We hope you all had a great New Years. To get back into the swing of things, we thought we would provide you with a "Tuesday News Roundup."
Big Homebuilders Not Yet Embracing Green Standards (Planetizen)
With few exceptions, America's largest homebuilders are slower than companies in other fields to act on environmental concerns, according to a survey conducted by Calvert Asset Management Company.
Spending on major infrastructure in Canada to reach $96B, report says (Vancouver Sun)
Premier Gordon Campbell and Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Kevin Falcon officially launch construction of the new Port Mann Bridge and unveil its design in Surrey, Feb. 4, 2009. Spending on Canada's aging infrastructure continues to grow, with the current crop of projects expected to total $96 billion, says ReNew Canada magazine, which Tuesday published its Top 100 projects 2011 report.
Vote on the future of Vancouver's carbon tax (Tyee)
Liberal candidate George Abbott would put the carbon tax to a province wide vote stating that “This is an important enough decision we need to make it with the people of British Columbia.”
New report says roads don't pay for themselves (Planetizen)
A new report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group PIRG's report estimates that road construction has cost the American public $600 billion since the highway system began.
Planning Challenge 1: Commercial Aggregation and Subdivision (Planning Pool)
The word “subdivision” is almost synonymous with the “suburbs.” The building blocks of many suburbs are subdivisions with names ranging from the biblical (“Green Acres”), to the pompous (“Kingdom Heights”), to the pastoral (“Pheasant Run”). The problems of inner-city rejuvenation, brownfield restoration, and strip-mall redevelopment are miles away from the great subdividing maw of suburbanization at the rural fringe.
Green-Roofed Superblock for Fargo, North Dakota (Inhabitat)
Fargo, North Dakota needs a new 500-car parking garage stat, so the city launched the Downtown Fargo: Urban Infill Design Competition to source creative solutions for creating a downtown block that still provides adequate parking spaces.
The urban landscape from A to Z (grist)
We've covered a lot of urban ground in the past year, so we thought it would be fun to take a look back (and a couple of peeks forward) by going from A to Z in the urban alphabet. Here are some of the things we’ve been watching, and will continue to school ourselves on.
Sol Cinema: The World's Smallest Solar-Powered Mobile Movie Theater (GOOD)
Roughly two decades after the demise of the drive-in comes The Sol Cinema, a solar-powered mobile movie theater that seats eight adults and does so with vintage charm.
The Definitive Guide to New Transit in 2011 (Planetizen)
Yonah Freemark over at the Transport Politic presents an exhaustive catalog of openings and construction of new transit in the U.S., from the Wickford Junction Commuter Rail Extension in Rhode Island to Phase 1A of the Expo Line in Los Angeles.
The year ahead in bikes (grist)
There's been a bicycle movement brewing for years, and since 2008 it's been unstoppable. Things really ramped up in 2010, but it's looking like next year will be even better. Here's what I predict we'll see in 2011.
Friday Feature: Stephanie
Who are you and what do you do? My name is Stephanie. I’m an urban designer and intern architect.
What made you decide to go into your field?
My art history degree led to an interest in architectural history, which led to an interest in the process of how me make (and inhabit) buildings – and how buildings make us.
What did your family think of your chosen field?
They were pleased to have go from visual arts into a more respectable (and profitable) profession!
Who is the teacher who had the most influence on you and why?
Marc Boutin, my senior studio prof and thesis adviser. His work really influenced my interest in cities and urban design and how buildings create urban spaces.
What was the biggest hurdle you faced along your educational path? (academic, financial, motivational, family or peer pressure, outside distraction, etc.)
The biggest hurdle by far is the one I’m facing right now: writing all the licensing exams while completing my intern hours to get my full professional registration.
What inspires you?
My walk to work in the morning. Riding my bike late at night in the summer.
What schooling is required for success in your career?
You must have a Master’s in Architecture to become an intern and work towards professional registration. In general, you can have any undergrad degree to get into the master’s. Visual arts or another design degree of some sort is very useful. Alternatively, a more technical background can be an advantage such as an architectural technology diploma. An undergrad in business would also be incredibly useful once you get into the work force. Architects are generalists, so the more you know the better!
What kind of people are the most successful in your field? Are there any specific attributes?
In order to get through architecture school you have to be fairly tenacious. It also helps to be a detail-oriented person.
What is the best advice you were ever given?
Honestly? It probably wasn’t related to architecture or my career!
Is your field growing? (ie. is there room for new entries and is there career growth?)
I think there will always be room for career growth as partners retire and more senior positions become available. The demand for architects is obviously dependent on the construction industry but it’s a pretty diverse profession and it qualifies you for all kinds of work.
What advice would you give someone considering a career like yours?
Making buildings is a huge undertaking. My advice is to look before you leap, so to speak, and try to figure out which aspect of the process you are interested in. Some people are more interested in the technical side of construction (architectural technician), or how the structure will function (structural engineer), or what the space looks like (interior design). Architects have to know a little bit about everything and coordinate things. Someone considering a career like this has a lot of options and it’s good to know about all of them before making a decision.
Happy Holidays
As the eve of Christmas approaches, we thought we would take this opportunity to wish you a very happy holiday season and an excellent new year.
This card was created by our own intern architect, Ivan Ilic. We only hope that Halmark doesn't try to scoop him up.
So from all of us here at VIA Architecture, Season's greetings and (aside from a post on Friday) we shall see you all in the new year!
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