AEC News You Can Use Blog

Chicago-area architect Celeste Robbins wasn’t in the market for a weekend getaway, but it was love at first sight when she laid eyes on a low-slung 1956 residence designed by architect Winston Elting overlooking Lake Michigan. “A client had contacted me about doing some work on the residence, but in the end they decided not to purchase it,” recalls Robbins. “It was a completely spontaneous decision to put in an offer, but I love the mid-20th-century vocabulary and the two-acre site is fabulous.”

Canon U.S.A. announced that it has been recognized in the annual PRINTING United Alliance Pinnacle Awards, winning six coveted Pinnacle Products Awards and one Pinnacle Technology Award for 2023.

Former NFL wide receiver Mike Williams died Tuesday morning after he was taken off life support at a Tampa, Florida, hospital following a construction accident, his agent Hadley Engelhard told CNN. Williams was 36.

Williams was performing electrical work when he was severely injured and required hospitalization, according to Engelhard.

“He will be missed. He fought hard his whole life. Prayers to his family,” Engelhard said.

Williams was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Syracuse University. The Buffalo, New York native was voted second for the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year after catching 65 passes for 964 yards and 11 touchdowns. He started all 16 games for the Buccaneers.. Read more here

The iconic architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright is found in abundance in his home state of Wisconsin. Born in 1867, Wright is often considered the greatest architect of all time.

His designs, famous for incorporating light and nature, are referred to as Prairie Style, after the low, flat lines of the landscape of the Midwest. Wright also designed budget homes to reflect the impact of the Great Depression, called Usonian homes; these homes were considered affordable yet beautiful places to live.

Wright was commissioned to create private homes, offices, and public spaces such as churches and civic centers, almost all of which are still standing today. There are many Wright homes and buildings in Wisconsin and for fans, a Frank Lloyd Wright Trail was created in 2017 to provide travelers to Wisconsin a way to map out several of the iconic stops.

Since there are Wright designs in almost every state, other “trails” exist around the country. Read more here

in 2010, the U.S. government announced a multi-billion-dollar plan to improve the energy efficiency of its buildings, including a focus on LEED certification. Used worldwide, LEED—Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design—is a system that rates buildings on energy efficiency. A new study examined the effects of LEED certification on energy efficiency in federal buildings. The study found no effect on average energy consumption, primarily because many other factors come into play when rating energy.

Esteemed architect Santiago Calatrava is being honored by the Florence Biennale of Art and Design for his contributions to the world of design. In October, the Spanish architect will receive the Leonardo da Vinci Lifetime Achievement for being “one of the most influential architects of our time.”

Every summer, thousands of tourists flock to Wisconsin’s Door County peninsula. Businesses shuttered throughout the winter and spring reopen to sell food and souvenirs as people explore the county’s cherry orchards and state parks. At Northport, at the tip of the peninsula, ferries run between the mainland and Washington Island, crossing a channel French sailors nicknamed Porte des Morts or “Death’s Door” for the large number of shipwrecks swept up in the currents.

It was a sweet repeat for Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, which saw its Canon Americas corporate headquarters voted the “Best Office Building” on Long Island by readers of the Long Island Business News in their annual Reader Ranking Survey. The announcement marked the second straight year Canon earned the honor and third overall after it also secured first-place honors in 2018.

The Canon Americas headquarters has garnered a top-3 finish every year for the past six years in the rankings.

“Winning this award for the second consecutive time and third overall is a great honor and we thank the readers of Long Island Business News for recognizing our Canon Americas headquarters,” said Seymour Liebman, executive vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "We strive to meet the needs of both our customers and our community and it is rewarding to know our efforts to contribute to sustainability efforts continue to make a positive impact.”

Located at One Canon Park in Melville, New York, Canon Americas opened the building more than 10 years ago – in February 2013 – and continues to serve as the headquarters for Canon’s business in North and South America.. Read more here

Interest rate hikes and inflationary pressures coupled with a lingering fear of recession continue to serve as obstacles to growth in housing and remodeling, although conditions are forecast to improve by 2024, market analysts say. Among the key statistics and forecasts released in recent weeks by government agencies, research firms and industry-related trade associations were the following:

Limited existing-home inventory has placed a renewed emphasis on new construction and is resulting in gains in builder confidence, even as housing continues to face key challenges, including supply chain disruptions and tightening credit conditions for construction loans.. Read more here

Dave and Jenny Marrs, a Northwest Arkansas couple with a home renovation show, are being sued by an unhappy customer.

The Marrs’ are the hosts of “Fixer to Fabulous” and “Rock the Block” on HGTV. The couple owns both Marrs Construction and Jupiter Rentals, which are named as defendants in the lawsuit.

The couple that filed the suit, Matthew and Sarah McGrath, claim that they entered into a contract with the defendants, which was later breached.