Story at a glance: Work on San Diego campus is a microcosm for solving global challenges. McCullough Landscape Architecture collaborated with HGA Architects on a university theater renovation. A climate-conscious approach to locally adapted landscape design, alongside thoughtful spatial organization of outdoor spaces, are effective means shown to mitigate the negative effects of climate change, helping to protect commercial, entertainment, and educational spaces while demonstrating the power of sustainable design. At San Diego State University’s Don Powell Theatre renovation, McCullough Land ..read more

Women in Plumbing & Piping (WiPP) proudly welcomes Oatey Co., an industry-leading manufacturer of plumbing products, as its 15th founding sponsor, forming another strategic alliance with the aim of creating opportunities and fostering a supportive community for women in the plumbing and piping industry. Since its establishment in 2022 WiPP has been committed to cultivating a vibrant and inclusive environment for women in plumbing and piping. With Oatey Co. joining as the 15th founding sponsor, WiPP celebrates another significant milestone in its journey, recognizing the pivotal role that o ..read more

Story at a glance: Oatey Co. is redefining bathroom spaces to meet diverse needs. Universal design and luxurious style can go hand-in-hand. Architectural design is a dynamic and evolving field, continuously adapting to meet our changing attitudes and needs. The design of bathrooms serves as a prime example of this evolution, reflecting shifts toward aesthetics, functionality, and inclusivity. The increasing emphasis on ADA-compliant shower design in both commercial and residential settings underscores a significant transformation. Architects, builders, and developers are now embracing the re ..read more

Story at a glance: Before installation confirm you are working with a shower door that will fit your enclosure and blocking that will support its weight. Install your shower door properly to ensure the safety of users and to maintain the product for years to come. Working with high-quality tools during installation can make for a smoother process with better final results. For more than 100 years the process of tempering glass to create a stronger and safer product has evolved in the homeowner’s favor. A quality glass shower door installed today is likely to last a home generations while inc ..read more

Story at a glance: Biomimicry is an approach to design that seeks to emulate biological processes. The practice learns from and mimics the strategies found in nature to solve human design challenges. In a world increasingly turning toward bio-inspired design, biomimicry stands out as a holistic, regenerative approach toward problem-solving. Biomimicry not only respects nature as a teacher but also recognizes Earth’s natural biological processes as the highly refined, efficient systems that they are. In this article we’ll explore the basics of biomimicry, including its importance and barrier ..read more

CHRYSO & GCP (Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals), a worldwide leader in sustainable construction, is pleased to announce that its senior director of technical services for North America, G. Terry Harris Sr., was awarded the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s 2024 Shydlowski – Turner Materials Leadership Award. Harris began his career in the concrete industry in 1979 and has more than four decades of experience with ready mixed concrete, precast, masonry and admixtures. Twenty-six of those years were with GCP Applied Technologies. With the Saint-Gobain acquisition of GCP, today T ..read more

Story at a glance: Green building rating systems help to incentivize sustainable building principles. LEED and BREEAM are two of the most popular green building rating systems in the world. Programs like the Living Building Challenge take a holistic approach to designing green buildings. Studies have shown that the built environment is responsible for 40% of the world’s total carbon emissions, while the construction and demolition industry as a whole generates approximately 30% of the globe’s waste and accounts for over one-third of global resource extraction. The only way to reduce these fi ..read more

Story at a glance: 400 Lake Shore is officially under construction with the first concrete poured on the former site of the Chicago Spire. The 72-story, 841-foot building is one of two planned for the site. The SOM-designed project is set to house more than 500 residential units, more than 100 of them affordable housing. What was once a giant hole in the ground in the middle of the Chicago skyline is now on its way to becoming something real—and while not as tall as what was originally planned for that site, the final design may be more momentous because it’s meant to last. “We inherited an ..read more

Story at a glance: Less focus on teachers being the sage on the stage and more emphasis on active learning requires flexible and adaptable space and furniture. Classroom furniture that serves different functions allow schools to invest in furniture and classroom design knowing it’s not going to become obsolete in a few years. Research shows adaptable furniture solutions and letting students move around provides a positive increase in everything from participation to retention of learning. Classroom design has evolved remarkably from the one-room schoolhouses of the late 18th century. Today ..read more

Oatey Co., a leading manufacturer in the plumbing industry since 1916, announced recently that Scott Voisinet was promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer. Voisinet joined Oatey 13 years ago and has since held roles with increasing responsibility in supply chain management, including director of supply chain and logistics; vice president of sourcing; and, most recently, senior vice president of supply chain. Prior to his tenure at Oatey, Voisinet held a range of roles in supply chain, logistics and marketing at Matco Tools, Dealer Tire and General Motors. As EVP and chi ..read more