The Shack

I just got done reading The Shack by William P. Young. Whoa what a book and what a read. I think I might have to re-read it again. I recommend it to all, powerful and deep stuff. I will post more insights on this book later, unfortunately I didn't tab it while I read the book.

America’s Favorite Architecture: The Movie Version

Washington, D.C., July 17, 2008 — Like any good novel or play immortalized on film, The American Institute of Architects (AIA) takes a page out of Hollywood's playbook. The AIA announces Shape of America – a series of web-based short movies starring some of the 150 structures chosen by the public for the America's Favorite Architecture (AFA) list created last year.

See Article Here

Living Steel

For its third annual steel housing competition, Living Steel challenged architects to design affordable, energy-efficient housing prototypes for Cherepovets, Russia, where temperatures can climb to 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer and dive as low as -49 degrees Celsius (-56 degrees Fahrenheit) in the winter.

See article Here

Although I like the use of steel beams, columns and joists (as I work with these everyday) I am not sold on a steel exterior. I would use a precast system for the exterior as it is faster, cheaper and stronger. Or maybe if I wanted to get fancy and go for looks I would use a curtain wall system. Non the less Living Steel is a great concept.

New George Strait Song

Obviously not the "real" music video, but I love this song so I had to post it.

Weekend Edition

Friday Night - Didn't do much, went to bed early after a long, long week.
Saturday - Went water skiing all day on Lake Lewisville then came home and swam with wrigs.
Sunday - woke up late, went for a swim with wrigs and I have to go in to work for a building shutdown that will take place from 5:00 pm to 5:00 am tomorrow. Sucks.

Quote

"A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for."

--Grace Murray Hopper

An Engineering Feat

China Central Television’s multipurpose station and headquarters is part of a new generation of cutting-edge structures whose innovative architecture comes to life with the help of advanced modeling and measuring tools. The looping first-of-its-kind structure on the east side of Beijing’s central business district has a dramatic overhang suspended 36 stories in the air and a diagonally braced continuous-tube frame expressing the forces of its structural system on the facade. Engineers precisely predicted preset positions for the inclined steel, and the contractor, using more than 600 monitoring stations, made sure the structure moved into the correct final position. Foundation work included a record-setting, 40,000-cu-meter continuous concrete pour.

http://enr.ecnext.com/coms2/article_febuar080716-1