What’s the biggest complaint about solar panels, aside from the expense? It’s probably their lack of widespread aesthetic appeal. But Hollywood film director and solar aficionado, James Cameron, has developed something so attractive and useful, it’s like a solar flower field that can reduce grid-based electricity consumption to zero, or close to it. Attractive and…
Most people have a general idea of ethics. It’s making the right decision for the right reason. But ethics in decision making doesn’t just affect the person in charge. And that’s especially true for engineers, whose decisions can affect the lives of many. That’s why engineering professional development hours include a requirement in ethics training.…
It’s a common problem in America. To find gainful employment, you need a good education. And to get a good education, you’ll spend a lot of money. Even scholarships only go so far, so most students eventually acquire some student loan debt. Architects carry some of the steepest debt of any students in any area…
America’s history might not rank with some European countries, but it is nonetheless filled with examples of important architectural and natural locations. And while historic preservation societies exist from coast to coast, the simple truth is that everything can’t be saved, whether or not it’s worthy. The National Trust for Historic Preservation publishes a list…
If you have any interest at all in architecture and interior design, the mid-century modern renaissance hasn’t escaped you. It’s everywhere, from young twenty-somethings and their love of a classic ranch house to kitschy mid-mod inspired decor. But why is this era so important now? There are a lot of reasons, and most of them…
Computers overtake jobs that humans once held. That’s nothing new. It’s becoming an old complaint, in fact, as more and more once-human tasks are streamlined and performed, often better, by electronics. But many argue that there are some jobs where a computer can never, and will never, rise to the top. And according to Architect…
Would you ever use a knitted table? Not a knitting table, or a table for knitting – A knitted table. That could be the next big thing in flexible building materials. If you’re like the vast majority of all home owners, home renters, home dwellers, or really anybody who has lived anywhere at all, you…
Women are underrepresented in architecture, at least in power positions. The graduation requirements are the same for men and women, and nearly half of all graduates from National Architecture Accrediting Board-accredited schools are women. So why do men dominate the field? That’s what AIA San Francisco’s “Equity by Design” report examines. The Missing 32 Percent…
True sustainable construction is almost a magical, elusive thing, but bamboo might change all of that. Eco-friendly design is goal that’s there, but nearly a moving target. Seal a building to conserve energy, and thousands of school children get sick. Develop a paint with zero VOCs, and it wears off the first time that you…
The green movement started with great intentions, and like any worthwhile project it has evolved. LEED certification has grown from a costly, fringe idea that only a few could manage to a relatively mainstream one that’s becoming more and more expected. And now there’s another classification and accompanying certification to think about – the WELL…
