Oceanic Global x Arcadia Earth Arcadia Earth has just opened a six-month multi-sensory, experiential art exhibition at 718 Broadway, curated by the nonprofit Oceanic Global. The ocean conservation body has described the space as a place to host and foster “climate change artivism” and bring together leaders in th...

Like many designers, Siboney Díaz-Sánchez believes architecture can improve and engage the greater community. But does everyone else stand by their word? By Wanda Lau Listen to more podcast episodes from ARCHITECT here. In this episode, Díaz-Sánchez expands on her op-ed “Every Community Is Our Client,” which appeared in ARCHITECT’s June issue, by offering ideas for improving public outreach efforts and challenging clients to go beyond their perceived obligations. She also elaborates on why architecture and politics are intertwined. Recorded just five days after the Aug. 3, 2019, mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, Díaz-Sánchez also suggests ways in which people can respond in the wake of such an event, which is being treated as a case of domestic terrorism. Episode 38:...

By Emon Reiser The South Florida Business Journal will honor skyline-changing projects, distinguished developers and outstanding architects at its fourth annual Structures Awards. Ahead of the big night, we’re revealing the finalists: the projects and people behind the top commercial and residential projects across Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. The winners will be announced at a Nov. 21 ceremony at Jungle Island in Miami. We are particularly excited to see these two fantastic NBWW projects as finalists: Congratulations to Auberge Beach Residences & Spa and Muze at MET for the recognition, and to all the finalists of the 2019 Structures Awards. Read on HERE >>>>> Source: South FL Biz Journal...

Blaine Brownell explores haptic technology’s evolution and potential applications in the built environment. By Blaine Brownell In The Eyes of the Skin (Wiley, 2012), Finnish architect Juhani Pallasmaa, Hon. FAIA, argues for an elevated appreciation of the sense of touch. “Touch is the sensory mode that integrates our experience of the world with that of ourselves,” he writes. “Even visual perceptions are fused and integrated into the haptic continuum of the self; my body remembers who I am and where I am located in the world.” Design and architecture have always provided tactile experiences, but the sense of touch has not always been a primary focus. The same holds true for interfaces, or the controlled links between the physical world and virtual information. So-called haptic...

The A’ Design Award was “born out of the desire to underline the best designs and well-designed products.” It is an international award whose aim is to provide designers, architects, and innovators from all design fields with a platform to showcase their work and products to a global audience. This year’s edition is now open for entries; designers can register their submissions here. While there is no shortage of design awards out there, the A’ Design Award stands out for its exceptional scale; with over 100 design categories. Alongside a category for Architecture, Building and Structure Design, the award features a number of categories that may be beneficial to those in the world of architecture—including categories for Good Industrial Design, Good...

Ayman Sabi unloaded the condo for $2,725 psf; the buyer was tied to a Cayman Islands company By Keith Larsen The former CEO of Pompano Beach-based Roadhouse Grill sold his condo at the trendy W South Beach for $7.2 million, about 22 percent over what he paid for it. …. In September, a W South Beach condo owned by the late star architect Zaha Hadid sold for $5.75 million…. The 20-story W South Beach was developed by Related Group, Starwood and TriStar Capital. It was designed by Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe (NBWW) and Costas Kondylis, and completed in 2008. Sabi’s Roadhouse Grill was a casual dining restaurant founded in 1992, whose motto was “eat, drink and be yourself.” The company struggled financially as it expanded and was reorganized under Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2002....

NEW ORLEANS (Sept. 12, 2019) – The National WWII Museum is pleased to announce the upcoming opening of its signature Hotel, The Higgins Hotel & Conference Center, Curio Collection by Hilton, which will officially open its doors this November. Bringing a storied era in American history to New Orleans’ Arts and Warehouse District, The Higgins Hotel and its state-of-the-art conference facility will serve as a premier destination for travelers as part of the exclusive Curio Collection by Hilton, the brand’s first in the state of Louisiana. The newest addition to the Museum’s growing campus is named after Andrew Higgins, the founder and owner of New Orleans-based Higgins Industries, who oversaw the production of more than 20,000 “Higgins boats” used in every major amphibious...