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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How Acid Precipitation Damages Limestone And Marble Stonework

Before the advent of the smooth facades associated with modern skyscrapers, architects would design the exteriors of their creations with a variety of design details to help their buildings stand out. One unique element was the use of stone gargoyles whose superstitious origins were meant to offer the building protection from unwanted spirits. However, their true usefulness was in their ability to channel rainwater from troughs on their backs, out of their mouths, and away from the building.

Unfortunately, rampant industrialization is causing their demise thanks to the effects of acid precipitation.

Clean rainfall is slightly acidic, featuring a pH of approximately 5.6. Yet, when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides mix with water, they form sulfuric acid and nitric acid, respectively. Featuring pH values between 4.2 and 4.4, these acids corrode limestone, sandstone, and marble buildings (or gargoyles). Should they crumble severely enough, pieces can plunge precariously upon unsuspecting pedestrians below.

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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Updates to historical buildings can introduce many necessary changes without upsetting existing aesthetics.

A few decades ago, urban blight and a lackluster economy meant developers could easily (and cheaply) acquire land in many areas around the country. Existing structures on this land was typically razed in order to usher in change in the name of economic and social progress. While no one denies that certain structures needed to be torn down, there were many others that proudly served their surrounding communities during their heyday and were in sound shape, structurally speaking, making them ideal candidates for historical restoration.

These meticulously planned renovations are breathing new life into urban areas around the country. Old factories, warehouses, and schools built before WWII are among the most sought after largely because they combine wonderful architectural design elements with an abundance of steel and concrete construction. Assuming the underlying structure is largely intact, architects incorporate these original design elements into modern energy efficiency & environmental mandates.

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 Los Angeles City Hall… Strengthening the Heart of a City

Los Angeles Environmentally-responsible Construction Projects

Designed by prominent architects Austin, Parkinson, and Martin, the stunning LA City Hall proudly stood as the city’s tallest building for almost 40 years. Incorporating a mix of many design languages, including classical and Art Deco, this 454’ tall icon attracts visitors from around the world who come to admire its fantastic architectural details as well as revel in LA’s skyline from its observation deck.

To help ensure Los Angeles City Hall stands strong and tall for decades to come, the structure underwent a restoration from 1998 until 2001 that featured seismic retrofits meant to keep the building not only intact, but functional, even after a magnitude 8.2 earthquake. This project, undertaken by the world-renowned structural engineering firm, Nabih Youssef Associates, utilized a hybridized system of proven earthquake-resistant technologies including: seismic isolation bearings, viscous dampers, and shear walls to make City Hall stronger than ever!

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.

…Some things simply can’t be rushed!

The importance of construction apprenticeship programs.

In the construction trades, training highly skilled workers doesn’t happen overnight. Their journey begins as registered apprentices, individuals who endure rigorous classroom and on-the-job training. Once an apprentice completes his training, he’s considered journeyman, a fully educated tradesman, but not yet a master. The road from apprentice to master is difficult by design, ensuring that only the most thoroughly trained and experienced qualify to be the standard bearers.

A master tradesman possesses a comprehensive knowledge of his craft, which spans not just his specific practices but those, as well, that facilitate the various other aspects of the project. Still, a master tradesman is one person, and even the most straightforward construction project requires the efforts of many, from the architect through the local labor unions, the members of which, in their own diligence and skill, renew the master’s trust in them day in and day out.

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.

Dodger Stadium… Bringing Baseball to Angelenos Since 1962

The moving of the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles for the 1958 season signaled a new chapter in professional baseball as cities on the west coast were establishing franchises of their own. While the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers the first few years, a magnificent new stadium designed by architect Emil Praeger was being constructed in the rugged Elysian Hills.

One can imagine the excitement in the air local residents felt when the groundbreaking ceremony took place on September 19, 1959. However, constructing the stadium was not without its challenges. The topography of the area presented unique challenges that were overcome only by the grit and determination of the almost 400 workers from Vinnell Constructors. Tasked at bringing baseball to the City of Angels, these hardworking individuals battled geographical obstacles to create a structure beautifully integrated into the natural terrain. On April 10, 1962, Dodger Stadium hosted its first game to the delight of 52,564 fans… Unfortunately, the Dodgers lost to the Cincinnati Reds 6-3.

As much as we love and enjoy America’s pastime, the Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development (CREED LA) especially loves and supports the many 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.

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.

On May 1, 1931 President Hoover officially presented the Empire State Building to the world with the push of a button from Washington D.C. This action capped an incredible use of manpower, technology, and determination over the course of just 410 days in which this Art Deco architectural & engineering masterpiece earned its place as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

Eighty five years later, the Empire State Building still thrills and enthralls people from all over the globe. However, one of its most magnificent accomplishments was its 2010 renovation to make the structure greener. It worked, as the Empire State Building now saves 38% of its energy while reducing operating costs by approximately $4.4 million annually, all the while leading to the creation of 250 steady jobs. In fact, it has become the tallest LEED-certified building in the United States!

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.

With respect to environmental awareness and protection, there exists Point-Source Pollution and Nonpoint-Source Pollution.

The former refers to pollutants entering the environment directly from easily identifiable sources, such as smokestacks, pipes, or even a large shipwreck (remember the Exxon Valdez disaster?) Such obvious sources of pollution makes it easier for government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to monitor the pollutant, enforce their laws, and oversee cleanup.

Conversely, Nonpoint Source Pollution means the pollutant is nearly impossible to source since there are no easily traceable paths, such as the aforementioned pipes. Think of all the oil spots you see in the parking lot of the local mall. Whose cars did they come from? Nobody knows, yet those pollutants harm the environment just as much as oil oozing from a gaping hole in a supertanker because they go largely unaddressed. Most residential & commercial pollutants are typically categorized as such.

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 modern environmental movement began on April 22, 1970 thanks to the efforts of a Wisconsin senator named Gaylord Nelson. For on that day, Sen. Nelson proposed that Americans throughout the country be given a voice to speak out against the seemingly unchecked environmental damage being inflicted upon the nation’s natural resources as a result of rampant industrialization and population growth. Over 20 million people responded, garnering the attention of other members of Congress who, up to that point, had largely ignored Sen. Nelson’s pleas for environmental action.

That day became known as Earth Day.

Earth Day has since provided countless people around the world with the inspiration to become advocates for the planet. Indeed, one of Earth Day’s most endearing outcomes in the 45+ years since its origin has been that we can all make a difference, no matter how insignificant that action may seem, because every little bit helps.

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.