Schinnerer's RM Blog

Cornell University to Build High-Tech Campus on Roosevelt Island

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:44:00 GMT

New York City Council has approved Cornell’s two million square foot tech campus plan. The first building is scheduled to break ground in 2014 and is said to have both geothermal and solar power to achieve net-zero energy use. The completed campus is expected to have housing for 2000 full time graduate students, education facilities, a hotel, a corporate co-location building, and more than an acre of public open space. This is the beginning of a 23-year phased project. To alleviate Roosevelt Island resident’s traffic congestion concerns, Cornell promised to transport construction equipment via barge. This is a highly visible project that has ambitious sustainability goals that hopefully will be a showcase for environmentally friendly design and construction practices.

Schinnerer Educates Entrepreneur Architects on Professional Liability Insurance

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:19:00 GMT

Through our business partnership with the AIA Trust, our Senior Risk Management Attorney Frank Musica conducted a podcast with Entrepreneur Architect, a blog that delivers content aimed at entrepreneurial architects. Frank’s informative podcast answers questions about what professional liability insurance is and why sole proprietors and owners of small architecture firms need it. The podcast discusses the history of professional liability insurance, insurance requirements for small firms, and the benefits of holding such insurance. The types of claims architects may face are explained, as well as specific insurance coverages such as “claims made” and “prior acts.” The podcast discusses helpful information such as policy exclusions, how to choose the right broker, and factors affecting the cost of insurance. In addition, Frank goes over what firms should include in their contracts with owners in order to protect them from claims, such as limitation of liability provisions and waiver provisions.

Inquiries arising from this podcast can be sent to VOS.RMeducation@Schinnerer.com.

The Greenest Street in America

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:35:00 GMT

In the industrial Pilsen area of Chicago lies a road that has been labeled by the city as “the greenest street in America.” While “the greenest paved street in America” would be more accurate, the technology involved in the paving of the street is very interesting. An Italian manufacturer, Italcementi, produced a porous pavement that contains titanium dioxide, which “eats smog” by reacting with sunlight to decompose organic materials on its surface and even helps to clean the air up to eight feet away from its surface. The pavement isn’t the only green aspect of the street. Bioswales on either side of the road, fit with drought-resistant trees and other plants, can absorb up to 80 percent of storm water before it enters the sewer system. Additionally, the bioswales consume CO2. The streetlights run on energy generated by solar panels and windmills. 60 percent of the construction’s waste was recycled, and many recycled materials were used in construction of the project.

The street was constructed for $14 million, a projected 21 percent less than a traditional resurfacing project, and is projected to have lower maintenance costs. In the future Chicago may require all future road projects to follow these green guidelines.

Firm Survival in the New Economy Based on Skills and Flexibility

Thu, 02 May 2013 11:43:00 GMT

According to Michael O’Brien, a management and ownership transition consultant with Rusk, O’Brien, Gido + Partners,to survive in the new economy firms must focus on developing a deep management team that enables flexibility to meet changing market needs, and on an ownership program that is consistent with the firm’s culture and management style. In his podcast on the recovering economy, O’Brien emphasizes the value in nurturing the development of revenue-generating business development experts, increasing the skills of project managers and others operating the firm, and placing value on those who can provide the technical solutions demanded by clients that allow a firm to meet the challenges of a transitioning marketplace. He also discusses the need for firms to foster an accountability-driven environment in order to grow and to mitigate their business and professional risks.

Move Over Electricity, Here Comes Algae

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:09:00 GMT

Now, we don’t mean that electricity’s reign as the primary source of power for the modern world is coming to an end. Just that it should move over just a little to make room for another source.

Splitterwerk Architects, along with the engineering firm Arup, recently completed the world’s first building to be partly run by algae. As reported by Gizmag, the building has a “bio-adaptive” façade with algae-embedded glass that generates energy and provides shade. Unveiled at the International Building Exhibition in Hamburg, Germany, the algae within the glass are continuously supplied with liquid nutrients and water through an internal water circuit. Natural sunlight aids in photosynthesis. When fully grown, the algae is harvested and transferred to the building’s energy management system, where it is fermented into biogas, which is used to heat water.

The algae do not provide the building with electricity, focusing solely on creating hot water. However, designers are excited about the prospects such a design has for future uses in environmentally friendly buildings.