When it comes to architecture and city planning, trends and styles are always changing to suit the tastes of society. In a time where companies are becoming more aware of the needs of the environment, architects are taking up the challenge to create a greener and more sustainable world.

Here are the top 3 trends that are set to dominate architecture in 2019.

#1 Making Cities Pedestrian-Friendly

The carbon footprint of automobiles is a well-known environmental danger, and while some manufacturers are trying to create cars that are purely electric, architects and city planners are trying to remove the need for cars entirely.

Pedestrian-friendly cities exist all across the globe, with cities like Copenhagen and Dubrovnik even mandating that their populations move away from automobiles. These cities inspire many American architects, who are redesigning cities like Seattle, WA and Alpharetta, GA, to discard their cars and embrace a more active lifestyle.

#2 Including Cutting Edge and Energy-Friendly Technology

Climate change and sustainable energy are concerning us all, but governments, architects, and scientists are working together to create better solutions.

New buildings, such as the Tower at PNC Plaza in Pittsburgh, are being constructed with renewable energies and innovative materials in mind, greatly offsetting their carbon footprint and inspiring designers all across the country.

Construction companies are seeing how valuable a “platinum” certification from the LEED program can be, motivating the construction of more of these sustainable structures in the near future.

#3 Making Buildings Future-Proof

For modern architects, it isn’t enough to simply solve today’s problems. They need to prepare cities for the concerns of tomorrow as well. Factors like demographic shifts and environmental changes are constantly being considered by designers, with the aging U.S. population leading to an improvement in the accessibility of homes.

In the past, buildings that focused too much on style over substance are now being mocked by experts for their inflexibility. Construction companies must now look to strike a practical balance between the two.

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard-working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA online or at (877) 810-7473.

Infrastructure

It’s a word plastered all over the news lately. From dilapidated roads to crumbling bridges, infrastructure –  or the fundamental, underlying facilities our cities and towns rely on to help them function – are in desperate need of repair, upgrade, or replacement.

But, just what does infrastructure refer to anyway? Actually, it refers to a great number of things we take for granted (or overlook) on a daily basis. Examples include…

• Clean water supply: treatment, pumping, and distribution (along with sewage treatment)
• Police & Fire departments / Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• Electricity generation (power plants) and transmission lines
• Telephone, cable, and fiber optic systems
• Bridges, roadways, tunnels, levees and dams
• Railways / airports / seaports
• Mass transit systems
• Hospitals
• Libraries

Consider a time when you’ve been inconvenienced by something like an emergency bridge repair in your own neighborhood… Indeed, the state of our nation’s infrastructure is a topic we can’t afford to ignore any longer.

The Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development (CREED LA) proudly supports environmentally-responsible construction projects throughout Los Angeles that not only have a positive impact on the local community, but support LA’s working families as well.

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans.

To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA at (877) 810-7473.

Greensburg, KS rebuilt their community to be green after a tornado destroyed the town.

A decade ago, an immense EF-5 tornado reduced the town of Greensburg, KS to rubble. Steve Hewitt, the city administrator was talking to (then) Gov. Kathleen Sebelius about rebuilding & planning for the future when the realization came to them both that Greensburg was going to go green… And they could literally do so from the ground up.

With only about 800 residents, undertaking the task of serving as a benchmark for a sustainable community was “easier” compared to a sprawling metropolis; but it was far from simple. When work began, Greensburg’s eco-accomplishments included:

• Utilizing wind power to generate 100% of their electricity.
• Utilizing low-flow faucets and collecting rainwater in order to conserve water.
• Implementing community-wide single-stream curbside recycling.

The ability to integrate green building standards and practices was difficult, but it has been paying off as the community has the most LEED-certified buildings, per capita, in the world.

The Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development (CREED LA) proudly supports environmentally-responsible construction projects throughout Los Angeles that not only have a positive impact on the local community, but support LA’s working families as well.

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA at (877) 810-7473.

*photo: Photo by Greg Henshall / FEMA

The Petersen Automotive Museum delights car buffs and architectural aficionados alike

For many people, cars and architecture go hand-in-hand.

On one hand, you have those who view both as simple, utilitarian necessities; the car moves people from Point A to Point B while the building provides shelter from the elements.

On the other hand, you have those who view both as much more; specifically, the design and engineering that goes into beautiful examples of each, thereby allowing them to serve as sources of inspiration and desire.

The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles satisfies those who see both as something greater than their basic function… Something that is to be celebrated.

Located at the western end of Museum Row, the rather mundane, original museum structure was completely redone as part of a $90 million renovation in 2015 by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. Consisting of 308 metallic stainless-steel ribbons, the facade was meant to give the impression of motion, and it doesn’t disappoint!

The Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development (CREED LA) proudly supports environmentally-responsible construction projects throughout Los Angeles that not only have a positive impact on the local community, but support LA’s working families as well.

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA at (877) 810-7473.

How 3D Printing is Helping Reboot the Construction Industry

Not too long ago, 3D printing was a nascent technology that often resulted in nothing more than the production of rudimentary toys akin to what we used to receive as a reward at the dentist’s office for not having cavities… What a difference a few years makes!

Rapidly becoming a hotbed for all that is promising about the future, 3D printing has evolved and developed among both printing units and “makers” alike to the point that every conceivable industry has benefited from the process.

The construction industry is one of them. Thanks to specially formulated, self-supporting concretes & composites, architects are proudly introducing 3D printed houses, apartment buildings, and a myriad of highly detailed design elements to the world for far less money and with significantly less waste than would have been possible using traditional building methods.

Indeed, the future is now, and it’s helping reboot the construction industry!

The Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development (CREED LA) proudly supports environmentally-responsible construction projects throughout Los Angeles that not only have a positive impact on the local community, but support LA’s working families as well.

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA at (877) 810-7473.

Disconcerting News for Gephyrophobics

Gephyrophobics, individuals that suffer anxiety with respect to crossing bridges or going through tunnels, often reveal their fears manifested from traumatic experiences at some point in their lives. Rather disconcertingly, statistics released by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), for 2016 reveal that the condition of many of our nation’s bridges and tunnels won’t do much to allay their fears any time soon… Consider that there are approximately 58,500 structures throughout the country that have been marked by the FHWA as functionally obsolete or structurally deficient.

Within California, a state with over 25,000 bridges, approximately 2000 of them have been classified as structurally deficient, meaning one (or more) key bridge elements, such as the deck, superstructure, or substructure, is considered to be in poor condition. Furthermore, approximately 4400 bridges are classified functionally obsolete, meaning the structure no longer meets design standards in line with current standards.

Indeed, our transportation infrastructure needs help.

The Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development (CREED LA) proudly supports environmentally-responsible construction projects throughout Los Angeles that not only have a positive impact on the local community, but support LA’s working families as well.

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA at (877) 810-7473.

The Leaning  Millenium Tower

Rated one of the “Top 10 Residential Buildings in the World” by Worth Magazine, the stunning, blue-gray glass Millennium Tower in the Yerba Buena section of San Francisco nicely compliments an already stunning skyline at 58 stories. Serving as both the tallest residential building -and the fourth tallest structure overall in the city- the Millennium Tower is indeed the stuff of dreams for those fortunate enough to afford to live there.

Unfortunately, the dream has become a nightmare… one where that sinking feeling has segued into harsh reality since this 645’ Handel Architects-designed structure has descended approximately 16 inches (as of November 2016) into the soft soils & sands upon which it was placed. Already built on reclaimed land, the decision to forego anchoring the tower into more stable bedrock was done as a cost-cutting measure that has created a myriad of legal battles that may prove to be as costly as its remediation.

The Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development (CREED LA) proudly supports environmentally-responsible construction projects throughout Los Angeles that not only have a positive impact on the local community, but support LA’s working families as well.

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA at (877) 810-7473.

Welcoming an Art Museum With Broad Appeal

The Broad Museum will add to LA’s vibrant Cultural District.

Designing a building that will serve as the centerpiece for one’s legacy means striving to capture the essence of the individual while ensuring the structure stands out amongst its peers. Within Los Angeles’ thriving Cultural District, regional philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad are doing just that. The newly-opened 120,000 sq. ft. LEED Gold-certified contemporary art museum that bears their surname joins other iconic structures such as the neighboring Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall.

The Broad features an underlying design theme known as “veil-and-vault.” A honeycomb exterior “veil” provides ample daylight in which to showcase numerous artworks from their impressive collection, while the “vault” refers to a darkened core, suitable for protecting sensitive & archival works. Among its most interesting architectural details can be found on the roof; featuring 318 skylights, they all face north in order to protect artwork from damaging sunlight… That’s intelligent design with a Broad appeal!

The Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development (CREED LA) proudly supports environmentally-responsible construction projects throughout Los Angeles that not only have a positive impact on the local community, but support LA’s working families as well.

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA at (877) 810-7473.

The California Aerospace Museum… Will It Help Dreams Soar Once Again?

World-renowned architect Frank Gehry has established an impressive portfolio of memorable buildings throughout his career. Although he has designed structures that proudly stand throughout the world, some of his most exceptional reside right here in California.

The California Aerospace Museum was Gehry’s first of many highly acclaimed designs. Indeed, this was his first major public work and it earned him instant global recognition! As part of the California Science Center, the museum was commissioned to celebrate California’s many contributions as a leader in the aviation and aerospace industries. Originally opened in 1984 in conjunction with the Olympic games being held in Los Angeles that year, the museum featured a giant, hangar-like structure which housed a variety of historically significant aircraft, space vehicles, and related artifacts. Sadly, the museum was closed in 2011. Despite being placed on the California Register of Historic Resources, its future is unknown.

The Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development (CREED LA) proudly supports environmentally-responsible construction projects throughout Los Angeles that not only have a positive impact on the local community, but support LA’s working families as well.

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA at (877) 810-7473.

The Eiffel Tower… From Reviled Local Eyesore to Revered International Icon

The Eiffel Tower remains a global treasure and engineering feat 127 years after its completion

Leading up to the Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair), which Paris would be hosting in 1889, event organizers hosted a competition seeking the design of an iron tower on the Champ-de-Mars featuring a square base 125 meters across and 300 meters tall. Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguie conceived the initial design we know today back in 1884. Unfortunately, the tower’s design was met with complacency by the person whose very name would be affixed to this global treasure… Alexandre Gustave Eiffel.

A civil engineer, architect, and metals expert who established himself as a highly respected bridge builder, Eiffel had architect Stephen Sauvestre improve the aesthetics of the original design. Happy with what he saw, Eiffel commissioned the project and construction began on January 28, 1887. Two years, two months, and five days later on March 31, 1889, the incomparable Eiffel Tower opened for the world to enjoy.

The Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development (CREED LA) proudly supports environmentally-responsible construction projects throughout Los Angeles that not only have a positive impact on the local community, but support LA’s working families as well.

CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans.

To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA at (877) 810-7473.

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