April 9, 2011
Liechtenstein Royal Castle
Photo: View of Vaduz Castle, the official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. Vaduz, Liechtenstein. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
Liechtenstein is a small Alpine principality in central Europe between Austria and Switzerland. It was created as a principality within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719 and became independent in 1866. Vaduz is the capital.
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Posted by Editors at 5:07 AM
July 28, 2010
Seoul gets UNESCO City of Design Designation
Photos: City of Seoul, South Korea.
Seoul has been made a UNESCO City of Design as of July 20, 2010. This designation is in appreciation of the city's abundant cultural heritage and creative potentials as well as its strong pursuit of diverse design policies. The U.N. agency also highly evaluated the city's potential to help developing countries with its creative urban development programs.
UNESCO launched the Creative Cities Network in 2004 to enhance the social, economic and cultural development of cities in the world, to promote their local creative scenes, and to fulfill the UNESCO's mission towards cultural diversity.
UNESCO appoints the cities network members in seven fields -- literature, film, music, crafts and folk art, design, media arts, and gastronomy. Eight cities including Seoul have been selected as members in the field of design. The others are Buenos Aires, Berlin, Montreal, Nagoya, Kobe, Shenzhen and Shanghai.
Photos: City of Seoul, South Korea.
Appointed to the network as a City of Design, Seoul will enjoy a variety of benefits.
Seoul is expected to report its national and international activities as a City of Design to the U.N. agency every year and to maintain close relationship with the Korean National Commission for UNESCO.
Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Seoul's appointment as a UNESCO City of Design reflects the international recognition of the city's design policy.
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Posted by Editors at 2:27 PM
November 12, 2009
Volkswagen Group of America Invests $125 Million for New Dealer Storefronts in New York City
Flagship Audi and Volkswagen dealerships reinforce commitment to U.S. market.
Photo: Volkswagen Group of America Invests $125 Million for New Dealer Storefronts in New York City.
• Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. announced today that it is investing in flagship Audi and Volkswagen dealerships in New York City, as part of its strategic plan to grow business in the U.S. market.
The $125 million deal is for the 265,000 square-foot building formerly housing Potamkin General Motors. The building is strategically sited in the highest traffic area of 11th Ave., making it a convenient location for Volkswagen and Audi customers.
• Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, the world's third largest automaker and the largest carmaker in Europe. It houses the U.S. operations of a worldwide family of distinguished brands including Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Volkswagen.
"As Volkswagen and Audi move forward on our aggressive plan to increase sales in the U.S., there is no better place to demonstrate our commitment than in Manhattan -- a town synonymous for bold actions and big thinking," said Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. "New York has always been a leading market for the Volkswagen and Audi brands, and these new store fronts will serve to strengthen our business even more. We are proud to be investing in the New York economy, excited to showcase our brands and look forward to seeing more Volkswagens and Audis on the streets of New York."
The new dealerships will showcase Volkswagen and Audi's new showroom concepts, known respectively as "white frame" and "terminal." The dealerships will be part of one of the largest dealers in the area, the Open Road Auto Group. The Group will target to begin selling vehicles in early 2010.
Source: Volkswagen Group of America
|GlobalGiants.com|
AN AUTOMAKER SHOULD MAKE A POTENTIAL CAR BUYER POSITIVELY LOOK UPON ITS MARKETING.
Should an Automaker make a potential car buyer look upon its marketing as that from an Established, Confident Car Company that believes that its products are very much in demand and that trusts that when someone buys its new car, he or she is already in love with it?
Or, Should an Automaker make a potential car buyer look upon its marketing as that from a Struggling, Jittery Car Company that believes that its products are not in demand and that is why it is forcing the consumers to become artificially interested in them by saying, "If you buy a new car from us and you don't love it, you can bring it back within a specified time, and we we'll refund your money, though, of course, we would do it after a frightening refunding process you would never dare to undergo!"?
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Posted by Editors at 10:26 PM
October 5, 2009
The International VELUX Award 2010 is Open for Registration
The International VELUX Award 2010 is now open for registration. The Award challenges students of architecture worldwide to work with daylight in architecture under the overall theme "Light of Tomorrow". This was announced today in Copenhagen, Denmark.
"Our vision is to promote daylight and quality of life. We present the International VELUX Award every second year to encourage students all over the world to explore the theme of sunlight and daylight in its widest sense and to propose new ideas and approaches for a sustainable future," says VELUX CMO Michael K. Rasmussen.
The Award contains no specific categories and no requirements to the use of any specific materials or VELUX products. The Award, however, seeks to widen the boundaries of daylight in architecture through an open-minded and experimental approach, taking advantage of the students' curiosity, willingness to take risks and to experiment considering social, psychological and environmental dimensions of light.
Photo: The International VELUX Award 2010 for Students of Architecture is open for registration for students of architecture and their teachers from all over the world. The award challenges students of architecture to explore the theme of sunlight and daylight in its widest sense to create a deeper understanding of this specific and ever-relevant source of light and energy.
• International jury to evaluate all entries
The jury for the International VELUX Award 2010 will be announced by the end of 2009. The jury is comprised of renowned architects. Among the jury members participating in previous Awards were Glenn Murcutt (AUS), Kengo Kuma (JP), Per Olaf Fjeld (NO) and Hani Rashid (USA).
Hani Rashid, chairman of the jury for the 2008 Award reflects on the quality of the projects for the Award: "I was very surprised to see students from all over the world who confront the problem of light, the large amount of work and its quality. The way they represent their ideas of "Light of tomorrow" is inspiring."
The International VELUX Award is part of the continuous VELUX effort to establish close relations with building professionals and future generations of architects.
The Award is organized in cooperation with the International Union of Architects (UIA) and the European Association for Architectural Education (EAAE).
Source: International VELUX Award, Copenhagen, Denmark.
|GlobalGiants.com|
Posted by Editors at 6:48 AM
September 25, 2009
New York City Green Buildings Program Launch: Building Owners, Union Leader Joined By Mayor Bloomberg
Labor-Management Program to Train 1,000 Building Supers.
Photo: New York Mayor Bloomberg, along with union president Mike Fishman, launched a green building worker training program at an apartment building in Manhattan on Friday, September 25, 2009. The One Year, One Thousand Supers program, said the mayor, "is a smart, practical, effective way to help make the Big apple green.".
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined Realty Advisory Board President Jim Berg and 32BJ President Mike Fishman today in launching an ambitious green buildings program to train one thousand superintendents and resident managers in one year in the latest energy efficient practices.
The launch of One Year, One Thousand Green Supers, which took place at a downtown apartment building, was attended by Jeff Brodsky, President of Related Management, and James O'Connor, President of Douglas Elliman, two of the first companies to have their employees participate in this labor-management green buildings program.
"By working together, 32BJ and New York's building owners have put into place a smart, practical and effective way to help make the Big Apple green," said Mayor Bloomberg. "One Year, One Thousand Green Supers provides a low-cost way to make our buildings more energy and cost efficient, and our environment cleaner, all while saving our city millions of dollars."
"With 77 percent of our city's greenhouse gas emissions generated by buildings, we must all work together to protect the environment," said Mike Fishman. "Making the Big Apple green starts with recognizing the vital role of building service workers."
• With more than 85,000 members in six states and Washington, DC, SEIU Local 32BJ is the largest property service workers union in the country. The union represents window cleaners, doormen, building maintenance workers, cleaners, porters, and security officers in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Connecticut, Maryland, and Virginia.
• One Year, One Thousand Green Supers is part of the Thomas Shortman Training Fund. The program is a 40 hour class that provides building service workers with the latest, state-of-the-art practices in energy efficient operations. The curriculum trains workers to identify and address wasted energy, create a green operating plan and perform cost-benefit analysis for building owners and managers.
"By learning how to air seal a building, improve heating and air conditioning performance and reduce overall energy use in a building's common areas, graduates can achieve substantial savings at their buildings," said Linda Nelson, Director of the Thomas Shortman Training Fund. The third and final pilot class of building service workers in the program is set to graduate next week.
• The Fund's programs provide 150,000 hours of industry, academic, and computer courses at over 20 locations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
• The One Year, One Thousand Supers curriculum combines classes and field exercises with elective courses, including renewable technologies, green roofs and water reuse.
With a growing demand for greener buildings, smarter management practices could reduce energy use in buildings by twenty to forty percent, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Source: SEIU Local 32BJ
|GlobalGiants.com|
Posted by Editors at 10:46 PM
June 17, 2009
A Comfortable Office Climate: Siemens Sensors for Buildings
• Sensors are to become the sensory organs of buildings.
• Siemens scientists are working to unite as many detection and measuring functions as possible on a single chip.
Photo: Siemens Corporate Technology is working on sensors which can monitor the climate in buildings and make it comfortable. The scientists develop sensors not only for measuring light and temperature but also for detecting odors and measuring different gases, such as CO2. (© Siemens AG)
The goal of the Siemens researchers is to develop sensors which act as the sensory organs of buildings and pass on their information to a building management system. These tiny watchmen make the management system know, for example, where aggressive substances have leaked or simply where the lights are to be switched off or the windows opened due to too high a CO2 level in the air.
Today, room climate sensors, air quality sensors and presence sensors can already control the air and light conditions in offices in relation to the number of persons present. And, using optimized control technology, they thus save up to 30 percent more of the energy consumption for heating, ventilation and air conditioning than that is done by any conventional control and regulating technology.
Photo: A lab technician of Siemens Central Research measuring the acidification, impedance and respiration rate of the cell sensors. (© Siemens AG)
In addition to sensors for measuring light and temperature as well as for the detection of different gases, the scientists are currently developing cell sensors which are to be used as an early warning system for contaminated water or bad air. The cells of these "living" sensors react to deviations by changing their metabolism which can be measured. They live in a nutrient on a silicon chip. The chip evaluates the data and sends them to a master process control system. The advantage over chemical sensors: Living cells react to all toxins.
Photo: CAR KEY -- Just how flexibly the tiny measuring instruments can be used is demonstrated by an alcohol sensor in an Automobile Key developed by Siemens. After the driver has blown into the sensor, it measures the level of alcohol in his breath by means of a conductive metal oxide which reacts to the gases. If the value exceeds the limit of 0.5 per thousand, for example, the key switches off and the engine will not start. (© Siemens AG)
This patented electronics system of the Siemens researchers is currently being tested in the field by a vehicle manufacturer.
Source: Siemens AG, Munich, Germany.
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Posted by Editors at 12:22 PM
November 23, 2008
Saint-Gobain Specialty Glass Adds Sparkle to NYC's TKTS Booth on Father Duffy Square
Photo: The TKTS ticket booth, a mainstay for bargain-conscious theater fans since 1973, recently opened its upgraded structure made entirely of glass supplied by Saint-Gobain, the world's largest producer of building materials.
Headquartered in Paris, Saint-Gobain has more than 210,000 employees throughout the world, including 25,000 in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to its leadership in glass for architectural products, the company is the world's largest supplier of building materials and is a major manufacturer of high-performance materials and glass containers.
The new TKTS ticket booth on Father Duffy Square in New York City has finally opened its portholes after several years of design and construction. The new booth -- a striking glass structure in the heart of New York's theatre district -- was officially declared open by New York City Mayor Bloomberg at a gathering of celebrities and city officials on October 16th.
Huge pieces of ultra-clear Saint-Gobain Diamant Glass envelope and protect the futuristic white ticket pod. The glass steps above it are claret red in the shadow of the surrounding buildings but turn brighter as the midday sun reflects off the colored interlayer.
As Saint-Gobain itself describes, "At night, when the booth's light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are switched on, the whole structure glows like a 'magical ruby'. Transformed from its temporary scaffold and sheeting appearance into a gleaming all-glass sculpture by Perkins Eastman architects, the booth is rapidly becoming a landmark for locals and visitors alike. The booth is already attracting throngs of weary walkers -- happy to make the short climb up the 27 glass steps to absorb a unique view of New York."
The amphitheater will be able to accommodate more than one thousand visitors as they wait for tickets, eat their lunch or just sit and watch the hustle and bustle of the Times Square district. It will also likely serve as a space for many photo shoots, weddings and film sets.
The steps comprise three-layers of Saint-Gobain Diamant ultra-clear glass, laminated with a red interlayer and surface treated for slip-resistance. The one-and-a-half inch steps are designed for maximum durability.
The ultra-clear walls structurally support the steps, serving as a balustrade and protecting the administration pod inside.
All of the glass panels were developed and manufactured at Saint-Gobain's Eckelt Glas factory in Austria.
Source: Saint-Gobain
|GlobalGiants.com|
Posted by Editors at 1:34 AM
August 28, 2008
Shanghai World Financial Center Opens to the Public
Photo: Journalists enjoy a spectacular bird's eye view across Shanghai from the observatory deck on the 100th floor of Shanghai World Financial Centre. The observatory deck, the highest in the world, offers sweeping vistas right across the city and features a special 50m-long glass floor that provides a unique perspective on the city, and the thriving district of Pudong below. It opens to the public on August 30th, 2008.
Photo: Mr. Minoru Mori (middle in the front), President and CEO of Mori Building, shows a scale model to the VIPs at the opening press conference of this landmark building. Shanghai World Financial Centre measures 492 meters and boasts 101 floors. Mr. Minoru Mori described the building as a "global magnet for finance, information and talent".
Posted by Editors at 10:02 AM
August 6, 2008
Empire State Building Celebrates Countries Competing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics
World-Famous Icon Displays Flags of the World With Its Iconic Tower Lights.
The Empire State Building (ESB) announced today that it will celebrate the countries competing in this year's Olympics by lighting each of the four sides of its famed tower -- north, south, east and west -- the colors of participating countries' flags each night throughout the summer games. This marks the first time ESB has split the tower's sides with four separate country's lights in its history.
For the 17 nights of the games, the monumental lightings will honor the top 66 countries participating in the Olympics, based on the number of athletes attending from each country.
"The Empire State Building is honoring the athletes that have trained and worked their entire lives to make it to this international stage of competition where unity, athleticism and sportsmanship are revered," said James Connors, General Manager for the Empire State Building. "We are proud that the Empire State Building can be a part of this international celebration and hope that its tower lights are another source of pride for the athletes and their countries taking part in the summer games."
For 17 straight nights, the ESB electricians will be working around the clock to change the 182 floodlights that will make the world-famous ESB tower glow in each country's colors. A typical color change takes six electricians, six hours; the country lightings will require a team of electricians, each dedicated to one side of the building -- north, south, east or west -- to change the lights. Each team will manually fit the colored plastic gels over the floodlights to create the appropriate color combination for that day's four countries being honored.
In the spirit of unity and teamwork, the ESB is also working with each country's Consulate to spread the news, and giving citizens from each respected country a chance to experience the national pride that goes along with having their national colors lit up prominently on the Empire State Building and in the New York City skyline.
Empire State Building Country Lighting Schedule:
• Colors are listed from bottom to top.
August 8, 2008 (Friday)
North: Red, White, Blue - France
West: Red, Blue, White - Great Britain
South: Red, Red, Green - Portugal
East: Green, White, Orange - India
August 9, 2008 (Saturday)
North: Red, White, Blue - Czech Republic
West: Red, Blue, White - Russia
South: Red, White, Green - Italy
East: Green, White, Green - Nigeria
August 10, 2008 (Sunday)
North: Red, White, Blue - Chinese Taipei
West: Red, Red, White - Poland
South: Red, White, Green - Mexico
East: Green, White, Red - Hungary
August 11, 2008 (Monday)
North: Blue, White, Red - Croatia
West: White, Red, White - Japan
South: Green, Yellow, Green - South Africa
East: Black, White, Red - Egypt
August 12, 2008 (Tuesday)
North: Blue, White, Red - Netherlands
West: Blue, Red, White - New Zealand
South: Green, Yellow, Blue - Brazil
East: Red, Yellow, Blue - Romania
August 13, 2008 (Wednesday)
North: Blue, White, Red - Cuba
West: Blue, Red, White - Slovenia
South: Yellow, Yellow, Blue - Ukraine
East: Red, Yellow, Red - Spain
August 14, 2008 (Thursday)
North: Red, White, Red - Denmark
West: Blue, Red, White - Australia
South: Blue, Yellow, Blue - Kazakhstan
East: Yellow, Red, Black - Germany
August 15, 2008 (Friday)
North: Red, White, Red - Austria
West: Red, Green, White - Belarus
South: Blue, Yellow, Blue - Sweden
East: White, Blue, Red - South Korea
August 16, 2008 (Saturday)
North: Red, White, Red - Canada
West: Red, Green, White - Bulgaria
South: Blue, White, Blue - Greece
East: White, Blue, Red - Serbia
[The final list will be available on August 9, 2008]
In 1976, colored lighting was first introduced in the Empire State Building as the tower was lit in red, white and blue to celebrate the American Bicentennial. The Empire State Building's tower lights are internationally recognized and are illuminated to commemorate holidays, events and causes that are of importance to New Yorkers, Americans and citizens of the world.
Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan, the Empire State Building is the "World's Most Famous Office Building." With new investments in infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world.
Source: Empire State Building
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Posted by Editors at 5:16 AM
January 6, 2008
Detroit Gets New Era in Downtown Living With Iconic $150 Million Cadillac Centre on Campus Martius Park
Photo Rendering: Downtown Detroit gets a strong new start on the New Year with the announcement of the $150 million complex called "Cadillac Centre" on Campus Martius Park, Detroit's new "Town Square." Developer is New York City-based real estate investment firm Northern Group, Inc. Above: View of Cadillac Centre from Campus Martius Park.
DETROIT, Jan. 6 -- Detroit gets a strong new start on the New Year with the expected announcement of an iconic $150 million living, dining, shopping and entertainment complex called "Cadillac Centre" on Campus Martius Park occupying the entire Monroe Block with a connection to the existing Cadillac Tower.
The announcement is expected to be made by Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick and owner-developer Alex Dembitzer, principal and managing partner of the Northern Group, Inc., a privately held New York City-based real estate investment firm with strong ties to Detroit, at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 9 in the Mayor's conference room. Joining Mayor Kilpatrick and Dembitzer for the announcement will be internationally renowned architect Anthony Caradonna of New York and Rome.
The dramatic $150 million building complex completes the circle around Campus Martius Park with more than 80 apartments, serene public spaces, an upscale market, major retail space, dining, a health club and a multiplex cinema. Cadillac Centre features two modern 24-story towers of sculpted metal and glass rising from a 12-story base designed to make Detroit a global architectural destination, similar to the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain, or Chicago's Millennium Park. |GlobalGiants.com|
Posted by Editors at 11:53 AM
September 14, 2007
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill's Burj Dubai Becomes World's Tallest Free-Standing Structure
CHICAGO, Sept. 14 -- The Burj Dubai, designed by the Chicago office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), is now officially the world's tallest free-standing structure.
SOM announced today that the construction of the Burj Dubai has reached the 150th floor level at 1,821 feet (555 meters), surpassing the height of the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada, which was previously the world's tallest free-standing structure at 1,815 feet (553 meters). The CN Tower is a communications tower and was completed in 1976.
The height of the Burj Dubai, located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, will continue to climb as construction continues to the floors and beyond with its architectural spire. The construction is expected to top out in 2008. The final height is still a secret.
The Burj Dubai is being developed by Emaar Properties, constructed by South Korea's Samsung Corporation. Turner Construction International is the project and construction manager.
Upon completion, the Burj Dubai will be the tallest building in the world in all four categories recognized by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), which compiles and ranks the world's tallest buildings. |GlobalGiants.com|
Posted by Editors at 1:53 PM
September 11, 2007
NATIONAL 9/11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM EXHIBIT S.C.
Photo: Irmo, S.C., residents, Nobuo Yamashiro, left, and Dawn Yamashiro, right, along with their four children, sign a beam for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, Monday, Sept. 10, 2007, in Columbia, S.C., on the opening day of the exhibit, in memory of Dawn's brother, Brian Warner, who worked at the World Trade Center for Cantor Fitzgerald, and was killed in the attacks. |GlobalGiants.com|
Posted by Editors at 6:23 AM
August 4, 2007
CHICAGO SPIRE : GlobalGiants.com
Chicago, IL -- The first caisson sleeve was drilled into the ground on The Chicago Spire site, marking a historical moment as construction on the world's tallest residential building is now officially underway in Chicago, IL. Santiago Calatrava's twisting tower, will rise 2,000-feet on the shores of Lake Michigan and is expected to be complete in late 2010. (Shelbourne, Brian Kersey)
Posted by Editors at 3:17 AM
June 7, 2007
DOW CORNING CORPORATION BUILDING : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: Natural light streams through the glass panels of the renovated Charlemagne building in Brussels, Belgium. Silicone bonds the structural joints and provides a weather sealant around the panels, maintaining the thermal integrity of the structure. (Dow Corning Corporation) |GlobalGiants.com|
Posted by Editors at 3:41 AM
