11.29.07 | New York, NY | Diversified Media Design launched green.dmd, a consulting practice based in Calgary, Canada, to provide expertise in green marketing and sustainable solutions. Jason Warnock, LEED AP certified, is one of the managing partners. He formerly was the Director of Marketing and Sustainability for Nysan Solar Control. Together with Rowland Hobbs, CEO and also a managing partner, they bring understanding of government guidelines, best practices and social performance. For more information about green.dmd, please contact Jason Warnock at: Warnock@dmdinsight.com

11.28.07 | South Bend, IN | The University of Notre Dame announced that Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk were named the 2008 Richard H. Driehaus Prize Laureates, a prize awarded annually to an architect or firm whose work uses the principles of classicism, a sensitivity to history, the fostering of community and makes a difference to the built and natural environments.  Mr. Duany and Ms. Plater-Zyberk are the founders of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company and have been long time faculty members of the University of Miami, where Ms. Plater-Zyberk is the Dean of the School of Architecture. Both are recognized as leaders of New Urbanism, a movement that searches for answers to suburban sprawl and urban disinvestment. The university also announced that Roger G. Kennedy, Director Emeritus of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and former Director of the National Park Service has received the 2008 Henry Hope Reed Award,  given to an influential supporter of the classical architecture movement who is not an architect by trade.

11.28.07 | New York, NY | Proposals for the West Side Rail Yards will be discussed on Monday, December 3, 2007 from 6:00-8:30 at the Great Hall, Cooper Union, 7 West 7th Street. Five developers have submitted responses to a Request for Proposals issued by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for development of both the Eastern and Western Rail Yards.   Representatives of the design teams will present their schemes in a public program co-sponsored by a group of architecture and civic organizations. This is the first public program at which these proposals will be presented. The proposals are currently on view in an exhibition at 335 Madison Avenue. The MTA expects to select a developer for the site in the first quarter of 2008; after conditional approval by the MTA board, the selected proposal will proceed through the city’'s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure.

11.28.07 | Randolph, NJ | John Hopkins University/Applied Physics Laboratory selected Drawbase Software to provide advanced Space and Move Management capabilities. Drawbase has integrated CAD, spreadsheet, database management, report writer and web access capabilities

11.28.07 | Zeeland, MI | Herman Miller announced a series of initiatives to improve business performance and accelerate growth. One hundred-fifty full time positions were eliminated, which coupled with other actions, will results in annual cost savings of approximately $25 million. The company also is reviewing its capital structure.  The company plans to release its second quarter, fiscal 2008 earnings after 4:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, December 19, 2007, to be followed by a Webcast conference call with financial analysts on December 20, 2007, at 9:30 a.m. EST.

11.28.07 | Miami, FL | Luminaire, Design Miami, and Yves Behar are holding a charity auction to aid One Laptop Per Child (OLPC), the brainchild of Nicholas Negroponte.  OLPC's mission is to provide a way of learning, expression and exploration to children in the developing world with little or no access to education. By giving children their own XO laptops, designed by Mr. Behar, it is hoped that children will find a connection to the outside world, to information and to each other. Luminaire, Design Miami, and Yves Behar have asked seven contemporary visual artists to treat an XO laptop as they would a blank canvas and to transform it from the functional to the spectacular.  The pieces will be auctioned online with 100% of the proceeds going to the OLPC project. http://www.luminaire.com/olpc/ The exhibit will run from December 6-9, 10:00-6:00 pm at the Luminaire Lab, 3901 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL.

11.28.07 | Denver, CO | Michelle Ricken joined SPACES, an Allsteel dealer in Denver, as an Account Executive. Her primary responsibilities will be associated with the strategic launch of a sales platform focused on small businesses within emerging markets. Ms. Ricken has over 10 years experience in consulting and senior management. www.spaces.biz

11.28.07 | Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Louisville, KY | Royal Philips Electronics entered into a merger agreement with Genlyte Group Incorporated, pursuant to which Philips will begin a tender offer to acquire all the issued and outstanding shares of Genlyte for USD 95.50 per share, to be pain in cash upon completion. The proposed transaction builds on Philips earlier acquistion of Color Kinetics. 

11.28.07 | New York, NY | The Architectural League invites young architects and designers  to submit work to the annual Young Architects Competition. Projects of all types, either theoretical or real and executed in any medium, are welcome. The competition deadline is February 11, 2008. The jury will select work for presentation in public forums, an on-line installation, and an exhibition at the Architectural League beginning in May 2008. Winners will receive a cash prize of $1,000. A poster of the winning entries will be published and distributed nationally, as will a catalogue of winning work published by the Architectural League and Princeton Architectural Press. The Young Architects Forum is an annual competition, series of lectures, and exhibition organized by the Architectural League and its Young Architects Committee. The Forum was established to recognize specific works of high quality and to encourage the exchange of ideas among young people who might otherwise not have a forum. For more information about the competition, theme, and submission process, visit www.archleague.org or call 212.753.1722 x13.

11.29.07 | New York, NY | The PB Foundation established the Louis G. Silano Lecture Fund in conjunction with Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science.  The fund enables the school to hold an annual lecture series within the Department of Civil Engineering and  engineering Mechanics. The Lecture Fund in in honor of Louis G. Silano, a senior vice president and technical director at PB who passed away in July 2007.

11.28.07 | Miami, FL | A Russia Party, sponsored by RI Group, HUGO BOSS, & Imperia Vodka, will be held on December 7, 2007 from 6-9pm at the "OASIS" at The Raleigh, 1775 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL. This Russian-themed party is being coordinated by Concierge Specialties by Victoria with design by Denis Simachev.  International celebrities, art patrons, royalty and socialites are expected to attend. A press preview will be held that morning from 9:30-10:30 with a shuttle available to journalists interested in attending. 

11.28.07 | Houston, TX | The International Facility Management Association and Building Operating Management magazine conducted a salary survey and the results indicate that an aging workforce in the facility management industry brought a jump in salaries for those entering the field. Based on a survey of 4,600 facility professionals, the survey showed that the base salary for those with less than four years experience rose nearly 13% since the previous salary report in 2004. To learn more about the Profiles 2007 Salary Report, visit www.ifma.org/tools/research/profiles_07.cfm.
To learn more about IFMA research survey results, visit www.ifma.org/tools/research/survey_results.cfm

11.29.07 | Miami, FL | Russia Miami 2007, an exhibition of contemporary Russian art and culture, will be on view in the Collins Building, 139 NE 39th Street, in the Miami Design District, from December 3-10, 2007. The exhibition, open daily from noon-9pm, is curated by Julie Sylvester, Associate Curator of Contemporary Art at the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. 

11.28.07 | Philadelphia, PN| Blackney Hayes Architects was awarded the Architectural Excellence Design Award by the AIA Pennsylvania Chapter for the renovation and addition to Feltonville Academy of Arts & Sciences in Philadelphia. A 120,000 square-foot addition was added to the existing school building, creating a 140,000 square-foot campus on less than one acre of land. The design of the building resulted in a park like setting by using the school's natural landscape and lighting. 

11.28.07 | Las Vegas, NV | Red Design Studio, an interior architecture and design companyspecializing in concept design as well as full design services forresort, hospitality and high end residential design, opened at 9191 W.Flamingo Road, Suite 100, Las Vegas by Zia Hansen, AIA,principal.

11.28.07 | Sumter County, GA | Gresham, Smith and Partners won the bid to design a new facility for Sumter Regional Hospital, which was destroyed by a tornado in March 2007.  The new hospital, with construction expected to begin in late 2008, will be built on the site of the old hospital.

11.28.07 | Irvine, CA | The KTGY GROUP completed the $70 million mixed-use Market Lofts at 9th and Flower, which includes the Ralphs Fresh Fare Supermarket, the first supermarket in downtown Los Angeles since the 1950's. Other retailers at the Market Lofts include The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Cold Stone Creamery, Quiznos Subs, the UPS Store, Robeks Juice and Pastagina. The Market Lofts also consist of 267 one and two bedroom lofts for-sale.

11.28.07 | Marbach am Neckar, Germany | The Museum of Modern Literature in Marbach am Neckar, Germany, designed by David Chipperfield Architects, won the 12th RIBA Stirling Prize in association with The Architects' Journal. The RIBA Stirling Prize, named for British architect, Sir James Stirling, is given for the RIBA Building of the Year.  The winning architect receives a cash prize of £20,000. 

11.28.07 | Washington, DC | The Green Building Certification Institute has been established with the support of the U.S. Green Building Council to administer credentialing programs related to green building practice and standards.GBCI will ensure that the LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) programwill continue to be developed in accordance with best practices forcredentialing programs. The USGBC will transfer responsiblity for the ongoing administration of the LEED professional Accreditation program to GBCI in January 2008. The GBCI Web sit is www.gbci.org 

11.28.07 | London, UK | Wallpaper, a design, fashion and lifestyle magazine, will partner with Jaguar for the Wallpaper Design Awards on January 9, 2008. The awards recognize excellence in architecture, domestic design, fashion and beauty, media and travel. The readers' award for 'Best Gadget on the Go' also will be presented.www.wallpaper.com.

11.28.07| Muscatine, IA | Chris Bowden joined Allsteel as Business Development Manager for the Northwest region where he will be responsible for generating sales within the corporate and post secondary markets.  Mr. Bowden has over 20 years of industry experience, previously working with Bowden Group, Knoll and Teknion.  He will be based in Seattle. www.allsteeloffice.com

11.28.07 | New York, NY | Asymptote Architecture was selected to design a $7 billion, 256 acre, mixed use complex, called Penang Global City Center, in the northern corridor of Malaysia. Construction is set to begin in 2008 and to finish in 2012. The structure, comprised of two towers with horizontal and vertical elements and glass facades, will function as a public plaza, a venue for the performing arts center and a convention center, and will hold office and residential space. The project aims to be carbon-neutral.   

11.28.07 | Holland, MI | Zody, the ergonomic task chair from Haworth, received the Ergonomic Excellence Award from the Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA). Products must meet safety, comfort and sustainability criteria and must be manufactured by a company with solid environmental policies. The Zody chair offers pelvic and lumbar support while giving the user a sense of relaxation and control over positioning. www.haworth.com

11.28.07 | Las Vegas, NV | The Las Vegas chapter of the American Institute of Architectsawarded its sustainable practice award to SH Architecture. Thefirm's Curt Carlson, director of design and principal, was alsohonored with the Nevada distinguished service award.
www.swisherhall.com/

11.28.07 | London, UK | The Climate Group, the International Emissions Trading Association and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development launched a new global carbon offset standard. The Voluntary Carbon Standard gives a quality assurance check for voluntary offset projects, thus enabling business and consumer buyers to trust the offsets that they buy. Market analysts estimate annual transactions in the voluntary carbon market could reach $4 billion in the next five years, an increase that will be made possible by the VCS.

11.28.07 | Brussels, Belgium | Living Steel announced the winners of the 2nd International Architecture Competition for Sustainable Housing, which challenged entrants to design efficient and innovative housing solutions using steel construction. Winners are: Brazil - Andrade Morettin Arquitetos Associados Ltda, Brazil, China - Knafo Klimor Architects, Architects And Town Planners, Israel, UK - Cartwright Pickard Architects, UK.  The three winning firms will be awarded a prize of $50,000 and a contract to develop their designs for construction of a demonstration building in the specified locations. The remaining fifteen short-listed firms will be awarded a prize of $10,000 each.

11.27.07 | Cincinnati, OH | The Cincinnati Design Awards presented 13 awards for outstanding design in architecture, interior design, environmental graphic design and landscape architecture. Six honor awards were presented and merit awards went to The Harold Schott Education Center Zoo Academy, the Government Square Transit Center, Civic Garden Center Green Renovation, Mesh Restaurant, Cincinnati Parks Centennial Master Plan, Cincinnati-Liuzhou Friendship Garden and Art for Public Spaces at Good Samaritan Hospital.

11.23.07 | Bloomfield Hills, MI | The Cranbrook Art Museum looks back on the career of Eero Saarinen.  Sponsored by Global Sponsor ASSA ABLOY and SmithGroup, the retrospective spans Mr. Saarinen's post WWII career as one of the groundbreaking architects of the mid-20th centurty. Some of his works include: TWA Terminal at JFK Airport in NewYork City, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, and the GeneralMotors (GM) Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. SmithGroup served as Architect of Record with Mr. Saarinen on the Tech Center. The exhibit runs through March 30. For more about the tour, visit: www.eerosaarinen.net. 

11.23.07 | Chicago, IL | GreenSpec Directory and Environmental Building News announced the sixth annual 2007 Top-10 Green Building Products. Four of BuildingGreen’s winning products save energy. Two products save water. Three products are green, in part because they are made from recycled or recovered material. Two avoid hazardous manufacturing or disposal of materials, and one aids in the siting of solar energy systems.  The winners are Collins Pine Free Form, Alpen Fiberglass Windwos, 180 Walls, Bosch Evolution 800 Series, Greenplay childresn Furniture, Cube 3 Ultra Urninal, LifeGuard Low Smoke Zero Halogen Cable, Wireless Controls, SunEye, and LED Downlight.

11.23.07 | Miami, FL | Design Miami/, taking place at the Moore Building in the Miami Design District on 40^th Street at NE 2^nd Avenue, Miami, FL,  December 7-9, will feature gallery exhibitions along with Design Talks and the Designer of the Year Award. This year's Design Talks will include topics on: preserving the human element in 21st-century design, strategies and how collecting affects the art market, how innovative new materials are shaping contemporary design. The talks are free to the public and will take place in the Media Lounge of the Chatham Building on December 7-9, from 5:30–-6:30 p.m. Japanese born designer Tokujin Yoshioka has been selected as the 2007 Design Miami/ Designer of the Year and will present new work as part of the event.

11.23.07 | Washington, DC | The USGBC launched a website dedicated to the building of green schools: www.buildgreenschools.org. The site offers the latest news and information regarding LEED for Schools and current building projects. By addressing the uniqueness of school spaces and children’s health issues, LEED for Schools provides a comprehensive tool for schools that wish to build green with measurable results. The rating system addresses issues such as classroom acoustics, daylight and views, mold prevention, and environmental site assessment.

11.23.07 | Bloomfield Hills, MI | The Cranbrook Art Museum looks back on the career of Eero Saarinen.  Sponsored by Global Sponsor ASSA ABLOY and SmithGroup, the retrospective spans Mr. Saarinen's post WWII career as one of the groundbreaking architects of the mid-20th centurty. Some of his works include: TWA Terminal at JFK Airport in NewYork City, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, and the GeneralMotors (GM) Technical Center in Warren, Michigan. SmithGroup served as Architect of Record with Mr. Saarinen on the Tech Center. The exhibit runs through March 30. For more about the tour, visit: www.eerosaarinen.net. 

11.23.07 | Ottawa, ON | Human Resources and Social Development Canada announced that it will fund a new initiative through the Foreign Credential Recognition Program for internationally trained architects, thus achieving a fairer system for integrating internationally trained architects into the profession and improving their access to market information and learning tools. The RAIC will help to develop a nationally accepted system to recognize internationally acquired education and work experience.  They also will create a multilingual web portal.

11.23.07 | Chicago, IL | Headquarters for the International Interior Design Association, relocated to space in the Merchandise Mart, which opened during Greenbuild.  Created by Envision Design, Washington, DC, the new headquarters are aiming for LEED Gold Certification and feature many products and material that demonstrate sustainable design both beautiful and functional. The office features post consumer and post-industrial recycled materials including carpet, upholstered wall panels, ceiling tiles, steel framing and office furniture. The new headquarters also will house the Association's Conference and Learning Center.

11.23.07 | New York, NY | Perkins+Will purchased Guenther 5 to expand its healthcare practice of New York-based clients.  With Perkins+Will's goal to transform healthcare environments, the acquisition will bring more expertise to the firm for work on education and healthcare projects.

11.23.07 | East Greenville, PA | KnollTextiles introduced the November 2007 Collection featuring Crypton Green upholstery fabrics, as well as new wallcoverings and privacy curtain fabrics. The upholstery fabrics, Fable, Legend, and Lore, combine different scales and textures which are coordinated together through color. Designed by Dorothy Cosonas, the fabrics are composed of 64% or more post-consumer recycled polyester and are Cradle-to-Cradle Silver certified and SCS Gold Indoor Advantage certified. The November 2007 collection also includes an embossed architectural wallcovering, Siren, and three new privacy curtain fabrics, Divine, Enchantment and Whimsy, these also designed by Dorothy Cosonas. For information, call: T:877.615.6655.

11.23.07 | Yorkville, NY | Meyda Lighting adds to its Old Forge Collection with the Moose Pot Rack Lighting Pendant. The rustic, yet functional, decorative design features a Moose filigree design on an Amber Mica shade with hooks for suspending pots and pans. The pendant is 39" wide x 22" tall.  For more information, contact Meyda Lighting Toll-Free at(800) 222-4009. Website: www.Meyda.com

11.23.07 | Miami Beach, FL | The Museum of Contemporary Art has published events and exhibitions for December 4-10, as part of Art Basel/Miami Beach. Exhibitions in the Joan Lehman Building include works by Jorge Pardo and Marionette sculptures by Pablo Cano. MOCA at the Goldman Warehouse features over 40 canvases by Enoc Perez. MOCA/Art in America Party Opening Reception for Jorge Pardo is December 4, 7-9:00pm, in the Joan Lehman Building, 770 NE 125th Street. Opening reception for Enoc Perez is December 6 from 9 am-noon. MOCA Shaker Salsa Party is December 6 from 8-10 pm at the Tides, 1220 Collins Avenue.

11.23.07 | New York,NY | URS Corporation was named Construction Manager of the Year by the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA). URS recently was awarded a contract to manage the SCA Mentor program whose purpose is to increase the participation of minority and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) partnerships. The program assists eligible firms to develop and grow within the construction industry and provides the SCA with a pool of qualified firms for its 10 years, $13 billion capitol program.  SCA also initiated a small contractor lending program through Carver Bank that facilitates cash flow for emerging firms. URS was instrumental in closing the first eight loans. 

11.23.07 | Joliet, IL | Great Furniture 4 Less launched its alternative furnishings distribution company, which serves as a resource for retailers, interior designers, builders and corporate buyers to help with furnishing both pre-construction and post-construction homes and offices. The one-stop option, with both online and offline sales channels, gives customers access to more than 780 name-brand vendors. For more information visit www.greatfurniture4less.com (retail site) or http://www.gf4l.net (trade site) or call 888-369-8406.

11.23.07 | Toronto, ON | Teknion achieved GREENGUARD Children and Schools Certification for Indoor Air Quality for its systems and seating products. The Children & Schools standard is also applicable to hospitals, healthcare, education (front and back office) and corporate clients. Teknion’'s Transit, T/O/S, Leverage, ie, xm and Lyft products specified without wood have been certified to Children & Schools.

22.23.07 | Seattle, WA | The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Northern Pacific Chapter is hosting a roundtable forum focusing on sustainable design in Healthcare. Local designers, experts in healthcare facilities and LEED accredited professionals will exchange ideas regarding successes and lessons learned from recent Healthcare design projects.  Guests include: Candice Clinton, Robert Highman, Bill Parker, Beth Stroshane, and Ray Crerand.  The roundtable will take place at the NBBJ Offices, Evidence Conference Room, 223 Yale Avenue North, Seattle, on Wednesday, November 28 from 5:30-7:00 pm. Registration and details are available at:  www.iida-northernpacific.org.