February 20, 2009
  Architecture in Second Life Is a World All Its Own
The online interactive software program Second Life has become an emerging place of architecture research that ranges from a practice tool to an open-ended exploration of design context and expression. Especially in architecture schools, its immersive 3D environments allow users to conceptualize and design a space quickly, thus opening it up for investigation by other users, which allows designers to see how it will be used and how people will circulate through it.

tvsdesign Goes Green with Own Space
The new tvsdesign office in Midtown Atlanta “walks the walk” when it comes to sustainability and the mission of their practice. The new space is LEED®-silver rated for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI). The renovation breathes new life into nearly 775,000 square feet with its open floor plan, maximized daylighting, and monochromatic palette. Open social areas, such as the Heart and Hub, encourage activity within the office and allow a transparency for both employees and guests.

Delivering Big on a Small Budget
At a cost of only $7 million, Fire Station 105 in Pasadena, by Gonzalez Goodale Architects, makes the most of a small budget through careful selection of materials and minimal landscaping.

 

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Here is where you will find our weekly Project Watch, short vignettes on notable projects in this country and abroad. The Design Zone is also where you will find coverage of awards programs, including the national Honor Awards as well as state and local component awards.