I was recently sent this cartoon via email. Unfortunately I have been unable to determine the source.
Besides being funny, I thought the cartoon underscores the point that often our “green” and “sustainable” activities are merely moving the problem to someone else, not necessarily helping the planet our the community as a whole. For example, driving an electric cars may reduce dependence on fossil fuels locally, but usually it just results on shifting the demand to coal power plants.
Emc2 Architects released Version 7.1 of their Keynote Manager software last Wednesday. Keynotes in Revit are painful to manage, and the latest version of this Revit companion added automatic text casing and a direct link to the Windows’ Character Map from within the keynote editor dialog, as well as some nice interface modifications. These minor additions and fixes feel like polish on what is already a powerful tool.
In my opinion, this keynote manager, developed by Steven Faust at Emc2 Architects, is how keynoting should have been in Revit from the start. By making the program “save as you go”, Steve has been able to allow multiple users to work on the same keynote file simultaneously. Also, features like keyboard shortcuts, spell check, and a built in text search make managing keynotes easier than ever. This program takes the mystery out of keynotes so that the end user doesn’t need to worry about the syntax of the text file. The program makes it much easier for project managers, who aren’t familiar with the .txt file syntax, to make corrections to keynotes, and for BIM managers to create keynote templates that are readily available through the interface.
The one problem the program doesn’t solve is the need to reload the keynote file in the Revit project for the changes to take effect.
I had the opportunity of driving across the westbound side of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge last week. The westbound side was completed in 1950 and has been solid as a rock for almost 60 years. As I traversed this now famous span, I couldn’t help but think of it’s infamous and ill fated predecessor.
This short drive and the recent building collapse of the residential block in China made me reflect again on the very serious nature of the Architecture and building professions. As Architects, engineers, contractors, designers, and draftsmen, the decisions and the work that we do have very serious real world consequences.
Not all problems result in loss of life, but sometimes the costs can be unimaginable. Over the years I have seen many, many bad designs and construction mistakes, as has anyone who has worked in the profession for any amount of time. I’ve seen structures sliding down hills, doors that don’t open, and shoddy and dangerous construction in abundance. In order to protect the innocent I won’t be posting any of those problems here, but I’ll more than gladly share other people’s mistakes.
Below I have compiled some serious and not so serious building errors for your reflection.
Tacoma Narrows Bridge, June 27, 2009
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed on Nov. 7th, 1940 only four months after completion. The only casualty was a dog stuck in a car on the bridge when it collapsed.
Opened to the public on May 23, 2004, the Seattle Central Library by Rem Koolhaas quickly became a tourist attraction in Seattle, Washington.
The 362,987 square foot building features an underground public parking lot, hundreds of computers, an auditorium, and “the book spiral” that allows visitors to traverse the entire book collection all on one continuous “floor” that spirals over 5 stories. I found the entire structure to be amazing in both form and function. Practical details like having floor air registers and waterless urinals are complimented by having text embossed flooring, and vertical circulation identified with a consistent bright yellow.
During my visits on June 27th and 28th I overheard an elderly woman comment that being in the building was giving her an anxiety attack. I would agree that the building as a whole can seem a bit overwhelming, it is very different from the traditional library. However, I found the building to be exciting and invigorating. The building draws you to explore it and discover. I think libraries as a whole can be very compartmentalized, but the spaces in Seattle Central Library were very connected not just horizontally but vertically as well. I was also surprised by the numerous intimate areas that were created on balconies, and in glazed niches. There were many places that I could see myself sitting for hours just reading.
