AJ Waters’ Post

🔝 Rising Above: Framing the Second Floor of Our Final BONE Structure Home 🛠️ 📍 Fenelon Falls, Ontario, Canada 🏗️ Today marks a pivotal moment at our Fenelon Falls site: we begin framing the second floor of our BONE Structure home. Swipe 👉 for a sneak peek into this new phase of our build. 🚀 📏 Each floor boasts an impressive finished height of 9'2", with the exterior stature of the house reaching nearly 25 feet. These numbers, however impressive, barely capture the true grandeur of this architectural feat. 🏠 📸 While pictures strive to do justice to the marvel we're constructing, nothing compares to witnessing the majesty of this steel frame in person. The strength, the precision, the elegance – it's a sight to behold. ✨ 💔 It's bittersweet, knowing that this intricate steel framework, a testament to modern engineering and design, will soon be hidden away, never to be seen again once the home is complete. The beauty of this skeleton, the backbone of the home, will live on only in our memories and these photos. 🖼️ 🌱 Yet, in this transience lies the beauty of construction – the knowledge that we're creating something lasting, something that transcends its visible parts. This BONE Structure home isn't just a building; it's a legacy in steel and dreams. 🌟 🌍 As we continue, we're reminded of the importance of what we do – building not just for today, but for a sustainable future. And though the steel may be covered, the impact of what we build will never be hidden. 🌿 🔜 Stay tuned for more updates as we bring this architectural masterpiece to life, one steel beam at a time. 📲 Don't miss any part of this extraordinary journey - follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn! #ConstructionX #FourPointsConstruction #BONEStructure #RaisingTheBar #SustainableDesign #FenelonFalls #Ontario #ArchitecturalMarvel

In a significant win for historic preservation, two landmark Chicago skyscrapers, the Century and Consumers Buildings, have been saved from demolition. These iconic structures, located on State Street, were initially set for destruction due to security concerns, given their proximity to the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. However, after extensive advocacy and public pressure, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has shifted toward an adaptive reuse plan, ensuring the preservation of these architectural landmarks. The Century Building and the Consumers Building, completed in 1913 and 1915, respectively, these buildings are prime examples of the Chicago School of Architecture. They are significant not only for their innovative steel-frame construction but also for their terra-cotta facades. These features make them rare survivors of a key era in Chicago's architectural history, when the city was at the forefront of skyscraper design. #historicpreservation #landmark #skyscrapers #architecturaldesign

**1900 Walkthrough** This was our first structural brick masonry house built in Oklahoma City. Design is inspired by Dutch architecture, which I greatly admire. Was reading “North Atlantic Cities” at the time, which explains how Dutch architecture and urbanism evolved differently than the rest of mainland Europe. They were focused on the simple beauty of the everyday, the human experience, rather than iconic or monumental architecture like so many other cities. And it shines through in their urbanism and architecture. Even their famous artists, Rembrandt and Vermeer, painted portraits of ordinary people, regularly soldiers, rather than only the rich and powerful. Fascinating. In this project, we started in 2021. We’d ordered brick months before, called to get delivered to site as we were wrapping up the foundation as usual, and guess what…. Our 1 week delivery lead time went to 12 months. Considering I’d just moved the business to a new place and was starting over, it was a gut punch, to put it lightly. BUT, we managed to find some local reclaimed brick from a building in Kansas City through one of our partners, and that’s how we ended up with this. A couple months and we were back on track. It’s absolutely beautiful, reclaimed brick. Though I was also quickly reminded why I recommend against it in most cases: it’s very difficult to work with. Various sizes, not all properly cleaned, and each brick becomes a project. Not to mention waste. But I’ll stick to the positives: it’s beautiful, and we were able to start building!

Dark, brooding, moody… no not me! Our latest visual for St. John’s Grove in London has just been completed by the excellent Studio Stravaig. We developed this image to be a ‘wet’ scene and a departure from the usual sun drenched visuals, after all, it does rain in London and the sun does set in the capital! This visual shows the other side of the development that faces Broookside Road. This ‘north’ block has the same architectural language as the south to ensure the site doesn’t read as having a front or a rear. The form and elevation provides a visual counterpoint to St John’s Tavern and the adjacent housing developments, with the north-south axial route between Brookside Road and St John’s Grove remaining an integral part of the urban design strategy. #architecture #architect #design #building #engineering #facade #facadedesign #facadesketch #materials #space #form #london #ldn #city #resi #citylife #cityliving #archway #facades #urban #urbandesign #regeneration #residential #residentialdesign #interiordesign #lighting #wet #visual #visualisation

Dark, brooding, moody… no not me! Our latest visual for St. John’s Grove in London has just been completed by the excellent Studio Stravaig. We developed this image to be a ‘wet’ scene and a departure from the usual sun drenched visuals, after all, it does rain in London and the sun does set in the capital! This visual shows the other side of the development that faces Broookside Road. This ‘north’ block has the same architectural language as the south to ensure the site doesn’t read as having a front or a rear. The form and elevation provides a visual counterpoint to St John’s Tavern and the adjacent housing developments, with the north-south axial route between Brookside Road and St John’s Grove remaining an integral part of the urban design strategy. #architecture #architect #design #building #engineering #facade #facadedesign #facadesketch #materials #space #form #london #ldn #city #resi #citylife #cityliving #archway #facades #urban #urbandesign #regeneration #residential #residentialdesign #interiordesign #lighting #wet #visual #visualisation

What’s the secret to designing a parking structure in challenging environments? The Emery Station West V Garage in Emeryville, CA, demonstrates effective problem-solving. Our five-story post-tension concrete design incorporates a hybrid moment frame and shear wall system. To tackle high water table issues, GPLA has implemented an extended mat foundation that avoids deep piles, keeping costs manageable. Additionally, we’re incorporating a bioretention swale with decorative plants for enhanced aesthetics. The focus remains on maximizing parking capacity while aligning with architectural goals. #StructuralEngineering #Sustainability #DesignBuild #DPR

The world’s most bizarre architectural marvels 🏢✨ Architecture is not just about creating spaces; it’s about pushing the boundaries of imagination and engineering. The Guinness World Records has documented some of the most astonishing and peculiar buildings globally, showcasing human creativity at its peak. Check the article below to find out what building holds the record for: 🔹 The smallest skyscraper in the world 🔹 The biggest church in the world 🔹 The heaviest building in the world 🔹 The largest bird-shaped building in the world 🔹 The first building built with artificial fog 🔹 The largest vertical maze in the world 🔹 The biggest high-heeled-shoe-shaped structure in the world 🔹 The world’s largest building in the shape of a letter 🔹 The sleekest tower in the world 🔹 The area with the highest density of marble-clad buildings As you travel the globe, keep an eye out for these remarkable structures. They stand not only as testaments to human ingenuity but also as testaments to the power of pushing boundaries and embracing the unconventional in the world of design. Read more 👇 #architecture #GuinnessWorldRecords

“There are moments of architecture that you don’t get to represent in a plan or an elevation, things like social or cultural values, that’s what these animations or populated drawings get you to do – you get to celebrate these culturally significant or socially significant moments.” - Marcin Chmura, Architect at GPAD, uses sketching and illustration as a tool to portray the social value and ESG drivers for our design of 180 Old Street. The illustration describes our design aspirations in a playful and lively manner, communicating the drivers behind it.   We have worked extensively in Islington for twenty years and our office is a couple of minutes from the site – it’s an area we enjoy contributing to. The two buildings that form the site have seen a series of refurbishment and extension projects over the last ten years since we first looked at them for our client and we are now investigating how the two buildings move into the next stage of their lives.   The project will look to retain one building and dismantle parts of the other before extending and linking the two to create one building with larger more flexible floorplates. Best-in-class amenity, terracing and wellness are key parts of the brief, as is the response to the climate crisis. Proposals are being developed with an understanding of the whole life cycle carbon associated with a series of options to ensure the design is developed consciously.   180 Old Street seeks to respond to and enhance the local area socially, environmentally, and aesthetically. Maurice Investments Limited Gavin Wogman Charles Bettes Matt Iliffe Farrah Morgan DP9 Limited Constructive Eckersley O'Callaghan XCO2 CHP The Townscape Consultancy Turkington Martin Velocity Point 2 Kanda Consulting Ashton Fire Limited SOCOTEC Cundall #sketching #architecturesketch #socialvalue #drawing Video by Dion Barrett www.gpadlondonltd.com

In a bustling city nestled between towering skyscrapers and historic landmarks, there stood a forgotten building, weathered by time yet filled with stories waiting to be told. Its grand façade, adorned with intricate carvings and stained glass windows, whispered tales of a bygone era when artisans meticulously crafted each detail by hand. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of aged wood and memories long past. The corridors echoed with the footsteps of architects and visionaries who once roamed its halls, their dreams etched into the very foundation of the building. Each room held secrets, from hidden passages to forgotten blueprints tucked away in dusty drawers. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the city streets, the building seemed to come alive with a newfound energy. Lights flickered to life, illuminating the intricate architecture in a soft glow. From the outside, it appeared as a beacon of creativity, drawing in those who sought inspiration and solace within its walls. Despite the passage of time and the ever-changing landscape of the city, the building remained a steadfast symbol of innovation and imagination. Its story, like the countless architects who had passed through its doors, would continue to inspire generations to come, a testament to the enduring power of architecture to shape the world around us. #Skyscrapers #landmarks #buildings #craft #architects #energy #sustainability #facade #walls #imaginations #landscape #creativity #storytelling

Understanding the intricacies of skyscraper design is crucial for ensuring health and life safety in urban environments. This insightful post highlights how tower and podium massing helps mitigate wind hazards, safeguarding pedestrians from potential dangers. Innovative design solutions should not only shape our skyline but also prioritize public safety. #UrbanDesign #SafetyFirst #SkyscraperSafety #CommunityWellbeing