Material ConneXion, a global resource for material research and development, will open a branch office this June in Daegu, Korea, about 200 miles from Seoul. Located in the Daegu Gyeongbuk Design Center, the outpost will house a materials library, consulting services, and public programming. In a press release, Material ConneXion notes that Daegu is being widely recognized for textile manufacturing and high-tech fashion production, something the company plans to tap into in its new location.
Mule Lighting has established LEDalux, a new division to work on development of LED lighting technology. Current products include architectural, area, accent, signage, and solar-powered LED lighting solutions.
Bentley Systems has launched a Bridge Information Modeling (BrIM) initiative to spur development of bridge modeling and life-cycle software. Through acquisitions and development of its own software, Bentley has created a suite of four software products that address bridge design, building, and analysis.
Ohio Gratings has opened a 31,000-square-foot facility in Houston. The factory will serve clients in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma with light-duty steel grating, fabrication services, and delivery of grating panels and stair treads.
Graphisoft's ArchiCAD BIM Experience is a finalist for the best workforce-training solution in the 2008 CODiE Awards, sponsored by the Software and Information Industry Association. ArchiCAD's program was picked from more than 1,200 nominations and recognized for the way it teaches 3-D building information modeling to people who have previously used only 2-D CAD software.
The 2008 AIA convention will feature three themed presentations: Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller will discuss sustainable design; architect Thomas Vonier will moderate a panel discussion on urban security in the 21st century; and Andrew Young, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and mayor of Atlanta, will discuss a seminal speech by Whitney Young Jr. (no relation) at the 1968 AIA convention, in which Young exhorted the architecture profession to take a greater role in addressing social injustices.
NeoCon has named the keynote speakers for its 2008 show: Freakonomics co-author Steven Levitt; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who worked to promote the restoration of the Hudson River; and Scott Wilson, named to Time's Style & Design 100 list and as one of Fast Company's Masters of Design.
Viracon has launched a website that maps the location of U.S. projects that use its glass products. The company promotes the site as a way to find products that work well in certain regions and to show its products on a complete project. Find it at viracon.com.
The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry is hosting an exhibition on the science, craftsmanship, and design of glass. “The Glass Experience” runs until Sept. 1 and features work by Botti, Chihuly, Corning, Pilkington, SAGE, and Tiffany.
