This Month in Arch

December 2018 & January 2019

Elizabeth Diller of Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R)

Elizabeth Diller of Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) has been awarded the 2019 Jane Drew Prize for raising the profile of women in the profession with her commitment and excellent work in Architecture. The award is jointly founded by the Architectural Review and the Architects Journal (AJ). Elizabeth’s projects include: The Shed and the Highline in New York City, and the Broad Art Museum in Los Angeles. The award was given to Amanda Levete of AL_A last year, and Denise Scott Brown in 2017.

—“Elizabeth Diller Is Named on This Year’s TIME 100 List.” Archpaper.com, 25 Apr. 2018, archpaper.com/2018/04/elizabeth-diller-only-architect-time-100-list/.

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World’s First Underwater Hotel to Open in the Maldives

Nestled 16 feet below the Indian Ocean in the Maldives, the Muraka, the first underwater hotel, opens this January. Each “Villa” itself is made up of two levels and includes butler’s quarters, a private bar, and a gym. If the ocean itself is not enough, the space also includes an infinity pool. The hotel is surprisingly modular, the pieces were constructed in Singapore and sailed across the ocean to the Maldives. Afterwards each element was nailed to concrete pylons ensuring stability within the shifting tides. “The completion of The Muraka is a personal lifetime achievement,” said Ahmed Saleem, chief architect and designer of the residence, in a statement.

Canada’s Largest Net Zero Energy Building Opens

In Hamilton, Ontario, the Joyce Center for Partnership and Innovation at Mohawk College has officially opened. Designed by B + H and McCallum Sather Architects, the building is one of sixteen pilot projects selected by the Canada Green Building Council’s new Zero Carbon Building Standard. At 96,000 square feet and $54 million, the building is entirely powered by solar energy. The building will eventually house the Center for Climate Change Management, and contains workshops, lecture theaters, state of the art labs, and industry training centers centered around a central light filled atrium. Locally sourced materials in a double wall help regulate heat, the interior climate and natural light. 2000 solar panels are divided into two wings, and also contain a rain water harvesting system.

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8 Buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright Nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Status

Taken from a previous 2015 application by the Frank Lloyd Conservancy, eight buildings have been nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage List. The buildings include Fallingwater, Taliesin West, the Unity Temple, the Robie House, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, among other standouts throughout the country. The application will now be reviewed by the International Council of Monuments and Sites, and will be considered at the 2019 World Heritage Meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan. If successful, these eight buildings will join 1,092 other famous sites. The buildings would also be on a shortlist of American World heritage sites that number less than 25 at the moment.

Architecture Becomes a STEM Subject in the United States

The United States Congress has passed a bill that would officially recognize Architecture as a STEM subject, which was signed into law on July 31st, 2018. The recognition will grant the same 1 billion dollars in grants that other STEM subjects are recognized for. Lobbying for the bill, the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) Act was spearheaded by the American Institute of Architects.

2019 Career Expo February 28 - March 1, 2019

During these two days, employers from across the country representing the fields of Architecture and Urban and Regional Planning will come to the University of Illinois campus to showcase their firms, build relationships with the university, and interview potential candidates for both summer and full-time employment. Career XPO is hosted by the Illinois School of Architecture and organized through the Undergraduate Office.