Merge ahead?

An interesting tidbit we just received: Zweig White is reporting that 71 percent of architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms plan to conduct a merger or acquisition in the next five years. Are you part of this majority? 

Most Endangered Historic Places Announced

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named the country's most endangered historic places for 2009. The annual list has identified 211 sites over 22 years in hopes of galvanizing preservation efforts across the country to save one-of-a-kind landmarks. Of these 211 sites, only six have been lost.

So what made the cut this year?

The Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles

The Miami Marine Stadium in Key Biscayne, Miami

Dorchester Academy in Midway, Ga.

Lanai City in Hawaii

Unity Temple in Oak Park, Ill.

Ames Shovel Shops in Easton, Mass.

Memorial Bridge connecting Kittery, Maine and Portsmouth, NH 

Mount Taylor in Grants, NM

Human Services Center in Yankton, SD

Cast Iron Architecture of Galveston, Texas

The Manhattan Project's Enola Gay Hangar in Wendover, Utah

What do you think of this year's additions? Are they worth saving?

Martha, Martha, Martha

Today, a post for our crafty readers: Last night at Pratt the topic of discussion was all things Martha Stewart as the bold name domestic diva took the stage herself for the 15th Annual Pratt Institute President's Lecture Series. And boy, do Pratt students love Martha, judging by the thunderous welcome she received.

Billed as a lecture on "Artistic Inspiration as a Basis for Business," Stewart's presentation was, essentially, the equivalent of a portfolio show as she walked attendees through her myriad business ventures. Stewart's talk didn't delve deep beyond the gingham curtains, faux bois accessories, and all things crafty, so attendees most likely walked away with more inspiration than straight-forward business advice. 

Certainly, however, there's something to be said about finding something you're passionate about and expanding that into a livelihood. There's a reason Stewart's been on Fortune's 50 Most Powerful Women list five times. Her current business ventures include a range of books, four magazines, two TV shows, several accompanying website, a daily blog, and an array of product lines. Two years ago, Stewart began diving into the craft market in a big way after her team identified the market as a potential $30 million business. And the latest introductions to the mix? A blog for her two dogs, named The Daily Wag, and a Twitter account for herself, launched six weeks ago. (Is anyone else surprised to hear that her dogs' blog has 15,000 viewers a day?)

For Stewart, inspiration comes from the everyday and sometimes the most random places. When developing her first line of paints, for instance, she put her two cats on the table and started creating colors based on their fur. While some of it sounded a little far-fetched, it did make the interesting point of challenging oneself to ask how we can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. 

However, most interesting, perhaps, was Stewart's claim that "I've been a frustrated architect my whole life." What do you think about that?!

Photo by Patrick McMullan Photography

I scream, you scream....

....we all scream for architecture-inspired ice cream? A&D folks in L.A. may be doing just that this summer, if Cool Haus has its way. Via Curbed's LA outpost comes word of the new ice cream venture whose offerings include the Frank Behry, Mintimalism, Mies Vanilla Rohe, Richard Meyer Lemon Ginger, and Oatmeal Cinnamoneo. While the Frank Behry may not be the most popular selection in Miami right now, I'm leaning toward the Mies Vanilla Rohe? The offical specs:

Attention manufacturers: Deadline to enter the Best of NeoCon® is now May 1

 

Calling all manufacturers exhibiting at NeoCon® this June: The deadline to enter the Best of NeoCon® Competition has been extended until May 1. Don't miss your chance to get in on the 20th year of the action: Sign up via the Contract Network now....And for show visitors, log on to the Network in early May to start browsing this year's entries and get a jump on show planning by creating your own list of must-see products, people and places.

"The problem has never been too much starchitecture, but too little."

Or so argues Toronto architecture critic Christopher Hume in the Toronto Star earlier this week. It's not an argument that's been heard much over the coming months. Says Hume:

"They say we should be careful what we wish for, and for good reason. In the case of all those nasty architecture critics gleefully cheering as the Great Recession brings the Age of Starchitecture to an end, that's doubly true."

For those arguing that fees are too high, Hume notes the reasoning must then follow that "If it's wrong to hire the best architects (too expensive, too spectacular), then it must be right to hire the mediocre (cheaper and less iconic). If it's bad to aspire to architecture with a capital A, then it must be good to settle for the strictly ordinary, the second-rate." In contrast, he argues, "In a city such as Toronto, where architectural excellence cannot be taken for granted, the presence of Frank Gehry, Will Alsop, Norman Foster, Santiago Calatrava, Stephan Behnisch and, yes, even Daniel Libeskind, has raised the architectural stakes immeasurably."

What are your thoughts on the future of starchitecture? Will it survive the global recession? Should it survive?

Zeftron marks Earth Day with a new award

Over a Zeftron, Earth Day is being observed with the introduction of the 2009 Zeftron nylon Sustainable Practices award. It officially opens for entries today.

The award seeks to recognize those taking innovative strides to create more sustainable environments at home, at work, and in their communities. The award is open to all facility, architecture and design professionals in the continental US. The best entries will be compiled for a best practices and green tips resource, and the winner will receive a $2,000 grand prize donation in their name to an environmentally focused charity. More info is online: http://spa.zeftronnylon.com

Legislation Matters

The road to interior design legislation is fraught with strong opinions for and against, and more than its share of misinformation. Multiple, state-based efforts to raise the standards of the profession with legislation are ongoing across the country, many at different stages along the continuum. Some legislation establishes a process for certification for qualified interior designers (Licensing Acts), some mandates that only certified or licensed professionals can call themselves “interior designers” (Title Acts), and some requires that only certified or licensed professional be able to practice interior design (Practice Acts). Whatever the extent of your state’s current or proposed legislation, the ultimate goal for all of it is to raise the standards and rights of the profession in practice and in law.

 In New York State, which is largely perceived as a bellweather state for legislative precedent, Interior Designers for Legislation in New York recently suffered it’s third defeat in its attempt to get an Interior Design Title Act passed by the State Legislature. The problem, as indicated by Governor Paterson when he vetoed the proposed legislation, is that the current certification law does not provide a Certified Interior Designer with a measure of privileges that would motivate designers to become licensed.

 In response, IDLNY will be concentrating its efforts in 2009 on introducing legislation that would give Certified Interior Designers several privileges:

 • A bill will be introduced the will include Certified Interior Designers, as well as licensed architects and engineers, as qualified bidders for public and municipal projects that require interior design services.

 • A bill will be introduced to enhance the meaning and value of the current signature requirement for Certified Interior Designers on all documents, drawings, and specifications.

 • A bill will be introduced that will allow Certified Interior Designers to be eligible as partners with architects and engineers in a Design Professional Corporation.

 • A bill will be introduced that will create a window of opportunity (grandfathering) for interior designers who have been in practice for 15 years or more, and can demonstrate their qualifications, to become Certified Interior Designers.

 IDLNY is currently seeking feedback on these initiatives from the New York interior design community, as well as feedback from other interior designers around the country who have engaged in similar legislative efforts. If you have an opinion on legislation—in general or regarding any of the specifics listed above—we invite your comments below. 

Making sprawl sustainable

Continuing the sustainable vibe of some of this week's earlier posts, here's an interesting listen for your Friday commute home: Ellen Dunham-Jones and June Williamson, authors of "Retrofitting Suburbia: Urban Design Solutions for Redesigning Suburbs," were on WNYC recently to chat about the future of American suburbs and how these sprawling developments can be transformed into sustainable places.

In the not-so-soon future

Don't hold your breath that the World Trade Center rebuilding project will top out any time soon. According to The New York Daily News, the World Trade Center won't be fully rebuilt or occupied until 2037 — 36 years after 9/11. A study by Cushman & Wakefield states that the Daniel Libeskind-designed Freedom Tower (er, what's it called again?) won't house tenants until 2019. Other findings: It could take 12 years to fully lease Twoer 2, a 79-story, 1,270-sq.ft. building, and construction on Tower 3 won't start until 2026, a 71-story, 1,137-sq.ft. building that would be higher than the Chrysler Building.

Developed LArry Silverstein's offices disagree with the report, saying it's based on a pessimistic attitude about NYC's economic future. The Port Authority argues it's realistic. What do you think? 

Pictured above: The Freedom Tower in February 2009, from the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center.