What you’ll find below and on the next four pages is an archive of our daily real-time news feed for the week of August 17. For the latest news, check out our main News Roundup.
August 21, 2015
NO and the Study of Civil Unrest File this one under “Was Not Expecting That”: A paper in the most recent issue of the journal Science says that there is an unusual but effective way to tell from space where there is civil unrest and humanitarian crises happening. That indicator is cleaner air. Specifically, areas with oddly low levels of nitrogen oxide levels tend to coincide with areas where there is war and other severe civil disputes. It’s actually a weird, but logical, flipside to another satellite-based measurement. Nitrogen oxide levels are used to measure economic output. War puts the kibosh on a lot of industry, so lower levels of those gases in the atmosphere tends to correlate with war, famine, and other horrors that human beings inflict on each other. [The New York Times]
Join the Ranks of the Upjohn Fellows You have a week and a half to get your submission in for the AIA’s 2015 Research Initiative grants. The deadline is before midnight on Sept. 1, and the AIA is saying there will be no late deadline. The program will fund up to six research projects, to a tune of $15,000 to $30,000 per recipient, for a project that will completed in 6 to 18 months. The research needs to be for a project that is architectural in nature with knowledge that can transfer to the profession, and this year’s “preferred” themes are: building performance, climate change mitigation, human impact and wellness, and technology and innovation. Decisions on the recipients will be made by November. [The American Institute of Architects]
It’s a Sad World After All British artist Banksy, known for his graffiti art, has opened an exhibition titled, “Dismaland.” Though it is inspired by Disneyland, the exhibition is a much darker realization of the famous theme park, more focused on social commentary, and is not suitable for children (seriously). “Dismaland” will be open Aug. 22, through Sept. 27, 2015, in the town of Weston-super-Mare, England. [The Guardian UK]
Smithsonian Summer Showdown The contest to crown the Smithsonian’s “most seriously amazing” item is down to four competitors, including one Washington, D.C., building. The National Museum of the American Indian faces tough competition from Galileo’s letters, endangered baby animals (aw), and recordings of folk singer and songwriter Lead Belly. [Smithsonian]
Time for that New Man Cave Remodeling activity is now at its highest level since the housing bubble of a decade ago, according to our sister magazine Remodeling. Metrostudy’s most recent Residential Remodeling Index (RRI) shows that remodeling jobs grew 5.5 percent year-over-year in the second quarter of 2015. Now the index is at its highest recorded level, even passing the highest point during the last boom, which happened at the beginning of 2007. (Note: Metrostudy, Remodeling, and ARCHITECT are all owned by Hanley Wood.) [Remodeling]
Aging in Place Over at our sister magazine Builder, Aurora Zeledon took a look at some house building trends. The big one: How popular are main-level master suites, and are buyers clamoring for them? Tip: You have a 50-50 chance of being right. [Builder]
Awards: Enter Now!
Last chance! The AIA is now accepting submissions for its Institute Honor Awards, which recognizes achievements for a broad range of architectural activity in order to elevate the general quality of architectural practice, through today.
Doug Mockett & Co. wants innovative ideas for furniture parts, components, accessories, and hardware for its 30th Annual Design Competition through Sept. 8.
The Chicago Architecture Foundation is hosting an ideas competition for a 241,000-square-foot Center for Architecture, Design, and Education, on a prominent downtown site near Millennium Park. The top prize is $10,000, and Chicago Public Schools students will award a special $1,000 prize. Submissions are due Sept. 9.
The AIA, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, and the Architects Foundation’s Design & Health Research Consortium is adding up to six new member organizations. Application materials will be available on the AIA’s website starting Sept. 1. Deadline is Oct. 16.
The Graham Foundation’s Carter Manny Award recognizes doctoral students working on dissertation topics in architecture. Applications will be available online starting Sept. 15 and due Nov. 15.
Bathroom products manufacturer Victoria + Albert is challenging designers to create a space that uses its products. Entry is free and submissions are due Dec. 20.
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