Author: Jessica del Pilar

Downtown D.C. is Full of ‘Dumb Boxes.’ Not These Stunning New Buildings.

Posted on by Jessica del Pilar

Earthy materials like copper and terra-cotta are adding warmth and texture to the city known for squat glass offices.

Excerpt: Few buildings offer such extraordinary design opportunities in D.C. as the city’s embassies. But even these commanding projects still need to abide by local codes, historic review and even neighborhood commissioners. The challenges involved in designing embassy buildings are much the same as with any office, but choices about composition and material also represent a form of diplomacy — abroad and nearby.

For their embassy renovation, Norwegian authorities were interested in finding a design that reflected an American view of Norway, according to Steve White, principal and D.C. studio director for Fentress Architects. At the same time, the design would need to pass muster with neighbors who live along Embassy Row.

For the renovation, Fentress clad part of the building in copper. Norway boasts that the metal used to build the Statue of Liberty came from a copper mine on an island on the North Sea; a miniature reproduction stands in the village of Visnes to mark its contribution. Besides being a specific historical allusion, copper looks traditional. White says the architects gave the building the kind of mansard copper roof that looks like it had always been there.

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Celebrating Iconic Green Buildings Across the United States

Posted on by Jessica del Pilar

US Green Building Council

Excerpt: Buildings with exciting architectural design, historical significance and cultural impact evoke a strong emotional response. Such buildings can also greatly impact local, national and global sustainability goals, due to their energy efficiency, water conservation measures, human health strategies and reduced carbon footprint. In addition to being major attractions in their areas, many of these icons are also certified with green building rating systems such as LEED, SITES and TRUE and are well known for their sustainability efforts.

lobby
Thompson US Courthouse + Federal Building
aerial view

Iconic LEED buildings around the US: South

Fred D. Thompson Courthouse, Nashville, Tennessee—SITES Silver and LEED Gold certification under LEED BD+C: By combining certifications, this modern government building showcases its dedication to energy efficiency and environmentally responsible design.

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ICYMI: Boise Airport ready to design new concourse, gates and more

Posted on by Jessica del Pilar

Excerpt: The city [of Boise] posted a request for qualifications for “Architectural, Engineering, and Construction Administrative Services” for the project this winter, and selected Fentress Architects, which could be paid up to $42.46 million over five years. Fentress has worked on airports in Nashville, Portland and Charleston, the city said. Local firms ZGA Architects, Cator Ruma and The Land Group will be part of Fentress’ team. The city council approved the contract Tuesday.

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AISC IDEAS² Award Winners Announced

Posted on by Jessica del Pilar

Excellence in Engineering: Nashville International Airport Terminal Lobby and International Arrivals Facility Addition

“The team was very thoughtful with the form of the building itself and the roof. Passengers are going to be thinking about engineering as they walk through because it’s exposed and visible to them. It means a lot to engineers to have their structures not just seen, but seen elegantly.” — Hannah Valentine, PE, Structural Steel Specialist – Los Angeles, AISC, 2024 IDEAS² Awards Judge

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Distinctive Visitor Center and Hotel Finally Take Flight

Posted on by Jessica del Pilar

Digging Deeper | Cultural

Excerpts:

A new visitor center and hotel just outside the North Gate of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs are pretty hard to miss. The multi-planed roof design of the former conjures images of fighter jets staggered underneath each other, and the two structures are connected via a pedestrian bridge.

In the wake of 9/11, stringent security measures impacted the original visitor center on the [Air Force Academy] campus. Annual attendance waned from more than 1 million to about 250,000. The post-9/11 dynamic led to the idea of moving the visitor center outside of the academy’s North Gate.

Situated on a bluff just west of I-25, the 34,000-sq-ft center is nearing completion after the project broke ground in late 2022. Featuring a mezzanine on the first level and core and shell on the second level, the steel structure supports a metal wall panel, curtain wall and three metal panel roof systems. Schnepf says the new facility could return attendance to the pre-9/11 levels when it opens in late 2025. The exterior and structure are due for completion this spring, then the AFA will build out the interior.”

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Cleo Parker Robinson Continues to Redefine What “Legacy” Means

Posted on by Jessica del Pilar

The artist is breaking ground and still groundbreaking

Excerpt: On May 15, Robinson will break ground on the Cleo Parker Robinson Center for Healing Arts. Set to open in September 2025, the 25,000-square-foot building will be adjacent to the historic stone church that sits at the corner of Park Avenue West and 19th Street. Imagined by Fentress Architects (designers of Denver’s snowy-peaked airport terminal and, more recently, the Denver Arts Museum’s welcome center), the new building includes a theater, reception area, rehearsal space, offices and classrooms.

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