The
U.S. Senate finally passed a spending package (Highway Bill), committing
$295 billion for highway programs, transit investments and transportation
research programs. The new spending level equates to a 35-percent increase
over the previous Highway Bill (TEA-21), which authorized $218 billion
in federal spending over six years. The Senate committed to spend more
money than the Highway Trust Fund is anticipated to receive in tax
receipts.
ASLA 2005 awards
http://www.asla.org/press/2005/release0531.htm
New Zealand’s approach to assuring good design – create
a design scorecard for proposed projects and fasttrack those which
score well:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10128339
Imagination can be the distinguishing feature for success:
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/93/design.html
Wireless sensors to monitor structural integrity http://www.umich.edu/news/?Releases/2005/Jun05/r060805
Polymer grid technology in bridges may double deck life: http://www.news.wisc.edu/11233.html
The AIA released a survey of national home design firms which shows
some significant changes in residential design including increased
use of informal and outdoor space, increased accessibility, and ever-increasing
square footages.
http://www.aia.org/econ_designsurvey_results
Sales of new single-family homes continued at a near-record pace in
May, bumping up 2.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of
1.298 million units. But economists are warning that by the end of
the year, America’s bubbling housing prices will likely flatten
or pop, causing an economic slowdown. http://economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?story_id=4079458
and http://uclaforecast.com/
Harvard’s “The State of the Nation’s Housing: 2005" report
http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/publications/markets/son2005/
Housing economics – regional comparisons: http://www.nahb.org/page.aspx/category/sectionID=135
Straw bale construction and cultural/educational exchange on the plains:
http://www.news.wisc.edu/releases/11219.html
Spotlight on Antoine Predock Community Performing Arts & Learning
Center at Pima Community College - Green Valley, Arizona
http://www.arcspace.com/architects/Predock/pima/pima.html
Four firms recently picked up a contract from the City of Tucson to
help administer the city’s Brownsfields program - AMEC Earth
and Environmental; Kleinfelder; SCS Engineers/HDR, and Allwyn Environmental.
Return to Top
