Royal Electric Company’s Post

Engineering’s growth and renewal is in flight mode #makingadifferencetogether #highereducation #aboutstudentsuccess #UNBTowards2030 #leadingchange

If I can add a bit to this stellar post from Thriven Design it would be to say that it’s easy to lose sight of the complexity of a building, both inside and out, when you are focused on your firm’s specific contribution (in this case, CCI provided the terra cotta). But terra cotta is only about 20% of the exterior envelope. The remainder is metal, glass, and masonry.  Now that the project is complete and occupied we can take another look and examine the facade in its totality. The base of the building is a mix of different masonry materials: granite and limestone; above that is a corrugated single skin metal, with high relief metal window enclosures and vertical ACM window panels. The building entry is a blond wood slats (or vinyl coated corrugated metal) with silver ACM trim. The overall effect is one that is understated but has variety and visual interest from every viewpoint.  Owner/Developer:  DevCo Architect:  Thriven Design (formerly Kitchen Associates) Façade Consultant: Edwards Building Envelope General Contractor: Jingoli Installer: Thomas Company #architects #architecture #buildingenvelope #innovation #insulation #rvalue  #sheathing #thermalperformance #wrb #beldentristate #cci #claddingconceptsinternational  #devco #thrivendesign #edwardsbuildingenvelope #jingoli #thomascompany

Today #Rotherham town centre’s first cinema in more than 30 years has opened. It’s a big vote of confidence in the fact that people still want the shared experience of enjoying a film together. Despite an accelerated rise in streaming services since the pandemic and the cost-of-living-crisis, the appeal of social spaces providing affordable entertainment seems as great now as it was when the ‘picture palaces’ of a century ago lit up our towns and cities. At that time, it was a new experience to watch films from around the world, to see different perspectives and stories beyond our own backyard. The novelty might have worn off but the enjoyment of coming together to enjoy cultural experiences is as strong as ever. It’s also huge cause for celebration in a town where recent national media headlines have been dominated by division. One page in a new chapter for Rotherham which has seen £47million investment in Forge Island, a new, much-needed family-friendly part of the town, where boutique cinema operator, The Arc is located. The history of Forge Island was new to me before we began working alongside ace placemakers Muse and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, development partners of the site which originated in the 19th century as a steel forge. Who knew (not me!) that the world-famous Bailey Bridge came from Rotherham? Used extensively in civil engineering construction projects across the world, the portable, steel truss bridge was designed and developed by Rotherham-born civil engineer, Donald Bailey and was used by the military throughout Europe during the Second World War. FaulknerBrowns have incorporated the diamond truss steel design that is synonymous with Bailey Bridges into the new bridge at Forge Island, in celebration of Rotherham’s incredible engineering heritage, at the same time as creating a contemporary permanent gateway structure for the town. Opening a new cinema is a joyful thing in itself. But when you visit Forge Island, with beautiful landscape design by re-form Landscape Architecture Ltd, you can feel the history of the whole place literally underfoot and that’s a film location that future movie-makers’ dreams are made of. #Placemaking #Regeneration #Yorkshire #ArcCinemas

Per Tuesday's news, a blockbuster proposal for United Center-adjacent land represents a giant step toward "restoring the traditional neighborhood development pattern," in the words of Chicago planning commissioner Ciere Boatright. Fifty-five acres of surface parking lots that have long severed the Near West Side would be redeveloped with a mix of up to 5,000 housing units (20% affordable), a 6,000-seat music venue designed by Los Angeles architecture firm RIOS, and a hotel with 2.5 acres of elevated park space. Field Operations and Chicago-based site design group, ltd. and are other key members of the project design team, placing deserving emphasis on landscape and the pedestrian experience. United Center CEO Terry Savarise describes the approach as more neighborhood infill than entertainment district. It's a model one could imagine deploying for the Guaranteed Rate Field environs in Bridgeport. We agree with the Sun-Times Editorial Board that the project must be done carefully and with community participation and that it's encouraging that no public moneys are being sought initially. If tax dollars do come into the picture, we hope the primary use is for construction of a new CTA Pink Line station. The project, led by Michael Reinsdorf and Danny Wirtz, targets a 2025 start with the hotel & park component (including underground parking), and progresses through several phases toward a 2035 completion. #megadevelopment #LoopAsLab #stadiums #UnitedCenter #1901Project Link to Sun-Times column: https://lnkd.in/ghWVXcsW

If you are wondering about the process of DC's 11th Street Bridge Park project, the final designs have been released. Read this UrbanTurf article to learn more about the updates of the project. #DCDevelopment #DMVDesign

Exciting times ahead

Sunlit Shelter: A House Above the Car Park In Leeds, atop the urban sprawl, A house emerges, standing tall, A primitive hut, as if in a dream, With a roof to shelter, or so it may seem. Above the car park, open to the sky, Where elements dance as time flies by, A testament to Laugier's vision grand, In architectural history, where it all began. But this house, it holds a secret deep, A nod to the past, where shadows creep, For on this site, where darkness fell, Once stood the prison of a Yorkshire tale. Where Peter Sutcliffe, the Ripper grim, Was first confined, his deeds so grim, But now, above the car park's din, Stands a house with a new story to begin. For it embraces the sun's warm light, With solar cells gleaming, shining bright, Harnessing energy, a beacon of hope, In a world where sustainability we must cope. So here it stands, amidst history's tale, A house atop a car park, strong and frail, A fusion of past and future, intertwined, In Leeds, where innovation's light shall shine. #SolarHutPoetry #UrbanArchitecture #SustainableLiving #LeedsLandscape #RenewableEnergy #ClimateConscious #ArchitecturalHistory #RooftopRefuge #acmespace #victoriagateleeds

Stepping Back to 1930s Urban Roofscapes: The Carey Roof Legacy! In the heart of the 1930s, amidst soaring skyscrapers and bustling city life, the Philip Carey Company introduced a roofing innovation that would define an era: Carey Roofs. This striking ad from The Saturday Evening Post captures the urban landscape and the essence of a product that stood the test of time. Carey Roofs were known for their durability and were a staple in metropolitan construction, ensuring that the buildings beneath them could withstand the rigors of weather and time. The ad beautifully narrates a day in the life of a man who, though never directly involved with a Carey Roof, experiences the city in its full splendor — from the ground looking up at these architectural marvels to bustling streets encased by these sturdy shelters. The narrative reflects the everyday reliability of Carey products, emphasizing that, just as the city never sleeps, the roofs overhead tirelessly protect and perform. It's a reminder of how roofing structures our skylines and our daily lives. #RoofingHistory #UrbanConstruction #CareyRoofs #HistoryOfRoofing

"Convert office towers to residential" has been a frequent cry/pitch/strategy at various urban-oriented events I've attended (or helped lead) since 2021. If only it were that easy. Anyone who's in that business knows of the many challenges to do that, from permitting to engineering to NIMBYism and so much more. Envisioning and funding these conversions could be the catalyst to dramatically help and transform our city centers if we can get past some of the operational obstacles. As this story of conversions in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati so effectively illustrates, lots of change is necessary to make these happen at any impactful scale. It's worth a read. LEFT LANE Rugby Realty City of Pittsburgh City of Cincinnati Build America Bureau at the U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation #urbanplanning #urbandevelopment #cityplanning #citybuilding

Project Spotlight: Fifth & Sixth Grade Center Expansion and Renovation 🎵🚍 We're excited to share the latest milestone in Seymour Community Schools' growth journey, driven by a 2019 study with VPS! The Vision: To accommodate Seymour Community Schools' expanding needs, we’ve embarked on significant upgrades to the Fifth & Sixth Grade Center. These enhancements provide much-needed relief to the Elementary and Junior High Schools. What’s New? • Space Infill: Courtyards are enclosed to maximize space while offering shelter during storms. • New Facilities: Addition of dedicated music instruction spaces, a new gym, kitchen, and cafeteria—addressing the previous combined gym/cafeteria layout. • Renovations: Transforming the existing gym/cafeteria into a modern administration suite with a secured entrance and a new media center. • Traffic Flow: Enhanced separation of bus, car, and pedestrian traffic to improve safety and reduce conflicts. This expansion effectively doubled the current building capacity, supporting a growing student body and ensuring a more efficient, safe, and functional learning environment! https://lnkd.in/em5QHzEN #VPSArchitecture #SeymourSchools #EducationExpansion #FacilityUpgrades #CommunityGrowth #StudentSuccess #InnovativeDesign #K12Design