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Space-Age Sustainability

May 3, 2010

A “very conventional, so-last-century building” is how Steve Zornetzer, associate center director at NASA Ames, described initial designs for the new research center in Moffett Field, CA. Earlier, the Ames center had won NASA’s Renovation by Replacement competition, for which NASA’s 10 centers had submitted proposals to build a new facility. Nevertheless, Zornetzer thought that the project team wasn’t delivering innovation or new technology.

How did they switch gears and deliver a building that introduces space-age technology and reduces maintenance costs?

Read more about NASA’s Sustainability Base …

Selecting a Seismic Engineer

The phrase “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is applicable even when it comes to seismic retrofitting. Whether you’re looking to increase structural safety, minimize business interruption, or save on insurance costs, choosing the right structural engineer will help you come up with a cost-effective, tailored retrofit plan.

Read more on seismic engineers …

EPA's National Building Competition Encourages Energy Efficiency The EPA’s first national competition that encourages energy savings is pitting 14 buildings against one another, competing to “work off building waste.”Click here for complete article …
The Top 10 Gr een Buildings for 2010 are Announced The American Institute of Architects and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have selected the top 10 examples of sustainable architecture and green design.Click here for complete article …
IBM Survey Reveals How Efficient U.S. Buildings Really Are This survey indicates that U.S. office buildings have failed to keep pace with the revolution in automation that pervades modern life; inefficiencies built into office buildings are taking a toll in lost productivity and added costs.Click here for complete article …
The Evolution of Government Buildings Leasing and building Class-A space is becoming the norm for government facilities.Click here for complete article …
Improve Your Building’s Public Spaces Learn from the GSA's Achieving Great Federal Public Spaces: A Property Manager's Guide and make the lobbies, atria, and plazas in your buildings better places to be.Click here for complete article …
Integrating Environmental Sustainability with Seismic Safety It's logical that seismically sound structures are environmentally superior. If a building remains standing and operable after an earthquake, it won't have to be demolished and rebuilt, which means that there's no construction waste. Click here for complete article …
Solar canopy by SANYO
In addition to providing shade and rain protection, this structure produces clean renewable energy.
Click here for more information on this product…
Lamberts channel glass by Bendheim Wall Systems
This channel glass features up to 40-percent post-consumer material.
Click here for more information on this product…
Calgary by Forbo Flooring
Calgary features a multi-layered, marbleized pattern to provide depth and character, and hide soiling.
Click here for more information on this product…

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