September 21, 2015
Stony Island Arts Bank Opening Set to open Oct. 3, Theaster Gates’ new cultural center will be a multi-use space, while also serving as a study in South Shore neighborhood architecture and civic history. The 17,000 square foot building, originally used as the Stony Island Trust & Savings Bank, sat vacant for three decades, and will see its grand re-opening during the kickoff of the Chicago Architecture Biennial. [Curbed Chicago]
Futuristic Housing AIA Virginia awarded its 2015 Prize for Design Research and Scholarship to Virginia Tech professor Joe Wheeler, AIA, for futureHAUS, a prototype residence that integrates responsive design and prefabrication. Honorable mention went to Virginia Tech professor Mehdi Setareh, for his Structure and Form Analysis System. The prize recognizes thought and research in architecture. [AIA Virginia]
Proposal for European Parliament Renovation Faces Criticism The parliament’s Brussel headquarters could undergo an extensive, multi-year overhaul, involving renovations and the expansion of the main building. The creator of the plan, Secretary General Klaus Welle, says the renovations would address the “dilapidation” of the 22 year-old building. But other top officials are arguing against the plans, stating that the timing of the project is not ideal, considering many European countries are facing austerity measures. The proposal would involve the temporary closure of the Paul-Henri Spaak building, where the assembly’s primary debating chamber is located, and the addition of 750 offices in the coming years. The building originally cost 42 billion Belgian francs (approximately $1.17 billion) when it was constructed in 1993. The price tag of the proposed updates has not yet been released. [Politico]
Obama Library Competition Heats Up The Barack Obama announced on Friday that 140 firms are in the running to design the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago’s South Side. The search for an architect began on Aug. 26 when the foundation issued a request for qualifications. Although the foundation targeted a select group of architects, the competition is open to all. Of the 140 firms, 99 are based in the U.S., with a large representation in the Chicago area. The entire pool includes firms from 60 cities in 25 countries. The names of the participants have not been officially released. The foundation will cut the large pool down to fewer than 10 finalists who will be asked to respond to the forthcoming Request for Proposals. The original target of late fall for a shortlist will be pushed back. [Chicago Sun-Times]
The Problem with the Privatization of Space Several of Aaron Betsky’s columns lately have been leading up to this one, where our regular contributor examines the intersection between public space and identity. Having recently visited his hometown of Utrecht, Netherlands, where growing up he had seen a new indoor mall suck the life out of the city’s downtown. Seeing the city’s new attempt at bringing public space back, Betsky has a lot to say about what we think of public space and what we should do about it. [ARCHITECT]
Open Now Diller Scofidio + Renfro’s Board Museum opened in Los Angeles yesterday. [ARCHITECT]
Enter Now! We’re now taking submissions for our 63rd annual Progressive Architecture Awards. Deadline is Oct. 30. Late deadline (with late fee added) is Nov. 4. Winners will appear in our February 2016 issue. [ARCHITECT]
A Printer Bigger Than Your House Over the weekend, Italian engineering company WASP (World’s Advanced Saving Project) debuted its 40-foot-tall BigDelta 3D printer this weekend at a three-day conference in Rieti, Italy, and we had a preview of it Friday in our “This Week in Technology.” [ARCHITECT]
Starchitect Versus Hero Our fellow editors over at AIA Architect ask the question of what exactly it means to be “an architectural hero.” [ARCHITECT]
Awards: Enter Now!
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 are available on the AIA’s website. Deadline is Oct. 16.
The 63rd annual Progressive Architecture Awards program is now accepting submissions. The winners of our annual program honoring unbuilt designs are published in the February issue. Regular deadline is on Oct. 30, with the late deadline (and extra $50 per entry) on Nov. 4. Enter now!
The Graham Foundation’s Carter Manny Award recognizes doctoral students working on dissertation topics in architecture. Applications are available online now 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.
AIA|DC is accepting entries for the Sarah Booth Conroy Prize for Journalism and Architectural Criticism to reward excellent reporting of architecture and urbanism in Washington, D.C. The annual prize is $5,000. Deadline is Dec. 31.
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