Contract - September 2012 - (Page 10)

Designing for a sustainable future I’ll start with some positive news: In scouting for the best and most says, “these broad ideas underlie a shift in perspective from one based innovative sustainable design projects to feature in this issue, we found on the domination of nature, to one that views man and nature as that sustainable strategies are now increasingly commonplace in the fundamentally interconnected and interdependent.” architecture and design profession. That interconnected relationship with our world is apparent in That’s great, but it does makes our job more challenging in one of the more striking projects featured in this issue—one that is selecting the best projects to be published. What is the most perhaps emblematic of the type of seemingly ordinary project that sustainable, and what is sustainable in a new, thought-provoking way? architects and designers can take on while ultimately achieving Sustainable design is no longer being left to a few experts, but is now extraordinary results—the office of DPR Construction in Phoenix regularized as simply good design. Most all of you are doing it and many designed by SmithGroupJJR. What was a single-story generic box are excelling at it. A large percentage of the industry realizes that it’s building has been transformed into a lively and bright workplace that the right thing to do, and your savvy clients now ask for it. And as the has achieved LEED® Platinum. An existing, forlorn building that could recession hit, many designers built their sustainable expertise as a easily have been torn down in favor of new construction—and there are means to attract more work. Sustainable design has been a sustainable thousands like that across the country—was renovated and completely solution for many design practices to remain profitable. rejuvenated in a thoroughly sustainable solution. Now the bad news. Just how challenging was the economic Also in this issue, Contract is pleased to publish the most downturn and its impact on architecture and design firms in the United extensive coverage to date on two of the projects that are on the 2012 States? Revenues dropped by 40 percent in architecture firms from the Top Ten Green Projects list developed by the American Institute of beginning of the recession through 2011, and architecture firm Architects Committee on the Environment: 1315 Peachtree Street, the employment was cut by a third in that time. That’s according to The Atlanta home of Perkins+Will (page 46), and the office of the Iowa American Institute of Architects (AIA) Firm Survey, The Business of Utility Board and Office of Consumer Advocate designed by BNIM Architecture: 2012 AIA Survey Report on Firm Characteristics, which (page 56). Both LEED Platinum projects are exemplars of sustainable published in August. The survey, which the AIA conducts every three office design, but I encourage you to see the full range of sustainable years of architecture firms nationwide, provides a comprehensive projects featured, including a resort in the Maldives and a funky hotel in overview of the state of the profession. It shows that, overall, Hamburg, beginning on page 35. architecture firm gross revenue declined from more than $44 billion in 2008 to $26 billion in 2011 as a result of the sharp decrease in Have your work recognized construction over the same time period. The survey offers more Finally, the deadline is coming soon—September 28 to be exact—to illuminating data and information, and is a must read for the industry. enter your work in the Contract magazine 34th Annual Interiors Awards. So where do we go from here? How is sustainability tied to Ours is the oldest and most significant awards program for commercial recovery? In this issue, sustainable design leader Sandy Mendler, AIA, interiors, awarding projects in 15 categories. Visit contractdesign.com/ a principal at Mithun and a former senior vice president and sustainable interiorsawards2013 for full details. And good luck! design principal at HOK, writes in What Is Next for Sustainable Design? (page 66) that the quest for authenticity is part of a much broader Sincerely, social transformation—a new paradigm as we enter an “ecological age” that is impacting not only design but the whole world around us. She John Czarnecki, editor in Chief 10 contractdesign.com september 2012 PHOTO: MEG WALTON editorial http://www.contractdesign.com/interiorsawards2013 http://www.contractdesign.com/interiorsawards2013 http://www.contractdesign.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - September 2012

Contract - September 2012
Contents
Editorial
Industry News
Product Focus: Come Sail Away
Eneco Headquarters
Park Hyatt Hadahaa
Perkins+Will Atlanta
DPR Construction
Iowa Utilities Board | Office of Consumer Advocate
25hours Hotel Hamburg
Practice: What Is Next in Sustainable Design?
Competition: Design Is…
Exhibition: George Nelson at Cranbrook Art Museum
Designers Select: Eco Products
Sources
Ad Index
Exhibition: Gio Ponti at the Venice Biennale

Contract - September 2012